The Secrets of the Vanmars

Argetallam Saga #2

by Elisabeth Wheatley

After her adventures with the Key of Amatahns, sixteen-year-old Janir Caersynn Argetallam returns home to find Brevia on the brink of war with a neighboring country, Stlaven. Her foster-father and even Saoven—a brave young elf warrior—think it will be safe at the castle where Janir grew up. However, while trying to unravel a looming mystery, Karile—self-taught wizard and Janir’s self-appointed best friend—becomes certain that there is danger in the mountains surrounding Janir’s childhood home and that it has something to do with Stlaven’s most powerful family, the Vanmars…

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction

266 pages, Paperback

First published May 9, 2012

About the author

Elisabeth Wheatley is a fantasy author because warrior princess wasn’t an option. She loves tea and asking questions.

Reviews

[Justin · Rating 5 out of 5]

If anyone was to tell me that younger writers can't compete with older writers I would have to say they are wrong. Elisabeth is only 16 and she writes outstanding fantasy books. If you saw my review to the first book in this series you would know that I loved it and this second installment only reinforces that. I feel like Fantasy is really hard for anyone to write, regardless of how old the person is. To be able to create an entire world and really make it feel unique is something I could never imagine being able to do but Elisabeth really does a beautiful job at crafting it all.

I do feel like she improved a lot as a writer in this second book, because I did have a few issues with the first book that did bug me quite a bit but never really took away from the overall greatness of it. But when it comes to this book I really didn't come across anything that really bothered me. I felt like she did a great job at keeping the pace nice, and not unloading to much information at once. That is a big thing with Fantasy, there is so much to digest in most of them that it can become really difficult to keep up with it all sometimes if it is all dumped on you at once. So I was happy to see that it was pretty easy to keep up with it all.

The was s great as I was hoping it would be. You get to see some action, romance, magic and everything in between. There is just so much going on (but like I said it is easy to keep up with) that you can easily stay entertained while reading this book. I had been reading it for quite awhile off and on, only because I was trying to read so many other books at the same time. But I really did enjoy the story and even with not being able to read it all at once it was easy to keep up with.

Janir is a fabulous character, I can't say that enough. I love her personality and just really enjoy following her throughout this series. Things are a lot different for her in book two, and you really see that early on. She really has to deal with a lot, and you can see that it is really tough on her sometimes. But I loved that she is such a strong character. I'm not going to dive into all of the other characters in this book, simply because it would take forever to really talk about all of them. But they were all really enjoyable and a lot of fun to read about.

Overall this is a fantastic series. Elisabeth was able to make a lot of improvements in this book compared to her first one, and I can't wait to read more of her works in the future. If you haven't had the opportunity to start this series yet make sure to check out the first book which is The Key of Amatahns.

[Sarah Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

(I was given a digital copy of this book for free, by the author, on a read-to-review basis.)
This is the second book in the Argetallam Saga.
Three weeks have passed since the end of the events in ‘The Key of Amatahns’, and Janir is now on her way to Saaradan, to meet with her foster father – Armandius. Unfortunately her half-brother has also survived his wounds, and has made it back to ……

Janir makes it to Saaradan, and is reunited with Armandius, the man who she wishes was her real father. She explains to him what has happened since she left him, and he tells her that she must see the high lords for them to determine her fate after she killed a visiting Duke in ‘The Key of Amatahns’. (She did this because the duke tried to kill Armandius.)

Karile, the wizard who she travelled with, comes to her to tell her that he fears that there will be a war soon. The Stlavish armies are on the move, and Karile is concerned that it may have been a Stlavish Sultan who tried to purchase the key from the Argetallams.

Fortunately Janir survives her meeting with the high lords, but only through the kind words of Lady Gwenna. It seems that her maternal grandfather Meliard, would like nothing more than to behead her – immediately.

Once home, Janir and Karile start searching for a legensary road known as the ‘Kryden road’, and discovers dwarves, who appear to have teamed up with the Stlavish. What is going on? Why are the dwarves helping the Stlavish? And what does Janir’s real father have in store for her if he finds out that she is n fact alive?

I enjoyed this book, I actually think it was better than the first!
Once again there was a lot going on, and Janir finds herself in evens stickier situations. We once again have the characters of Karile, and Saoven the elf, and Janir is reunited with her foster father. There’s even a hint of romance between Janir and Saoven which I loved!

This book was once again very well written, and had excellent flow. I liked the storyline, but unfortunately it ended on a bit of a cliffhanger and we have to wait ‘til 2013 to find out what happens to Janir next!
7 out of 10.
(Book Length:3583 kindle locations.)

[Cecilia (rather barefoot than bookless) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

I really enjoyed reading this second book in the Argetallam Saga. It was a great read and just as intriguing and exciting as the first book in the saga. There is also more romance in this book which I love. This book is filled with exciting mysteries, action, love and a lot of humor and we have the best friend Karile to thank for that.

If you´ve read the first book in this series you know that Janir struggles with her past and the fact that she is an Argetallam and not just that she is the heir and a princess. She is just as insecure and troubled about her heritage in this book as she was in the first one if not more.
Karile is the funny best friend who always seems to get himself in trouble and he is just as good at that in this book! Without him there would be no story since he is the one who always gets Janir into trouble.
Something happens between Janir and Saoven but noting is said but there is definitely something there. A beginning of something more than friendship.

I loved this book! I was unable to put it down, there is never a dull moment, something exciting is always happening. This book was greatly written and is a must read this year! 4.5 stars should speak for it self, if you do not have this one in your TBR pile then you should add it right now!

[Georgiann Hennelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recieved an e-book copy from the author. Thank you Very much. This is the second book in the series. Even though this is a young adult book i truly enjoyed it. The friends and the action. You also learn more about Janir and her past. This is a very well written book with an easy to follow story line.You have wizards and warriors, dwarves and elfs. A truly fascinating read for people of all ages.I can,t wait for the next installment in the series to see what happens next.

[Katelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun, fast-paced, high fantasy novel! I was instantly drawn into the Ja1nir’s crazy life and Elisabeth’s writing kept me so invested throughout the entire book

Now before I really get going on this review, let me start by saying that I did not read the first book before reading this one. This did cause for a bit of confusion especially when it came to the world that Elisabeth created but I was able to catch on fast and still enjoy the book.

Janir has just been through an adventure of a lifetime when we first meet her. During the first book she was on a quest of some sort, met a lot of people along the way (some good, some definitely not so good), learned a few secrets of her past, found a whole lot of questions of her present & future, and faced quite a bit of life-threatening events. All Janir wants is some peace and quiet when she returns but as it often times turns out, we don’t always get what we want. Again, Janir is thrown into a life of craziness, some of it fun, some of it scary, and all of it entertaining!

I LOVED Janir. She was a sweet, loving, girl with a huge heart and a good head on her shoulders, and she also had a bit of a backbone to her. Janir was always so quick to help her friends out but she was also one to not let people walk all over her. Even though Janir is one tough cookie, she also lets some of her insecurities show in this novel which made me love her even more! Janir is an Argetallam, and according to the beliefs of everyone in the kingdom, Argetallam = Bad. . .VERY BAD. Janir had a tough time trying to be proud of the person she was and balancing that with the shame she oftentimes felt for her heritage. My heart hurt for her because I could see how great she was but it was really difficult for her to see that at certain times.

I feel that this is the part that I should mention the bit of romance that I saw! Okay, before you romance-aholics get too excited, there wasn’t a whole lot in this story but there were definitely the makings of a relationship within this book! Saoven is an elf warrior who has helped Janir out a tough situation more than once. He is strong and brave and he is always there to help save Janir. These two are most definitely feeling something for each other and I cannot wait to see what they do with those feelings in the next book!

Another character that stood out so very much to me was Karile, a young wizard and the sort-of best friend to our main character. Holy crap everyone, this guy was all sorts of fun! Karile added so much pizzazz and humor to this story! He is definitely a troublemaker, too curious for his own good, and he was always dragging Janir into his messes. Even though he sounds like a giant accident waiting to happen, and trust me people that is EXACTLY what he is, he always had good intentions!

The world that Elisabeth created was so awesome! It was definitely a historical/fantasy setting. This is back in the day when there are High Lords, castles, and raging wars between surrounding kingdoms but on top of that there are also dragon-like beings, elves, wizards, other fantastic creatures, and magic! Like I said before, I really wish I would have read the first book before because I feel like that would have given me just a bit more background information on the world Elisabeth created. I may have been confused for the first little bit of the book but once I began reading, I had no problems imaging the places and things that Janir was seeing.

This story is a really fast-paced story. Janir finds herself in one mess right after another and while some had me laughing others kept me on the edge of my seat. Elisabeth’s writing made this world easy to imagine and her characters were all nicely developed and entertaining. The story left off at a great part and I cannot wait to find out what happens next with Janir, Karile, and the rest of the great characters I met in this book! This was a great book and I think it will certainly appeal to fans of The Hidden Sun by J. Lloyd Morgan and Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas.

[Eli Hinze · Rating 4 out of 5]

To read this review and many more, visit my blog!

I will no longer be buying the Argetallam saga's eBooks. I'll be buying the paperbacks to add to my very own library collection, where I only keep books I truly adore. This series is one of the better ones I've come across in quite some while, and I don't even like High Fantasy.

As for the characters, Janir is as fantastic as ever, taking action as a strong, realistic female lead. She's selfless, feisty and quick-thinking all at once. While there wasn't much of Lucian, - still one of my favorites -, I liked his bit in the opening of the book. Boiling with emotion and a strange tinge of. . . guilt? Goodness, Lucian, better hide that away before Daddy smacks it out of you. As for one of my other favorites? Saoven. How I love him. He's kind, fiercely protective and, this I love most, hopelessly in love. Granted, he does his best to hide it, but if you're like me and look for romance in books everywhere, you'll spot it quickly. It's adorably written, and actually makes for a great epilogue, filled with all the promise of gallantry yet subtle hero bad-assery. I'll be glad when there's a bit more tension between Saoven and Janir, but I think it's at the appropriate level for the story thus far.

The Lord Argetallam isn't that interesting of a character, simply because he's the bad guy without much wiggle-room to sympathize or tantalize, but he does bring some interesting cards to the table. At the end of the book, he says he's going to purge Janir's memories of anything Anti-Argetallam. I'm curious whether he's just going to try to do that, or whether he's actually capable of extracting/blocking out those memories. If so, that puts Janir and friends, (and by extension, the entire world) in a serious bind. The possibility is extremely interesting.

I appreciated the world-building here as much as I did in the previous story. Well laid out and not too confusing, a trench many fantasy stories tend to fall into. My one irk with The Secrets of the Vanmars is some of the writing. In the first half, the writing was superb. While the writing still continued to be good in the latter half, I came across a few grammatical and formatting errors, as well as some sentences that seemed clunky.

One of the loose ends from the first book, the comment about Janir being a "fledgeling" and some of the respective mystery floating around her is still unanswered, but this is a seven book series and might require some patience from me before I get the answers I crave. Ew. Waiting.

Overall, The Secrets of the Vanmars is packed with great characters, action at ever turn and a constantly developing plot. With the exception of a tiny bit of awkward writing, the story sinks its hooks into you with no intention of letting go, earning it a solid 4 out of 5.

[Clara · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Secrets of the Vanmars is a novel I wished I read earlier when I first received the book. I was very hesitant to read it because I am not that big of a fan of fantasy novels. I didn't have much of a standard when I started reading the novel, but it blew my mind with the characters and expansive world Janir lives in.

Elisabeth Wheatley is the youngest author that I have ever read and she could go for thirty if I didn't know ahead of time. Her writing wasn't a novice and she used her words carefully, unlike most seventeen year olds. I love the world she created and the special weapons of the Argetallams. The world and characters were well developed and I wished I had read the first book before.

I absolutely loved the characters in this novel, besides the MC with daddy issues, Janir I couldn't stop laughing with and at Karile. He's more of the jester than the enchantress, but he means well though his actions might make you think other wise. The love interest, Saoven is the charming, and handsome elf, and I can see him with Janir, unlike other novels that decide to have two people fall in love after an hour. I really love to read more about the elves and their ways in future novels in the series.

What I loved most about this novel is the fast paced keep moving mentality. There wasn't a moment where I felt the novel was dull or could be better. There was always something pressing and it made me read the novel less than a day. When I started reading the novel, I couldn't stop until I had to.

As for how the novel ended, it made me feel content, but at the same time I want to get my hands on the third novel. I'm afraid where the next novel will go for Janir because you(me) never wants the MC to go crazy or have someone else completely change who they are. Besides that I am all for reading all seven novels in the series. I do recommend to read the first novel before this one. It seems like I've been reading some really awesome books lately, so The Secrets of the Vanmars gets a head nods, thumbs up, and smiling like there's no tomorrow. (5 out of 5)

If you liked my review, or not, please check out my blog @ http://readrw.blogspot.com/

[Intisar Khanani · Rating 4 out of 5]

For my review of Book 1 of the Argetellam Saga (The Key of Amatahns), go here. Warning: if you haven’t read The Key of Amatahns, you are about to see some spoilery. So, go read Book 1 now!

I started this book ready for an enjoyable read, and I wasn’t disappointed. As with many second books in a series, the story is a little slow to get started–kind of. The prologue, featuring Janir’s half-brother Lucan, sucked me right in. And, being a follower of Ms. Wheatley’s pinterest boards, I was excited to finally meet someone who I’ve already got a firm image of in my mind: the healer Genvissa. For all that we only saw her in the prologue, I can’t wait to meet Genvissa again and get to know her: kind, wise, brave and in a really bad place, you can’t help caring about her.

But I digress. The Secrets of the Vanmars can essentially be broken into two separate halves. The first half revolves around what happens while Janir is waiting to be judged by the King and his High Lords for her role in the death of a duke back in book 1. Once that’s resolved, Janir and company return to her foster-father’s home, and another adventure begins as Janir and Karile search out the Kryden Road that once ran through the mountains to a not-so-friendly neighboring kingdom. Who is building it and why? What is the Chalice of Malvron? And what will Janir’s Argetallam father do when he finds out she’s still alive?

The writing throughout the book was relatively strong. Karile, as the perfect obnoxious little-brother-type sidekick, continues to be one of my favorite characters. Ms. Wheatley’s descriptions and characterizations have improved over what we saw in her first book, and I have no doubt that The Chalice of Malvron (Book 3) will deliver an engaging story as Ms. Wheatley continues to come into her own as a talented young fantasy author.

Recommended for: fans of epic fantasy, strong heroines, evil patriarchs, frost griffins, and sword and sorcery.

[Karen (karensbookchoice) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wheatley's writing style is wonderful, every word she writes is like magic. And the book was very good, nothing big happened. Something that I thought was strange, since this was the second book. The action started almost right a way in the first, so I thought the same would happen here. I actually have to admit, even though Elisabeth write beautiful, then this book was kind of boring. I was disappointed because the action didn't stared before at the end of the book.

But on the positive side when the action began, then I couldn't stop read. The pages caught me and dragged me all the way to the finish line.

There were more romance in this book, than the first. Something that pleased me, but I really hoped for more. Anyway, the romance was beautiful and sweet.

I felt that Janir and Saoven were mean to Karile. I really liked him, since he was so cheerful and was the one that took our main character on new adventures. But in the end, they both showed him that they actully care about him. That moved my heart.
One of my new favorite characters in the book, is Emilla. She is wonderful, one of the bad guys and she totally awesome.

The ending was perfect, because now I know that it will a third book. And that makes me thrilled.

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Secrets of the Vanmars (Argetallam Saga, #2)Elisabeth Wheatly
Fantasy/Adventure

Janir is a 16 year old girl who lives with her step father. She returns home to find a war is brewing nearby. She sets off with Karile (her best friend who happens to be a wizard) and Saoven (an elf warrior). They face many obstacles and dangerous creatures during this quest, but she is determined to find the truth. Her childhood home is in danger and she must face the most powerful family of all , the Vanmars.

I look forward to reading the first book in the series The Key of Amatahnsto find out more about Janir and her family.

Fantastic read. I recommend for YA as well as Adult readers. Elisabeth Wheatleyis an author to watch for.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a review for recieving this book through Goodreads giveaway. Thank you for picking me!!

I will say that i went out and bought the first book just so i had all the books for the series.
This was a really good book. It was filled with romance, action, trouble, and good friends. This series kept me wanting to know more. At times i would get aggrivated b/c the times she got introuble it was like it was due to a friend. But without Karile it wouldn't have been a great read. Janir is still struggling with her past and her future. This book would be something that would entice anyone to read it. Can't wait for the next book in the series.

The writing was excellent. She has a way at words that makes them easy to read. The words just flow off the page. You can't stop your self from reading and not doing anything else.

Thank you again. My family and friends will enjoy this series.

[Miss Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

Well, unfortunately, it hasn't been updated as of my reading it so it is still following from Version 1 (2011) of Amatahns rather than the superior revised 2015 version.

Janir is a lot meaner to Karile in the 1st versions. If Janir is so little fond of Karile, why does she keep following him into temples and reckless, dangerous situations? Make it clear that they are friends already!

The raw magic of the mazogs doesn't appear to be hers in this version, but she clearly absorbed it?

So, Janir shouldn't know that Lucan's mother Bricen arranged for Aryana and Janir to be killed. (We don't even know if Lucan knows this.)

Really looking forward to reading the polished, updated version which I believe just released on Kindle!

[Julie Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was sent this by the author for review.

This is the second book in the series and it didn't disappoint. I'm a sucker for magic and this was full of all the right characters - elves, wizards etc - set within an enchanted world where there was no shortage of action and adventure.

I don't give spoilers, but will say that it is a well told tale, and I like the way each story gives way to the next.

Very good.

[Stardust134340 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Second book to the series wasn't bad. I enjoyed the action the friendships, learning more about Janir and her past. Kinda wish that something big would have happened that would have left me speechless. Nevertheless, Karile still remains my favorite character I love the way he's written, someone has to deliver the well timed funny lines!

[Michele(mluker) Luker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to come

[Rachel Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elisabeth Wheatley has crafted a spellbinding sequel in The Secrets of the Vanmars. The book is a thrilling continuation of Argetallam’s tale, filled with high stakes, intense action, and beautifully complex characters. Wheatley excels in blending vivid world-building with emotional depth, making it easy to be swept away into this intricate and dangerous realm.

I particularly loved how the relationships between the characters grew and evolved. There’s tension, loyalty, and a raw humanity in the way they interact, making every victory feel triumphant and every setback deeply personal. The pacing was sharp, and the twists kept me hooked from start to finish.

As the story closed, I found myself eager to dive into the next installment. Wheatley’s talent for leaving just enough unanswered questions is masterful, and I can’t wait to see where this journey leads. If you enjoy well-woven fantasy with heart and grit, this series is a must-read!

[ephrielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was often confused during this book. For instance, I couldn't understand the relationship between Lucan and Janir. There were some tidbits related but they didn't seem enough to paint a picture. There are several other things that never made much sense to me. Thankfully confusion was the worst I suffered in this book. It is fairly well written especially considering the age of the author. I think this is a good sign of books to come. The story is very imaginative. I did struggle to understand all the strange names and terminology.

Sometimes Janir will think or say the strangest things. It usually left me wondering where the author picked up that particular saying. There is this point where Janir describes the width of a landing in sword lengths. Her character doesn't strike me as a warrior. So why would that be the way her mind measures distance? Another relationship that needed a bit more development was that between Janir and Saoven. Saoven seems to have the emotional abilities of a stick. Then very unnexpectedly he seems to have very strong feelings. What seemed especially odd was that Janir only pages before seemed to come to the same unnexpected bout of strong feelings but then when faced with a return from her swain she acts like it is burdensome. As if she has to turn down some overly friendly admirer. I just felt that a bit more development would have smoothed the transition. Saoven is a complete mystery. There is very little said in this book about his kind, the Elves. I am not really sure what he is capable of and what is not considered proper for him to do. There was almost no time spent getting to know him in this book. As such I wasn't really emotionally drawn to or phased by his revelations. I do think that most if not all of these confusions could have been avoided had I read the first book. Surely they were explained in depth amongst those pages.

I am not sure if Janir is supposed to be something really special but if that is the case she sure needs some more growth. She is too weak both physically and mentally. More steel in her will would go a long way.

Karile doesn't make sense. It seems he is supposed to hold high rank but doesn't act accordingly. He is only fourteen and acts like an out of control little brother. He has an overdeveloped taste for adventure and trouble. Along with no idea of his own mortality and even less respect. It seemed Janir was always babysitting him.

An abrupt ending which wouldn't have worked well without the epilogue. As is it is very daunting and not encouraging as it was doubtless meant to be. I am curious as to how it will work out. But I think there will be hard times ahead for the characters.

Basically it was a good story if a bit confusing. I wouldn't recommend reading this book without having read the first. Too many gaps. I would like to see a smidge more light shone on the characters and their relationships. That way I can build desires for their futures and route for their success.


Content:
Violence: Mild

[Bluestocking Maiden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some of you may remember my review of book #1, The Key of Amatahns that I posted last year. I loved it and had high hopes for the sequel. Hint: I was not disappointed! ^_^

After the intense, dangerous adventures that took place in book #1, we now find Janir and her friends returning to her home, Green Haven. Unfortunately home won't be quite as peaceful as they hope, nor will the journey be either.

This is only the second installment and I'm already hooked on this series! Wheatley has a great sense of pace. I really enjoy the bits of quiet rest amid the exciting adventures, it reminds me of the style of the Chronicles of Narnia. I also appreciate the pieces of history interspersed throughout the novel. All the different cultures and locations have a uniqueness that makes them feel as if they are real peoples and places.

Janir is fantastic to read. Wheatley does a great job of balancing her right on the edge of adulthood. Given that she turns sixteen during this book I think she has grown significantly. She has a good head on her shoulders and several times during the novel I was impressed by the compassion and wisdom that she shows. She's very good at listening to other peoples opinions while maintaining her own views. Even at her young age she is very good at self-analyzing and is already contemplating some big questions about the world around her.

The other characters are just as great. After Janir, Saoven is definitely my favorite character. He is just...*fangirl sigh* He is always interesting to read, very mysterious, and has a strong presence on the page. I love how Janirs adopted father, Armandius plays such a large role in the story. I like that Janir has a positive adult influence. One thing I'm not too crazy about is Karile. Don't get me wrong I like him as a character, but occasionally he's just a bit too annoying for me. We also come across more Argettallams in this book. I love how unique and different the Argetallams are. Although I wouldn't exactly call them a friendly bunch. ;)

I loved this book. As I write this review I am looking at book #3 sitting on my shelf and I'm dying to start reading so I'll see you guys back here next Monday for another review! Happy reading!


~ This review was originally posted on runawaypen.com

[Once · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second book to this series was excellent like the first book. It has suspense from the beginning to the very end. Janir the main character thinks she is safe back home with her master , her elf Saoven, and her crazy wizard friend Karlie. When she gets home she finds out if she is going to be killed or be safe again when she has to go in front of the kings. She finds out she is safe one more time. Plus she finds out that her country is on the brink of a war with another country. Along the way through the story Karlie wants to go exploring to try to find out some information about magic. So he has Janir tag along. Along their journey they end up encountering dwarves and ends up getting noticed so those two have to run for their lives. So at dinner one night Janir notices the servant and he seems odd to her so she goes and tells her elf. Well he ends up coming to get her in the end to take her back to her real father. I won't tell you anymore.

This series is wonderful from the beginning to the end. I was getting into the book and when I got to the end i realized it was over with. I was so disappointed that it was and then I found out the third book to this series won't be out until 2013. So if you get a chance. Read this series by this young high school student.

http://www.onceuponatwilight.com/2012...

[Kaitlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very exciting story! I love this author and her stories. Overall, the book was really great. I look forward to the next in the series. Saoven and Janir and Karile are all wonderful characters and their stories are very interesting.