The Tower

Guardians of Destiny #1

by Jean Johnson

When serpent crept into their hall:
Danger waits for all who board,
Trying to steal that hidden tone.
Painted Lady saves the lord;
Tower’s master’s not alone.

In a fertile valley undisrupted by the aether-shattering death of the old Aian Empire, the Tower and its Guardians have entertained generations of wealthy mirror-scrying mages while adventurers from around the world risk their lives for fortune and fame. But on the one day the Tower stood unguarded, an intruder tried to seize the magic powering the vast structure. Now, locked out of the Tower’s innermost chambers, Kerric Vo Mos must brave the deadly traps keeping trespassers at bay in order to reclaim control.

Unfortunately, Kerric wields a pen far better than a sword, and the way into the Tower’s sanctum is treacherous. Only the help of an experienced player like Myal the Mendhite can get him to where he must go. But mutual respect will not be enough. Passion must also be employed, along with armor and weapons, as they embark on a perilous quest past monsters, riddles, and other dangers that even the Tower’s most dedicated viewers have never seen before.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Fantasy Romance, Paranormal Romance, Magic, Paranormal, Erotica

385 pages, Paperback

First published May 7, 2013

About the author

Berkley/Jove Authors Bio

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
(1)romance author, science fiction author

Jean Johnson currently lives in the Pacific Northwest, has played in the SCA for 25 years, sings a lot, and argues with her cat about territorial rights to her office chair. She loves hearing from her readers, and has a distinct sense of humor. Right now she's living in a home with zone heating & decent plumbing, but hopes to some day put turrets and ramparts on it so that it looks like a castle.

Reviews

[Kelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Here is a book I enjoyed, but could have been so much more. Things I liked very much:

1) The hero and heroine were equally strong and engaging; I could see, not merely believe, what a good couple they make. Both were smart and powerful, with great senses of humor. Should I encounter them in real life, I'd want to hang out with them.

2) Because I find the Trope of "Huge Guy, Tiny Girl" annoying, I was glad to see a love story (with a hot, steamy physical relationship) in which the woman is the taller of the two. I also appreciated it that she was the muscle of the pair, yet was NOT portrayed as lacking in the brains department.

3) This is probably the most controversial, but speaking as a woman who must have been in the bathroom when God passed out maternal instinct, I was pleased to see a couple who had no interest in parenting and yet were portrayed as sympathetic throughout. Usually, in the world of fiction, only wicked people don't want children, and if good people are ambivalent about parenthood, they will embrace its joys by the end. This book doesn't go that route, but instead makes it clear that having no interest in parenting does not make someone a bad person, or even a cold and unloving person.

With these ingredients, this book could have become one of my favorites. Unfortunately, I found it seriously lacking in one of the most crucial areas: that of plot. Where was the conflict? Where and who was the villain? As our hero and heroine go through their series of adventures, I never felt as though they were in any real danger. I needed to feel that sense of risk, of something vital at stake. As it was, even though I liked them, I found their journey uninvolving, and the whole thing a little too light for my taste. Kerric and Myal deserved a more substantial plot.

Also, this book is a little heavier on the sex than my usual reads. This wasn't so much of a problem for me; I could get used to it. But I could have done without the spanking factor.

[Darcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I first saw this book I wasn't too sure about it. But then as I started to read I got excited as I realized it is a spin off of her Son's of Destiny series, which should be read first. The first series sets up the world and uses a lot of common terms and things that will make sense right away.

I liked that this series is going to deal with the fountains as I have been intrigued by them. With this book we have a survivor type fountain, one where people go for adventures and they are broadcast to others for entertainment. I loved this concept, it made for great fun!

While I didn't like what happened that caused Kerric and Myla had to run the gauntlet, I did like the team that they made. I loved that Kerric isn't your normal hero, you know the super handsome guy and great at physical stuff. Instead he is short, a great mage, but not very good at physical things. He knows that in order to succeed at his task he needs someone who can compliment him and that that person needs to be a woman and willing to sleep with him as one of the tasks end up being erotic in nature.

I loved seeing Kerric and Myla build a relationship with each task, so that by the end their differences don't matter, only their feelings. I really liked how they were able to work together afterwards to help put things back to rights and to seek out what caused them.

I look forward to reading more in this series and hope that these 2 show up again.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story. The majority of the book involves the hero and heroine battling through rooms to regain control of The Tower. I was strongly reminded of dungeons and dragons role playing games that I used to play. The first chapter was exceedingly confusing for me, but I have not read the previous series (The Sons of Destiny) which might have made that more understandable. After that though, the book was focused on the story at hand. It is a completely different world and there isn't much background provided for how the world structured. That works with the story though as the action is almost exclusively within The Tower. I did go and read the reviews for the Sons of Destiny and will be picking up the first one to see what I think of that series. In addition I will be adding The Grove (second in this series) to my To Be Read stack. I loved the characters, especially the switch with having the woman being the tall, strong warrior. The hero, Kerric, isn't exactly weak either and I got a kick out of the times he let loose with his magic.

I would recommend this book to anyone who has played dungeons and dragons, and those how like a little adventuring with their romances. :)

[Barbara ★ · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading her Sons of Destiny series, I expected more from this series. Don't get me wrong, it's a clever concept and I really liked both Kerric and Myal but the never-ending rooms in the tower got boring. Apparently there are over 100 floors to the tower and the quest involved going up and falling down so it really felt that it would never end.

Honestly it just felt that the "adventure" would continue forever (or until they fell in love) and then it did end but the remaining 75 or so pages went off somewhere else and I simply couldn't follow it. Though that could simply have been me trying to finish reading at 5 am and just too darn tired to comprehend.

I loved the fact that the hero was a foot shorter than the heroine. It made for some interesting encounters.

I'll read the next book in series and see if I want to continue or not.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun D&D dungeon crawl/ romance romp.

The first 2\3s of this book is a fun dungeon crawl with sexy bits. Then trying to figure out why the tower was attacked in the first place.

[TinaMarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the relationship between these two, the puzzles and riddles were fun to try and figure out and I'm glad we didn't have to go through ALL of the various challenges they had to endure. It's been awhile since I'd read the series came before this, several memory jiggles.

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written. An exiting run through a gauntlet, a master along with an expert runner experience danger and eroticism on their way to save the source of their livelihood.

[Dawn Maley]

took awhile to get into it

[Wetdryvac · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it.

[Marlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally published at Reading Reality

The Tower is set in the same world as Jean Johnson’s very enjoyable fantasy romance series The Sons of Destiny. If you like fantasy romance, start with The Sword. They’re great fun.

And just like The Sons of Destiny series, The Guardians of Destiny series looks like it’s going to be eight books. The waiting game in between tends to be torture.

About The Tower itself...so far, the tie between series seems to be a loose tie. Same world, but not the same characters. There was a handoff at the beginning, and a conversation at the end, but in-depth previous knowledge was not required.

The story of The Tower is that it’s a tower of magic. I know that sounds redundant, but it’s pretty cool. It’s a tower that controls the magic for the surrounding region, and it uses its excess power in a surprising way.

It creates adventure runs, dungeon crawls a la Dungeons & Dragons, complete with treasures and puzzles. Even better, it broadcasts (magically, so they’re called scrycasts) the adventures of people running the dungeons.

Of course, a whole economy has grown up around the running of the Tower and the scrycasting.

But the heart of the Tower is a powerful magic fountain, and that requires a Master. The Master of the Tower is Kerric Vo Mos, and he takes his responsibility very seriously. Of course, where there’s a lot of power at stake, someone always wants to take it, and that’s where the story comes in.

Kerric takes one day a year to leave the Tower, and while he’s away, the security protocols are breached. With him on the outside the Tower has no master. He has to get back in and retake control. The only way to do that, is to run the adventure gauntlet himself. For that, he needs a partner.

And because the easiest, for very elastic definitions of the word “easy”, adventure run to the heart of the tower involves a trip through the passion-trapped Seraglio rooms, Kerric needs to run the gauntlet with a female partner who is not just a top-flight adventurer, but is also someone he might be willing to let into his heart. She also has to be a woman who has the chance of feeling the same way about him.

There’s not exactly time for a courtship to figure it out, either. The clock isn’t just ticking, it’s counting down to potential disaster.

It’s not a long list. The woman Kerric really wants to take with him on this most perilous quest is Myal the Mendhite, the woman the scrycasts call Myal the Magnificent.
Kerric has no idea whether she’s willing to help him. Most important, because his position as Master of the Tower has forced him to remain apart from the adventurers, he has no clue whether or not she might be interested in him.

A fact which doesn’t just matter for the purpose of saving the Tower. He’s always been interested in her. But he’s never believed that the statuesque and gorgeous adventurer could possibly be interested in him just for himself.

He has no clue that Myal has asked herself whether the powerful Master of the Tower could ever be interested in an adventurer who has no magic.

Escape Rating B: Reading The Tower is a bit like reading a D&D game but with more plot and including a love story -- but also including the snarky back-chatter that makes D&D so much fun.

The story is about two people becoming a team by working through adversity. Myal and Kerric are acquainted, but their normal roles don’t give them much chance to interact. However, they do find each other attractive.

This is also the classic opposites attract scenario, and not just because Kerric is a mage and Myal is a warrior, although it’s nice to see the woman being the sword swinger for a change. Myal’s people are all tall, and Kerric is a head shorter than she is. Myal is taller than most people in the area around the Tower, but Kerric is a short man who has had to adjust to being shorter than average.

Also, Myal has given up her ability to have children in exchange for magical tattoos that enhance her fighting ability. Her people back home consider her flawed. The decision about being childless is handled within the story as a choice both of them have made and what their reasons are.

They don’t fall instantly in love the minute they start running the gauntlet of the tower. They grow to respect and like each other through working together. Love becomes part of the package as they realize how good they are together over the intense experience.

Waiting for book 2, The Grove, is going to be torture.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kerric, the guardian of the Aian Fountain Tower is locked out during his one day of a well-earned vacation. So he seeks the help of the professional Tower adventurer Myal to get him through the tricks and traps on the pathway back up.

I love stories with traps and mazes in them and this is a smorgasbord. We get all kinds of interesting things. Some are too easy, some hilarious, while others are amazing. And the Seraglio is eye-opening.

The relationship between Kerric and Myal was interesting, but a bit flat. Though this a different kind of way to conduct a seduction by giving kisses, etc. as trap completion rewards.

Footnote: 1) I’m glad this has more of a relationship to the ‘Sons of Destiny’ than ‘Flame Seas’ and ‘Finding Destiny’ did. Our loved ‘Sons’ characters are even used. 2) I put some of the riddles on my Facebook page and got back some very close answers.

Fave scenes: Kerric trying to gate back to the Tower, the rowboat trap/riddle, herding cats, the pearl necklace and the food fight.

[Mariachiara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Iniziamo col dire che in questo universo esistono delle sorgenti di potere, cioè luoghi in cui un giorno, non si sa perché, erutta un conglomerato di magia pura. Questi pozzi o nuclei di magia devono essere controllati da un mago, che ne diventa il guardiano, incanalando parte della loro magia, altrimenti creano problemi climatici o genetici alla gente del posto, e per evitare che dei maghi cattivi li usino per motivi distruttivi vengono spesso tenuti nascosti od occultati. Ora, un giorno, in una pianura è apparsa una sorgente di potere, ma non nel terreno o in una caverna come accade di solito, bensì nell’aria a circa dieci metri d’altezza o giù di lì. La gente, perplessa ha perciò iniziato a costruire un alta torre per contenere questa sorgente. Un magi si è legato ad essa e ha iniziato a custodire la sorgente e per impedire che altri maghi gliela rubassero, allontanandolo dal luogo e cerando loro un legame con la sorgente, ha riempito la torre di trappole e trabocchetti.

Col tempo molti ebbero notizia della sorgente, poiché non era nascosta come altre, ma in bella vista con la sua torre, e tentarono di espugnarla, ma tutti fallirono. La gente del luogo col tempo smise di avere paura che la torre finisse in mani nemiche e anzi si appassionò a vedere tutti questi avventurieri provare a superare le prove della torre. Ormai non erano solo maghi, ma anche soldati, avventurieri, gente che ci provava solo per il gusto di poter dire di avercela fatta. Insomma diventò quasi un gioco e si creò del turismo in quella città grazie alla torre. Ben presto il villaggio, ora città, divenne prospero grazie a questo ed il mago guardiano si chiese: perché non sfruttare ancora di più la cosa? Così grazie agli specchi magici in grado di trasmettere le immagini creò una rete di collegamenti e vendette i diritti di visione dei tentativi di espugnare la torre. Col tempo sempre più città, paesi e nazioni si abbonarono alla visione sui loro specchi magici e le avventure della torre divennero un programma visivo di successo e gli avventurieri dei veri e propri eroi della gente che scommetteva su di loro e li pagava per vederli in sfide specifiche all’interno di stanze specifiche della torre.

Ora ditemi se questa non è un’idea stramba in un romanzo fantasy, praticamente ha inserito un reality nel romanzo.

Comunque sia, queste sono le premesse al romanzo, la storia sia apre con Kerric, attuale guardiano della torre e della sorgente, che allontanatosi solo per un giorno di riposo dalla torre, ne rimane chiuso fuori, poiché la sorgente viene attaccata tramite canali di potere, e la torre si chiude in modalità automatica impedendo a chiunque di entrare , persino a lui, rendendo mortali le trappole che lui invece aveva reso più innocue perché gli avventurieri altrimenti si sarebbero fatti troppo male durante il gioco.

Così per tornare alla sorgente, prima che un altro mago lo faccia prima di lui, Kerric dovrà superare le sue stesse trappole, ma per farlo, poiché anche se è un potente mago, diverse trappole richiedono più persone e forza bruta, gli serve un compagno, una donna ad essere precisi, poiché lui è eterosessuale e la strada più breve per la sorgente passa per la sezione chiamata Serraglio, le cui prove sono di genere sessuale.

Così Kerric passa in rassegna le avventuriere più brave, con cui non gli spiacerebbe fare sesso e a cui non spiacerebbe fare sesso con lui. Purtroppo sono tutte donne alte e muscolose mentre lui, anche se bello, è molto basso. Per fortuna Myal un’avventuriera straniera lo trova attraente e così sceglie lei.

I due si avventurano nella torre, ma alle loro calcagna c’è un altro gruppo che li segue per spodestare Kerric….

La mia opinione: L’idea di partenza del romanzo con il reality magico, e di un protagonista per niente stile adone, mi attirava e la storia sarebbe anche stata carina, ma purtroppo l’autrice l’ha eseguita male. Infatti ci sta che il protagonista Kerric sappia già tutto della strada da fare e delle trappole da superare e come superarle, ma ciò toglie ogni pathos alla storia. Cioè invece di farci vedere l’avventura, abbiamo Kerric che dice alla sua compagna come superare le trappole in anticipo e tante volte neppure vediamo l’azione.

Peccato, perché avevo alte speranze per questo libro. Proverò comunque il seguito, ma togliere così ogni suspance è una cosa che l’autrice ha fatto anche in un altra serie che poi ho abbandonato e non mi spiego perché lo faccia.

[Aurian Booklover]

I don’t know how to describe this book, other than that it reads like one big computer game. Guardian Kerric is locked out of his Tower when someone tries to take over the Fountain, and he has to reconnect with it. He can’t do it alone, as the whole Tower is riddled with traps that are used as entertainment for adventurers, which are broadcasted all over the world through the scrying mirrors. But now that the Tower has locked itself down in defense, those traps are turned lethal. He also does not want to take a whole team with him, out of fear that they will tell about the Towers secrets. But he does not one warrior, preferable a female who does not find him unattractive, as one of the levels will be the Seraglio and they will have to make love to get out again. Kerric is a small man and a great mage, but he is not really a fighter, although he does know how to use a sword. He needs a partner for this endeavour, who is not only a fighter but smart and who can safe them both if necessary. There are some traps that will just knock him unconscious as he is a mage. And so he makes a list of the 5 most likely females that can and will help him out. But fate makes him run into the Painted Warrior Myal the Mendhite, and she agrees to help him. He dares not wait until the next morning after they have rested, for fear that other mages will try to take over the Tower from him, they will have to go immediately.

And Kerric is right, once they are in the Tower, and progressing nicely along the traps and levels, they find out they are followed by 5 others, mages and warriors, determined to loot the tower and take it over from him if possible. But being the Master, Kerric is not powerless to stop them, and he will do whatever is necessary.

During their adventure, Kerric and Myal get to know each other, and respect each others skills. They both save the others life a few times, and know they can rely on each other. And with every riddle that Myal solves, Kerric will award her a kiss. After all, they need to get familiar with this for the Seraglio soon. Myal does not really care about bedsport, being a very tall woman and tattooed all over, most men don’t really like her. But Kerric seems to really like her body, and his kisses sure are nice.


I really enjoyed reading about their adventure in the Tower, all the levels and dangers they had to pass. Think of a video game, or when Harry Potter and his friends had to play chess and catch a flying key, that sort of things.
Myal has no magic of her own, but her tattoos are magical, and she can turn them on to become very strong, or tall, or be able to walk on the walls to get past a fire pit. It was really fun, and their relationship developed nicely through it all. I have never read a romance between a tall woman and a short man, but they made it work. Including the neck pains and using footbenches.
Myal is a bit shy at first, and she has admired the Master of the Tower before, from a distance, as he never dates any of the adventurers that come to pit their skills against the Tower. But she really likes the man Kerric, capable and caring and fun to be with. Myal sure is though and a good fighter, but she is also really smart, and has lots of ideas for future runs. I liked her, and how she is respected amongst the town people and her fellow adventurers.

They still have to find out what exactly was trying to take over the fountain, and I am looking forward to reading the next book. I just love this world that Jean Johnson has build, filled with magic based on science, and different races of humans. And now I really want to re-read her Sons of Destiny series!

8 stars.

© 2013 Reviews by Aurian

Full review on my blog, www.boeklogboek.blogspot.com

[Melliane · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mon avis en Français

My English review

I appreciate Jean Johnson and I have read many books from her different series. This author has an undeniable talent when it comes to create her worlds and once again, she shows us something completely unique. And it’s always fascinating to see what the author has for us.

Kerric is the great wizard dealing with the tower. He never leaves it, but every once in a while he goes out for a change. But then during one of his few trips, someone attacks and the tower defense mode starts. It therefore becomes imperative for our mage to regain the building. But for that he will have to defeat many levels and especially be accompanied by a woman who knows how to deal with a sword, unlike him, to help him in this quest. Yet this mission could be more to him than he would have originally thought.

Our two heroes are pretty cute together and we are sure that their relationship will evolve fast enough. I was quite intrigued by the character of Kerric. He is a different kind of hero that we can seen in literature, he is not the best or the biggest or even the strongest, but he also has many things for him. And despite his lack of assets, he never gives up and accept the person he is to highlight his advantages. Regarding her companion, she is shy and yet also knows what she wants. Kerric and this woman are very different and yet they complement each other perfectly both. But I admit it was difficult for me to be interested into the characters or about their quest. I think I didn’t really manage to get into the story or to be swept away by the rhythm of the novel. It’s a shame because the ideas are good and the steps to the tower were also intriguing. I didn’t really get into the novel to be able to appreciate the subtleties. But I ‘m sure the book will appeal to other persons!

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Setting: Nightfall Castle, Empire of Nightfall; Valley of the Tower and Tower Village aka Penambrion - Eastern Aiar; Adventuring Hall (next door to tower); Honey Spear – bar & food; farmer’s market, Sendale; mirror-gates that connect the regions for travel – Guildhall, Sendale;

Theme: retake control of the Tower, quest through various levels (kinda like a video game); growing a relationship;

Characters:
Kerric Vo Mos: Guardian of the Tower, Master Mage, author of books;

Narahan Myal: adventurer/warrior; numerous magical tattoos to evoke strength and power;

Jessina: in charge of the Tower when the master off; mage;

Summary:
The Tower – people pay to adventure through the rooms (like our video games), for a chance to gather treasures, and like any reality show today, people around the world pay to watch; the Guardian maintain and grow the Tower; and it seems someone is trying to take control of the Tower on the one day Kerric goes on holiday, and the Tower goes into defense mode… necessitating Kerric to travel to the top of the tower, to the fountain, to regain control… and he takes Narahan with him – a proven adventurer.

Along the way, they become friends, their respect grows, and their passion grows (knowing it would be capitalized on in one of the rooms)…

In the end they connect with Nightfall castle… the fountain mages uniting to protect their power, and their respective peoples…

Memorable scenes:
Hourglass Pit…Herding Cats (getting the cats all onto the same rug at the same time)… Canal Trap (like It’s a Small world to the nth degree – and fingers in the other’s ear, and kissing to distract from the songs)… Banqueting Hall – only fighting can be done with food… Hairy Naked Thing (randomly rushes at you in different halls and rooms)… Seven Minutes of Heaven and Anything but the Bed… sex…

Kerric is short, Nyah is tall - and in a matter of fact way, they work through the challenges and rewards of their difference.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

New Prophecy Rhyme Starts Another Series Connected with Nightfall

This is the first of a connected series following the gathering of priests, priestess, worshipers and other religious leaders to the Convocation of the Gods which was held on the Isle of Nightfall. This particular book focuses on the Master of the Tower who is a Fountain Guardian. The attack on the Memmnon Fountain which is covered in The Flame, has repercussions that effect the Tower Fountain. This causes the Tower Guardian to be caught locked outside while all the lethal defenses are activated. To regain control he has to navigate the dangers with a female warrior. This presents its own danger, the possibility of love.

Interesting idea and set up was fun but began to go on with the obstacles too long. Definitely felt like reading about a action game which isn't as fun as playing one. The villains spiced it up, but again were eliminated too fast and not enough real danger. The developing love story was primary throughout, gentle with a slow buildup, rather different for a fantasy romance series. This is readable as a standalone, but would be best appreciated after reading the Sons Of Destiny Series, particularly The Flame, The Storm and The Master as those events and characters interact especially towards the end.

I am delighted that Jean Johnson has continued writing about Nightfall. Thank you.

[Sophia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a reasonably entertaining fantasy/romance novel that's mostly fluff, with little depth. The plot wasn't inordinately interesting, although admittedly enough so to keep my attention for the entirety of the novel. The plot reads a bit like a video- or tabletop-game fanfiction; a lot of the traps sounded like what you might encounter in such a game, which made them come accross as contrived in the context of a novel. The prose leaves much to desired; I've read worse, but I've read many, many better novels. In particular, this book falls into the trap that many lesser fantasy novels fall into, of being set in a pseudo-medieval time but using modern slang and expressions, as well as allusions to things that would not (yet) exist in the novel's world (one example: one trap was called "One Foot, Two Foot, Red Foot, Blue Foot - an obvious allusion to something modern-day in our wold). I'm not a good judge of how the romance/sex was written, as I'm not a fan of either; however, from what I could tell, the sex scenes were steamy but the language used a bit awkward. The romance, though happening a bit fast, was at least believable.

I think my favorite part of this novel was the world-building. The world portrayed was a clever representation of what a fairly high-tech world, but using magic instead of our technology, would look like.

Overall, this book is a quick and entertaining read, but don't expect any depth or genius from it.

[Lady Lioness · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, so I'm going to be very honest right now and say that one star of this rating is solely because the hero is shorter than the heroine. I love books where the author doesn't kowtow to 'normal' romance physiological traits and a short hero definitely breaks from the norm. It does get a little cutesy at times with the different trials, one of which is clearly an imitation of Disney's Small World Ride.

This is not really a book for non-Johnson fans. The Tower is set before the events of the Sons of Destiny's The Mage, but also a bit co-currently at the same time, if that makes any sense. I think Johnson was hoping that, with a new prophecy kicking off a new series, that it might draw in new readers, but I feel it's still too tied in with Sons of Destiny. I wouldn't advise reading The Tower if you aren't familiar with the other series.

[Aaron Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book in the romance section, though it could easily have been in fantasy instead. It's a fun and easy read: not epic in scope, but has a good amount of world building.

Where it might fail to attract people is that it has too little romance for romance fans and too much for fantasy fanatics. Personally, I thought it was a perfect blend, as it provides a solid telling of a quest through the tower without ever seeming like erotica (as many PNR books seem to do).

It won't blow your mind, as it's lighthearted throughout, but the characters are well developed and relatable. I thought the "don't want children" aspect was pushed just a bit much by the end, but that's a minor quibble.

Anyone who wants a solid fantasy book with an interesting world and a fair bit of romantic charm should check it out. I'll be back in December for The Grove.

[Covergirls Bookclub · Rating 4 out of 5]

The majority of the book involves the hero and heroine battling through rooms to regain control of The Tower. This is a completely different world and there isn't much background provided for how the world structured. However, that works with the story as the action is almost exclusively within The Tower. This is the same world as Jean Johnson’s previous series, The Sons of Destiny. The first chapter seems to connect the two; but after that, the book was focused on the story at hand. Looking forward to The Grove (second in this series). It was a refreshing change to see the switch with having the woman being the tall, strong warrior. The hero, Kerric, isn't exactly weak either and did his share of kicking butt with his magic. We gave this an 8 out of 10 rating.

[Lyndi W.]

This book jumps right into things and I've no clue what's happening. Nothing makes sense. I've only made it 5% and I'm sure things are easier to understand the further you get into the story - I don't have the patience right now. The story sounds interesting from what I've read in the blurb and reviews, but I think your brain needs to be functioning at 100% to tackle this world. I'm currently running around 65%. So, I shall try again later.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed it a lot!! I also loved the tie in to the Sons of Destiny series!! If there was a down size to the story at all, it was that the over all peril and danger seemed a bit more relaxed than in the other books set in this world. I found it hard to seriously consider the tower itself in any sort of real danger.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although the first book started out a bit slow to capture me, the more I read , the more I was captivated. Each book drew me further in and found me buying the next one. The characters were well drawn and the plots were crafted well. I really enjoyed the first four books in this series and hope that the last four get written.

[Tarran · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is a great continuation of the Son's of Destiny series. My only gripe is the description of all the traps in the tower. I kinda skipped some of those passages.

Other than that, I loved it!

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read. A great follow up to the Sons of Destiny series. I agree with another comment or that it does read like a video game. There is a certain amount of fun, irreverence that makes me look forward to the next book.

[JB · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love jean's alternative world. Just another great story in a long line of i hope to be continuing for a long time.

[Medley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I HATE reality tv, and this story's premise is the magical version of Survivor. I liked the quest and romance portions of the story, though, and look forward to the others in the series.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yay! My copy came early! I loved it.

[Kacey4kc · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed it although at times it does read like the script of a computer game.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars