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The Kan Ingan Archives #5
Downfall
At the age of nineteen, Barbara Sheffield is stunned to learn she’s not her parents’ daughter but the child of Aric kan Ingan, Margrave of Arcanis, and not only that, she has a twin brother. Soon, she’s on her way to a joyous reunion with the father she has never known, but there are others on Arcanis who aren’t so glad to meet the Margrave’s long-lost child, including Aric’s second wife, Dr. Susan Moran. Dazzled with her new family and charmed by her handsome but spoiled twin, Barbara finds herself falling in love with Eden san Gene, the young White Shield sent to escort her from Earth. When vengeful forces trigger treachery and madness, Eden’s love may not be enough to protect her from the wickedness hidden within Aljansur Palace’s walls.
348 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 25, 2013
About the author
Toni V. Sweeney
92 books45 followersToni V. Sweeney a.k.a. T.S. Snow and Savannah Scarborough
Toni V. Sweeney specializes in SF/fantasy stories, though she has written in other genres as well.
Her western novels NEBRASKA: Walk the Shadow Trail placed 1st in Historical Romance at the 2015 Paranormal Guild's Reviewers Choice awards and 2nd in Other Novels at the Preditors & Editors Readers Poll; NEBRASKA: Vengeance from Eden was a Top 10 finisher in the 2014 Preditors & Editors Readers Poll. She also placed in the Top 10 Authors for 2015 from that same poll.
In 2014, TUESDAY'S CHILD (by Icy Snow Blackstone) won 1st in Contemporary Romance at the Paranormal Romance Guild's Reviewer's Choice awards.
THE EARTHMAN'S BRIDE (writing as Icy Snow Blackstone), re-released by Class Act Books in May, 2012, placed first in Alternate Romance/SF Division in the Maryland Romance Writer's Contest "Reveal Your Inner Vixen in 2008. JERICHO ROAD (also authored as Icy Snow Blackstone), placed 7th in the National Writers Association's Novel Contest in 1997.
Under her own name, Toni writes SciFi/fantasy and space opera and the occasional horror and romance novel. Writing as Icy Snow Blackstone, she authors romance novels. She is currently promotion manager for Class Act Books. She has reviewed books for 2 Lips reviews and at present is on the review staff of the New York Journal of Books and the Paranormal Romance Guild. She was recently named a professional reader by netgalley.com.
Her trailers are featured on Youtube.com.
Toni V. Sweeney specializes in SF/fantasy stories, though she has written in other genres as well.
Her western novels NEBRASKA: Walk the Shadow Trail placed 1st in Historical Romance at the 2015 Paranormal Guild's Reviewers Choice awards and 2nd in Other Novels at the Preditors & Editors Readers Poll; NEBRASKA: Vengeance from Eden was a Top 10 finisher in the 2014 Preditors & Editors Readers Poll. She also placed in the Top 10 Authors for 2015 from that same poll.
In 2014, TUESDAY'S CHILD (by Icy Snow Blackstone) won 1st in Contemporary Romance at the Paranormal Romance Guild's Reviewer's Choice awards.
THE EARTHMAN'S BRIDE (writing as Icy Snow Blackstone), re-released by Class Act Books in May, 2012, placed first in Alternate Romance/SF Division in the Maryland Romance Writer's Contest "Reveal Your Inner Vixen in 2008. JERICHO ROAD (also authored as Icy Snow Blackstone), placed 7th in the National Writers Association's Novel Contest in 1997.
Under her own name, Toni writes SciFi/fantasy and space opera and the occasional horror and romance novel. Writing as Icy Snow Blackstone, she authors romance novels. She is currently promotion manager for Class Act Books. She has reviewed books for 2 Lips reviews and at present is on the review staff of the New York Journal of Books and the Paranormal Romance Guild. She was recently named a professional reader by netgalley.com.
Her trailers are featured on Youtube.com.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 7, 2013
Aric kan Ingan, from the first book of this enchanting series, has been a tortured hero. We readers have moved from Sinner, through Exile, Return, and Retribution, and have watched Aric grow to be a man larger than life. In his lifetime, he has known great love, treachery, and has suffered great losses. He was born of privilege, on the planet Arcanis, the heir to the Margrave. We have watched Aric learn from his teachers to always give up his wants, and give his first thought to his country.
Toni Sweeney has taken me by the hand on this incredible journey. I adore this tall stately red headed man who I know better than most of my friends. I know his imperfections, his inner thoughts and still I accept and love the person he is.
I could not put down this book. This book was a very tough read for me. When we left Aric last, he was so distraught in Retribution, I had fears I might never see him again.
This story was even darker, in even more ways, than some of the others. We are now dealing with the next generation. Riven, Aric’s son and heir, is a spoiled, scary, psychopath. The return of his daughter Barbara, Riven’s twin was poignant, and tender, a far cry from when Aric cast her out of his life giving her to longtime friend Miles Sheffield to raise; while taking Riven in a frenzy of pain after losing their mother in childbirth.
It is nineteen years later, and Barbara is plagued with nightmares. Miles tells her of her father on Arcanis, and the overjoyed Aric upon hearing from her sends Eden san Gene, as messenger to escort her to visit Arcanis. The man who had uttered those horrible words casting his baby daughter out of his life were regretted immediately; but Aric was too proud to contact Miles. The reunion on Arcanis was wonderful for Father, Daughter and the reader.
The White Night, Eden, was infatuated with Barbara. His family was in the Margrave’s hierarchy and his father was Aric’s most trusted friend and advisor. Still the young man was fearful to talk to her of his feelings. On the ship traveling back to Arcanis, the matter became something we would need to address. Dark things were waiting in Arcanis, and Barbara had no idea of what would befall her.
I devoured this story as Miles Sheffield, another wonderful friend of this saga, was in it as well. Ms Sweeney has Aric and Miles meet and their conversations fill the reader in on what has transpired in both men's lives through the missing years they have been separated. Both have married, both have children and now they are joking about being middle aged. What a wonderful reunion.
But we know Ms Sweeney, and things are never what they seem. The past merges with the future. Things that we have read in this series and the prior Riven the Heretic series come looming towards changing the future. Again the treachery and evil live in the castle, and we watch with horror as the story unfolds. Our author takes us into the mind of a spoiled over indulged young heir who has no morals, no thought for anything other than his wants and needs. His step mother Dr. Susan, has changed as well and we fear she has possibly either created this or fed his illness. Her first son Auric, a few years older than Riven has been given the pitiful task as trying to be his brothers conscience.
In the final scenes of this well told story, we cry for all of them. Aric,who is now “the father” having to watch his son be charged with crimes which mean his possible death, was stunning. To be in the same tower rooms where Aric was many years ago, was heartbreaking. Ms Sweeney is certainly the master of wringing out your heart. The extreme that Auric took, to apologize for not being the one to stop his brother Riven was even more heartbreaking.
I cannot say enough for this series or this author. It is a must read!!!
Review by Gloria Lakritz
Sr Reviewer and Review Chair of the Paranormal Romance Guild Review Team
*This story is Mature. Author took on a mature theme of incestuous/rape although not fade to black was not graphic.
Toni Sweeney has taken me by the hand on this incredible journey. I adore this tall stately red headed man who I know better than most of my friends. I know his imperfections, his inner thoughts and still I accept and love the person he is.
I could not put down this book. This book was a very tough read for me. When we left Aric last, he was so distraught in Retribution, I had fears I might never see him again.
This story was even darker, in even more ways, than some of the others. We are now dealing with the next generation. Riven, Aric’s son and heir, is a spoiled, scary, psychopath. The return of his daughter Barbara, Riven’s twin was poignant, and tender, a far cry from when Aric cast her out of his life giving her to longtime friend Miles Sheffield to raise; while taking Riven in a frenzy of pain after losing their mother in childbirth.
It is nineteen years later, and Barbara is plagued with nightmares. Miles tells her of her father on Arcanis, and the overjoyed Aric upon hearing from her sends Eden san Gene, as messenger to escort her to visit Arcanis. The man who had uttered those horrible words casting his baby daughter out of his life were regretted immediately; but Aric was too proud to contact Miles. The reunion on Arcanis was wonderful for Father, Daughter and the reader.
The White Night, Eden, was infatuated with Barbara. His family was in the Margrave’s hierarchy and his father was Aric’s most trusted friend and advisor. Still the young man was fearful to talk to her of his feelings. On the ship traveling back to Arcanis, the matter became something we would need to address. Dark things were waiting in Arcanis, and Barbara had no idea of what would befall her.
I devoured this story as Miles Sheffield, another wonderful friend of this saga, was in it as well. Ms Sweeney has Aric and Miles meet and their conversations fill the reader in on what has transpired in both men's lives through the missing years they have been separated. Both have married, both have children and now they are joking about being middle aged. What a wonderful reunion.
But we know Ms Sweeney, and things are never what they seem. The past merges with the future. Things that we have read in this series and the prior Riven the Heretic series come looming towards changing the future. Again the treachery and evil live in the castle, and we watch with horror as the story unfolds. Our author takes us into the mind of a spoiled over indulged young heir who has no morals, no thought for anything other than his wants and needs. His step mother Dr. Susan, has changed as well and we fear she has possibly either created this or fed his illness. Her first son Auric, a few years older than Riven has been given the pitiful task as trying to be his brothers conscience.
In the final scenes of this well told story, we cry for all of them. Aric,who is now “the father” having to watch his son be charged with crimes which mean his possible death, was stunning. To be in the same tower rooms where Aric was many years ago, was heartbreaking. Ms Sweeney is certainly the master of wringing out your heart. The extreme that Auric took, to apologize for not being the one to stop his brother Riven was even more heartbreaking.
I cannot say enough for this series or this author. It is a must read!!!
Review by Gloria Lakritz
Sr Reviewer and Review Chair of the Paranormal Romance Guild Review Team
*This story is Mature. Author took on a mature theme of incestuous/rape although not fade to black was not graphic.
February 8, 2013
5*****Stars
Aric kan Ingan, from the first book of this enchanting series, has been a tortured hero. We readers have moved from Sinner, through Exile, Return, and Retribution, and have watched Aric grow to be a man larger than life. In his lifetime, he has known great love, treachery, and has suffered great losses. He was born of privilege, on the planet Arcanis, the heir to the Margrave. We have watched Aric learn from his teachers to always give up his wants, and give his first thought to his country.
Toni Sweeney has taken me by the hand on this incredible journey. I adore this tall stately red headed man who I know better than most of my friends. I know his imperfections, his inner thoughts and still I accept and love the person he is.
I could not put down this book. This book was a very tough read for me. When we left Aric last, he was so distraught in Retribution, I had fears I might never see him again.
This story was even darker, in even more ways, than some of the others. We are now dealing with the next generation. Riven, Aric's son and heir, is a spoiled, scary, psychopath. The return of his daughter Barbara, Riven's twin was poignant, and tender, a far cry from when Aric cast her out of his life giving her to longtime friend Miles Sheffield to raise; while taking Riven in a frenzy of pain after losing their mother in childbirth.
It is nineteen years later, and Barbara is plagued with nightmares. Miles tells her of her father on Arcanis, and the overjoyed Aric upon hearing from her sends Eden san Gene, as messenger to escort her to visit Arcanis. The man who had uttered those horrible words casting his baby daughter out of his life were regretted immediately; but Aric was too proud to contact Miles. The reunion on Arcanis was wonderful for Father, Daughter and the reader.
The White Night, Eden, was infatuated with Barbara. His family was in the Margrave's hierarchy and his father was Aric's most trusted friend and advisor. Still the young man was fearful to talk to her of his feelings. On the ship traveling back to Arcanis, the matter became something we would need to address. Dark things were waiting in Arcanis, and Barbara had no idea of what would befall her.
I devoured this story as Miles Sheffield, another wonderful friend of this saga, was in it as well. Ms Sweeney has Aric and Miles meet and their conversations fill the reader in on what has transpired in both men's lives through the missing years they have been separated. Both have married, both have children and now they are joking about being middle aged. What a wonderful reunion.
But we know Ms Sweeney, and things are never what they seem. The past merges with the future. Things that we have read in this series and the prior Riven the Heretic series come looming towards changing the future. Again the treachery and evil live in the castle, and we watch with horror as the story unfolds. Our author takes us into the mind of a spoiled over indulged young heir who has no morals, no thought for anything other than his wants and needs. His step mother Dr. Susan, has changed as well and we fear she has possibly either created this or fed his illness. Her first son Auric, a few years older than Riven has been given the pitiful task as trying to be his brothers conscience.
In the final scenes of this well told story, we cry for all of them. Aric,who is now "the father" having to watch his son be charged with crimes which mean his possible death, was stunning. To be in the same tower rooms where Aric was many years ago, was heartbreaking. Ms Sweeney is certainly the master of wringing out your heart. The extreme that Auric took, to apologize for not being the one to stop his brother Riven was even more heartbreaking.
I cannot say enough for this series or this author. It is a must read!!!
Review by Gloria Lakritz
Sr Reviewer and Review Chair of the Paranormal Romance Guild Review Team
*This story is Mature. Author took on a mature theme of incestuous/rape although not fade to black was not graphic.
Comment |
Looking for voting buttons? Sorry, we don't let customers vote on their own reviews.
Aric kan Ingan, from the first book of this enchanting series, has been a tortured hero. We readers have moved from Sinner, through Exile, Return, and Retribution, and have watched Aric grow to be a man larger than life. In his lifetime, he has known great love, treachery, and has suffered great losses. He was born of privilege, on the planet Arcanis, the heir to the Margrave. We have watched Aric learn from his teachers to always give up his wants, and give his first thought to his country.
Toni Sweeney has taken me by the hand on this incredible journey. I adore this tall stately red headed man who I know better than most of my friends. I know his imperfections, his inner thoughts and still I accept and love the person he is.
I could not put down this book. This book was a very tough read for me. When we left Aric last, he was so distraught in Retribution, I had fears I might never see him again.
This story was even darker, in even more ways, than some of the others. We are now dealing with the next generation. Riven, Aric's son and heir, is a spoiled, scary, psychopath. The return of his daughter Barbara, Riven's twin was poignant, and tender, a far cry from when Aric cast her out of his life giving her to longtime friend Miles Sheffield to raise; while taking Riven in a frenzy of pain after losing their mother in childbirth.
It is nineteen years later, and Barbara is plagued with nightmares. Miles tells her of her father on Arcanis, and the overjoyed Aric upon hearing from her sends Eden san Gene, as messenger to escort her to visit Arcanis. The man who had uttered those horrible words casting his baby daughter out of his life were regretted immediately; but Aric was too proud to contact Miles. The reunion on Arcanis was wonderful for Father, Daughter and the reader.
The White Night, Eden, was infatuated with Barbara. His family was in the Margrave's hierarchy and his father was Aric's most trusted friend and advisor. Still the young man was fearful to talk to her of his feelings. On the ship traveling back to Arcanis, the matter became something we would need to address. Dark things were waiting in Arcanis, and Barbara had no idea of what would befall her.
I devoured this story as Miles Sheffield, another wonderful friend of this saga, was in it as well. Ms Sweeney has Aric and Miles meet and their conversations fill the reader in on what has transpired in both men's lives through the missing years they have been separated. Both have married, both have children and now they are joking about being middle aged. What a wonderful reunion.
But we know Ms Sweeney, and things are never what they seem. The past merges with the future. Things that we have read in this series and the prior Riven the Heretic series come looming towards changing the future. Again the treachery and evil live in the castle, and we watch with horror as the story unfolds. Our author takes us into the mind of a spoiled over indulged young heir who has no morals, no thought for anything other than his wants and needs. His step mother Dr. Susan, has changed as well and we fear she has possibly either created this or fed his illness. Her first son Auric, a few years older than Riven has been given the pitiful task as trying to be his brothers conscience.
In the final scenes of this well told story, we cry for all of them. Aric,who is now "the father" having to watch his son be charged with crimes which mean his possible death, was stunning. To be in the same tower rooms where Aric was many years ago, was heartbreaking. Ms Sweeney is certainly the master of wringing out your heart. The extreme that Auric took, to apologize for not being the one to stop his brother Riven was even more heartbreaking.
I cannot say enough for this series or this author. It is a must read!!!
Review by Gloria Lakritz
Sr Reviewer and Review Chair of the Paranormal Romance Guild Review Team
*This story is Mature. Author took on a mature theme of incestuous/rape although not fade to black was not graphic.
Comment |
Looking for voting buttons? Sorry, we don't let customers vote on their own reviews.
February 9, 2013
Aric kan Ingan was thrilled when his beloved wife Pallas became pregnant with a son to carry on the family legacy. When Pallas goes into labor, things go bad. After their son is delivered, she dies giving birth to his twin sister. Overcome with grief, Aric blames Pallas’ death on their daughter and wanting no reminders that she killed his beloved, he gives her into the care of Pallas’ uncle and his best friend, Miles. She can live on one condition, Miles must take her away and Aric must never hear another word about her.
Miles takes the baby, named Barbara, back to Terrin. He and his wife raise her along with their children as their own. Nineteen years later, Miles finds he must tell Barbara the truth about her heritage. Upon learning Miles and Debra are not her birth parents, but that she is the daughter of Aric kan Ingan, Margrave of Arcanis, she insists on sending him a letter and asks to meet him. Aric sends an emissary, Eden san Gene, to escort Barbara and Miles to Arcanis and to act as her bodyguard on the trip. Miles, Barbara, her older brother Mark and Eden embark on their journey to Arcanis and into a future that no one could have predicted, full of intrigue and pain it could lead to the downfall of everything that Aric and Miles fought for years ago.
I have followed Ms. Sweeney’s kan Ingan saga starting with the Heritic series, into the kan Ingan legacy and even past that into the future and each time a new book came out, I would wonder where she was leading me this time. I knew she was going to give me story worth reading, she was going to make me angry, she was going to bring me to tears and take me on a journey that would leave me wanting more. And, yes, she has done just that and so much more. She brings more than the heart stopping pain and action that has become the signature of this series, this time she brings darkness and madness so intense that at times I had to look away from fear of being overwhelmed with it.
I fell in love/hate with Aric from almost the first moment I met him, I’ve followed him through all his pain and anguish and I knew there was a good chance my time with him was coming to an end. I was pleasantly surprised to see him in this book, albeit as a secondary character but there none the less. Reunited with Dr. Susan, and a son – Auric - who he never knew he had, Aric built back up his beloved planet of Arcanis into what he wanted it to be.
This book is the legacy he created focusing on his children Barbara, Auric and Riven, Barbara’s twin. Auric and Riven were raised together but it was always understood that as crown prince, Riven was the special one. Auric follows him beyond question, a peaceful man he attempts to be Riven’s conscience but rarely succeeds. For his part, saying Riven is special is putting it mildly, he is entitled, at times cruel and a very disturbed young man. Of the three, Barbara is the most grounded, innocent in some ways she is still a strong woman full of life and very much like the ancestor she is named after. The three create a triangle of love, hate, jealousy and so much pain it’s almost unbearable.
With this book, Ms. Sweeney took this series in a direction I could never have guessed was coming and I’ll be the first to admit I’m not sure I’m totally comfortable with. There are scenes in this book that might be disturbing to some; there is a rape/incest scene that while not explicit is not fade to black either. Not to worry though, there is still plenty of intrigue, battles, and tears to keep the fans of this series occupied and while I’m a little hesitant on the direction Ms. Sweeney took the book in, I’ll be breathlessly awaiting the next one.
Member of the Paranormal Romance Guild Dual Review Team
Miles takes the baby, named Barbara, back to Terrin. He and his wife raise her along with their children as their own. Nineteen years later, Miles finds he must tell Barbara the truth about her heritage. Upon learning Miles and Debra are not her birth parents, but that she is the daughter of Aric kan Ingan, Margrave of Arcanis, she insists on sending him a letter and asks to meet him. Aric sends an emissary, Eden san Gene, to escort Barbara and Miles to Arcanis and to act as her bodyguard on the trip. Miles, Barbara, her older brother Mark and Eden embark on their journey to Arcanis and into a future that no one could have predicted, full of intrigue and pain it could lead to the downfall of everything that Aric and Miles fought for years ago.
I have followed Ms. Sweeney’s kan Ingan saga starting with the Heritic series, into the kan Ingan legacy and even past that into the future and each time a new book came out, I would wonder where she was leading me this time. I knew she was going to give me story worth reading, she was going to make me angry, she was going to bring me to tears and take me on a journey that would leave me wanting more. And, yes, she has done just that and so much more. She brings more than the heart stopping pain and action that has become the signature of this series, this time she brings darkness and madness so intense that at times I had to look away from fear of being overwhelmed with it.
I fell in love/hate with Aric from almost the first moment I met him, I’ve followed him through all his pain and anguish and I knew there was a good chance my time with him was coming to an end. I was pleasantly surprised to see him in this book, albeit as a secondary character but there none the less. Reunited with Dr. Susan, and a son – Auric - who he never knew he had, Aric built back up his beloved planet of Arcanis into what he wanted it to be.
This book is the legacy he created focusing on his children Barbara, Auric and Riven, Barbara’s twin. Auric and Riven were raised together but it was always understood that as crown prince, Riven was the special one. Auric follows him beyond question, a peaceful man he attempts to be Riven’s conscience but rarely succeeds. For his part, saying Riven is special is putting it mildly, he is entitled, at times cruel and a very disturbed young man. Of the three, Barbara is the most grounded, innocent in some ways she is still a strong woman full of life and very much like the ancestor she is named after. The three create a triangle of love, hate, jealousy and so much pain it’s almost unbearable.
With this book, Ms. Sweeney took this series in a direction I could never have guessed was coming and I’ll be the first to admit I’m not sure I’m totally comfortable with. There are scenes in this book that might be disturbing to some; there is a rape/incest scene that while not explicit is not fade to black either. Not to worry though, there is still plenty of intrigue, battles, and tears to keep the fans of this series occupied and while I’m a little hesitant on the direction Ms. Sweeney took the book in, I’ll be breathlessly awaiting the next one.
Member of the Paranormal Romance Guild Dual Review Team
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews