The Twin Blades

The LeNoir Legacy

by Cristen J. Faulkenberry, Cristen Jennette

What was locked can be unlocked, even without the key.

Xannan LeNoir, heir to the Orda'anian throne, and his twin Gailin believed true peace had been attained when the three major races agreed to create Praesidio. Meant to represent continent-wide peace, the weapon cleaved in two during its blessing and left one sword for each of the LeNoir twins.

As the three races attempt to understand what went wrong, Xannan and Gailin must learn how best to use the abilities they earned on that fateful day. While Xannan can relive the past, Gailin can see hints of the future.

Though neither wished for their gifts, the LeNoir twins must learn to work together lest they destroy their legacy before it has a chance to thrive.

The Twin Blades is set in the same world as The LeNoir Legacy trilogy; however, you can read The Twin Blades as an introduction to the series or after A Fractured Legacy, book 2 of the trilogy.

260 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 14, 2023

About the author

Cristen Jennette (formerly Faulkenberry) is a fantasy author, avid reader, and high school English teacher. She’s spent many evenings with her nose stuck in a book, and almost as many at the computer. Cristen currently lives in Northwest Missouri with her young son.

Find her on Instagram or Facebook with the username @dragonheartbookworm. You can also check out her website where you can be the first to learn about her newest release.

Reviews

[Shia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve always been fascinated with plots involving twins and this fantasy novel really exceeded my expectations! I loved the blending of the twin blades with the twin characters and how they intertwined with one another. Add to that the magic… the elves… the DRAGONS! I need to know what happens! What sort of chaos will the magic cause?? What is the ultimate goal of the elves??? This is a prequel and it did its job of hooking me into wanting to delve into the rest of the series!

[Therissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC. At the core of this story are two brothers both given an incredible gift. In this prequel we see how magic, power and intrigue and a great loss tore a family apart. We get to see the birth of the twin blades, Praeteritum and Futurae, which was fascinating to read with the dragons and magic. Things begin to unravel as Xannan begins to exhibit abilities beyond what was expected, cofounding even the Elves. Gailin is left torn between his brother and father, putting him in an impossible position. The deep involvement of the elves makes me wonder what the endgame actually is and who is really orchestrating what is going on. To what end is magic going to continue to wreak havoc and I can’t wait to find out. This has become one of my favorites series and to read how everything began was great to see and there is still more to explore in this world in the past and present.

[SI Vann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Since I have not been reading Book 1 and 2 of A LeNoir Legacy yet, this is the start of the series for me. It’s a bit confusing since the world is wholly unknown and the author doesn’t easily give away the answers. One has to piece together a lot from the conversations the main characters have with themselves since the conversations they have amongst each other do not reveal as much as one would hope. Much remains a mystery though and I wish the author would reveal a bit more so the reader isn’t left wondering what’s going on so often.

The twins, princes and brothers, have a relationship which seems a bit unusual for twins –more akin to regular siblings with all the bickering and jealousy that comes with it. Their story however went down a path I didn’t expect, but it made me curious for Book 1. It’s definitely a recommendation for anyone who likes fantasies filled with magic, dragons, love and a lot of action.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kat M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been enjoying the Twin Blades series since the first book, it was what I was hoping for from the rest of the books. It worked as a prequel but also as another entry in the series. The characters were what I was hoping for and had the same writing style that I enjoyed from the previous books.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Delphia Von Heeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Twin Blades is Book 0.5 in A LeNoir Legacy Story hy Cristen J Faulkenberry. I thought that the story was an enjoyable fantasy, but, I like the background the author gives. We read about the forging of the twin blades and how one twin disappeared. If you are reading and enjoying the series, like am, you will love the prequel! I received an arc for free am leaving my review voluntarily.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great prequel to the Lenoir Legacy series. I have been reading this series and appreciate the background to how it all began. Magic and intrigue always make for a great escape. This authors writing style is quite enjoyable.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Lirio · Rating 5 out of 5]

So let me start of by saying if I begin a series I usually never read the prequel because like I used to say “I already know what happens”…..HOWEVER (YES ALL IN CAPS) I WAS VERY WRONG!! Especially after reading The Twin Blades!!!!! This book was exceptional if you read it in book order or after either Book 1,2, and I imagine soon Book 3. The story covers a lot but puts so many things into perspective and even fills in some of the blanks while leaving a TON OF MYSTERY throughout and at the end! I am SO VERY HAPPY I broke my rule of no prequel and giving all the credit to author Cristen Jennette because now I have to see what prequels I have missed from other authors….Hopefully they are just as Great!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Stephen Prendergast · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Twin Blades by Cristen J. Faulkenberry is a prequel to the author’s LeNoir series of books that begins with The LeNoir Legacy. As a prequel, someone who has never read any of the main books should be able to navigate the plot with relative ease, and this was mostly true for me. The story begins with the LeNoir twins, Xannan and Gailin, accompanying their parents, King Seth and Queen Dana of Orda’an, to a cave for a blessing of the crystalline sword Praesidio by the dragons Eilon and Magna. However, something goes horribly wrong in the process and the sword is cleaved into two matching swords - one for each twin.

The story then jumps ahead five years and follows Xannan and Gailin as they struggle to protect the realm their father has created. Troubles abound, both without Orda’an and within, and the plot twists and turns its way forward to a “conclusion” that is really only a tease of what might come later. Love and hope contend with pain and loss for the brothers and their family, and secrets abound.

For me, this book was enjoyable, and I will read it again in the future, but it was not completely satisfying. As I mentioned before, this is a prequel to the main series, but there were many hints of “past” events in the life of King Seth that may have been better understood had I read the other books first. I kept waiting for some of my questions about the history of Orda’an to be answered, but they never were. In addition, I felt the final chapters of the book rushed to the end faster than I wanted, leaving even more questions. I imagine this was to encourage readers to continue on to the main series, but it left me more than a little disappointed.

For those who have read the LeNoir Legacy series, I expect that this will be an enjoyable dive into the background of the conflict that drives those books. For those like myself who have not, it may be more advisable to read at least the first book before jumping into The Twin Blades.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Miza · Rating 5 out of 5]

I guess i could call the book as a light reading book because the plot is almost straight forward. There is not much of conflict happening… there is not much wondering to ponder. Overall its an easy journey.
I received an e-advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Twin Blades is a fantasy story by author Cristen Jennette. The Twin Blades is set in the same world as The LeNoir Legacy trilogy; however, you can read The Twin Blades as an introduction to the series or after A Fractured Legacy, book 2 of the trilogy. Though it can be read on it's own, I think it is best for readers of The LeNoir Legacy Trilogy. I read it as an introduction to the series, and though I found myself lost at moments, it was not overly confusing, and it gave a nice world history of the world that Cristen Jeannette created for the LeNoir Trilogy. I enjoyed this story and would love to continue on with the original series.

In The Twin Blades we meet our main characters, twins Xannan and Gailin, who were gifting twin swords, named Praeteritum and Futurae. Along with the swords came some special abilities-Xannan can relive the past, Gailin can see hints of the future. My favorite aspect of this story was learning about these abilities. I believe that the twin Blades play an important role in the subsequent trilogy so it was cool to learn more about them and how they impacted Xannon and Gailin and their relationship, not only with the swords but also with each other.

This book is great for fans of epic fantasy featuring elves and dragons. Overall, this was a quick fantasy read that is best enjoyed as part of the larger LeNoir Trilogy. It gave me a new foundation to the world, the magic system and the characters, and made me excited to dive into the trilogy.

[Yvonne van der Fluit · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

If this book was to be a movie it would have to need to warn for flashing scenes. The speed in wich you go from one scene to the other from one pov to the other is like running with the flash. I couldnt keep up, I was confused and mixed up while reading this. I wanted to dnf but didn't, I did however read a few pages every now and then. Normally I can't stop reading but with this book I had to.

I didnt get most of the relations between caracters, didnt understand why they behaved towards each other the way they did. As thisnis the first book in a serie it should have more explaining and world building.

For example they have been sent somewhere they need to fight of war (apparantly). The next you read: they are fighting. The next: they are home.. what happens in between? How do they find the opposite?

The twins are confusing too, do they like eacht other or not? Why hating the elfs?

Maybe this book has a better place once you read the first book in the series. I am not gonna find out. I will stick to the books that sucks me in before the 50% hits.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a bit confusing. The writing itself is well done. And the concept for the book was good. I enjoyed the first half of the book but then things felt like they got off track. I feel like the first half of the book was very well thought out but the second half was pieces together ideas. Had the book continued like the first half it would have been a five star book for sure. For me the author needs to be more clear with what they are trying to convey and make it flow better. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Becki Pritchard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such an exciting and illuminating insight into the history of this world and these characters. I loved getting to know both Xannan and Gailin in this capacity and their interactions with eachother! The action, romance and deceit definitely added depth and explanation to the series! 👌

I also, once again, adored @dragonheartbookworm’s attention to detail in regards to world building and character connections. ✨

All in all, a FABULOUS prequel to a brilliant series. I cannot wait for more of this world and these characters in the future. 🥹

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating prequel that gives insights about a major character in the series. I appreciate how the author helps explain some of the reasoning behind the character's actions but does not remove all responsibility for him. And now I want a prequel to the prequel!! So many questions…. (and for me this is a good thing, for the most part.)

I'm looking forward to the next part… wherever in the timeline of the series it shows up…

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Cristen Cagle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had a lot of fun writing this one. It was interesting to delve further into the history of the LeNoir's and of the world. What I enjoyed most about writing this installment was writing the relationship between twin brothers Xannan and Gailin.

Hope you all enjoy getting to know Xannan and Gailin more as well! And if this your introduction to them, welcome to their story!

The Twin Blades was written mostly in 2021, edited and finalized in 2022, and will be published in 2023.