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Lords of Arcadia #4
The Army of Mab
Something has come to Arcadia, something that moves unseen through the thin places in the Valley of Hoof and Horn—an unstoppable army from Earth led by a deathless wizard intent upon conquest and devastation. Now Taryn MacTavish and her sister must convince old enemies to unite against a greater threat than they ever known, and the ancient evil whose terrible love may mean the end of Arcadia…and all the unsuspecting Realms beyond.
R. Lee Smith’s unforgettable erotic epic, Lords of Arcadia, concludes in the fourth volume of the thrilling series, THE ARMY OF MAB.
R. Lee Smith’s unforgettable erotic epic, Lords of Arcadia, concludes in the fourth volume of the thrilling series, THE ARMY OF MAB.
597 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 11, 2010
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256 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
February 18, 2012
I have lost a lot of sleep this week reading this entire series and it ends well. This is the best book out of all four.
In my review from the last book I remarked that there were so many interesting loose ends that I wanted answered that surely we'd be left disappointed by the end of the series (this book) but I walk away feeling the ending was perfect.
More sex with gods (I really loved this about this series!), battles, interesting conversations and the glory of the MacTavish sisters. Horrible Earth soldiers invade Arcadia and Rhiannon and Taryn galvanize Arcadia to rally. Taryn heads to the Watchers Woods to unite the last piece of the Valley, Rhiannon remains behind in Kraal Recombe and digs deep to discover her purpose.
The biggest change in this book is Rhiannon- she is altogether far more tolerable and enjoyable and completely different than book 3. I could barely stand her when she complained her entire way through the last book but now she actually made me laugh and I respected her. Of course- you could argue that she is almost an entirely different person and I'd agree with you but I can accept that since she has changed and developed into less self pitying stuff.
I had a laundry list of things I wanted to see and I feel I got most of them and more, these are the things I loved about this:
-More sex with gods, I really really like Anubis and Quaibe (I keep on forgetting on how to spell that)
-More Lakaroth. He was clearly the most developed Lycan character aside from Kruin but the one that piques the most interest since book 3. I was extremely pleased to see his return here and his lurking about. I wish that [he could have a human mate, perhaps Rhiannon but honestly who the fuck would want to return to High Pack and live there? Mostly no one but another lycan LOL]
-One of my most favorite things is that some more negative consequences occur that impacts you emotionally as the reader like the very real consequence of Rhiannon and Taryn's separation from their family on Earth. I enjoy that this is explored and its the reality of living in alternative realm but it isn't glossed over like an inconsequential aspect of their having made the decision to stay in Arcadia.
-I enjoyed more time with the Lord Dragon. I wish there was more. And frankly I wish Taryn had to sleep with him and let him sire another of his kind but ah well she can't sleep with EVERY LORD in Arcadia for sacrifice can she? lol I want more dragons! These kind of dragons to be specific.
Things I did not enjoy:
-Aisling's presence is more thorough, he was barely around for book 3, but I feel like he was too mopey and baby like. Well he is only a 2 year old Gyrphen but still!
-The Cerosan royal family, well they're a bunch of typical nobles (and that isn't a compliment), I wanted to see more reaction between Arion and Antilles regarding developments but I guess there wasn't enough time to spend with them to see this. Antilles barely appears in this book and he's just a player.
-I wish there had been more about the Sileni. The mysterious unicorn people that ride massive black unicorns. I want MOAR.
I love this series- I wish that Smith created or creates a spin off of this universe!!! I also wish she'd get her act together on here (GR) and get an avatar- I'd "fan" her but it seems she's inactive. I'm definitely a fan now. This is fantasy with a lot of elements that I are harder to find- female heroine, romance and sex and awesome creatures and war.
In my review from the last book I remarked that there were so many interesting loose ends that I wanted answered that surely we'd be left disappointed by the end of the series (this book) but I walk away feeling the ending was perfect.
More sex with gods (I really loved this about this series!), battles, interesting conversations and the glory of the MacTavish sisters. Horrible Earth soldiers invade Arcadia and Rhiannon and Taryn galvanize Arcadia to rally. Taryn heads to the Watchers Woods to unite the last piece of the Valley, Rhiannon remains behind in Kraal Recombe and digs deep to discover her purpose.
The biggest change in this book is Rhiannon- she is altogether far more tolerable and enjoyable and completely different than book 3. I could barely stand her when she complained her entire way through the last book but now she actually made me laugh and I respected her. Of course- you could argue that she is almost an entirely different person and I'd agree with you but I can accept that since she has changed and developed into less self pitying stuff.
I had a laundry list of things I wanted to see and I feel I got most of them and more, these are the things I loved about this:
-More sex with gods, I really really like Anubis and Quaibe (I keep on forgetting on how to spell that)
-More Lakaroth. He was clearly the most developed Lycan character aside from Kruin but the one that piques the most interest since book 3. I was extremely pleased to see his return here and his lurking about. I wish that [he could have a human mate, perhaps Rhiannon but honestly who the fuck would want to return to High Pack and live there? Mostly no one but another lycan LOL]
-One of my most favorite things is that some more negative consequences occur that impacts you emotionally as the reader like the very real consequence of Rhiannon and Taryn's separation from their family on Earth. I enjoy that this is explored and its the reality of living in alternative realm but it isn't glossed over like an inconsequential aspect of their having made the decision to stay in Arcadia.
-I enjoyed more time with the Lord Dragon. I wish there was more. And frankly I wish Taryn had to sleep with him and let him sire another of his kind but ah well she can't sleep with EVERY LORD in Arcadia for sacrifice can she? lol I want more dragons! These kind of dragons to be specific.
Things I did not enjoy:
-Aisling's presence is more thorough, he was barely around for book 3, but I feel like he was too mopey and baby like. Well he is only a 2 year old Gyrphen but still!
-The Cerosan royal family, well they're a bunch of typical nobles (and that isn't a compliment), I wanted to see more reaction between Arion and Antilles regarding developments but I guess there wasn't enough time to spend with them to see this. Antilles barely appears in this book and he's just a player.
-I wish there had been more about the Sileni. The mysterious unicorn people that ride massive black unicorns. I want MOAR.
I love this series- I wish that Smith created or creates a spin off of this universe!!! I also wish she'd get her act together on here (GR) and get an avatar- I'd "fan" her but it seems she's inactive. I'm definitely a fan now. This is fantasy with a lot of elements that I are harder to find- female heroine, romance and sex and awesome creatures and war.
February 17, 2022
Phew, that was A LOT of bloody war, adventure, angst, death, gloom and monster sex. Of course, the monster sex tends to stay in the mind, does it not?
Anything I say here would probably be a huge spoiler to those who haven't read this book yet, so instead I will speak to those who are considering reading this series:
IS IT WORTH IT?
Short answer: yes it is
Long answer:
Lords of Arcadia starts out at one point, but like a parasite growth, it grows wild and huge and wiggles into crevices you never expected.
At the first glance, this series is about Irish-American Taryn MacTavish, who finds a griffin egg on Earth and after hiding it in her closet for more than a decade, it hatches. Taryn, not knowing what to do but knowing very well the griffin can't live on Earth, seeks help - and finds someone willing to carry her off to Arcadia, a magical world where few humans dwell and most inhabitants are mystical.
If that sounded like the plot of a YA book to you ... well you're wrong.
Because Taryn, in the space of just a few novels, and later joined by her sister, is a politician. Maybe even a naturally born diplomat. And the few humans who are still on Arcadia ... they don't mean well.
So Taryn and Rhiannon go out and try to seek alliances with the peoples of Arcadia, which brings new horrors and more often than not, monster sex.
That's basically all that can be said without giving the plot away.
I would say that in many ways, minus the monster sex, this is a quite traditional quest fantasy. Again and again, new foes appear that have to be fought and hopefully impressed enough that they will leave and not come back with a million more soldiers instead.
And the fighting, the dying and the gore is unfortunately exactly what you would expect from a guerilla war. Machetes, Spears and kitchen knives are pitted against exploding corpses and guns.
Little centaur children have to face armed men in combat.
It's not pretty.
It's not wholesome.
It is real and heartfelt though, an earnest plea against the ceaseless violence of humans against everyone they meet.
I would suggest reading the first one or two books in the series as a bit of a prologue, because it is really after that when the reality catches up with Taryn and she really has to rise above herself and perhaps beyond what is humanly possible just to protect her family.
I don't like Taryn much, as a person. She is an idealist who is unafraid to throw herself into dangers that aren't necessary.
If I was forced to be in a guerilla war with Taryn, every single meeting would end with me slapping her. But her innocence matches that of the world she was thrown into, and with this final volume of her saga, the plea to respect and protect that innocence in the face of ruthless agression and destruction sounds appealing.
I endlessly prefer Rhiannon though, who favors something that could be called Realpolitik in battle and in life. I love her. Praise be, Rhiannon!
If you like RLee Smith and you read a lot, this series is worth it when read from beginning to end.
Anything I say here would probably be a huge spoiler to those who haven't read this book yet, so instead I will speak to those who are considering reading this series:
IS IT WORTH IT?
Short answer: yes it is
Long answer:
Lords of Arcadia starts out at one point, but like a parasite growth, it grows wild and huge and wiggles into crevices you never expected.
At the first glance, this series is about Irish-American Taryn MacTavish, who finds a griffin egg on Earth and after hiding it in her closet for more than a decade, it hatches. Taryn, not knowing what to do but knowing very well the griffin can't live on Earth, seeks help - and finds someone willing to carry her off to Arcadia, a magical world where few humans dwell and most inhabitants are mystical.
If that sounded like the plot of a YA book to you ... well you're wrong.
Because Taryn, in the space of just a few novels, and later joined by her sister, is a politician. Maybe even a naturally born diplomat. And the few humans who are still on Arcadia ... they don't mean well.
So Taryn and Rhiannon go out and try to seek alliances with the peoples of Arcadia, which brings new horrors and more often than not, monster sex.
That's basically all that can be said without giving the plot away.
I would say that in many ways, minus the monster sex, this is a quite traditional quest fantasy. Again and again, new foes appear that have to be fought and hopefully impressed enough that they will leave and not come back with a million more soldiers instead.
And the fighting, the dying and the gore is unfortunately exactly what you would expect from a guerilla war. Machetes, Spears and kitchen knives are pitted against exploding corpses and guns.
Little centaur children have to face armed men in combat.
It's not pretty.
It's not wholesome.
It is real and heartfelt though, an earnest plea against the ceaseless violence of humans against everyone they meet.
I would suggest reading the first one or two books in the series as a bit of a prologue, because it is really after that when the reality catches up with Taryn and she really has to rise above herself and perhaps beyond what is humanly possible just to protect her family.
I don't like Taryn much, as a person. She is an idealist who is unafraid to throw herself into dangers that aren't necessary.
If I was forced to be in a guerilla war with Taryn, every single meeting would end with me slapping her. But her innocence matches that of the world she was thrown into, and with this final volume of her saga, the plea to respect and protect that innocence in the face of ruthless agression and destruction sounds appealing.
I endlessly prefer Rhiannon though, who favors something that could be called Realpolitik in battle and in life. I love her. Praise be, Rhiannon!
If you like RLee Smith and you read a lot, this series is worth it when read from beginning to end.
January 24, 2018
So much action in this book. It was like non-stop almost. So while it’s the longest book in the series it moved at a good clip.
I really had a hard time making the switch mentally to Rhiannon’s change in character. She was a whiny petulant child and then turns into this person with unplumbed depths of strength. I much preferred her character this way. I wasn’t so annoyed at the story while reading as I was in the last book, that’s for sure. But still it was not a realistic transition in character. It was like reading about someone else her personality was so changed.
Taryn’s page time was much reduced while we followed Rhi’s activities. After Taryn’s flip out from the end of the previous book I was pretty irritated with this whole story. Her character is further changed some more in this book towards the end. However, there isn’t really any more mention or even resolution to her flip out from the previous book.
So there is a lack of character continuity and flow that pulls you out of this series as you read through the books. The changes aren’t always well explained, or justified, or even resolved in some instances.
On another note, while I know I’m reading a R.Lee Smith book, the gratuitous sex (bestiality) is just ridiculous. It’s such a waste of page space and time. I stopped reading several books back and just skimmed every time it showed up. I feel this pigeon holes her as a writer. Her books can still be dark and horror like without completely alienating so many readers or becoming so redundant. It’s a waste. R.Lee Smith has a lot of talent, this world she’s created is gonna stay with me, but many people will never experience it because they aren’t going to be able to get past her use of unnecessary gratuitous shock-and-awe bestiality scenes that really don’t add a thing to the overall story except as an attempt to be shocking it seems.
The whole series needed a good editor. An entire book worth of trimming would have seriously made it better. This series had the potential to be epic instead it’s bloated and inconsistent with main characters that seem bi-polar at times, gratuitous shock-and-awe bestiality, and a repetitive villain theme.
I really had a hard time making the switch mentally to Rhiannon’s change in character. She was a whiny petulant child and then turns into this person with unplumbed depths of strength. I much preferred her character this way. I wasn’t so annoyed at the story while reading as I was in the last book, that’s for sure. But still it was not a realistic transition in character. It was like reading about someone else her personality was so changed.
Taryn’s page time was much reduced while we followed Rhi’s activities. After Taryn’s flip out from the end of the previous book I was pretty irritated with this whole story. Her character is further changed some more in this book towards the end. However, there isn’t really any more mention or even resolution to her flip out from the previous book.
So there is a lack of character continuity and flow that pulls you out of this series as you read through the books. The changes aren’t always well explained, or justified, or even resolved in some instances.
On another note, while I know I’m reading a R.Lee Smith book, the gratuitous sex (bestiality) is just ridiculous. It’s such a waste of page space and time. I stopped reading several books back and just skimmed every time it showed up. I feel this pigeon holes her as a writer. Her books can still be dark and horror like without completely alienating so many readers or becoming so redundant. It’s a waste. R.Lee Smith has a lot of talent, this world she’s created is gonna stay with me, but many people will never experience it because they aren’t going to be able to get past her use of unnecessary gratuitous shock-and-awe bestiality scenes that really don’t add a thing to the overall story except as an attempt to be shocking it seems.
The whole series needed a good editor. An entire book worth of trimming would have seriously made it better. This series had the potential to be epic instead it’s bloated and inconsistent with main characters that seem bi-polar at times, gratuitous shock-and-awe bestiality, and a repetitive villain theme.
December 17, 2014
After reading 5 of her books I can safely say I adore R. Lee Smith's writing. I really really liked the Last Hour of Gann. It was completely different from anything I've ever read. Like Gann, the Lords of Arcadia series also features a kick butt female heroine. But unlike Gann we've now got oodles of GOOD people surrounding Taryn and supporting her through the adventure that takes place over a few years (4 book series).
My two favorite things about this series were character transformations and mood. Many characters that at first appear scary, mean, and awful become redeemable. Prejudices and preconceived notions are a huge underlying theme in this series. Some evil villains ARE truly evil but just because something looks scary doesn't mean that it actually is. And the good characters in this series are SO good. They try so hard to do right by others and to be supportive to those they love. They don't get hung up on how much others give back to them- they just give and give and give.
The mood throughout this series shifts violently. We start off happy and content and quickly get pulled into dark and darker still. Just as things start to brighten another storm of doom awaits. But even in the darkest of times, the characters manage to find solace in each other. The relationships that build throughout the four books are so deep and meaningful. As a reader you feel like YOU are the mother of a griffin, the friend of a horse-man, and the partner to a lord. It's fantastic. I can't wait to read more of R. Lee Smith's books.
My two favorite things about this series were character transformations and mood. Many characters that at first appear scary, mean, and awful become redeemable. Prejudices and preconceived notions are a huge underlying theme in this series. Some evil villains ARE truly evil but just because something looks scary doesn't mean that it actually is. And the good characters in this series are SO good. They try so hard to do right by others and to be supportive to those they love. They don't get hung up on how much others give back to them- they just give and give and give.
The mood throughout this series shifts violently. We start off happy and content and quickly get pulled into dark and darker still. Just as things start to brighten another storm of doom awaits. But even in the darkest of times, the characters manage to find solace in each other. The relationships that build throughout the four books are so deep and meaningful. As a reader you feel like YOU are the mother of a griffin, the friend of a horse-man, and the partner to a lord. It's fantastic. I can't wait to read more of R. Lee Smith's books.
September 23, 2017
I don't know why I put off reading this series even though I've been fascinated and usually enamored with every weird thing this author has ever done. I don't even know how to explain this one and I can already tell you up-top that it's not going to be for everyone. Even though it's got some very dark/disturbing moments, there's also a heavy Mary Sue element () but if you're familiar with this author's work, you won't be surprised by that. Oh, and the main hero is essentially a minotaur, and the smut is hot...okay, bye.
September 17, 2020
2.5, on the 3 side--
On a technical level, the writing was good--Smith is particularly skilled at dialogue, as evidenced by the quote above. There are so many distinct voices in her work. I can usually tell exactly who is talking even without dialogue markers, which is quite impressive, especially when you're dealing with a bunch of fantasy creatures living in distinct groups. But the Farasai, the Cerosan, the naga, the sluagh, the Lycan, the Dragon's Own, and the satyrs all have slight differences in their manner of speaking. Sometimes--as with Arion and Antilles--members of the same group become a bit too samey, but mostly this was skillfully and impressively executed.
I always found this convention super annoying and offensive because it assumes that a) the satyrs, lycan, etc. are too fucking stupid to realize these things on their own and need to be driven by an external force of goodness, and b) all the humans who fell prey to the violence of those people were also unable to enact similar change because they were like, idk, not as super-mega-awesome as special little Taryn, or else they just didn't fucking try hard enough I guess? I mean that's seriously insulting. With the Underneath, for once, we were given a lord (and a male supernatural creature) who really despised Taryn, wouldn't be swayed by her, and was just all-around a complete asshole. Points.
I wasn't a huge fan of the theme running throughout this book--and tbh all of Smith's work--that humanity is this corrupt, violent, stinking thing with the exception of a few sparkling outliers like the MacTavish clan. It was handled better in The Last Hour of Gann and even Cottonwood, but the exploration of this theme in the Lords of Arcadia series was too scattered. The introduction of the Earth men as these super powerful, super morally bankrupt antagonists just felt lame, if I'm being honest? Introducing guns into Arcadia felt wrong, but not in an effective, skin-crawling sort of way, more in a "Man I wish you had just stuck with the original vibe of the setting" sort of way. It was just anachronistic, hysterical, and clumsy.
Likewise with Rhiannon's transformation. I loved her in book three and even, to a certain extent, in the beginning of book four. But she "got over" her depression too quickly for my liking, transforming into this brusque war general and boning gods while flinging out cheesy-ass one-liners.
I also really wish Smith had spent more time exploring the dynamic between Gabriel and Rhiannon. There was such promise in Gabriel's construction. In so many ways, he was a weak copy of his much more impressive (and menacing) half-brother, the wizard, but what made him distinct--his disability and his history as an Earthborn man who slowly woke to the realization that he was born of a chaos god--made him really intriguing despite those similarities.
Especially his disability, tying in as it did with the series' examination of toxic sexual mores. I mean the scene where Rhiannon faces off against him in his dream world, touching him with tenderness and telling him she loves him while he flinches from her and weeps, was so striking. So much could have been done with that relationship that transcended the basic, violent, misogynistic narrative we ultimately received. So many cool discussions could have been had and themes explored. In fact, given Smith's kind of preternatural obsession with the phallus as a defining male characteristic, I would have found it respectable as fuck if she had made Gabriel--a man without a penis--into an LI after a period of redemption. That would have been infinitely braver, in my mind, than the story we got for him. Because he ended up just being pathetic, and in a story focused so heavily on sexual freedom and the recognition of non-human men as men nonetheless, a physically-disabled man ending up as this really unsatisfying and unredeemed villain begins to take on sketchy connotations where Smith's personal gender politics are concerned.
Not that I wasn't happy with other facets of the book. As I said, the Underneath was frustrating but well-done, as were the sluagh. I also found Rhiannon's interactions with Arion to be pretty cute:
Overall this was a very mixed bag, and I was let down by a lot. However, the framework itself was quite compelling, the writing was way above average (especially the dialogue), and the pacing was good. Considering the extremely negative response I had to the second installment of this series, I'm happily surprised to have had a mostly-positive experience while finishing out the series. I don't regret spending money on the books, nor reading them. After all, the more money I give to R. Lee Smith, the sooner she'll write her next book . . . right? Just as soon as she finishes that FWaF fanfic (*sob*).
"Because I need you," he said simply. "I need to see that you are well. I need to see you fierce by sun's rays and see you gentled by moonlight. I need to see the snapping banner of your hair and hear the war-horns of your radiant anger. I need to see you. I can survive it if I am never again made welcome in your arms, but I need to see you."This was all right, but a lot of storylines went in different directions than I hoped (Rhiannon's, for example). All in all, I felt there was a lot of wasted potential.
On a technical level, the writing was good--Smith is particularly skilled at dialogue, as evidenced by the quote above. There are so many distinct voices in her work. I can usually tell exactly who is talking even without dialogue markers, which is quite impressive, especially when you're dealing with a bunch of fantasy creatures living in distinct groups. But the Farasai, the Cerosan, the naga, the sluagh, the Lycan, the Dragon's Own, and the satyrs all have slight differences in their manner of speaking. Sometimes--as with Arion and Antilles--members of the same group become a bit too samey, but mostly this was skillfully and impressively executed.
"I'm sorry."Generally, Smith also did a very good job presenting the different Arcadian cultural groups. The introduction of the Underneath was particularly refreshing because it represented a break in the normal narrative (i.e. Taryn acts like a complete fucking idiot and barges uninvited into the colonized/traumatized communities of Arcadian peoples, waking them to the sudden understanding that, like, rape is wrong :( and so is torture :( and all humans aren't bad :( and also you need to eat plants or else you'll get scurvy :( ).
"Bah!" He glared at her, annoyed all over again. "I'll have my enemy's tears or none, woman! How thy fearless hand must bemoan the fate that set it to such a mewling mouth!"
"Fine!" she snapped, stung. "Piss on you then!"
"Better." Romany limped away, calling, "And silence best of all!"
"He's growing on me," Rhiannon commented, still scowling.
I always found this convention super annoying and offensive because it assumes that a) the satyrs, lycan, etc. are too fucking stupid to realize these things on their own and need to be driven by an external force of goodness, and b) all the humans who fell prey to the violence of those people were also unable to enact similar change because they were like, idk, not as super-mega-awesome as special little Taryn, or else they just didn't fucking try hard enough I guess? I mean that's seriously insulting. With the Underneath, for once, we were given a lord (and a male supernatural creature) who really despised Taryn, wouldn't be swayed by her, and was just all-around a complete asshole. Points.
I wasn't a huge fan of the theme running throughout this book--and tbh all of Smith's work--that humanity is this corrupt, violent, stinking thing with the exception of a few sparkling outliers like the MacTavish clan. It was handled better in The Last Hour of Gann and even Cottonwood, but the exploration of this theme in the Lords of Arcadia series was too scattered. The introduction of the Earth men as these super powerful, super morally bankrupt antagonists just felt lame, if I'm being honest? Introducing guns into Arcadia felt wrong, but not in an effective, skin-crawling sort of way, more in a "Man I wish you had just stuck with the original vibe of the setting" sort of way. It was just anachronistic, hysterical, and clumsy.
Likewise with Rhiannon's transformation. I loved her in book three and even, to a certain extent, in the beginning of book four. But she "got over" her depression too quickly for my liking, transforming into this brusque war general and boning gods while flinging out cheesy-ass one-liners.
I also really wish Smith had spent more time exploring the dynamic between Gabriel and Rhiannon. There was such promise in Gabriel's construction. In so many ways, he was a weak copy of his much more impressive (and menacing) half-brother, the wizard, but what made him distinct--his disability and his history as an Earthborn man who slowly woke to the realization that he was born of a chaos god--made him really intriguing despite those similarities.
Especially his disability, tying in as it did with the series' examination of toxic sexual mores. I mean the scene where Rhiannon faces off against him in his dream world, touching him with tenderness and telling him she loves him while he flinches from her and weeps, was so striking. So much could have been done with that relationship that transcended the basic, violent, misogynistic narrative we ultimately received. So many cool discussions could have been had and themes explored. In fact, given Smith's kind of preternatural obsession with the phallus as a defining male characteristic, I would have found it respectable as fuck if she had made Gabriel--a man without a penis--into an LI after a period of redemption. That would have been infinitely braver, in my mind, than the story we got for him. Because he ended up just being pathetic, and in a story focused so heavily on sexual freedom and the recognition of non-human men as men nonetheless, a physically-disabled man ending up as this really unsatisfying and unredeemed villain begins to take on sketchy connotations where Smith's personal gender politics are concerned.
Not that I wasn't happy with other facets of the book. As I said, the Underneath was frustrating but well-done, as were the sluagh. I also found Rhiannon's interactions with Arion to be pretty cute:
"Ah well, when I was a lad, I stumbled on an old book entitled 'A Thousand Ways to Woo Rhiannon." He gave her a friendly nudge to the ribs. "Thank the gods I finally found you. I've been having no luck at all until now."Despite the fact that they were just Taryn and Antilles repeated, they were actually a good step up, and I enjoyed their interactions.
Overall this was a very mixed bag, and I was let down by a lot. However, the framework itself was quite compelling, the writing was way above average (especially the dialogue), and the pacing was good. Considering the extremely negative response I had to the second installment of this series, I'm happily surprised to have had a mostly-positive experience while finishing out the series. I don't regret spending money on the books, nor reading them. After all, the more money I give to R. Lee Smith, the sooner she'll write her next book . . . right? Just as soon as she finishes that FWaF fanfic (*sob*).
January 26, 2025
This series deserves more attention. One of my favourite. I look forward to a reread, especially as I've riffled through the series. What is it about this author and book hangovers.
February 13, 2022
Great and action packed. Totally made the other books worth it.
December 14, 2020
It is a book of war.Taryns journey to Watchers Woods or the birth of long expected baby took a solid backstage while war stormed kraal Rucommbe and it's inhabitants. You can even say that Rhiannon takes a strong lead in the story. The bitch every reader hated in book 3 have been replaced by strong,fair,brave warrior with open heart. Or you can say,the bitch was fucked out of her by silani. Anyway,we get a second MacTavish to respect and like.
A lot of authors tends to skip over the true ugliness and pains of war. R.Lee.Smith drops it on your head. She is not afraid to kill off leading characters and she does not spare us the ugly details of painfull deaths to agonise over. It is ugly,it is messy,it is bloody,it eats at the very souls of reader. And it rings true in every word because of it.
I did feel that some scenes were unnecessary though. It might be only my personal taste and in no way it lessened the core of the tale.
I do recommend to read this book as it is a spectacular wrap up of the series and authors talent shines bright here.
A lot of authors tends to skip over the true ugliness and pains of war. R.Lee.Smith drops it on your head. She is not afraid to kill off leading characters and she does not spare us the ugly details of painfull deaths to agonise over. It is ugly,it is messy,it is bloody,it eats at the very souls of reader. And it rings true in every word because of it.
I did feel that some scenes were unnecessary though. It might be only my personal taste and in no way it lessened the core of the tale.
I do recommend to read this book as it is a spectacular wrap up of the series and authors talent shines bright here.
September 1, 2022
At last, some real character developement. I knew I loved Rhiannon for some reason. Everyone else still had that one dimension they loved to see themselves in. Taryn is still a bloody martyr, and unbearably stupid at that. The villain is a stupid kid and his crazy mother of a God. At least at the very end Taryn learns a little bit of caution. But not before that.
Also, you don't have to be brave to kill off beloved characters in the last book of a series.
All in all, the whole series is ok. The world is awesome, the cruelty of it would be heartbreaking, if only we wouldn't see it through the eyes of a halfwitted idiot.
Also, you don't have to be brave to kill off beloved characters in the last book of a series.
All in all, the whole series is ok. The world is awesome, the cruelty of it would be heartbreaking, if only we wouldn't see it through the eyes of a halfwitted idiot.
November 8, 2018
So much happened that I can't even summarize it all.
But I can say that it was a fantastically creative and wonderful imaginary world and group of characters that made me feel each and every emotion.
This book is worth it.
But I can say that it was a fantastically creative and wonderful imaginary world and group of characters that made me feel each and every emotion.
This book is worth it.
July 24, 2018
Well, this is the end of the series "Those Rowdy MacTavish Sisters."
It was a good book. Whatever the shaky foundations for Taryn's motivations might have been in the last book when she started her "roads" quest, that's all behind us now. Now we're dealing with some Real Problems and it's time for some Real Solutions.
This book covers a lot of ground and I was entertained throughout. It took me far too long to read the damn thing because I have been, quite frankly, exhausted at the end of the day. So I've been waking up when the Kindle (screen already dark, having timed out) falls forward onto my manly chest. Despite that, I never lost interest and never got bored.
This is a weird book and this is a weird series. And I'm not talking about all of the cross-species mating. It's weird in terms of character development, plot, and scope. I suppose "uneven" and "all over the place" would be good replacements for "weird". But that sounds negative, so maybe another way to say it is that these books are extremely "unconventional" all across the board.
Still another way to put it is that I never have a clue where an R. Lee Smith book is going! How often is a book so unconventional that you truly have no idea at all (not even a guess) as to what might happen next? In my experience, that's actually pretty rare, especially in genre fiction.
I'm not sure I'm entirely happy with the resolution given to some of the characters. I'm not going to say this book didn't have a good ending, but I do feel that there was a ton of room for more "happy endings" for many of our characters, if you catch my drift, nudge nudge, wink wink.
Speaking of characters: one thing that continually impressed me throughout the series was how unique each of the characters were. None of these people were cookie-cutter stereotypes. They were all 3-dimensional, complicated, and sometimes even extremely conflicted: everything you'd hope characters would be. The lycan, Nakaroth, became one of my favorites through the course of this book. I liked him in Roads, but he really shone here with a fascinating personality.
Perhaps the only flaw in the characters were how many of them harbored unrequited love for the MacTavish sisters. But the reason for this is explicitly explained in the story, so I give it a pass.
In all, it's got a lot of flaws, but this series is a heck of a ride.
It was a good book. Whatever the shaky foundations for Taryn's motivations might have been in the last book when she started her "roads" quest, that's all behind us now. Now we're dealing with some Real Problems and it's time for some Real Solutions.
This book covers a lot of ground and I was entertained throughout. It took me far too long to read the damn thing because I have been, quite frankly, exhausted at the end of the day. So I've been waking up when the Kindle (screen already dark, having timed out) falls forward onto my manly chest. Despite that, I never lost interest and never got bored.
This is a weird book and this is a weird series. And I'm not talking about all of the cross-species mating. It's weird in terms of character development, plot, and scope. I suppose "uneven" and "all over the place" would be good replacements for "weird". But that sounds negative, so maybe another way to say it is that these books are extremely "unconventional" all across the board.
Still another way to put it is that I never have a clue where an R. Lee Smith book is going! How often is a book so unconventional that you truly have no idea at all (not even a guess) as to what might happen next? In my experience, that's actually pretty rare, especially in genre fiction.
I'm not sure I'm entirely happy with the resolution given to some of the characters. I'm not going to say this book didn't have a good ending, but I do feel that there was a ton of room for more "happy endings" for many of our characters, if you catch my drift, nudge nudge, wink wink.
Speaking of characters: one thing that continually impressed me throughout the series was how unique each of the characters were. None of these people were cookie-cutter stereotypes. They were all 3-dimensional, complicated, and sometimes even extremely conflicted: everything you'd hope characters would be. The lycan, Nakaroth, became one of my favorites through the course of this book. I liked him in Roads, but he really shone here with a fascinating personality.
Perhaps the only flaw in the characters were how many of them harbored unrequited love for the MacTavish sisters. But the reason for this is explicitly explained in the story, so I give it a pass.
In all, it's got a lot of flaws, but this series is a heck of a ride.
March 19, 2025
In which Taryn singlehandedly does feminism.
This whole series kind of reminds me of an extended version of “Madamina, il catalogo e questo” from Don Giovanni, although this is particularly apt for this book, as the vast majority of her storyline for this book involves having a lot of mostly gross sex that mostly doesn’t really go anywhere. But hey, she does get to add to the list of weird creatures she’s banged. It’s not so much that I inherently object to the sex, it’s just that it feels more like the author doesn’t really know what else to do with her.
Rhiannon is very much the star of this book and increasingly of the series. Her whole arc has been great to read and I hope that continues in the next book. Rhiannon also sort of “solves” an issue that I have with Taryn that, especially in the first three books, she is subject to a lot of sexual assault that she mostly just seems to walk off without any real effect, so getting to see Rhiannon work though that and move past it was also good.
This whole series kind of reminds me of an extended version of “Madamina, il catalogo e questo” from Don Giovanni, although this is particularly apt for this book, as the vast majority of her storyline for this book involves having a lot of mostly gross sex that mostly doesn’t really go anywhere. But hey, she does get to add to the list of weird creatures she’s banged. It’s not so much that I inherently object to the sex, it’s just that it feels more like the author doesn’t really know what else to do with her.
Rhiannon is very much the star of this book and increasingly of the series. Her whole arc has been great to read and I hope that continues in the next book. Rhiannon also sort of “solves” an issue that I have with Taryn that, especially in the first three books, she is subject to a lot of sexual assault that she mostly just seems to walk off without any real effect, so getting to see Rhiannon work though that and move past it was also good.
March 12, 2018
I never really know how to feel about this series. It has a lot of ideas, and a really complex world building but it's just always lacking and the characters that are introduced are not consistent. Then there's sort of insta-love all over the place, and I don't really know how to put my feelings into words.
I guess all I can say is that when Smith writes about aliens, I LOVE her work. Whenever it's not, I'm always kind of meeeehh.
I guess all I can say is that when Smith writes about aliens, I LOVE her work. Whenever it's not, I'm always kind of meeeehh.
October 17, 2023
Absolutely addictive
One of the harshest, hideously insane series I've ever read. Dark doesn't describe what the FMC had to live thru and the tribulations of every single one of her friends and lovers. I don't believe I will never read this series again...maybe a peek if I feel like a good cry or scream...But in no way do I regret buying it. Like one of my special glass eggs that I collect and admire, I'll take it out occasionally and remember reading it for the first time.
One of the harshest, hideously insane series I've ever read. Dark doesn't describe what the FMC had to live thru and the tribulations of every single one of her friends and lovers. I don't believe I will never read this series again...maybe a peek if I feel like a good cry or scream...But in no way do I regret buying it. Like one of my special glass eggs that I collect and admire, I'll take it out occasionally and remember reading it for the first time.
May 23, 2018
Arcadia
The conclusion to the Lords of Arcadia series. Arcadia is at War with the evil of men of Earth, who are led by a spoiled brat named Gabriel. All the people of Arcadia comes together to defend the Valley.
The conclusion to the Lords of Arcadia series. Arcadia is at War with the evil of men of Earth, who are led by a spoiled brat named Gabriel. All the people of Arcadia comes together to defend the Valley.
June 14, 2021
Crazy
I can't begin to explain how awesome this series was. The author is the bomb. Exemplary writing and a wild imagination. It was fantastic! I laughed, cried, got mad, depressed,etc. It's full of agony but also perseverance and happiness. I loved it!
I can't begin to explain how awesome this series was. The author is the bomb. Exemplary writing and a wild imagination. It was fantastic! I laughed, cried, got mad, depressed,etc. It's full of agony but also perseverance and happiness. I loved it!
November 3, 2022
Loved this entire series !
I could not put it down from the first book through the last. Great story line with just enough spice thrown in.
I could not put it down from the first book through the last. Great story line with just enough spice thrown in.
January 10, 2025
best book of the series so far!
January 22, 2026
This was good but I was getting so bored of battle. I think I like Rhiannon more than Taryn.
July 17, 2018
No more Taryn over war. It comes, along with a Lil' Bit...!
So.
The fourth in R Lee Smith fantasy read
Taryn MacTavish has a sister, Rhiannon, who has a past full of hurt and failure.
And so, where else to go but off to Arcadia to make friends with the neighbours and finds herself also harassed, tired and listless with horrifically abusive sexual dreams that don't float off as mist in the morning. But they're just dreams, right. Wrong....
ALL is STILL not what is seems. SERIOUSLY? STILL????😂😂😂😂
Another wizard, Gabriel, is in the far off woods has a need for all out destruction. And ha has an army of mercenaries, misfits and his mum all pledged to him to bring his nightmare to fruition.
Well, Rhi-Rhi's blood, hair and bones, get messed up in the general melee. But she isn't as easy to enthrall and bring under his spell either.
Taryn meanwhile goes on peace mission, and returns with a piece of the mission and her usual embraces not as successful as other times. It's a demon of a job isn't it?
The series crashes through an even darker period with child abductions, poisoning a, stabbing a, general rapes and murders. And that's the good guys...
until Taryn is finally able to enlist a librarian for the final impossible stand against the her n order to save her life.
The wizard is not happy but gets a small taste of his own medicine as the sisters save Arcadia.
Another rollicking good read with even more strange smexy times as you could ever expect to see.
Trigger warning for sexual abuse, sex trafficking and abductions.
Is the story over.No. A decade later here comes my next read Tooth and Claw...
I.still.have.no.words.😍😍💕💕
R Lee Smith is on top mind blowing form again!
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
So.
The fourth in R Lee Smith fantasy read
Taryn MacTavish has a sister, Rhiannon, who has a past full of hurt and failure.
And so, where else to go but off to Arcadia to make friends with the neighbours and finds herself also harassed, tired and listless with horrifically abusive sexual dreams that don't float off as mist in the morning. But they're just dreams, right. Wrong....
ALL is STILL not what is seems. SERIOUSLY? STILL????😂😂😂😂
Another wizard, Gabriel, is in the far off woods has a need for all out destruction. And ha has an army of mercenaries, misfits and his mum all pledged to him to bring his nightmare to fruition.
Well, Rhi-Rhi's blood, hair and bones, get messed up in the general melee. But she isn't as easy to enthrall and bring under his spell either.
Taryn meanwhile goes on peace mission, and returns with a piece of the mission and her usual embraces not as successful as other times. It's a demon of a job isn't it?
The series crashes through an even darker period with child abductions, poisoning a, stabbing a, general rapes and murders. And that's the good guys...
until Taryn is finally able to enlist a librarian for the final impossible stand against the her n order to save her life.
The wizard is not happy but gets a small taste of his own medicine as the sisters save Arcadia.
Another rollicking good read with even more strange smexy times as you could ever expect to see.
Trigger warning for sexual abuse, sex trafficking and abductions.
Is the story over.No. A decade later here comes my next read Tooth and Claw...
I.still.have.no.words.😍😍💕💕
R Lee Smith is on top mind blowing form again!
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
February 1, 2017
A Five Star Long and Winding Tale!
OK, it's official: I've read all of your books, Ms Smith. Although I didn't review the other three in this series, here are my thoughts on the telling of this tale in its entirety: With over 2600 Kindle pages in all 4 books, I'm yet again astounded by your ability to write in such depth and detail, with basically every page ringing true. By this I mean, as with all your books, nowhere, in all these pages, did the story stumble, or it seem as though you were merely filling pages with words. As you were true to the story, the story was true to me.
My only complaint, if it can even be called this, is that Taryn and her Lord of The Valley seemed sorely lacking in even an echo of the passion and intensity of love that was so apparent in the beginning of their relationship.
As with all your fans, I can only hope another fantastic and epic tale of erotic horror is on its way to us.
I admire your mind!
OK, it's official: I've read all of your books, Ms Smith. Although I didn't review the other three in this series, here are my thoughts on the telling of this tale in its entirety: With over 2600 Kindle pages in all 4 books, I'm yet again astounded by your ability to write in such depth and detail, with basically every page ringing true. By this I mean, as with all your books, nowhere, in all these pages, did the story stumble, or it seem as though you were merely filling pages with words. As you were true to the story, the story was true to me.
My only complaint, if it can even be called this, is that Taryn and her Lord of The Valley seemed sorely lacking in even an echo of the passion and intensity of love that was so apparent in the beginning of their relationship.
As with all your fans, I can only hope another fantastic and epic tale of erotic horror is on its way to us.
I admire your mind!
August 23, 2017
Despite the mess that was The Roads of Taryn McTavish, the Lords of Arcadia series manages to conclude satisfyingly with The Army of Mab. Characters from earlier books come back to tie up loose ends, which gives the series a nice sense of continuity. I still wasn't happy with much of the character development, and the way relationships and romances were woven into the greater plot (Gabriel's invading army, hardly worth mentioning) was very awkward. In these last two books of the series, it felt like the two heroines stopped growing as soon as they had been paired off with their respective Cerosan. Their character development was halted, but the plot moved on, and as it did, I became less and less engaged.
March 20, 2015
Wow this series turned out to be one of my all time favs.
A truly epic tale. This book neatly wraps up all the loose ends
that were left dangling and I can't say I was disappointed at all.
Rhiannon brings her A game and kicks ass. Not to mention how many
times I was startled into laughter in the midst of bloody battles and
devastating losses. I loved to see more of the wolves and I wish in the future
there is a spin-off of the story about the wolves and Nakaroth specifically...love him!
The battles were gruesome and bloody and I was absolutely thrilled that the Dragon
Was okay, in the end everything worked out how it was supposed to.
On a side note...I really hated that Crook fellow...totally disgusting and just plain gross,
he got what was coming for him for sure.
A truly epic tale. This book neatly wraps up all the loose ends
that were left dangling and I can't say I was disappointed at all.
Rhiannon brings her A game and kicks ass. Not to mention how many
times I was startled into laughter in the midst of bloody battles and
devastating losses. I loved to see more of the wolves and I wish in the future
there is a spin-off of the story about the wolves and Nakaroth specifically...love him!
The battles were gruesome and bloody and I was absolutely thrilled that the Dragon
Was okay, in the end everything worked out how it was supposed to.
On a side note...I really hated that Crook fellow...totally disgusting and just plain gross,
he got what was coming for him for sure.
August 8, 2015
This was another 5 star read from the amazingly talented R Lee Smith
Best in the entire series. Smith is a genius. I'm extremely sad this series is over but I'm super excited to read more by this author. 5 stars all the way.
Best in the entire series. Smith is a genius. I'm extremely sad this series is over but I'm super excited to read more by this author. 5 stars all the way.
November 23, 2015
I don't usually like war-type scenarios, but this was alright. Rated four because I'm pretty sure I liked something in between for this series, just can't really remember which, so I'm pushing the rating onto the last book.
It's an okay ending but wish I could have seen more of the griffin.
It's an okay ending but wish I could have seen more of the griffin.
December 13, 2015
I admire how Rhiannon and Taryn are different. And how they're the same. Crowning moments of awesome! Epilogue, seriously. Feels, lols, epic cool. Adorable things will always be adorable. R. Lee Smith is awesome!
August 16, 2024
Re-read #2
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews