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The Cadeleonian Series #4
Champion of the Scarlet Wolf, Book Two
Five years after abandoning the Sagrada Acedemy, Elezar Grunito has become infamous in the sanctified circles of noble dueling rings for his brutal temper and lethal blade. Men and women of all ranks gather to cheer and jeer, none of them knowing Elezar’s true purpose. But a violent death outside the ring marks Elezar as a wanted man and sends him into hiding in the far northern wilds of Labara. There, creatures of myth and witchcraft—long since driven from Cadeleon—lurk in dark woods and prowl the winding streets. Soldiers and priests alike fear the return of witch-queens and even demons. Elezar soon learns that magic takes many forms, some too alluring to resist, others too terrible to endure. But just as he begins to find his place in this strange new country, the past he left behind along with his school days returns to challenge him once again.
568 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 31, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews
December 1, 2015
More proof, if any were needed, of why Ginn Hale is the best M/M fantasy writer out there. My opinion, obviously, but there it is.
Somewhat ironically, I had unusually severe doubts before reading this: I adored, ADORED, Lord of the White Hell, which I've reread at least three times, but the blurb for this left me cold, and this is a rare instance where I actually feel impelled to criticize a blurb as misleading and unhelpful due to its egregious failure to make clear to prospective readers why they should put everything else down and read this book NOW!!
Luckily, the book itself immediately hooked me, and I read through both volumes with barely a break, until I was literally suffering from eye-strain. Everything about it is first rate--the writing, which is rich and lovely, the world-building, the amazing evocation of the city of Milmuraille, which is the key to the book for reasons both symbolic and geographic; the way the book brings in and develops characters from the original books; the themes, which are complex, challenging, and ultimately deeply humane. Most of all, I loved the two main characters, Skellen and Elezar, both in themselves and in what they come to mean to each other: it struck me that unlike most books in this genre, this book really does demonstrate the perfect symbiosis of the fantasy and the romance--with neither given short shrift, both integral to the plot and meaning of the book. It is an incredibly rewarding relationship to see unfold, and I say this even though there is virtually no on-page sex at all.
Enough gushing by me. I'll just add, though it could probably work as a stand alone, I would definitely recommend reading Lord of the White Hell first or else many enjoyable details and nuances will be lost.
Bottom line: This book definitely tops my list of best reads of this year--or any year. I cannot recommend it highly enough to m/m fantasy readers.
(I'll add my voice to the complaints about the proofreading problems, which were unusually noticeable, especially towards the end of volume 2--though the errors did not detract from an overall amazing reading experience, I do hate that a book written with such extraordinary skill was not given the editing job it deserved.)
Somewhat ironically, I had unusually severe doubts before reading this: I adored, ADORED, Lord of the White Hell, which I've reread at least three times, but the blurb for this left me cold, and this is a rare instance where I actually feel impelled to criticize a blurb as misleading and unhelpful due to its egregious failure to make clear to prospective readers why they should put everything else down and read this book NOW!!
Luckily, the book itself immediately hooked me, and I read through both volumes with barely a break, until I was literally suffering from eye-strain. Everything about it is first rate--the writing, which is rich and lovely, the world-building, the amazing evocation of the city of Milmuraille, which is the key to the book for reasons both symbolic and geographic; the way the book brings in and develops characters from the original books; the themes, which are complex, challenging, and ultimately deeply humane. Most of all, I loved the two main characters, Skellen and Elezar, both in themselves and in what they come to mean to each other: it struck me that unlike most books in this genre, this book really does demonstrate the perfect symbiosis of the fantasy and the romance--with neither given short shrift, both integral to the plot and meaning of the book. It is an incredibly rewarding relationship to see unfold, and I say this even though there is virtually no on-page sex at all.
Enough gushing by me. I'll just add, though it could probably work as a stand alone, I would definitely recommend reading Lord of the White Hell first or else many enjoyable details and nuances will be lost.
Bottom line: This book definitely tops my list of best reads of this year--or any year. I cannot recommend it highly enough to m/m fantasy readers.
(I'll add my voice to the complaints about the proofreading problems, which were unusually noticeable, especially towards the end of volume 2--though the errors did not detract from an overall amazing reading experience, I do hate that a book written with such extraordinary skill was not given the editing job it deserved.)
October 7, 2016
Again, a winner.
The conclusion to Skellan and Elezar's story does not disappoint. The court wrangling, opinion swaying and magic are all intense and engaging. To be honest, as much as I like this story and Skellan and Elezar's romance, Elezar's love and devotion between him and his steed, Cobre resonated even more strongly. That partnership, care and unwavering service to each other was breathtakingly beautiful. Some parts of the story felt a bit stretched at the end, nonetheless--wonderful, and time well spent.
The conclusion to Skellan and Elezar's story does not disappoint. The court wrangling, opinion swaying and magic are all intense and engaging. To be honest, as much as I like this story and Skellan and Elezar's romance, Elezar's love and devotion between him and his steed, Cobre resonated even more strongly. That partnership, care and unwavering service to each other was breathtakingly beautiful. Some parts of the story felt a bit stretched at the end, nonetheless--wonderful, and time well spent.
December 24, 2017
Be forewarned, that 568 pages is A LIE! 568 pages, my ass. This is in Bloodraven territory.
That being said, I'm glad I read it because I love these characters and it's clear Hale loves these characters. She delivered an epic high fantasy saga complete with trolls, dragons, mordwolves, wizards, political intrigue and machinations and even a couple assassination attempts. As a HUGE GoT fan, I enjoyed this but expect about that same minimal level of romance.
Skellan and Elezar have moments that are touching and I did/do believe in their connection but they do not possess the same "x" factor of Kiri and Javier. For much of the narrative they are apart fighting this war on different fronts and that is my biggest complaint about this book: it lacks balance between the action and romance plot lines.
My other complaint is the appalling editing. A better job could've been done tightening this story up and proofing it better. When a book is already this long making me reread sentences to try to figure out what it's supposed to mean by substituting or deleting words that were missed or added erroneously, did the pacing no favors.
One last word of caution, I said in my review of Champion of the Scarlet Wolf, Book One that this series could be read as a standalone, but I'm retracting that now. There was too much that took place in this one from the first two books that would leave a reader scratching their head.
Recommend to high fantasy fans.
That being said, I'm glad I read it because I love these characters and it's clear Hale loves these characters. She delivered an epic high fantasy saga complete with trolls, dragons, mordwolves, wizards, political intrigue and machinations and even a couple assassination attempts. As a HUGE GoT fan, I enjoyed this but expect about that same minimal level of romance.
Skellan and Elezar have moments that are touching and I did/do believe in their connection but they do not possess the same "x" factor of Kiri and Javier. For much of the narrative they are apart fighting this war on different fronts and that is my biggest complaint about this book: it lacks balance between the action and romance plot lines.
My other complaint is the appalling editing. A better job could've been done tightening this story up and proofing it better. When a book is already this long making me reread sentences to try to figure out what it's supposed to mean by substituting or deleting words that were missed or added erroneously, did the pacing no favors.
One last word of caution, I said in my review of Champion of the Scarlet Wolf, Book One that this series could be read as a standalone, but I'm retracting that now. There was too much that took place in this one from the first two books that would leave a reader scratching their head.
Recommend to high fantasy fans.
May 28, 2025
i've grown attached to these fools. not just elezar and skellan, our heroes of this duology, but the hellions as a whole. they're the kind of dysfunctional little found family that i love to toss myself into with abandon.
i fear it is my love for these characters that leads me to be biased toward the books. though i have loved every moment of it, this duology clocks in at a whopping 1022 pages. that number alone wouldn't mean much if each page held something of importance, but too many portions of the story felt either unnecessary or seemed to drag on to painful lengths. this really might have earned a 3.5, but i just cannot fathom rating it anything lower than a four.
that aside, along with a few gripes i have about some unflatteringly kooky plot devices, i did adore my time with these books. elezar and skellan might not have the same wow factor as kiram and javier did, but the pair easily earned my love and support after a few chapters of their lives being entangled.
i know that atreu's story is next, and i cannot be more excited. he'd interested me in the first duology, but utterly charmed me in these.
darling, wait for me. cadeleonia is not too far. 🏊♀️
i fear it is my love for these characters that leads me to be biased toward the books. though i have loved every moment of it, this duology clocks in at a whopping 1022 pages. that number alone wouldn't mean much if each page held something of importance, but too many portions of the story felt either unnecessary or seemed to drag on to painful lengths. this really might have earned a 3.5, but i just cannot fathom rating it anything lower than a four.
that aside, along with a few gripes i have about some unflatteringly kooky plot devices, i did adore my time with these books. elezar and skellan might not have the same wow factor as kiram and javier did, but the pair easily earned my love and support after a few chapters of their lives being entangled.
i know that atreu's story is next, and i cannot be more excited. he'd interested me in the first duology, but utterly charmed me in these.
darling, wait for me. cadeleonia is not too far. 🏊♀️
April 2, 2019
Reread 2019
I ended up liking this a lot better the second time. If you haven't read Lord of the White Hell, this is me telling you that YOU SHOULD. Then after that, you can read Champion of the Scarlet Wolf.
----------------------------------------------
Book 2 continues after the climatic events of the first book, bringing focus to the story from demons to the approaching armies of the Witch Queens. There’s not much new material I can add to this review: if you liked the predecessor, more likely you will like this sequel. There is less world building with this entry since almost everything you needed to know about the world has already been crafted. For this reason, the pacing of the story was a little on the uptake as there’s less info-dumping.
The book itself could be split into two parts: the first-half dealing with human politics. In the wake of destruction caused by the events of book 1, there needs to be a new leader. And with that, there’s going to be a bunch of political mess involved. Not being a fan of such, I would say the first half of the book wasn’t my favorite. Don’t get me wrong – it wasn’t boring. There were certainly other things going on, but it just wasn’t something that caught my interest when I know so much other (fantasy-esque) things could be happening.
The second half of the book was what I was waiting for: magic, violence, myths, and pretty much everything that makes Ginn Hale a master of fantasy storytelling. Certainly, the pacing wasn’t an issue at this point.
It was nice to see the author bring in characters from Lord of the White Hell series, as not just brief glimpses, but characters that stay important to the conclusion to the plot. They were relevant, and while the POV is strictly between Elezar and Skellan, I was able to see enough of Javier and Kiram to feel myself satisfied.
The romance between Elezar and Skellan progressed steadily throughout the book. I’m glad the author didn’t make Elezar’s feelings for Skellan become the magic wand to the inner homophobia he has, or at least its implication to his life back in Cadeleon. While things were slow to progress in the grand scheme of things (i.e. throughout two very long books), it certainly reached a satisfying and realistic conclusion.
One thing that did surprise me was the amount of proofreading errors throughout the book. Granted, it wouldn’t be a deterrant to reading this sequel (especially if you loved book 1), but it wasn’t something I expected from this author. The book could certainly shine with a second run through for mistakes as there were often sentences that I had to reread (slowly) to make sense.
Overall, I’m crossing my fingers and hoping this brilliant world hasn’t come to a permanent end. When I started on this journey, I didn’t think I would like Elezar. I wanted Javier and Kiram back! I didn’t expect to actually fall for the brute of a giant and to be able to revisit old beloved characters. It was like I was able to have my cake and eat it too! So I definitely give a thumbs up to Ginn Hale for the great hours I was able to lose myself in with this world. Sure, it was a bit rough to read due to the proofreading mistakes, but it was still a great adventure worth taking.
I ended up liking this a lot better the second time. If you haven't read Lord of the White Hell, this is me telling you that YOU SHOULD. Then after that, you can read Champion of the Scarlet Wolf.
----------------------------------------------
Book 2 continues after the climatic events of the first book, bringing focus to the story from demons to the approaching armies of the Witch Queens. There’s not much new material I can add to this review: if you liked the predecessor, more likely you will like this sequel. There is less world building with this entry since almost everything you needed to know about the world has already been crafted. For this reason, the pacing of the story was a little on the uptake as there’s less info-dumping.
The book itself could be split into two parts: the first-half dealing with human politics. In the wake of destruction caused by the events of book 1, there needs to be a new leader. And with that, there’s going to be a bunch of political mess involved. Not being a fan of such, I would say the first half of the book wasn’t my favorite. Don’t get me wrong – it wasn’t boring. There were certainly other things going on, but it just wasn’t something that caught my interest when I know so much other (fantasy-esque) things could be happening.
The second half of the book was what I was waiting for: magic, violence, myths, and pretty much everything that makes Ginn Hale a master of fantasy storytelling. Certainly, the pacing wasn’t an issue at this point.
It was nice to see the author bring in characters from Lord of the White Hell series, as not just brief glimpses, but characters that stay important to the conclusion to the plot. They were relevant, and while the POV is strictly between Elezar and Skellan, I was able to see enough of Javier and Kiram to feel myself satisfied.
The romance between Elezar and Skellan progressed steadily throughout the book. I’m glad the author didn’t make Elezar’s feelings for Skellan become the magic wand to the inner homophobia he has, or at least its implication to his life back in Cadeleon. While things were slow to progress in the grand scheme of things (i.e. throughout two very long books), it certainly reached a satisfying and realistic conclusion.
One thing that did surprise me was the amount of proofreading errors throughout the book. Granted, it wouldn’t be a deterrant to reading this sequel (especially if you loved book 1), but it wasn’t something I expected from this author. The book could certainly shine with a second run through for mistakes as there were often sentences that I had to reread (slowly) to make sense.
Overall, I’m crossing my fingers and hoping this brilliant world hasn’t come to a permanent end. When I started on this journey, I didn’t think I would like Elezar. I wanted Javier and Kiram back! I didn’t expect to actually fall for the brute of a giant and to be able to revisit old beloved characters. It was like I was able to have my cake and eat it too! So I definitely give a thumbs up to Ginn Hale for the great hours I was able to lose myself in with this world. Sure, it was a bit rough to read due to the proofreading mistakes, but it was still a great adventure worth taking.
November 10, 2015
Oh yeah, I really enjoy the way Ginn Hale does fantasy <3
Like the first two books in this world, Lord of the White Hell Book 1 and Lord of the White Hell Book 2, this is again really one story, cut into two parts, so this review will be for both together. You cannot read just Book 1 and stop. And you won't want to, because also like the first pair, this is a wonderful, imaginative, action-filled story with two great main characters. You could possibly read this as a stand-alone, but it will be a much richer read if you have read "White Hell" first, and have an idea of the secondary characters' past roles and relationships to each other.
Elezar is a lonely man. He was part of the tight-knit circle of young men who survived the crisis at the Sagrada Acedemy. That group split apart, splintered by flight and exile, by jealousy and magic. Elezar has spent his years since then dueling, for reasons good and less-good, and hiding his true self deep inside. His one remaining close friend has been Atreau, whose excesses of women and wine and the wrong beds end up driving them both into exile.
They are sent to the magical, northern country of Labara, for their safety and as eyes and ears for Fedeles back home. The situation in Labara turns out to be more complex than Elezar is prepared for, as magic, politics, money, religion, and the Old Gods are all driving events, and men and women, forward.
Elezar's self-concept and all his plans and expectations are further overset when he meets Skellan. Of course, he doesn't realize it at first, since he meets the young witch while Skellen is wearing the form of a red hound. Elezar's fundamental kindness leads him to protect the abused animal. Finding out that the dog he thought he was caring for is really a willful, brilliant, and uncultured young man with the most powerful magic in the city is a shock. Admitting anything beyond a simple willingness to protect Skellen from harm will be a slow surrender.
Skellen's life has been hard, from his childhood as a foundling in the company of witches, to his teens as a street urchin and secret witch himself. He saw the capricious foster-mother who sheltered him destroyed by the current ruler of the city. Since then, his long ambition has been to challenge and throw down that man. But in the moment he's ready to do so, a far more virulent magical force strikes first. Suddenly his ambition is changed, from simply taking the man's place as the most powerful witch in the city, to hoping the city and all his people can survive the onslaught of new magic.
Elezar is a puzzle to Skellen. He shelters Skellen's hound form, and has a core of kindness under his forbidding bulk and fighter's quick blade. But he clearly has secrets of his own, and while Skellen is happy to admit being attracted to the big man, Elezar comes from a land where attraction to another man is an abomination. Neither Skellen's route to power nor the route to true love will run in the least bit smoothly.
But then neither will the route to survival. Terrible forces are gathering, and Skellen's role, and his powers, are much less simple than he imagines.
It was also fun to see important characters from the first book show up and play an extended role. Javier and especially Kiram are a bit older, a bit more battered, but quintessentially themselves, and they add a lot to the richness of the story. New characters, like the troll, and a witch with rat-familiars, are only a few of the other unforgettable people who move through this new tapestry of magic, adventure, and slow, uncertain but inexorable love.
If you enjoy epic fantasy with your M/M, this series is for you. Do start with the first of the four books, and enjoy the ride.
Like the first two books in this world, Lord of the White Hell Book 1 and Lord of the White Hell Book 2, this is again really one story, cut into two parts, so this review will be for both together. You cannot read just Book 1 and stop. And you won't want to, because also like the first pair, this is a wonderful, imaginative, action-filled story with two great main characters. You could possibly read this as a stand-alone, but it will be a much richer read if you have read "White Hell" first, and have an idea of the secondary characters' past roles and relationships to each other.
Elezar is a lonely man. He was part of the tight-knit circle of young men who survived the crisis at the Sagrada Acedemy. That group split apart, splintered by flight and exile, by jealousy and magic. Elezar has spent his years since then dueling, for reasons good and less-good, and hiding his true self deep inside. His one remaining close friend has been Atreau, whose excesses of women and wine and the wrong beds end up driving them both into exile.
They are sent to the magical, northern country of Labara, for their safety and as eyes and ears for Fedeles back home. The situation in Labara turns out to be more complex than Elezar is prepared for, as magic, politics, money, religion, and the Old Gods are all driving events, and men and women, forward.
Elezar's self-concept and all his plans and expectations are further overset when he meets Skellan. Of course, he doesn't realize it at first, since he meets the young witch while Skellen is wearing the form of a red hound. Elezar's fundamental kindness leads him to protect the abused animal. Finding out that the dog he thought he was caring for is really a willful, brilliant, and uncultured young man with the most powerful magic in the city is a shock. Admitting anything beyond a simple willingness to protect Skellen from harm will be a slow surrender.
Skellen's life has been hard, from his childhood as a foundling in the company of witches, to his teens as a street urchin and secret witch himself. He saw the capricious foster-mother who sheltered him destroyed by the current ruler of the city. Since then, his long ambition has been to challenge and throw down that man. But in the moment he's ready to do so, a far more virulent magical force strikes first. Suddenly his ambition is changed, from simply taking the man's place as the most powerful witch in the city, to hoping the city and all his people can survive the onslaught of new magic.
Elezar is a puzzle to Skellen. He shelters Skellen's hound form, and has a core of kindness under his forbidding bulk and fighter's quick blade. But he clearly has secrets of his own, and while Skellen is happy to admit being attracted to the big man, Elezar comes from a land where attraction to another man is an abomination. Neither Skellen's route to power nor the route to true love will run in the least bit smoothly.
But then neither will the route to survival. Terrible forces are gathering, and Skellen's role, and his powers, are much less simple than he imagines.
It was also fun to see important characters from the first book show up and play an extended role. Javier and especially Kiram are a bit older, a bit more battered, but quintessentially themselves, and they add a lot to the richness of the story. New characters, like the troll, and a witch with rat-familiars, are only a few of the other unforgettable people who move through this new tapestry of magic, adventure, and slow, uncertain but inexorable love.
If you enjoy epic fantasy with your M/M, this series is for you. Do start with the first of the four books, and enjoy the ride.
April 1, 2016
Fucking amazing. I can't believe I waited so long to read these books, especially knowing how wonderful the Lord of the White Hell books were. Nobody does m/m fantasy like Ginn Hale.
April 18, 2022
4.5
After I read this book the first time I was amazed about the story and how Ginn Hale pushed it forward to a satisfying resolution with intrinsic logic without loosing even one thread or doing a disservice on a character for the good of the main story line. I was a bit breathless in the best way after that read. So much magic and myth, so much action and friendship, so much … so much everything - that takes its toll if your mind is single focused and just needs to know how everything evolves.
Now after the 2nd time I'm still amazed but it wasn't anymore so much the rush of the story line but following all those different characters and their interaction. Still no one is flawless but everyone has their reasons and the author shows those reasons, allows even secondary characters their time to shine or like for Rafale their tragic. Elezar and Skellan are growing into their roles without compromising their origin, so it might be a pity that they never say those 3 words but with everything they do, with every decision they take, with everything they are there is no doubt that it's a love as epic as this tale of a war to right the errors of a long forgotten past and still be true to yourself.
Can't wait to finally start the next duology. I like to have Atreau's story now, need to see the man behind the hedonistic charm.
After I read this book the first time I was amazed about the story and how Ginn Hale pushed it forward to a satisfying resolution with intrinsic logic without loosing even one thread or doing a disservice on a character for the good of the main story line. I was a bit breathless in the best way after that read. So much magic and myth, so much action and friendship, so much … so much everything - that takes its toll if your mind is single focused and just needs to know how everything evolves.
Now after the 2nd time I'm still amazed but it wasn't anymore so much the rush of the story line but following all those different characters and their interaction. Still no one is flawless but everyone has their reasons and the author shows those reasons, allows even secondary characters their time to shine or like for Rafale their tragic. Elezar and Skellan are growing into their roles without compromising their origin, so it might be a pity that they never say those 3 words but with everything they do, with every decision they take, with everything they are there is no doubt that it's a love as epic as this tale of a war to right the errors of a long forgotten past and still be true to yourself.
Can't wait to finally start the next duology. I like to have Atreau's story now, need to see the man behind the hedonistic charm.
January 24, 2015
First book of 2015. Finished on my birthday. This was incredible. I expected nothing less from Ginn Hale. I can't imagine a world without her writing. Too bushed to write a proper review, but read it, guys. Seriously.
October 21, 2015
Quite simply one of the best books I have read in a very, very long time
Review to follow on blog https://ingloriousbitches.wordpress.c...
Review to follow on blog https://ingloriousbitches.wordpress.c...
August 19, 2015
Review for book 1 and 2.
This was a good continuation of the White Hell series. I wouldn’t recommend reading this without first reading The Lord of the White Hell 1 and 2, but that can hardly be called a hardship. Ginn Hale is one of the better Fantasy writers in the m/m world and these books are no exception. There is lots of wonderful world building, written in evocative language (that manages to avoid straying into purple prose). There is a large and diverse cast of characters and a meaty plot. The romance builds slowly throughout book 1 and is rock solid in book 2.
It was good. But not great.
As far as I am concerned, this book could -should- have been shorter. I know, doorstoppers are the norm in Fantasy land, but the middle of both these books sagged quite a bit. In book 1, there are too many chapters that feature our heroes running through the city for one reason or another and in book 2 the saggy bit revolves around endless battle preparations (and battle scenes) and feats of magic that get exponentially more stupendous. Considering the way the crisis gets resolved, all the prep is overkill and could have been condensed.
Despite the beautiful writing, the meticulously crafted plot line and the beautiful world we’re presented with, the story is just a little too simple for my tastes. It is too straightforward (with the exception of the end of book 1, nothing really surprised me) and everything works out a little too smoothly. The characters are just a little too uncomplicated too. Initially, Elezar seems a good choice for main character. After White Hell, most readers should be intrigued by him. But guilt isn’t a character trait, and here it seemed that it was the main thing that defines Elezar. As a result, he ends up a bit bland. There are many occasions where Elezar forcefully reigns in his rage, and in a real life person that is admirable. For a character in a book, however, it fails to give him an edge or a developmental arc if he always manages to stay in control. There is development in other areas, sure, but all along fairly predictable lines. The same is true for Skellan.
What really irked me was the editing. Not only are there scores of proof reading errors that failed to correct typos and missing words and extraneous words, someone should have caught all the micro repetitions. I lost count how often it gets repeated that Elezar feels like a big brute, or guilty about his past, or how often Skellan seems to have to explain again that he spent 10 years living as a street rat. I think the author/editor should be able to trust that the reader can remember this information for more than a few pages and therefore does not need to be presented with it every time to explain the character’s actions. Give the reader some credit!
The epilogue is a snippet of nothing. The real epiloge, which should have been included in the book, can be found here.
All in all, I enjoyed reading this and I would recommend it to all Fantasy lovers, but it fell just a little short of fabulous. Your mileage may vary, of course.
This was a good continuation of the White Hell series. I wouldn’t recommend reading this without first reading The Lord of the White Hell 1 and 2, but that can hardly be called a hardship. Ginn Hale is one of the better Fantasy writers in the m/m world and these books are no exception. There is lots of wonderful world building, written in evocative language (that manages to avoid straying into purple prose). There is a large and diverse cast of characters and a meaty plot. The romance builds slowly throughout book 1 and is rock solid in book 2.
It was good. But not great.
As far as I am concerned, this book could -should- have been shorter. I know, doorstoppers are the norm in Fantasy land, but the middle of both these books sagged quite a bit. In book 1, there are too many chapters that feature our heroes running through the city for one reason or another and in book 2 the saggy bit revolves around endless battle preparations (and battle scenes) and feats of magic that get exponentially more stupendous. Considering the way the crisis gets resolved, all the prep is overkill and could have been condensed.
Despite the beautiful writing, the meticulously crafted plot line and the beautiful world we’re presented with, the story is just a little too simple for my tastes. It is too straightforward (with the exception of the end of book 1, nothing really surprised me) and everything works out a little too smoothly. The characters are just a little too uncomplicated too. Initially, Elezar seems a good choice for main character. After White Hell, most readers should be intrigued by him. But guilt isn’t a character trait, and here it seemed that it was the main thing that defines Elezar. As a result, he ends up a bit bland. There are many occasions where Elezar forcefully reigns in his rage, and in a real life person that is admirable. For a character in a book, however, it fails to give him an edge or a developmental arc if he always manages to stay in control. There is development in other areas, sure, but all along fairly predictable lines. The same is true for Skellan.
What really irked me was the editing. Not only are there scores of proof reading errors that failed to correct typos and missing words and extraneous words, someone should have caught all the micro repetitions. I lost count how often it gets repeated that Elezar feels like a big brute, or guilty about his past, or how often Skellan seems to have to explain again that he spent 10 years living as a street rat. I think the author/editor should be able to trust that the reader can remember this information for more than a few pages and therefore does not need to be presented with it every time to explain the character’s actions. Give the reader some credit!
The epilogue is a snippet of nothing. The real epiloge, which should have been included in the book, can be found here.
All in all, I enjoyed reading this and I would recommend it to all Fantasy lovers, but it fell just a little short of fabulous. Your mileage may vary, of course.
January 20, 2015
This second book continued right on from where the first book left off which was great news. As with all of Ginn Hale's books the storytelling is breathtaking and truly unique and I couldn't put it down. I was pleased to see Javier and Kiram had a crucial role to play in this book as the Lord of the White Hell series is one of my absolute favourites. Elezar proves himself over and over to be a worthy champion for Skellan as we all knew he would be and I'm happy that he finally found the courage to accept that his desires were perfectly normal.
January 5, 2019
Loved it. Ginn Hale is a superb writer and I stayed up last night, not to see the new year in but to finish this book. Nerd! So entertaining, with rich world building and enguaging characters. I was disappointed to find some errors in the text. I also wanted a big soppy epilogue. Other than that, I loved these editions to this series. Might go re read Champion... :)
Reread beginning of 2019. I love this series so much!
Reread beginning of 2019. I love this series so much!
May 19, 2022
"It's worth it. I can't even tell you how relieving it is when you realize that you don't have to lie to yourself or anyone else. You can hold your head high and be exactly who you are." Then Javier laughed and scratched a bit more at Lunaluz's flank. "It's amazing really how much anguish and trouble we can put ourselves through just trying to find the kind of peace that any animal worth his hide is born with."
Have I mentioned I love Ginn Hale? I love Ginn Hale.
I loved the worldbuilding, the characters (the bonds between Elezar and Skellan! and between the friends!), the magic and science aspects, the writing style...
I really wish I had read this closer to the first book, though. It takes place immediately after and I had forgotten so much. I knew that I wouldn't be able to reread the first and then pick this one up, however. I just don't have the time to read and have been struggling with picking up longer books. I'm so glad that Hale being author of the month for one of my groups finally "forced" me into picking this up!
The first half was a little slow while they were plotting and recovering but the writing still kept me engaged and I loved reading about all these characters, even the ones that were annoying.
The absolute worse part of this was the editing. I don't know if it was just the library version I borrowed or what, but... Wow. It was awful. I had to figure out what some sentences even meant. Missing punctuation, words, what looked like auto-corrected words inserted in place of... It was a huge mess. Very disappointing in that regard.
I would still recommend this read. Just be prepared. Also, do yourself a favor and read the two books back-to-back, lol. (I'll also be the first to admit my memory is awful...)
February 1, 2020
Epic.
Seriously, do I need to say more? This was absolutely epic. I think the most epic series I’ve read this year. Can’t believe I never ran into this series before. And it’s not even obscure. Many people have read this so I can’t begin to fathom why I haven’t ever come across it until now. But no matter, what matters is I have come across them and I love them. So much!!
The fantasy in this book was more vast than in the Lord of the White Hell. The entire world seemed bigger and richer and more fantastical. I’m usually not one for details but even I was bowled over by the details in this two-book series.
Sure, there’s a quite a lot of blood but I wouldn’t call it gruesome. There were descriptions of fights and all but it wasn’t overly gruesome. I actually love the way Ginn Hale crafted the solutions to the epic fight. For the longest time, up until the end, I couldn’t even begin to figure out how it would all go down. That it was a clever solution pleased me greatly because often times authors just gloss over the epic fight or conclude it in the most bizarre way that it spoils the entire story. So I’m very happy this one didn’t go that way.
I wish we had more of it. Part of the conflict in the book was the Cadeleon faith and how it forbade relationships between men. I want to know how Elezar and Skellan handled that. And whether the royal bishop came after them. Also, I wonder if we will have Atreau’s story!
Seriously, do I need to say more? This was absolutely epic. I think the most epic series I’ve read this year. Can’t believe I never ran into this series before. And it’s not even obscure. Many people have read this so I can’t begin to fathom why I haven’t ever come across it until now. But no matter, what matters is I have come across them and I love them. So much!!
The fantasy in this book was more vast than in the Lord of the White Hell. The entire world seemed bigger and richer and more fantastical. I’m usually not one for details but even I was bowled over by the details in this two-book series.
Sure, there’s a quite a lot of blood but I wouldn’t call it gruesome. There were descriptions of fights and all but it wasn’t overly gruesome. I actually love the way Ginn Hale crafted the solutions to the epic fight. For the longest time, up until the end, I couldn’t even begin to figure out how it would all go down. That it was a clever solution pleased me greatly because often times authors just gloss over the epic fight or conclude it in the most bizarre way that it spoils the entire story. So I’m very happy this one didn’t go that way.
I wish we had more of it. Part of the conflict in the book was the Cadeleon faith and how it forbade relationships between men. I want to know how Elezar and Skellan handled that. And whether the royal bishop came after them. Also, I wonder if we will have Atreau’s story!
February 19, 2024
I quite enjoyed the first duology in this six-book series, but I think this second duology is even better! For one thing, the characters are no longer teenagers--this taking place five years after the end of book 2, putting the Hellions in their mid-twenties--and I think the author did a great job showing the ways in which they've all matured, while also showing they still have their faults. We also get the POV of both the main characters in these two, and while I think the single POV in the first two books was the right call for the story being told there, it necessarily provided a bit of distance from Javier as a character--necessary, because he's a bit of a mysterious dick--but it was nice not to need that obfuscation here, because both Elezar and Skellen are really compelling characters, and it was wonderful to get in both of their heads. The romance is great, the plot compelling, the world-building continues to be fascinating, and I really enjoyed the strong friendships and that we got to see Javier and Kiran and Atreau in really substantial and satisfying ways that also felt incredibly natural to the plot. I'm incredibly excited to read Atreau & Fedeles' books next as it seems like the final duology will focus on the two of them and their separate love interests... maybe?
September 19, 2016
Wonderful ending to the series! But it looks like there will be another sequel to the Cadeleonian series from how this book ended. Will it be Atreau and Morisio's tale next? I've really enjoyed reading about Javier, Kiram, Elezar and Skellan's lives.
This book had me crying for both Elezar and Skellan towards the end. Their love story was very beautiful to me. All of the books written about this world have been very well written and made me fall in love with the young men that star in the them. I've loved every book I've read of Ginn Hale's and I look forward to reading the rest of her books that I haven't read, yet.
This book had me crying for both Elezar and Skellan towards the end. Their love story was very beautiful to me. All of the books written about this world have been very well written and made me fall in love with the young men that star in the them. I've loved every book I've read of Ginn Hale's and I look forward to reading the rest of her books that I haven't read, yet.
January 12, 2015
Thank whatever deities you believe in for Ginn fuckin' Hale.
Squeee!
In spite of some significant editorial issues which should have been picked up by a copy editor, this book remains a work of stellar storytelling. I can't even dock a star for the editing issues because it's that fucking good.
Squeee!
In spite of some significant editorial issues which should have been picked up by a copy editor, this book remains a work of stellar storytelling. I can't even dock a star for the editing issues because it's that fucking good.
August 29, 2015
I LOVED IT! As usual, I wish there was a whole other book of more!
March 29, 2021
3.5 stars (Book 1 review is a non-spoilery review for both books together, since they're really just one long book)
July 11, 2022
I liked this one even more than book two. Perhaps the series gets better over time. I especially liked how Elezar was written right after shifting to become a Bear, toward the end.
I don’t know why, but my kindle refused to open this ebook. I had it in print, so I read the paperback. There were minor editing issues where small words were missing, or some words were misspelled to be a different word. All minor, but enough that it was really noticeable.
But, overall, this was a good book. Can’t wait to jump into the next one.
I don’t know why, but my kindle refused to open this ebook. I had it in print, so I read the paperback. There were minor editing issues where small words were missing, or some words were misspelled to be a different word. All minor, but enough that it was really noticeable.
But, overall, this was a good book. Can’t wait to jump into the next one.
February 9, 2015
And so the story continues…
Skellan saved Milmuraille from the demon Lord and Oesir is now dead. He also found out that he’s actually the stolen son of count Radulf and one of the grimmas. Now, it’s time for him to step up as their leader and with Elezar Grunito in his side along with his “powerful” friends – are they equipped enough to beat the Old gods?
Now, this I enjoyed immensely because it’s so full of action I can’t even turn a page without any sort of chaos ensuing around Skellan and Elezar. It’s also fun to see Elezar finally loosening up and his acceptance towards his true nature. He’s obviously over with Javier but he’s still got a lot to learn about being comfortable with a man. I loved that he and Skellan are so in-synch and it may be because of Skellan’s spells but cmon’ it’s got to be true love right? After all, Elezar is Skellan’s man.
I also loved that in this second book of the Scarlet Wolf – we get to see more of Javier and Kiram affectations towards each other. It was so beautiful to read how they are so comfortable with each other and how through the years, they’ve grown not only as a couple but as individuals. It makes me feel a bit nostalgic thinking back when they were still students of the Sagrada Academy.
At the end of this story, I feel like there’s more to these characters. I may want to have Morisio and Altreau’s story although I’m not that certain about Altreau’s true orientation – I may have to cross my fingers that this playboy nobleman will give Morision a chance after all. Oh and wouldn’t it be fun to have Kiram’s brother and Altreau fighting for Morisio’s affection? I don’t think it will happen but I want some resolution in this series – I mean, I want Cadeleon to change its law and I want Prince Sevanyo to have his own story. I feel like there’s more that Ginn Hale could explore in this story. In the meantime, go to Amazon and buy this epic series. It’s just so worth it!
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Skellan saved Milmuraille from the demon Lord and Oesir is now dead. He also found out that he’s actually the stolen son of count Radulf and one of the grimmas. Now, it’s time for him to step up as their leader and with Elezar Grunito in his side along with his “powerful” friends – are they equipped enough to beat the Old gods?
Now, this I enjoyed immensely because it’s so full of action I can’t even turn a page without any sort of chaos ensuing around Skellan and Elezar. It’s also fun to see Elezar finally loosening up and his acceptance towards his true nature. He’s obviously over with Javier but he’s still got a lot to learn about being comfortable with a man. I loved that he and Skellan are so in-synch and it may be because of Skellan’s spells but cmon’ it’s got to be true love right? After all, Elezar is Skellan’s man.
I also loved that in this second book of the Scarlet Wolf – we get to see more of Javier and Kiram affectations towards each other. It was so beautiful to read how they are so comfortable with each other and how through the years, they’ve grown not only as a couple but as individuals. It makes me feel a bit nostalgic thinking back when they were still students of the Sagrada Academy.
At the end of this story, I feel like there’s more to these characters. I may want to have Morisio and Altreau’s story although I’m not that certain about Altreau’s true orientation – I may have to cross my fingers that this playboy nobleman will give Morision a chance after all. Oh and wouldn’t it be fun to have Kiram’s brother and Altreau fighting for Morisio’s affection? I don’t think it will happen but I want some resolution in this series – I mean, I want Cadeleon to change its law and I want Prince Sevanyo to have his own story. I feel like there’s more that Ginn Hale could explore in this story. In the meantime, go to Amazon and buy this epic series. It’s just so worth it!
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
December 30, 2015
3.5 stars. I really wanted to love this series and I think I'm the only one who didn't adore Skellen but I just couldn't like him :/ On the other hand as always Hale's prose is beautiful and the world she creates is filled with everything I love in a fantasy novel. I think my problem was that I fell in love with Javier and Kiram and therefore all I wanted to read was about their story and this is not what 'Champion Of A Scarlett Wolf" is. this is the story of Elzar and his witch, but I still wanted more on Javier.
What I did love about this book is that we see how the characters have developed since their days at the academy and how they have grown into young men and find their place in the world.
What I did love about this book is that we see how the characters have developed since their days at the academy and how they have grown into young men and find their place in the world.
October 13, 2015
Great story and I'm so glad I read this series starting from Lord of the White Hell. Can't deny now I'm craving for more fantasy books because of this.
I'm so happy that I got to have more Javier and Kiram. Elezar and Skellan have become very dear to me as well. This was a fun ride and I'd love to read more from them.
I'm so happy that I got to have more Javier and Kiram. Elezar and Skellan have become very dear to me as well. This was a fun ride and I'd love to read more from them.
May 14, 2015
Loved it. I adore the whole universe, the magic, the creatures, all the characters and the perfect blend of romance and action.
I already want to reread everything because I was kind of busy and read it in the too short hours before bed, in public transport and during lunch.
I already want to reread everything because I was kind of busy and read it in the too short hours before bed, in public transport and during lunch.
January 3, 2015
Perfect. I hate that it's over. Here's the link to a little coda: http://blindeyebooks.com/new-years-co...
April 7, 2016
First read on February 3, 2015.
Re-read on March 26, 2016.
Hours upon hours of reading - and I loved every minute of it.
That epilogue was such a tease, though...I want more!
Re-read on March 26, 2016.
Hours upon hours of reading - and I loved every minute of it.
That epilogue was such a tease, though...I want more!
February 1, 2015
I must confess to having dithered over whether to write a review for this book. I adore this author's work, but this book has left me in two minds. The author is very good at writing 3D characters, and this book continues the good work done in Part I - the characters fairly leapt of the page. I also loved the twists that appeared in this book - the author is very good at having things not quite appear as they seem. Moreover, no one is ever evil personified - there are reasons for why people do what they do. However, for me, the execution just didn't work as well as the LOTWH books or The Rifter serial. One of the big reasons why was the constant editing errors (missing words, extra words, wrong words, misspelt words). It threw me out of the book to have to re-read sentences in order to understand them and while I understand that a book is never going to be perfect, I expect a published book to be relatively clean. And this book wasn't. I also found the pace at times to be glacial. I don't mind a slow pace, but on occasion it felt like time wasn't moving...that nothing was happening (the plot wasn't really progressing or the characters developing). Which leads me to the characters. Yes, they leapt off the page, but Skellan was...rather blunt - when it came to bodily functions, when it came to pretty much everything. I'm not sure if that was just a 'him' thing or was meant to reflect his time on the streets, but...it kind of grossed me out. And that's definitely a 'me' thing. I also became increasingly frustrating that Skellan kept being open in his affections for Elezar without Elezar explaining the situation that put him in - that word could get back to his family, the Church (i.e. the Bishop) and what the consequences of that might be. Yes, it all worked out in the end, but...Elezar just kept ignoring it. And I would have thought Skellan might have a smidgen of an idea of how the Caledonians might react to his and Elezar's relationship. The Epilogue also didn't work for me. I'm sorry, but Fedeles married the woman who sent assassins after Elezar and Atreau? Maybe if I had Fedeles' reasons as to why, but...I don't get it. It felt...'off'.
So you're probably wondering why the four stars. Because in spite of the above, the world building was (as always) fascinating and the characters have depth and are clearly distinct. The plot is intricate and clever, with lots of twists. And, yes, I will definitely be reading more of this author's work (I re-read a lot of what has come before too ). I just hope the next books have a more thorough edit.
So you're probably wondering why the four stars. Because in spite of the above, the world building was (as always) fascinating and the characters have depth and are clearly distinct. The plot is intricate and clever, with lots of twists. And, yes, I will definitely be reading more of this author's work (I re-read a lot of what has come before too ). I just hope the next books have a more thorough edit.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 13, 2021
5 out of 5
This is my second time reading the Cadeleonian Series (although, I had forgotten that I read them previously). I don't know if I liked them as much the first time that I read them, but I loved them this time around. This series is easily the best thing I've read so far this year and will likely remain a top favorite for me in years to come.
While the fantasy setting, magic, and mythology make for an interesting and entertaining story, what captured my heart was the romantic story arc. Ginn Hale is a master at depicting deep friendships and intimate relationships between men in a realistic and poignant (make your heart ache) way.
Swoon-worthy moments abound (no spoilers here). Ginn's characters have a depth and complexity to them; they write male relationships with a degree of nuance that is rarely seen in this genre.
I'm pleased to learn that there is now a fifth and sixth book in this series. Looking forward to reading that and other books by Ginn.
This is my second time reading the Cadeleonian Series (although, I had forgotten that I read them previously). I don't know if I liked them as much the first time that I read them, but I loved them this time around. This series is easily the best thing I've read so far this year and will likely remain a top favorite for me in years to come.
While the fantasy setting, magic, and mythology make for an interesting and entertaining story, what captured my heart was the romantic story arc. Ginn Hale is a master at depicting deep friendships and intimate relationships between men in a realistic and poignant (make your heart ache) way.
Swoon-worthy moments abound (no spoilers here). Ginn's characters have a depth and complexity to them; they write male relationships with a degree of nuance that is rarely seen in this genre.
I'm pleased to learn that there is now a fifth and sixth book in this series. Looking forward to reading that and other books by Ginn.
January 5, 2015
This has everything we’ve come to expect from Ginn Hale: incredibly rich world building, fascinating characters and a beautiful love story. I was totally immersed in this very other place with these heroic men battling to save their world. I’m sad that it’s over.
There’s lots of action with magic, mythical creatures and warfare, but my favorite bits were about Elezar finding someone like Skellan and slowly learning that his desires were not evil and that he could be happy if he only had the courage to accept it.
I was somewhat bothered by the minor but frequent editing errors (missing words, extra words, wrong words). They occurred every few pages and tripped me up, making me stop to reread. Mildly annoying, but they did not detract from the wonderful storytelling.
Now I begin the wait for the next extraordinary thing Ms Hale unleashes on us.
There’s lots of action with magic, mythical creatures and warfare, but my favorite bits were about Elezar finding someone like Skellan and slowly learning that his desires were not evil and that he could be happy if he only had the courage to accept it.
I was somewhat bothered by the minor but frequent editing errors (missing words, extra words, wrong words). They occurred every few pages and tripped me up, making me stop to reread. Mildly annoying, but they did not detract from the wonderful storytelling.
Now I begin the wait for the next extraordinary thing Ms Hale unleashes on us.
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