Exile

Carved Legacy #2

by C. Miller

After leaving the Vampyre in Lensilia to be studied, Zelara, Hale, and Lor head out to escape from the stiffness of life inside an Elven realm. Going back to the start to begin fresh from Faltair leads them on a path of exploring the intricacies of Virin blessings. It also leads to learning of corruption at the heart of the very priests who bless and control them.
An unexpected addition to the party causes everyone to face hard truths about their situation, and it forces Zelara to confront her past, including parts of it that have long been put to rest.
Surviving the Vampyres is in some ways easy in comparison to surviving the pains of life.

253 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 28, 2023

About the author

C. Miller lives in Kentucky and has been writing books for more than a decade. She believes books are magical things, transporting readers to other worlds and allowing them to live, laugh, love, and learn with the characters. She loves dogs, beautiful days, and working hard. When not working, you can usually find her playing video games, crocheting, or enjoying those beautiful days that come.

Discover more by visiting her website!
www.cmillerauthor.com

For reviewers interested in ARCs/review copies, head to: www.cmillerauthor.com/for-reviewers

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Reviews

[Bee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exile by C. Miller was such a neat read for me. This is book 2 in the Carved Legacy series. I loved the dynamic between Lor and Hale—their banter was sharp, witty, and made the story for me.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second book in the series is an excellent continuation of the adventure. I particularly like how C. Miller describes the intricacies of relationships. The reader is drawn into the struggles and triumphs of the engaging characters. Zelara deals with her identity, belonging and resilience in the beautifully personal narrative of C. Miller.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zelara is free from the Vampyre that had taken her captive and ready to set out again on an adventure with her Elven friends, Lor and Hale. Unable to protect herself or humans in her exiled state, the safest place for her Virin blood is with her friends. Struggling with her limitations, the 3 friends wander, until fate intervenes. Only one other Virin has been exiled and had his blessings stripped, so when Xander stands before Zelara, blessings blazing, she doubts everything she knows.

Miller illuminates more about Zelara's past and how Virin are raised, trusting only their partners, but not necessarily liking them. With the addition of Xander to the travelling group, the 3 men must figure out how to accept each other and their roles in Zelara's life. As the group dynamic changes, thoughts turn to the future and what she will do when her friends eventually return home and the adventure ends. Just because there is no planning for the future, it doesn't stop it from coming, and not thinking about certain hurts doesn't make them hurt less, it only makes them bruise more.

Virin are taught from a young age that their power comes from the Vasa, humans blessed and able to share that to increase the Virin's strength to rival the Vampyres. Virin must remain numb and emotionless, pure so that the blessings take, so they do not form connections with others. So how does an exiled Virin with no priest stand before Zelara, blessed and strong once more? Read to find out where Zelara goes next.

[Abbie Riddle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how raw and open Miller's writing is as it explores themes that can be difficult to navigate. New friendships, found family and the how we are raised and what we are taught in contradiction to the circumstances we find ourselves in. Do the things we are taught limit us and in some ways control and contain us? What happens when you question those things? Or circumstances change?

Virin are taught to have no feelings, to be analytical only in thought, logical in all things. They are not allowed to form attachments - only a relationship with their partners and this does not always mean a friendship or liking one another. Even having offspring it is a duty, a job, not to be entangled with emotions and the offspring are not raised in a family setting with their parent(s). All this is tested as the FMC finds family in new friends, attachment and contentment.

Again, there is something poignant and raw about the exploration of these themes in the hands of an author who writes with emotions and descriptions that draw the reader in to contemplate the deeper nature and meaning.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.