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The Risen King #1
The Iron Locket
She was raised to hunt faeries. He was raised from the dead.
***
Aiofe Callaghan comes from a long line of faery hunters. Hired by one of the faery queens, they protect the human world from chaos and destruction. But when Aiofe stumbles through an open door into the land of Faery, she discovers the job isn't as simple as it seems, and neither is she.
Arthur Pendragon spent centuries in blissful nothingness, until the day the four queens banded together to raise him from the dead. Along with his twelve most talented knights, he leads the warring armies of Faery against the greatest enemy they have ever one of their own.
Can they overcome their differences to confront the greatest challenges either of them have ever faced?
"The reader is drawn in immediately and will be screaming in frustration when they reach the final pages and realize it ends in a cliff hanger! The Iron Locket is worth the quick read and should top any to-read stack that involves Arthur." - InD'tale Magazine
***
Aiofe Callaghan comes from a long line of faery hunters. Hired by one of the faery queens, they protect the human world from chaos and destruction. But when Aiofe stumbles through an open door into the land of Faery, she discovers the job isn't as simple as it seems, and neither is she.
Arthur Pendragon spent centuries in blissful nothingness, until the day the four queens banded together to raise him from the dead. Along with his twelve most talented knights, he leads the warring armies of Faery against the greatest enemy they have ever one of their own.
Can they overcome their differences to confront the greatest challenges either of them have ever faced?
"The reader is drawn in immediately and will be screaming in frustration when they reach the final pages and realize it ends in a cliff hanger! The Iron Locket is worth the quick read and should top any to-read stack that involves Arthur." - InD'tale Magazine
203 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 16, 2013
21 people are currently reading
1049 people want to read
About the author
Samantha Warren
46 books94 followersSamantha Warren is a fantasy and science fiction author who spends her days immersed in dragons, spaceships, and vampires.
In the name of research, she enlisted the help of her pet dragon Anethesis and together they built a Noah’s Ark-like spaceship. Three trips through a hole in the time-space continuum allowed the pair to explore the universe decades into the past and eons into the future. They discovered how life would be without Earth and were forced to run from alien law enforcement when their spaceship was deemed unspaceworthy. In the long run, the constant demands of space travel and repairs cut into Samantha’s sock fetish fund, so she was forced to sell her ark for half-price to a slimy creature that made Jabba the Hutt look like Brad Pitt.
After her years of traveling, she returned to her roots. When she isn’t writing or reading, she is collecting zombie gnomes, plotting to take over the world, or watching any show featuring Gordon Ramsay. Anethesis remains by her side, sleeping away the day and hunting evil cat-eating coyotes by night.
In the name of research, she enlisted the help of her pet dragon Anethesis and together they built a Noah’s Ark-like spaceship. Three trips through a hole in the time-space continuum allowed the pair to explore the universe decades into the past and eons into the future. They discovered how life would be without Earth and were forced to run from alien law enforcement when their spaceship was deemed unspaceworthy. In the long run, the constant demands of space travel and repairs cut into Samantha’s sock fetish fund, so she was forced to sell her ark for half-price to a slimy creature that made Jabba the Hutt look like Brad Pitt.
After her years of traveling, she returned to her roots. When she isn’t writing or reading, she is collecting zombie gnomes, plotting to take over the world, or watching any show featuring Gordon Ramsay. Anethesis remains by her side, sleeping away the day and hunting evil cat-eating coyotes by night.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
April 22, 2013
Visit www.tattooedbookreview.com on April 22 for my stop on The Iron Locket Book Tour!
"Arthur straightened himself and glanced back toward the army gathered outside. 'Never in all my years as king would I have thought that one day I would be commanding elves and dragons. Myths and fairy tales come to life.'"
“Arthur straightened himself and glanced back toward the army gathered outside. ‘Never in all my years as king would I have thought that one day I would be commanding elves and dragons. Myths and fairy tales come to life.’”
Samantha Warren has succeeded in weaving multiple times and places, legends and fairy tales, into a tightly woven and beautiful tapestry of a story.
For such an incredibly multi-faceted story, the book flows easily. It contains so many elements: in 2012 Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table have been resurrected, the kingdom of Faery is at war, and a faery hunter of the human realm is just discovering her complicated and royal lineage. It would seem impossible for all of these plot lines to come together as one, but they do just that.
Among the epic, exciting, and well- described battles and jostling for control of the Faery realm, a romance blossoms between two outsiders, from different times and places, but with an undeniable chemistry: King Arthur (yes, that King Arthur) has found his romantic counterpart in Aiofe, a half-human faery hunter and descendent of faery royalty. Arthur is as you would expect him, chivalrous and strong, a true Knight. Aiofe is a great female lead, strong and tough, with a sense of humor and ready to find love. Arthur and Aiofe’s story is my favorite part of the book, and I look forward to seeing it develop in future installments of the series.
“Her cheeks flushed as she looked up, meeting his clear blue eyes. He was so handsome, so amazing. He would die for her, she could feel it deep in her soul. This was the man she could trust completely with her mind, body, and soul.”
This book does as the first book in a series should, it introduces the reader to important players, solves some initial mysteries, provides it’s own intense action and intrigue and sets the stage for what promises to be an epic series. It finishes on a cliffhanger and I am eagerly awaiting more of this story!
*I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
March 28, 2024
Aiofe Callaghan comes from a long line of faery hunters. Hired by one of the faery queens, they protect the human world from chaos and destruction. But when Aiofe stumbles through an open door into the land of Faery, she discovers the job isn't as simple as it seems, and neither is she. Arthur Pendragon spent centuries in blissful nothingness, until the day the four queens banded together to raise him from the dead. Along with his twelve most talented knights, he leads the warring armies of Faery against the greatest enemy they have ever known: one of their own.
Interesting take on the legends of both the fae & Pendragon.
Interesting take on the legends of both the fae & Pendragon.
August 16, 2014
This is a great new take on the Arthur revival story!
Read full review in the 2013 June issue of InD’tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2013 June issue of InD’tale Magazine.
May 5, 2013
Original review here: http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-iron-locket-blog-tour-review.html
The Iron Locket is a story that follows the legend of King Arthur. Well, a new legend of King Arthur. King Arthur has been brought back to life. Him and twelve of his best knights are alive in 2012. The Four Queens of Faery need the warriors to fight along with them before Faery is destroyed by their vicious and powerful predecessor, Leanansidhe. Along with the warriors, one of the queens also bring along a half-human/half-faery named Aiofe to help in the war. She is a faery hunter and she is tough. But along the way she makes some pretty big discoveries about her new job and about herself.
I love stories on the Fae and this one packed quite a punch. Warren has one hell of an imagination. I love the idea of bringing King Arthur to the 21st century. Warren did a great job bringing a little bit of the legend back from the get go. When King Arthur wakes up, I love that he wanted to go and kill Lancelot after what he did. They may have been dead, but it is hard to forget that your best friend stabbed you in the back. I love that she kept these stories and mixed it so well with the mythology of the Fae. Quite genius.
I loved our characters. Aiofe and King Arthur were amazing. Aiofe is a great lead. She was tough as nails. I can definitely see why the queens want her. King Arthur was amazing. He was as incredible as I always imagined him to be. And hot, can't forget freaking hot. I love the romance that was brewing between them. They had amazing chemistry. The villains in the story are very intriguing as well. From the get-go we see that Leanansidhe is insanely evil. All she wants is power and is willing to do absolutely anything to get it. She was nuts and very unpredictable. You just don't know what she will do next.
I really enjoyed this read. The story was complex and had various plots that mixed well together in the end. This is my first read from Warren, but it definitely won't be my last. This book was epic and full of amazing action scenes. I love the battle scenes. This book was a lot of fun and intense. I want book 2 right now. Highly recommended.
The Iron Locket is a story that follows the legend of King Arthur. Well, a new legend of King Arthur. King Arthur has been brought back to life. Him and twelve of his best knights are alive in 2012. The Four Queens of Faery need the warriors to fight along with them before Faery is destroyed by their vicious and powerful predecessor, Leanansidhe. Along with the warriors, one of the queens also bring along a half-human/half-faery named Aiofe to help in the war. She is a faery hunter and she is tough. But along the way she makes some pretty big discoveries about her new job and about herself.
I love stories on the Fae and this one packed quite a punch. Warren has one hell of an imagination. I love the idea of bringing King Arthur to the 21st century. Warren did a great job bringing a little bit of the legend back from the get go. When King Arthur wakes up, I love that he wanted to go and kill Lancelot after what he did. They may have been dead, but it is hard to forget that your best friend stabbed you in the back. I love that she kept these stories and mixed it so well with the mythology of the Fae. Quite genius.
I loved our characters. Aiofe and King Arthur were amazing. Aiofe is a great lead. She was tough as nails. I can definitely see why the queens want her. King Arthur was amazing. He was as incredible as I always imagined him to be. And hot, can't forget freaking hot. I love the romance that was brewing between them. They had amazing chemistry. The villains in the story are very intriguing as well. From the get-go we see that Leanansidhe is insanely evil. All she wants is power and is willing to do absolutely anything to get it. She was nuts and very unpredictable. You just don't know what she will do next.
I really enjoyed this read. The story was complex and had various plots that mixed well together in the end. This is my first read from Warren, but it definitely won't be my last. This book was epic and full of amazing action scenes. I love the battle scenes. This book was a lot of fun and intense. I want book 2 right now. Highly recommended.
May 27, 2013
My rating: 3.5 out of 5
I received an e-copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
The Iron Locket is an interesting twist on the fae and the Arthur legend. The four Queens of faery have agreed on two things in the last nearly two thousand years, to preserve the legendary Arthur and his knights upon their deaths and to resurrect them in a time of great peril to the faery world. And that time is now.
Titania, the Queen of the South, also called mortals into service as faery hunters, bestowing upon the lineage of the first hunter gifts passed down through the generations. Aiofe Callaghan has faced tragic loss and is determined to prove herself as a hunter worthy of those gifts. And that time is now.
The Iron Locket is told through the points of view of several characters in parts, each one advancing their storyline until they all meet upon an epic battlefield. While this initially had me questioning how everything was going to come together, I told myself to be patient and was quickly rewarded by being drawn into the story so thoroughly I didn't want to put it down. The building of both the faery and mortal worlds is very vivid and the battle depictions are intense.
I enjoyed the interactions between Arthur and his knights and seeing them adjust to life in an unfamiliar world. Aiofe is a strong, yet sometimes rash, young woman with a deep love for her family and determination to succeed. There's some of insta-love when the two meet, but throughout the book it talks about generations of hunters knowing their partners at first sight so it fit. The villains of the story are quite intriguing as well. There's more to Kane than just the quest for power that we originally see, but Leanansidhe is rotten to her core and she will stop at nothing to rule.
The epilogue promises quite a surprise for the next book and I'm looking forward to find out what's going to happen. If you're a fan a stories involving the fae, King Arthur or epic journeys then The Iron Locket needs to be on your must read list.
I received an e-copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
The Iron Locket is an interesting twist on the fae and the Arthur legend. The four Queens of faery have agreed on two things in the last nearly two thousand years, to preserve the legendary Arthur and his knights upon their deaths and to resurrect them in a time of great peril to the faery world. And that time is now.
Titania, the Queen of the South, also called mortals into service as faery hunters, bestowing upon the lineage of the first hunter gifts passed down through the generations. Aiofe Callaghan has faced tragic loss and is determined to prove herself as a hunter worthy of those gifts. And that time is now.
The Iron Locket is told through the points of view of several characters in parts, each one advancing their storyline until they all meet upon an epic battlefield. While this initially had me questioning how everything was going to come together, I told myself to be patient and was quickly rewarded by being drawn into the story so thoroughly I didn't want to put it down. The building of both the faery and mortal worlds is very vivid and the battle depictions are intense.
I enjoyed the interactions between Arthur and his knights and seeing them adjust to life in an unfamiliar world. Aiofe is a strong, yet sometimes rash, young woman with a deep love for her family and determination to succeed. There's some of insta-love when the two meet, but throughout the book it talks about generations of hunters knowing their partners at first sight so it fit. The villains of the story are quite intriguing as well. There's more to Kane than just the quest for power that we originally see, but Leanansidhe is rotten to her core and she will stop at nothing to rule.
The epilogue promises quite a surprise for the next book and I'm looking forward to find out what's going to happen. If you're a fan a stories involving the fae, King Arthur or epic journeys then The Iron Locket needs to be on your must read list.
August 19, 2014
The cover of the The Iron Locket immediately drew me in and I wanted to know more about the lady with the piercing green eyes and how the knight fit into her story. The knight really peeked my interest since I have always been drawn to Arthurian legend. Samantha Warren did a great job melding Arthurian legend and Fey lore, anchoring the two with Aoife, a strong female who is skilled in hunting faeries. Aoife is a relatable and believable character who, beyond her strength and tenacity, shows honest emotions in her situations.
This book seems to have everything: adventure, action, King Arthur and his knights in present day, an evil faery, secrets, romance, and a cliffhanger to end it all. The romantic part of the story is the only part that fell a little short for me. I can see Aoife and Arthur as a couple, but I felt like I was told they loved each other instead of being shown how their love grew. It seemed unrealistic how quick they were in love and as a reader, I felt cheated out of watching them fall madly for each other. Their romance aside, I like how Arthur and Aoife are individually written and their story kept my interest throughout. The surprise cliffhanger has me waiting on the next installment of their adventure.
A review copy was provided to me by the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.
This book seems to have everything: adventure, action, King Arthur and his knights in present day, an evil faery, secrets, romance, and a cliffhanger to end it all. The romantic part of the story is the only part that fell a little short for me. I can see Aoife and Arthur as a couple, but I felt like I was told they loved each other instead of being shown how their love grew. It seemed unrealistic how quick they were in love and as a reader, I felt cheated out of watching them fall madly for each other. Their romance aside, I like how Arthur and Aoife are individually written and their story kept my interest throughout. The surprise cliffhanger has me waiting on the next installment of their adventure.
A review copy was provided to me by the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 15, 2013
The Iron Locket takes the world of fairies and the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table and brings them to today. At first that description made me think twice, would this be something that would work for me? Will I enjoy this? Well the answer was a resounding YES! I was actually disappointed when I flipped the page to the last chapter and the word 'Epilogue' jumped into my line of vision. (I had not been paying attention to those numbers at the bottom of the page...I was sure there was more story to go!) Oh well, I guess I will have to wait until the next book in this series!
I was quickly drawn into the story and wanted to know what would happen next. I actually wanted to know everything -- and Samantha Warren did a good job of filling in the different backstories and fleshing out and describing the characters. While there is a lot of battles (and wonderful descriptions of them) there is also some great romance and personal stories included in the book as well. I recommend this book and will be awaiting it's sequel too!
I received an ARC of The Iron Locket from the author, in exchange for an honest review.
I was quickly drawn into the story and wanted to know what would happen next. I actually wanted to know everything -- and Samantha Warren did a good job of filling in the different backstories and fleshing out and describing the characters. While there is a lot of battles (and wonderful descriptions of them) there is also some great romance and personal stories included in the book as well. I recommend this book and will be awaiting it's sequel too!
I received an ARC of The Iron Locket from the author, in exchange for an honest review.
April 29, 2013
Interesting read, It kept my attention, With this fantastical twist on the Legend of King Authur, When a rogue fairy named Leanansidhe threatens to overtake the fea realm and the human realm It's up to Authur and Aiofe and yes the knights of the round table to save the day.
I love anything with fea lore so this was right up my alley with just the right mix of entertainment, action and suspence, although I could have dealt with a little more romance between Authur and Aiofe, the world building was great but would have liked to have seen a little bit more back story on the main characters, and even though the epilogue left off with a wicked cliff hanger that left me wanting to bang my head on my desk, I will be anxiously waiting the next installment.
And I will definatly be keeping my eye on more books by the author Samantha Warren. Overall a very good read!
I love anything with fea lore so this was right up my alley with just the right mix of entertainment, action and suspence, although I could have dealt with a little more romance between Authur and Aiofe, the world building was great but would have liked to have seen a little bit more back story on the main characters, and even though the epilogue left off with a wicked cliff hanger that left me wanting to bang my head on my desk, I will be anxiously waiting the next installment.
And I will definatly be keeping my eye on more books by the author Samantha Warren. Overall a very good read!
May 8, 2013
This was a very good book, I loved the cover which actually made me want to read it to see what the book was about. I have to say I was correct about the cover because the book was great. It started off a little slow because you had to meet all of the characters, but once we met all the characters I didn't want to put the book down. I loved the characters, but who wouldn't, most of the main characters in the book were King Arthur and the knights of the round table. I also loved learning about Aiofe and her history. I can't wait to read the next book in this series.
A Review copy was provided to me in exchange for a fair and honest review. The free book held no determination on my personal review.
A Review copy was provided to me in exchange for a fair and honest review. The free book held no determination on my personal review.
January 9, 2014
My rating: 4.5 out of 5
I received an e-copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This was a very good book, that kept me on the edge of my seat and I didn't want to put it down.
I love how it mixes old legends with modern twists.Aiofe is a strong and determined character that mixes her hardhead with snarky and makes it work. Arthur is definitely not what you would imagine from the legends of Camelot, he is just as hardheaded as Aiofe and although he has his knightly chivalry, he soon finds out that he is no longer in his Camelot. The chemistry between Aiofe and Arthur is very intense. The author makes you feel like you are right there in the land of Fairy and also makes you feel as you are fighting alongside the Knights!!
I received an e-copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This was a very good book, that kept me on the edge of my seat and I didn't want to put it down.
I love how it mixes old legends with modern twists.Aiofe is a strong and determined character that mixes her hardhead with snarky and makes it work. Arthur is definitely not what you would imagine from the legends of Camelot, he is just as hardheaded as Aiofe and although he has his knightly chivalry, he soon finds out that he is no longer in his Camelot. The chemistry between Aiofe and Arthur is very intense. The author makes you feel like you are right there in the land of Fairy and also makes you feel as you are fighting alongside the Knights!!
April 25, 2013
Let me start off by staying I absolutely love the cover of The Iron Locket. I love the fact that it's green, that Aiofe is there beautiful and strong, and that there's a knight. Overall it's a stunning cover. It definitely drew me in. Also, I absolutely love the concept of anything related to faerie and faerie worlds, so that sucked me in as well. I have to admit it took me some time to get into the story but when it started to pick up, for me it was one exciting adventure.
Find the full review at Shortie Says
- 3.5 out of 5 -
Find the full review at Shortie Says
- 3.5 out of 5 -
May 12, 2013
I love Arthurian legend and was eager to see what this book might bring. Let me just say it was not what I expected. Mixing Faery with the legendary Knights of the Round Table. The blend was simple and the story was easy to follow. Old hurts were addressed, but not dwelled upon. I think that made the characters a bit more believable. The ending was an eyebrow raiser and I am eager to see how it all plays out.
March 29, 2014
The Iron Locket was a gift from the author in exchange for an honest review.
It is a dark fantasy novel and a great one at that. I really enjoyed reading this story of fairies and how they are hunted. Legends with a modern view to them, it is quite interesting. I would recommend this book to everyone that enjoys fairy stories as well as dark fantasy lovers. It’s a great read! I was in no way disappointed! I was completely in awe!
It is a dark fantasy novel and a great one at that. I really enjoyed reading this story of fairies and how they are hunted. Legends with a modern view to them, it is quite interesting. I would recommend this book to everyone that enjoys fairy stories as well as dark fantasy lovers. It’s a great read! I was in no way disappointed! I was completely in awe!
April 28, 2013
Let me say first of all, that I'm not a typical fantasy reader. So I was skeptical of reading this book. But I LOVED it! Other than not being able to pronounce her name, Aoife was my favorite character. The twists, the action, the romance - it was all well written and knitted together perfectly. I cannot wait for the next book to come out. Definitely recommended.
February 22, 2014
Oooooooh, I so cannot wait until the next book in this series comes out!! Chock full of fantasy creatures a running plot that entices as much as it pulls you in and so lovable characters. There's a spunky bit of mystery to this book that will leave you salivating for answers and the next book!
October 7, 2020
This was quite a mish-mash. It is 2012 in the human world, but peopled with a group of hunters who are bound to catch and destroy rogue faeries that cross over. The Faery world is about to go to war to save their kingdom. Evil faery Leanansidhe has seduced Prince Kane to kill his father and join her in attempting to overthrow his mother and the other 3 faery Queens. The Queens have brought King Arthur and his 12 knights back to life to fight with them. So we have modern day, fantasy and medieval lines all interwoven. Human Aiofe Callaghan accidentally crosses into Faery land and finds herself a catalyst to much of the action. Fun concept but not sure if I'll continue the series.
January 3, 2022
I had this book for awhile and decided to read it since it was short and would give my goodreads challenge a boost.
I actually didn’t really like it. I felt like it was a ton of talking and around 23 pages I got bored and started to skim through it. There was a couple things that were interesting in the book but I doubt I will continue with the rest of the books.
Others did enjoy the book and the mix of Faerys and King Arthur and the rest but it fell flat for me.
I actually didn’t really like it. I felt like it was a ton of talking and around 23 pages I got bored and started to skim through it. There was a couple things that were interesting in the book but I doubt I will continue with the rest of the books.
Others did enjoy the book and the mix of Faerys and King Arthur and the rest but it fell flat for me.
October 22, 2019
I won't write any spoilers but if you love a good read with legendary beings then read this book.
May 3, 2013
For more reviews on many YA, and some MG, NA, and Adult books check out my blog, Zach's YA Reviews (zachsyareviews.com)
Review:
Protagonists: This book follows both King Arthur, yes, that King Arthur and Aoife, a skilled faery hunter and their alliance with the Four Queens of Faery against the wicked Leanansidhe. King Arthur is every bit the king and hero we would expect him to be. He's chivalrous, strong, skilled, and a natural leader. Aoife is a strong yet hasty heroine who acts before she thinks. Due to the short size of this book it was hard to see too much character development between these two characters, and Arthur seems almost fully developed already. I would have liked to see more vulnerability in Arthur and less perfection.
Romance: This romance moved way too quickly. Even if this had been a full sized book the romance would have still escalated faster than a speeding bullet. I'm not a fan of insta-love and this one didn't even have a fate or destiny excuse to back up the instant connection. I don't know if it was the short size of this novel or the author trying to rush things, but I would have preferred to see Aoife and Arthur maybe hold a conversation before making out and saying "I love you."
World-Building: The world of Faery and Camelot combine in what seems to Arthurian Legend mixing with Fey lore. I loved the mixture as it seemed to go well together. We get to see Arthur and his knights as well as Titania, Mab, Oonagh , Isobel, and Leanansidhe, the Four Faery Queens and the wicked would be usurper respectively. I'm a huge sucker for faery lore ever since I read the Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa, and this twist makes me love it all the more.
Predictability: This book was rather predictable, except for maybe the ending. I could pretty easily see what was coming most of the time there was a time or two that I wasn't sure what the outcome would be and was genuinely surprised, however that was few and far between. Though this book was very predictable it didn't detract from the story or hinder it in anyway, but it certainly didn't help boost its rating either.
Ending: The epilogue was a rather tense few pages, it's a build up to a cliffhanger that may have you needing to pull your jaw from off the ground. I had certainly thought that what was happening was one thing when it turns out to be something quite different. All I can say is that Aoife, Arthur, and his knights will have their work cut out for them with this villain.
Rating:
I hate to say it, but even though I did enjoy this book, I couldn't get past the hasty and unrealistic romance, and I would have loved to see more development within the characters which I just did not see though I can see it maybe coming up in future installments. Overall, I'd say check this book out, but don't be too hopeful for an amazing tale.
Review:
Protagonists: This book follows both King Arthur, yes, that King Arthur and Aoife, a skilled faery hunter and their alliance with the Four Queens of Faery against the wicked Leanansidhe. King Arthur is every bit the king and hero we would expect him to be. He's chivalrous, strong, skilled, and a natural leader. Aoife is a strong yet hasty heroine who acts before she thinks. Due to the short size of this book it was hard to see too much character development between these two characters, and Arthur seems almost fully developed already. I would have liked to see more vulnerability in Arthur and less perfection.
Romance: This romance moved way too quickly. Even if this had been a full sized book the romance would have still escalated faster than a speeding bullet. I'm not a fan of insta-love and this one didn't even have a fate or destiny excuse to back up the instant connection. I don't know if it was the short size of this novel or the author trying to rush things, but I would have preferred to see Aoife and Arthur maybe hold a conversation before making out and saying "I love you."
World-Building: The world of Faery and Camelot combine in what seems to Arthurian Legend mixing with Fey lore. I loved the mixture as it seemed to go well together. We get to see Arthur and his knights as well as Titania, Mab, Oonagh , Isobel, and Leanansidhe, the Four Faery Queens and the wicked would be usurper respectively. I'm a huge sucker for faery lore ever since I read the Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa, and this twist makes me love it all the more.
Predictability: This book was rather predictable, except for maybe the ending. I could pretty easily see what was coming most of the time there was a time or two that I wasn't sure what the outcome would be and was genuinely surprised, however that was few and far between. Though this book was very predictable it didn't detract from the story or hinder it in anyway, but it certainly didn't help boost its rating either.
Ending: The epilogue was a rather tense few pages, it's a build up to a cliffhanger that may have you needing to pull your jaw from off the ground. I had certainly thought that what was happening was one thing when it turns out to be something quite different. All I can say is that Aoife, Arthur, and his knights will have their work cut out for them with this villain.
Rating:
I hate to say it, but even though I did enjoy this book, I couldn't get past the hasty and unrealistic romance, and I would have loved to see more development within the characters which I just did not see though I can see it maybe coming up in future installments. Overall, I'd say check this book out, but don't be too hopeful for an amazing tale.
May 31, 2013
I can not wait for the next book! I received my free copy of The Iron Locket, by Samantha Warren from Story Cartel in exchange for an honest review.
I thought the concept of Knights of the Round Table being frozen in time and brought back by the four Queens of Faerie was brilliant. There are so many possibilities for this series with world building, retelling of legends, dramatic character growth and development. I am intriqued by the hints that there is more to Faerie than meets the eye, for instance, why are the servants essentially slaves? Why are they ghost-like, and will these points come to play in the rest of the books?
Arthur and his knights seem to have their work cut out for them, heading into battle against unknown creatures in a world where there seems to be so much political intrigue that they are not aware of. I wonder if details about the war and the reasons they have been pulled into it will be honestly revealed to them, or if the Queens have a darker purpose. At times I was a little lost with the introductions of other faery generals and factions, too much being thrown out at the same time, but I understand that with representatives from four houses taking part in the war, there are a lot of characters to bring to the front in a short amount of time. I am hoping that these characters will be fleshed out in future books.
Legendary, quasi-historical knights from the past meet mythical queens in an altenate reality is intriguing enough, but then the introduction of Aiofe added yet another layer, that of faerie-touched humans! Aiofe's character reminded me of Karen Marie Moning's Sidhe-seers, a hunter of wayward faeries in the human world. There is plenty of foreshadowing to suggest that the young girl will be as important to the war and future of faery as Arthur.
With so much witchery, legends and myth, sadistic characters, haunted characters and pending romance, I can not wait to see where this series will head next!!
I thought the concept of Knights of the Round Table being frozen in time and brought back by the four Queens of Faerie was brilliant. There are so many possibilities for this series with world building, retelling of legends, dramatic character growth and development. I am intriqued by the hints that there is more to Faerie than meets the eye, for instance, why are the servants essentially slaves? Why are they ghost-like, and will these points come to play in the rest of the books?
Arthur and his knights seem to have their work cut out for them, heading into battle against unknown creatures in a world where there seems to be so much political intrigue that they are not aware of. I wonder if details about the war and the reasons they have been pulled into it will be honestly revealed to them, or if the Queens have a darker purpose. At times I was a little lost with the introductions of other faery generals and factions, too much being thrown out at the same time, but I understand that with representatives from four houses taking part in the war, there are a lot of characters to bring to the front in a short amount of time. I am hoping that these characters will be fleshed out in future books.
Legendary, quasi-historical knights from the past meet mythical queens in an altenate reality is intriguing enough, but then the introduction of Aiofe added yet another layer, that of faerie-touched humans! Aiofe's character reminded me of Karen Marie Moning's Sidhe-seers, a hunter of wayward faeries in the human world. There is plenty of foreshadowing to suggest that the young girl will be as important to the war and future of faery as Arthur.
With so much witchery, legends and myth, sadistic characters, haunted characters and pending romance, I can not wait to see where this series will head next!!
May 17, 2013
I didn't realize that this book would be a spin-off of the King Arthur legend before reading. As I am not completely familiar with the old story, I had to research it a bit in order to understand who everyone was. Having said that, the author does a good job in introducing those characters into a new story with new characters.
This book tells the story of the four queens of Faery, who bring back King Arthur and his knights in order to protect their realm from the rogue fairy Lea, who threatens to overtake the realm and destroy anyone and everyone who attempts to stop her. Lea has plans to take over the human world as well, which is how Aiofe, a fairy hunter, enters the story.
This is the first book in a series, so I liked the world-building and how the author set up the characters. She did a good job of introducing everyone and showing the relationships and interactions between them. The story kept me interested and wondering what would happen next.
There are a LOT of characters in this novel and I had trouble at times keeping track of who was whom. I had trouble connecting with most of the characters and felt more back story could have helped me to truly understand and care about them. Most of them seemed one-dimensional.
Overall, a good read. 3 out of 5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a review.
This book tells the story of the four queens of Faery, who bring back King Arthur and his knights in order to protect their realm from the rogue fairy Lea, who threatens to overtake the realm and destroy anyone and everyone who attempts to stop her. Lea has plans to take over the human world as well, which is how Aiofe, a fairy hunter, enters the story.
This is the first book in a series, so I liked the world-building and how the author set up the characters. She did a good job of introducing everyone and showing the relationships and interactions between them. The story kept me interested and wondering what would happen next.
There are a LOT of characters in this novel and I had trouble at times keeping track of who was whom. I had trouble connecting with most of the characters and felt more back story could have helped me to truly understand and care about them. Most of them seemed one-dimensional.
Overall, a good read. 3 out of 5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a review.
December 26, 2014
This story wove an intriguing mixture of King Arthur legends with faery tales. Many of the faery characters were recognizable from classic stories, such as the four Faery Queens. The way the faeries and King Arthur’s knights were connected was unique and believable.
In addition to mixing King Arthur and faeries, there was also some modern humans in the form of faery hunters. The set up for them was also believable. I quite liked the histories and background woven into the story as everything was cohesive and logical.
The characters themselves were well formed. The personalities were realistic, and there was plenty of variance between the different people. There were a lot of characters in the story, and yet I never mixed them up, they were each distinct.
Overall, I liked the story, and found it very intriguing. The action moved quickly, and I was quite impressed at the boldness of the story. I won’t give any spoilers, but I will say I’m afraid to become too attached to any of the characters as more than one perished in this first story. I’m looking forward to seeing what happens next.
In addition to mixing King Arthur and faeries, there was also some modern humans in the form of faery hunters. The set up for them was also believable. I quite liked the histories and background woven into the story as everything was cohesive and logical.
The characters themselves were well formed. The personalities were realistic, and there was plenty of variance between the different people. There were a lot of characters in the story, and yet I never mixed them up, they were each distinct.
Overall, I liked the story, and found it very intriguing. The action moved quickly, and I was quite impressed at the boldness of the story. I won’t give any spoilers, but I will say I’m afraid to become too attached to any of the characters as more than one perished in this first story. I’m looking forward to seeing what happens next.
August 29, 2013
First of all I am a sucker for any kind of paranormal romance so I know a lot about anything paranormal. But a writer has to think that the reader is new to this kind of books and they should also create their own world for the people who know a lot so we don't have to assume. Somewhere in the book a fairy gets mad saying I don't lie and that's it no explanation about anything. There should be explanations first of all fairies cannot lie. Second fairies are cruel creatures. Third they have very long life spans. Fourth and most important fairies are the masters of deflection . Taking these and my knowledge of Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table it's a fascinating idea. A capturing book and a very beautiful style begining from two diffrent perspectives and combining them at the end. The story seemed kind of cut. But it is saved up for the next books I'm guessing. I liked the concept everything except just as I have said there should be more information more depth to the story. It was worth my time nevertheless.
January 17, 2016
Picked up from one of those lists that are generated if you like this genre you might like.. And I did! This was a great mix of legends, myths, and a little of the "new" world. Aiofe was trained to hunt faeries, but while on a hunt she finds herself flat in the middle of Faery. Not where a human is supposed to be, especially not a human like her. She's dropped in the middle of some sort of battle between creatures she's never seen. Just as she's about to be taken into custody by Leananside, although she doesn't know it at the time, she's "rescued" by a resurrected King Arthur. But make no mistake, Aiofe is not your damsel in distress and poor Arthur must come to terms with this modern woman who has stolen his heart. He takes her back to the palace where the Four Queens tell her the plots of Faery, why Arthur and his men were resurrected and seeing that Aiofe is from Titania's line of hunters, they can use her assistance before Faery is torn apart and spills over into the human world. But Leanansidhe has many tricks up her sleeve in trying to take over Faery.
March 10, 2017
As much as I love any story that has to do with King Arthur and his Knights, I had a hard time getting into this story. I read about 40 pages, and took a long break before revisiting the book. But, I am glad I did. I enjoyed how the author mixed Fay lore with the King Arthur story. Although this King Arthur is a lot different than what most of us expect, and that is a good thing, because it works on this story. I could have done without the romance scenes, which described a bit too much for my comfort, but the story is pretty interesting. It is the first book on the trilogy, so the story is just barely starting, but the author did manage to give us enough information and tie loose ends before the last page, which I am glad, because I really dislike cliffhangers on first books. If you like fairies, King Arthur and don't mind blushing while reading a few romantic scenes, then this book is for you.
October 24, 2016
insta-love, snowstorm and too many loose ends
I wanted to like this one, because of the King Arthur plus fairies things....it sounded intriguing! However, the reality was that the first HALF of the book was extremely slow (where nothing of import happened). Also, Arthur and Aiofe (what kind of name is that anyway!) Fall desperately in love in less than 24 hours and there wasn't even a love story to go with it...... they literally gaze into each other's eyes once and are making out (really!).
Even though that was free on Amazon, I'm ticked off that I spent the time reading (or in this case, skimming) it at all! Don't waste your time!
I wanted to like this one, because of the King Arthur plus fairies things....it sounded intriguing! However, the reality was that the first HALF of the book was extremely slow (where nothing of import happened). Also, Arthur and Aiofe (what kind of name is that anyway!) Fall desperately in love in less than 24 hours and there wasn't even a love story to go with it...... they literally gaze into each other's eyes once and are making out (really!).
Even though that was free on Amazon, I'm ticked off that I spent the time reading (or in this case, skimming) it at all! Don't waste your time!
March 8, 2014
First section of book was great. The second part was okay, Aoife falls a little short in the personality department, but it fell apart for me in the last part. Not only did it seem off on pacing but the supposed romantic relationship is flat. If the author did not tell you it was there you wouldn't know it.
The premise of the book is a nice twist on Arthurian legends. I love the fact that all the famous knights are present in one story. Action scenes are exciting but not sure if Aoife is a compelling enough character for me to be invested in the series.
The premise of the book is a nice twist on Arthurian legends. I love the fact that all the famous knights are present in one story. Action scenes are exciting but not sure if Aoife is a compelling enough character for me to be invested in the series.
December 3, 2014
Very good, only thing were a few jarring spelling/grammar errors that really should have been caught. Felt a little rushed, also, but great idea to bring legends back to life, and to have "hunters", would like to see more characterization, moreso of the knights (human characters were already pretty well done)
August 23, 2015
Twist of King Arthur and his knights
A wonderful twist of King Arthur, loved it with the plot, evil witch, four fairy Queens. Can't wait to get the next book. Samantha Warren has taken a wonderful different direction with what we know about King Arthur and that he would have a better ending with his true love and still have his knights
A wonderful twist of King Arthur, loved it with the plot, evil witch, four fairy Queens. Can't wait to get the next book. Samantha Warren has taken a wonderful different direction with what we know about King Arthur and that he would have a better ending with his true love and still have his knights
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