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A Heroine's Luck #2
A Song of Spring to Come
An ambitious lady warrior. A corrupt family. A risky love affair.
Frustrated by the need for continual, unjust compromises, Tinsa Gaurjo has returned to work. Yet her Housemaster has set her a task for which she is ill-suited. Does he want her to fail—or does he trust her more than anyone else? She wishes she knew.
Luckily, this grim winter contains a few bright lights. Her goofy younger brother is preparing for a competition with one of his peers. And Tinsa is deep into a love affair with a man whose very presence in her life could ruin her ambitions. But is Biaili Erdai a villain with an ulterior motive, a loyal paramour—or just a distraction from everything she really wants?
As winter draws to an end—and matters with her House come to a head—she will have to face the terrible question all heroes who live long enough must face: how figure out her own, real-life happily-ever-after.
For Tinsa, it will all come down to the roll of the dice…
A SONG OF SPRING TO COME is the second half of “A Heroine’s Luck,” a high fantasy duology.
Frustrated by the need for continual, unjust compromises, Tinsa Gaurjo has returned to work. Yet her Housemaster has set her a task for which she is ill-suited. Does he want her to fail—or does he trust her more than anyone else? She wishes she knew.
Luckily, this grim winter contains a few bright lights. Her goofy younger brother is preparing for a competition with one of his peers. And Tinsa is deep into a love affair with a man whose very presence in her life could ruin her ambitions. But is Biaili Erdai a villain with an ulterior motive, a loyal paramour—or just a distraction from everything she really wants?
As winter draws to an end—and matters with her House come to a head—she will have to face the terrible question all heroes who live long enough must face: how figure out her own, real-life happily-ever-after.
For Tinsa, it will all come down to the roll of the dice…
A SONG OF SPRING TO COME is the second half of “A Heroine’s Luck,” a high fantasy duology.
- GenresFantasy
355 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 14, 2024
2 people are currently reading
2 people want to read
About the author
E.M. Epps
16 books42 followersBy day, E. M. Epps is a bookseller in Seattle, WA. By night, she writes high fantasy with likable but pragmatic heroes, who are likely to be diplomats, warriors, sorcerers, or some combination of the above. To receive free stories and writing updates, sign up for her mailing list at www.emepps.com.
As a young writer, she was inspired by the action and heroism of C.S. Forester, the scope of Tolstoy, the scientific magic of Diane Duane, the romance of Catherine Asaro, the martial arts of Michelle Yeoh and Jackie Chan - and, above all, the diversity of human cultures featured in the anthropology textbooks she devoured in her teens.
She is the author of the court intrigue novel THE INTERPRETER'S TALE and the single-volume epic adventure COMPLETE WITH SHIPWRECK (both set in her Direnayu high fantasy world), the fantasy romantic comedy COLD SANDWICHES AND ALL, and many, many other works.
As a young writer, she was inspired by the action and heroism of C.S. Forester, the scope of Tolstoy, the scientific magic of Diane Duane, the romance of Catherine Asaro, the martial arts of Michelle Yeoh and Jackie Chan - and, above all, the diversity of human cultures featured in the anthropology textbooks she devoured in her teens.
She is the author of the court intrigue novel THE INTERPRETER'S TALE and the single-volume epic adventure COMPLETE WITH SHIPWRECK (both set in her Direnayu high fantasy world), the fantasy romantic comedy COLD SANDWICHES AND ALL, and many, many other works.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 31, 2024
Book Two in the series does not disappoint. I really enjoyed this book as much as the first. And we all know that series can continue to be good or slowly lose the reader's interest. These characters are so enjoyable, and like the first book simply thinking of this one brings a smile to my face.
A great weekend read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
A great weekend read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 6, 2024
Tinsa, the hero, has lofty goals and passionate desires and the two, it seems, are absolutely, completely incompatible. A delightful read that somehow seamlessly marries a dangerous political intrigue with one of my favorite parts of a relationship - the part after they finally admit they like each other. Tinsa and Biaili are brilliant together as they work out just what exactly the next step is in their relationship. Loved the banter in this one. And when the moms and aunts and DAD! gets involved it just keeps getting better. I laughed, I cried, I wondered if they would survive - I didn't know what was coming next.
At the heart of Tinsa's crisis with Biaili is her crisis with the corruption in her family and the way it was all resolved was just so unexpected and so fitting. It is a high stakes story with a complicated gooey mess at the center. Here, I think this quote sums it up nicely:
"What an infuriating man.
Except she didn't feel furious, she felt melty and happy and embarrassed. She seemed to have stumbled sideways into some other woman's story, in which a s3xy and peculiar man brought umbrellas for everyone just so he could secretly give one to her.
Not furious, but resentful, because he existed and he made her feel good, but the story he was telling wasn't hers."
At the heart of Tinsa's crisis with Biaili is her crisis with the corruption in her family and the way it was all resolved was just so unexpected and so fitting. It is a high stakes story with a complicated gooey mess at the center. Here, I think this quote sums it up nicely:
"What an infuriating man.
Except she didn't feel furious, she felt melty and happy and embarrassed. She seemed to have stumbled sideways into some other woman's story, in which a s3xy and peculiar man brought umbrellas for everyone just so he could secretly give one to her.
Not furious, but resentful, because he existed and he made her feel good, but the story he was telling wasn't hers."
July 21, 2025
I liked this even more than the first book because of the wisdom Tino has and the keen political sense while maintaining her integrity.
Also, the interactions of the characters, the restraint in the manifestation of their true feelings and the whole thought process is interesting and shows a well thought out, complex world.
It is well written, I found a great pleasure, even delight in some scenes. The dialogues are witty, and the way a whole phrase can be expressed in one word is excellent.
I will certainly read more from this author!
I received an advance review copy for free via BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Also, the interactions of the characters, the restraint in the manifestation of their true feelings and the whole thought process is interesting and shows a well thought out, complex world.
It is well written, I found a great pleasure, even delight in some scenes. The dialogues are witty, and the way a whole phrase can be expressed in one word is excellent.
I will certainly read more from this author!
I received an advance review copy for free via BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 1, 2024
Excellent Fantasy Romance
This is a review of the two book sequence known as collectively as A Heroine’s Luck, a story within a story. The world building is extremely well done and the romance just sucks you in whether you want it too or not. It is Fantasy Romance in the way that some of Lee and Miller’s work is Sci-Fi Romance. The action is brutal and often unexpected but the Heroine wins out as she should. Ms Epps is prolific which makes me very happy. More to come.
This is a review of the two book sequence known as collectively as A Heroine’s Luck, a story within a story. The world building is extremely well done and the romance just sucks you in whether you want it too or not. It is Fantasy Romance in the way that some of Lee and Miller’s work is Sci-Fi Romance. The action is brutal and often unexpected but the Heroine wins out as she should. Ms Epps is prolific which makes me very happy. More to come.
April 20, 2024
A second delightful book. What is Tinsa supposed to think about her Master’s behaviour when she goes back to work. Does he trust her or has another plan. Perhaps there’s even a romance. Love the two of them.
October 25, 2024
This book was okay, I didn't want to dnf it because it wasn't terrible it just wasn't what I was looking for it felt like it was dragging on.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 13, 2024
I loved this fun enemies to lovers fantasy romance. The two main characters were enjoyable and the romance was hot.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 18, 2024
This was beautiful. Fascinating characters with sincere and authentic emotions that I felt throughout the book.
The plot is complex and interesting, the pacing is perfect and the writing is just amazing. I had so much fun reading this duology!!
I will read anything E.M. Epps writes 🥹🥹
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The plot is complex and interesting, the pacing is perfect and the writing is just amazing. I had so much fun reading this duology!!
I will read anything E.M. Epps writes 🥹🥹
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 12, 2025
I seldom have the opportunity to binge read a series but this weekend I was able to snag and read A Song of Spring to Come, almost immediately after reading the first book, A Winter of Fish and Favor. Tinsa Gaurjo is back in all her over-the-top slyfoot swagger as she works her way through her uncle’s and Housemaster’s agenda: finding blackmail material against cousin Jou who is running for mayor.
I don't know what I love most about this series: That Tinsa's family is so corrupt and she must deal with family drama as much as she deals with crime? Or is it that "hero" is an actual job description and Tinsa is training her younger brother to earn the title his big sister wears so proudly? Maybe its the casino owner and son of brothel owner, Biaili Erdai, who is disregarded by so many of the townspeople for his background but has far more honor and hero traits than the "king of the hill" Gaurjo family. Yep. its all of the above and more.
There are still too many anachronistic contemporary sayings and references that kick me out of the story every single time, but wow, the rest of the story is quite the ride. Enjoy!
I don't know what I love most about this series: That Tinsa's family is so corrupt and she must deal with family drama as much as she deals with crime? Or is it that "hero" is an actual job description and Tinsa is training her younger brother to earn the title his big sister wears so proudly? Maybe its the casino owner and son of brothel owner, Biaili Erdai, who is disregarded by so many of the townspeople for his background but has far more honor and hero traits than the "king of the hill" Gaurjo family. Yep. its all of the above and more.
There are still too many anachronistic contemporary sayings and references that kick me out of the story every single time, but wow, the rest of the story is quite the ride. Enjoy!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews