Wow. What a ride. What an epic, incredible ride that was WarBride by Sylvia Mercedes.
I’ve loved Mercedes’ writing since the second I opened to the first page of Bride of the Shadow King. When I learned this spin off was soon on approach I was firing on all cylinders, ready to dive right into Ilsevel and Taar’s story.
It’s off to an utterly fantastic start.
Now, here’s a fun fact about this book— it’s a story that takes place over the course of three days. Let that sink in.
You might think it’s crazy; and I shan’t lie, so did I before I began…but oh my god.
Oh. My. God.
It freaking works.
It does more than just work, it dazzles.
It became the hook for me as I read on, because those three days not only lay out an incredible foundation for what’s yet yet to come, it applies intricacies within that foundation that will keep you planted at your feet and fully immersed in the experience that is this developing journey. It’s jam-packed with action, with character development, with chemistry galore, and with the promise of a love story for the ages.
These three days are beautifully paced. Embrace it because it amplifies this story so much.
It’s three days and lives are immediately change. Mine especially, y’all. Mine especially.
Ilsevel and Taar are magnificent leads. I was so happy to get to know them through their POVs and through each other’s eyes.
Ilsevel is a character who suffers great loss, who is thrown into situation of unpredictability, uncertainty, and complete danger. Yet she looks it straight in the eyes and says, no. No, she will not lose herself to what’s happened. No, she will not abandon her loved ones, no matter what it costs to get them back. No, she will not have her future decided for her, even if that means ripping it away before it has a chance to start. Ilsevel is character of strong will, of resolve, of inner strength that fuels her full steam ahead. I adored her, I embraced her, and I can’t wait to see how she adapts to the situation she finds herself in as by book’s end.
Taar is an enigmatic, mesmerizing hero, which I love because I want to discover all he keeps hidden under those walls. He’s made of honor, and that honor propels him towards Ilsevel in an effort to protect her from the consequence of his own action. He sees to her as a duty, but we see his heart constantly swaying in a different direction. His brain and heart pull him onto different paths, one softening towards Ilsevel, the other hardening, distancing himself from her, redirecting himself back towards his goal. Taar is compelled by his word and honor and it was fascinating to see him navigate his situation, as his upholds his values while facing the sudden emotional chords, with his soul calling to something far more developing between him and his war bride.
The romance is set for a delicious slow burn— and fret not, as the beginning journey to something more will leave you well fed. Very well fed, in fact. I was wholly enraptured by the chemistry and developing dynamic between Ilsevel and Taar. Their situation is not easy, it is far from ideal, their conversations strained, their future forced on hold until their present is sorted, and yet their connection is utterly undeniable. Even if we aren’t seeing romancing, we are seeing something significant, poignant, and alluring unfurl between them.
The popcorn was out, and I was eating good!
WarBride is definitely the beginning for more to come, and its foundation is riveting, compelling, and already so incredibly dynamic.
I can’t lie, I’m completely, utterly impatient for the next book! I need it now! But I’ll control myself, and luckily, this book is just a shelf away, ready to revisit again and again until the journey is ready to continue.
Thank you so much to Sylvia Mercedes for this complimentary copy of WarBride, I leave this honest review voluntarily.