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Hearts of ICARUS #1
Nica's Legacy
When the leading lights of high society on planet Apedra host their glittering three month social “season,” there’s nothing quite like it anywhere else in the Thousand Worlds. No visitor could help but be impressed by the formal dress balls, the beautiful mansions, the exquisite designer gowns, the sprawling country estates, and the glittering jewelry. And, let’s not forget the most memorable happening of the season: the series of brutal, blood-soaked serial murders.
Unfairly expelled from the elite ICARUS Academy for blocking her own powerful psychic abilities to screen herself from the unbearable pain of a searing tragedy from her past, Nica Vinia, sister of Arima Honor Vulpiran, travels to Apedra to visit with her long-time school friend, Bree, and spend the social season with her. Almost immediately, her expectations of a few light-hearted months of dancing and “girl time” go awry. First, her hopes of a restful vacation are disrupted by the presence of Bree’s strikingly handsome brother, Ian, with whom she feels an instant connection and sudden, powerful desire, but who appears to despise her on sight. Then, Nica finds out that the planet itself is dying for reasons its residents can’t understand, and that—in addition to the humans there—Apedra is inhabited by magical beings with ties both to Earth and to the shifter clans of Planet Jasan, Nica’s adopted homeworld. In addition, it is revealed to Nica that her psychic gifts may be the key to saving that entire world from becoming a desolate wasteland of rock and ice. And, as if that weren’t enough, there’s a rampaging serial killer on the loose who has Apedra’s first families in the cross-hairs with Bree as the possible next target.
With her friend’s life and the life of an entire world in the balance, Nica must confront and vanquish the pain of her past in order to fulfill the potential of her enormous gifts and liberate her emotions so that she can experience everything that love, and passion, have to offer.
Nica’s Legacy, a full-length 108,000 word novel, is the first volume of the “Hearts of ICARUS” series, the new fantasy novel arc from Laura Jo Phillips, author of the “Soul Linked Saga” and the “Orbs of Rathira” trilogy. As in her previous offerings, Nica’s Legacy blends futuristic fantasy, magic, romance, sensuality, adventure, intrigue, danger, and passion in to an exciting, emotional roller-coaster ride which will be cherished by Laura Jo’s current fans and by readers who are new to her work.
Unfairly expelled from the elite ICARUS Academy for blocking her own powerful psychic abilities to screen herself from the unbearable pain of a searing tragedy from her past, Nica Vinia, sister of Arima Honor Vulpiran, travels to Apedra to visit with her long-time school friend, Bree, and spend the social season with her. Almost immediately, her expectations of a few light-hearted months of dancing and “girl time” go awry. First, her hopes of a restful vacation are disrupted by the presence of Bree’s strikingly handsome brother, Ian, with whom she feels an instant connection and sudden, powerful desire, but who appears to despise her on sight. Then, Nica finds out that the planet itself is dying for reasons its residents can’t understand, and that—in addition to the humans there—Apedra is inhabited by magical beings with ties both to Earth and to the shifter clans of Planet Jasan, Nica’s adopted homeworld. In addition, it is revealed to Nica that her psychic gifts may be the key to saving that entire world from becoming a desolate wasteland of rock and ice. And, as if that weren’t enough, there’s a rampaging serial killer on the loose who has Apedra’s first families in the cross-hairs with Bree as the possible next target.
With her friend’s life and the life of an entire world in the balance, Nica must confront and vanquish the pain of her past in order to fulfill the potential of her enormous gifts and liberate her emotions so that she can experience everything that love, and passion, have to offer.
Nica’s Legacy, a full-length 108,000 word novel, is the first volume of the “Hearts of ICARUS” series, the new fantasy novel arc from Laura Jo Phillips, author of the “Soul Linked Saga” and the “Orbs of Rathira” trilogy. As in her previous offerings, Nica’s Legacy blends futuristic fantasy, magic, romance, sensuality, adventure, intrigue, danger, and passion in to an exciting, emotional roller-coaster ride which will be cherished by Laura Jo’s current fans and by readers who are new to her work.
271 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 5, 2014
74 people are currently reading
53 people want to read
About the author
Laura Jo Phillips
31 books147 followersLaura Jo Phillips is the Amazon best selling author of the genre-busting "Soul-Linked Saga" series of Fantasy/Romance/Adult/Science Fiction novels, and of the "Orbs of Rathira" trilogy, the the first volume of which was released in August 2012.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 31, 2021
Rich, developed worlds and characters
This novel is just wonderful. The plot is mesmerizing, the worlds and characters are excellently developed. It is so great to be reading about the children from the Soul- linked Saga. I recommend you start with that series first. The romance is sweet and steamy. You will be so immersed in her books that time will no longer have meaning. Enjoy!
This novel is just wonderful. The plot is mesmerizing, the worlds and characters are excellently developed. It is so great to be reading about the children from the Soul- linked Saga. I recommend you start with that series first. The romance is sweet and steamy. You will be so immersed in her books that time will no longer have meaning. Enjoy!
November 18, 2014
3.5 Stars
A good surprise to come across this book when I was having a look at the science fiction section on Amazon. I have read every book from Laura Jo Phillips and have rarely been disappointed.
In this story, we reunite with Nica who was introduced in Honey's book. I have to say, I might have needed to read it before to remember all that happened but still, it wasn't essential.
Nica is an interesting character, having her powers and emotions muted by her ring, she still lives a somewhat happy life until she is kicked out of ICARUS for wearing her ring and not exploiting her full potential. She ends up on a backward agricultural planet where society is stuck into all sort of rules and traditions.
I have to say, this didn't really appealed to me, neither did Bree or Ian at first. However, people change and evolve and this is what happens here. Nica feels more and more, Ian learns to see beyond her not so impressive appearance while Bree falls head over heel in love with an imposter and madman.
I really enjoyed the fact that in this new serie, we get to discover yet another link with a new mythology. After the Egyptians On Rathira, we find ourselves facing Fae in the Queen of the Seelie. This was new and original and totally enjoyable.
What I didn't enjoyed as much was how naive and annoying Bree was, how boring their planet turned out to be and the fact that Ian and Nica barely spend time together to get to know each other let alone fall in love so quickly!! It just didn't feel right to me but anyway... it happened and I ended up very pleasantly surprised by how things turned out and who Nica revealed herself to be (even if I am not sure how she became so).
In the end, an enjoyable continuation of the Thousand Worlds serie and a new beginning. Let us see what comes next.
A good surprise to come across this book when I was having a look at the science fiction section on Amazon. I have read every book from Laura Jo Phillips and have rarely been disappointed.
In this story, we reunite with Nica who was introduced in Honey's book. I have to say, I might have needed to read it before to remember all that happened but still, it wasn't essential.
Nica is an interesting character, having her powers and emotions muted by her ring, she still lives a somewhat happy life until she is kicked out of ICARUS for wearing her ring and not exploiting her full potential. She ends up on a backward agricultural planet where society is stuck into all sort of rules and traditions.
I have to say, this didn't really appealed to me, neither did Bree or Ian at first. However, people change and evolve and this is what happens here. Nica feels more and more, Ian learns to see beyond her not so impressive appearance while Bree falls head over heel in love with an imposter and madman.
I really enjoyed the fact that in this new serie, we get to discover yet another link with a new mythology. After the Egyptians On Rathira, we find ourselves facing Fae in the Queen of the Seelie. This was new and original and totally enjoyable.
What I didn't enjoyed as much was how naive and annoying Bree was, how boring their planet turned out to be and the fact that Ian and Nica barely spend time together to get to know each other let alone fall in love so quickly!! It just didn't feel right to me but anyway... it happened and I ended up very pleasantly surprised by how things turned out and who Nica revealed herself to be (even if I am not sure how she became so).
In the end, an enjoyable continuation of the Thousand Worlds serie and a new beginning. Let us see what comes next.
February 15, 2017
3.5-4 stars
December 8, 2016
Outstanding read among SciFi/Fantasy Romance
While it is not necessary to have read other books written by Mrs. Phillips I suspect some of the backstory would improve the reading the book that being said there are a few authors I have found who I consider a must-read and of the books I have read from her she continues to put forth quality work in both storytelling and composition. She is able to pull enough plausible storyline coupled with folklore to bring a well conceived overall book and start to a series. It was easy to get involved with the book and the characters. Keep the tissues close. As far as composition, grammar and continuity seem well received.
This book is for the mature reader, while there is a HEA the sex scenes are descriptive between the M/F. Nothing too edgy, but not for younger readers either.
Overall I felt Mrs Phillips did an outstanding job with this and only really had a couple minor unresolved ticks, but those are more afterthought and not effect my enjoyment with this book. I look forward to the next in the series and would gladly recommended it to others who enjoy reading about other worlds, Seelie/Unseelie, dracons, etc.
While it is not necessary to have read other books written by Mrs. Phillips I suspect some of the backstory would improve the reading the book that being said there are a few authors I have found who I consider a must-read and of the books I have read from her she continues to put forth quality work in both storytelling and composition. She is able to pull enough plausible storyline coupled with folklore to bring a well conceived overall book and start to a series. It was easy to get involved with the book and the characters. Keep the tissues close. As far as composition, grammar and continuity seem well received.
This book is for the mature reader, while there is a HEA the sex scenes are descriptive between the M/F. Nothing too edgy, but not for younger readers either.
Overall I felt Mrs Phillips did an outstanding job with this and only really had a couple minor unresolved ticks, but those are more afterthought and not effect my enjoyment with this book. I look forward to the next in the series and would gladly recommended it to others who enjoy reading about other worlds, Seelie/Unseelie, dracons, etc.
November 21, 2014
I love it. I love seeing Nica as a grown up. And to catch up with her. I felt bad for all the pain that she went through.
I kept trying to figure out who the bad guy was totally was surprised.
I kept trying to figure out who the bad guy was totally was surprised.
March 28, 2015
Absolutely the best book
I found laura Jo Phillips to be the best read since Melanie Rawn's Sunrunners series. Laura Jo Phillips tells her story with a light hand and fast read.
I found laura Jo Phillips to be the best read since Melanie Rawn's Sunrunners series. Laura Jo Phillips tells her story with a light hand and fast read.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews