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Ella Bandita and the Wanderer #3
Challenge
The Wanderer should have known better. Growing up with the Bard's fireside stories about the predatory seductress Ella Bandita has done nothing to prepare him for meeting her. When he crosses paths with a mysterious vagabond girl in the woods, his loneliness pulls him toward her. But the strange woman spurns his friendship. It should be easy enough to leave her behind. But the Wanderer can't pull himself away, captive to his stubborn will and the haunting dreams that linger when he wakes up every morning. Drawn in by the legendary allure of Ella Bandita, the Wanderer is caught up in a game of cat and mouse fraught with desire that is only fueled by his neighbor's disdain. Soon, the words of his grandfather's warning becomes a fading echo in his ear... always remember, follow your heart.
Will the Wanderer resist in time to hear those words, or will he lose the one thing that matters to him most?
Will the Wanderer resist in time to hear those words, or will he lose the one thing that matters to him most?
- GenresFantasy
61 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 3, 2015
20 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
November 11, 2015
This book was allocated randomly to me for reviewing and it was a good luck that hit me this time.
Completely out of my genre preference, but so what? It was a truly beautiful folk tale reminiscent of stories from von Sacher Masoch, E.A. Poe, Mary Shelley and Angela Carter all rolled together. The author is masterful in her narration seducing her reader and holding a fine balance of detailed descriptions and wise ellipses that kick off the imagination. According to the evidence I gathered, I would guess that the story takes place around the 1700.
The characters were skillfully written, even the secondary ones and were named according to the typology of folk: the Bard, the Wanderer, the Sorcerer, the Rogue, the Wolf, the Shepard. I thoroughly enjoyed the character of Ella Bandita. An anti-heroine, a tortured one and a torturer choosing arrogant, deceitful and generally nasty males as her victims. I couldn't help thinking again of Angela Carter and the proto-feminist wave in literature, indulging in female monstrosity, or otherwise liberating and empowering femininity. The author is not scared to push her heroine to the edge and give her the full potential as a villainess. A stroke of pure genius was that Ella as the femme-fatale she was, the catalyst in the lives of the men she destroyed was not all nice dresses and pretty delicate ribbons in order to seduce. She was dressed in beggars' stolen clothes, she was unkempt and dirty, but irresistible. Quite a smash into the femme-fatale stereotype and another feminist stroke! And the most obvious of all strokes of course, was the emasculation of the hero, by commanding his transformation. But I shouldn't spoil the plot.
I just wanted to say that it was a great read and I was thoroughly entertained, moved, in constant admiration of the great writing of Ms Mahafey and intellectually stimulated. I fully recommend it.
Completely out of my genre preference, but so what? It was a truly beautiful folk tale reminiscent of stories from von Sacher Masoch, E.A. Poe, Mary Shelley and Angela Carter all rolled together. The author is masterful in her narration seducing her reader and holding a fine balance of detailed descriptions and wise ellipses that kick off the imagination. According to the evidence I gathered, I would guess that the story takes place around the 1700.
The characters were skillfully written, even the secondary ones and were named according to the typology of folk: the Bard, the Wanderer, the Sorcerer, the Rogue, the Wolf, the Shepard. I thoroughly enjoyed the character of Ella Bandita. An anti-heroine, a tortured one and a torturer choosing arrogant, deceitful and generally nasty males as her victims. I couldn't help thinking again of Angela Carter and the proto-feminist wave in literature, indulging in female monstrosity, or otherwise liberating and empowering femininity. The author is not scared to push her heroine to the edge and give her the full potential as a villainess. A stroke of pure genius was that Ella as the femme-fatale she was, the catalyst in the lives of the men she destroyed was not all nice dresses and pretty delicate ribbons in order to seduce. She was dressed in beggars' stolen clothes, she was unkempt and dirty, but irresistible. Quite a smash into the femme-fatale stereotype and another feminist stroke! And the most obvious of all strokes of course, was the emasculation of the hero, by commanding his transformation. But I shouldn't spoil the plot.
I just wanted to say that it was a great read and I was thoroughly entertained, moved, in constant admiration of the great writing of Ms Mahafey and intellectually stimulated. I fully recommend it.
September 17, 2015
The most obvious quality in this book is the author’s standard of writing. It is un-freakin-believably good! In fact, I would describe her writing style as exquisite. The two main characters are fresh and held my interest from the start (I do believe the exact noise I made was, “oooOOOooo!”) and I found the storyline compelling. Both it and the author’s beautiful way with words teased my eyes onto the next page every time, despite my having things to do (such as eat, answer the door and put the heating on).
But, I did find the story a bit jumpy at times, to the degree that I thought I must have skipped a page. I also couldn’t quite pin down the timeframe. It felt medieval, but at one point in the story someone lights a cigar for someone else with a match, which threw me a bit as this happens about 80% of the way through the story and jarred against the mental imagery I have going on in my head. And last, but not least, the ending seemed a bit abrupt and left me wanting more (which I'm guessing is how the author wanted me to feel).
That all said, this really is the work of a very skilled writer and was an absolute pleasure to read.
But, I did find the story a bit jumpy at times, to the degree that I thought I must have skipped a page. I also couldn’t quite pin down the timeframe. It felt medieval, but at one point in the story someone lights a cigar for someone else with a match, which threw me a bit as this happens about 80% of the way through the story and jarred against the mental imagery I have going on in my head. And last, but not least, the ending seemed a bit abrupt and left me wanting more (which I'm guessing is how the author wanted me to feel).
That all said, this really is the work of a very skilled writer and was an absolute pleasure to read.
April 16, 2015
This story wasn't what I expected, and I was delighted by what I discovered. I haven't read the other works in this series and thought this was your bog standard sword-and-sorcery fantasy with an erotic scene or two. It isn't. It's a wonderful blend of magic and lessons learned set in world much like those depicted in fairy tales, only with a more dystopian feel.
The main character, the Wanderer, struggles to come to grips with his past. He's both likable and sympathetic, but also deeply flawed. Ella Bandita, the Wanderer's antagonist, runs from hot to cold, likeable to nasty. While she's the one teaching the Wanderer a valuable lesson, she's busy learning something of herself. There's a lot going on here, more than initially meets the eye. And much is left to the reader to figure out.
The writing is smooth and easy, and the plot well paced. Descriptions of the setting never get in the way of the forward momentum of the story. I highly recommend this short work.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The main character, the Wanderer, struggles to come to grips with his past. He's both likable and sympathetic, but also deeply flawed. Ella Bandita, the Wanderer's antagonist, runs from hot to cold, likeable to nasty. While she's the one teaching the Wanderer a valuable lesson, she's busy learning something of herself. There's a lot going on here, more than initially meets the eye. And much is left to the reader to figure out.
The writing is smooth and easy, and the plot well paced. Descriptions of the setting never get in the way of the forward momentum of the story. I highly recommend this short work.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 1, 2015
Challenge is a fantasy romance with a bit of erotica. It is the third book of the series, but is able to stand alone.
The author follows a standard plot for the genre: boy and girl meet; they dance through several scenes liberally laced with sexual tension and innuendo, while professing their dislike for each other; then the tension peaks and they give in to desire and bask in the afterglow. What is not standard is the author’s use of role reversal. Here the female character is dominant, arrogant and roguish. The male character is the pursued rather than pursuer. He is manipulated and used for her purposes and willingly submits to same.
Overall the story is well-written and reads fast. There is an imaginative twist near the end, which sets up the next installment. Fans of this sub-genre will enjoy this story and most likely the rest of the series.
The author follows a standard plot for the genre: boy and girl meet; they dance through several scenes liberally laced with sexual tension and innuendo, while professing their dislike for each other; then the tension peaks and they give in to desire and bask in the afterglow. What is not standard is the author’s use of role reversal. Here the female character is dominant, arrogant and roguish. The male character is the pursued rather than pursuer. He is manipulated and used for her purposes and willingly submits to same.
Overall the story is well-written and reads fast. There is an imaginative twist near the end, which sets up the next installment. Fans of this sub-genre will enjoy this story and most likely the rest of the series.
January 27, 2018
27.1.2018 - 4*
Psala jsem u jedničky, že je to zvláštní příběh?
Můžu popravdě říct, že jsem podobný ještě nečetla.
Je to temný příběh, plný nelogičnosti. A nenávisti.
To mě nejspíše mate nejvíce. Že je to příběh ztráty, nenávisti... a přesto je tam jiskřička... snad ani ne naděje, ale šance. Změny.
Psala jsem u jedničky, že je to zvláštní příběh?
Můžu popravdě říct, že jsem podobný ještě nečetla.
Je to temný příběh, plný nelogičnosti. A nenávisti.
To mě nejspíše mate nejvíce. Že je to příběh ztráty, nenávisti... a přesto je tam jiskřička... snad ani ne naděje, ale šance. Změny.
April 21, 2015
Challenge is an imaginary tale about a mystical girl with no name who has occasional contact with a man known only as "the Wanderer," a love struck and gregarious traveler. They have a chance encounter that results in a long series of sexual episodes. The writer's detailed imagery is descriptive, however, overall, the narrative failed to draw me into the story as there is not enough backstory about a certain mystical creature to fully support the story's climax and neither main characters evoke much empathy in the reader. It's like telling a story about a vampire when your audience knows nothing about them. By the time the main conflict occurs, I didn't have that "ah-hah" moment the author should have intended because she didn't seed enough clues that would have facilitated it. This is most likely because key details of the girl's true identity and significance of same to the story weren't sufficiently hinted at until the very end. Technically, the book is well written, and there are bursts of wonderfully descriptive prose, and there is some foreshadowing about different things, but the latter seems haphazard. The narrative seems like an excerpt from a longer story. Had details of the mystical monster's history of evil deeds been seeded throughout the narrative, it might have served to heighten my interest and better draw me into the story. Of course, different readers have very different tastes and if you are a fan of Ann Rice, The Twilight series and perhaps even The Hunger Games, you might enjoy this book.
March 10, 2015
The third installment of Ella Bandita and the Wanderer follows the Wanderer as he tries to make his life in a land far away from where he grew up and buried his grandfather. The Wanderer is lonely beyond belief, and when he takes to the woods outside of town, he meets a young vagabond woman with whom he immediately wants to strike up a friendship. Of course, this is the infamous seductress Ella Bandita--the outlaw who was the subject of his grandfather's tales. He's grown up hearing about the dangerous Ella Bandita, Thief of Hearts, but when he meets her in the forbidden woods, he's drawn to more than her allure. She seems to symbolize something special to the Wanderer, who could stay in town and meet plenty of girls. Her spurns and anger only make him want to get closer to her, and he is anything if patient. Despite a mutual hatred that is borne of her disdain, they are both drawn toward one another, like moths to a flame. What ensues is a steamy affair fraught with tension. The ending is a complete surprise. I highly recommend this to anyone who wants a quick, sensual, enjoyable read.
December 21, 2015
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I received this book to give an honest review.
This was a bit out of my normal reading genre but I still wanted to give it a chance.
For me this book was just okay I really liked the book more towards the end where the Wanderer becomes who he becomes. I think this book would be more for the fantasy lovers. You have the Wanderer who just travels from place to place and when he meets Ella who doesn't give him the time of day well you know he is going to keep perusing. I mean he is a guy after all. Though sometimes you should know to leave well enough alone, and in this case the Wanderer doesn't learn until it is too late for him.
Now the time frame is hard for me to place as there are ships and the lands are being patrolled which I thought was pretty neat. The characters were developed very nicely and you don't feel them to be one dimensional. Ella is more of a mystery and the Wanderer well you get a bit of his backstory as you go through the story.
This story is a quick read though it did take me a few days to read it.
I received this book to give an honest review.
This was a bit out of my normal reading genre but I still wanted to give it a chance.
For me this book was just okay I really liked the book more towards the end where the Wanderer becomes who he becomes. I think this book would be more for the fantasy lovers. You have the Wanderer who just travels from place to place and when he meets Ella who doesn't give him the time of day well you know he is going to keep perusing. I mean he is a guy after all. Though sometimes you should know to leave well enough alone, and in this case the Wanderer doesn't learn until it is too late for him.
Now the time frame is hard for me to place as there are ships and the lands are being patrolled which I thought was pretty neat. The characters were developed very nicely and you don't feel them to be one dimensional. Ella is more of a mystery and the Wanderer well you get a bit of his backstory as you go through the story.
This story is a quick read though it did take me a few days to read it.
March 17, 2015
The cover is what drew me to this story, like a modern day Adam and Eve, sensuous, empowering, and with a sense of innocence. This is the third installment to this series but you can read it as a stand alone as the characters are easy to follow.
Loneliness and mystery leads a man named 'The Wonderer' towards the seductress 'Ella Bandita'. He had heard stories of this strange woman called Ella, but now he comes face to face with her in the woods and an alluring attraction draws him in (no spoilers).
Lush descriptive back drops and sensual imagery combines interesting and charismatic characters. A very different fairy-tale romance that most in this erotic genre doesn't have, a refreshing adaption to this series by Montgomery Mahaffey. A few steamy scenes and a fantastic plot that keeps you guessing as to how the story will pan out breaks for an interesting lay-out. Breathless twists and turns as the female character 'Ella' entrances her readers with spell binding re-pore. Over all, an enjoyable book.
Loneliness and mystery leads a man named 'The Wonderer' towards the seductress 'Ella Bandita'. He had heard stories of this strange woman called Ella, but now he comes face to face with her in the woods and an alluring attraction draws him in (no spoilers).
Lush descriptive back drops and sensual imagery combines interesting and charismatic characters. A very different fairy-tale romance that most in this erotic genre doesn't have, a refreshing adaption to this series by Montgomery Mahaffey. A few steamy scenes and a fantastic plot that keeps you guessing as to how the story will pan out breaks for an interesting lay-out. Breathless twists and turns as the female character 'Ella' entrances her readers with spell binding re-pore. Over all, an enjoyable book.
April 10, 2015
I was given this book to read by the Author herself. She wanted a review of the book. I told her I would give it a try. Erotica is not really my thing. However, I would not classify this book as full on erotica. I would however classify this book as Adult fiction and dark fantasy.
That being said, overall I found this book hard to put down. I loved the main characters of the Wanderer and Ella Bandita. Both are not shallow two dimensional characters that you may find in some of fantasy novels. No, these characters have depth and back story that want you know more about them.
This is your typical love-hate relationship. He loves her. She hates him. However, Ella still finds it in her heart to love even a sliver of the Wanderer. For Ella, that says a lot. She loathes everyone on the planet except the Wanderer and that includes herself.
The twist that I loved was simple. Love can see through the hate. Even if a person hates what you do or who you are love will find even that small sliver that exists and exploit it. I plan on reading the other books in the future.
That being said, overall I found this book hard to put down. I loved the main characters of the Wanderer and Ella Bandita. Both are not shallow two dimensional characters that you may find in some of fantasy novels. No, these characters have depth and back story that want you know more about them.
This is your typical love-hate relationship. He loves her. She hates him. However, Ella still finds it in her heart to love even a sliver of the Wanderer. For Ella, that says a lot. She loathes everyone on the planet except the Wanderer and that includes herself.
The twist that I loved was simple. Love can see through the hate. Even if a person hates what you do or who you are love will find even that small sliver that exists and exploit it. I plan on reading the other books in the future.
April 16, 2015
A disturbing and beautiful story
The wanderer returns to his homeland after a long interval but can’t face the society he left behind. He retreats to the woods and is assailed by loneliness. When he meets a mysterious woman and shares her camp he is unaware that she is a legendary character from stories of old. Stories that he was told as a boy, and perhaps should have paid more attention to.
Her disdain for him drives him mad with lust, and although she gives him what he wants she suppresses other darker desires in the process. Will the man who lives to follow his heart be ultimately consumed by a stealer of hearts?
This is a short but beautifully written fantasy which I enjoyed very much. The sensuality and sexuality is totally engaging and convincing, and the tone of the relationship has a darker feel which is slightly unsettling. It would seem even a predator feels vulnerability, in Ella’s case certainly.
Highly recommended.
The wanderer returns to his homeland after a long interval but can’t face the society he left behind. He retreats to the woods and is assailed by loneliness. When he meets a mysterious woman and shares her camp he is unaware that she is a legendary character from stories of old. Stories that he was told as a boy, and perhaps should have paid more attention to.
Her disdain for him drives him mad with lust, and although she gives him what he wants she suppresses other darker desires in the process. Will the man who lives to follow his heart be ultimately consumed by a stealer of hearts?
This is a short but beautifully written fantasy which I enjoyed very much. The sensuality and sexuality is totally engaging and convincing, and the tone of the relationship has a darker feel which is slightly unsettling. It would seem even a predator feels vulnerability, in Ella’s case certainly.
Highly recommended.
October 1, 2015
I enjoyed the story well enough, what little there was of it, until i reached the last few pages. I realize this is part of a series, it being book three, but that does not absolve the author from writing a complete installment with a beginning, a middle and an end. This story has no ending and for that I have deducted a star.
The middle portion, when the two main characters eventually get some real face time together is foretold right from the beginning. The teasing build-up was almost like foreplay and rang true enough but the climax was a bit of a let down, lacking the same breadth of feeling as the previous pages.
The last third of the book meandered and ended up nowhere, as has been mentioned. With a real ending and less whimsy I would rate this rather predictable story much higher.
The middle portion, when the two main characters eventually get some real face time together is foretold right from the beginning. The teasing build-up was almost like foreplay and rang true enough but the climax was a bit of a let down, lacking the same breadth of feeling as the previous pages.
The last third of the book meandered and ended up nowhere, as has been mentioned. With a real ending and less whimsy I would rate this rather predictable story much higher.
September 8, 2015
I got this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
Oh noes! Well, as stated, I was asked to review this book. I've not read any of the rest of the books in the series, but now I want to!!
Really nicely written. Great setting; I could smell the woods and then the rosemary as The Wanderer was cooking; made me hungry.
The two main characters both have their own challenges. I really felt sorry for The Wanderer as he struggled to come to terms with the horrors of his past. He's a great character; rough and rugged enough to survive on his own but with a great sensitivity (without turning him into a complete wet lettuce). A tricky balance, but this author gets it right.
Someone else has referred to this as Dystpoian and I tend to agree.
Would recommend to a friend.
Oh noes! Well, as stated, I was asked to review this book. I've not read any of the rest of the books in the series, but now I want to!!
Really nicely written. Great setting; I could smell the woods and then the rosemary as The Wanderer was cooking; made me hungry.
The two main characters both have their own challenges. I really felt sorry for The Wanderer as he struggled to come to terms with the horrors of his past. He's a great character; rough and rugged enough to survive on his own but with a great sensitivity (without turning him into a complete wet lettuce). A tricky balance, but this author gets it right.
Someone else has referred to this as Dystpoian and I tend to agree.
Would recommend to a friend.
March 14, 2015
Just finished reading this. Wow. Steamy! Mahaffey kept me interested the whole way through. The Wanderer is a character I can connect to, and when things heat up between him and Ella Bandita, the notorious seductress, the book got really good!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews