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The Dragon's Dove Chronicles #3.5
The Challenge
The A Dragon's Dove Chronicles Novella
The gauntlet is thrown. One must die. Refusal is not an option.
Arthur the High King of Breatein has fallen captive of a longtime enemy, the Saxon warrior-princess Camilla, who lusts to avenge the death of her betrothed at Gyan’s hands and will stop at nothing, even the black arts, to achieve her goal. Because Gyan and Arthur have grown estranged, she fears that Arthur may side with Camilla and make her his new queen.
Now Gyan must face all her demons—public as well as private.
The gauntlet is thrown. One must die. Refusal is not an option.
Arthur the High King of Breatein has fallen captive of a longtime enemy, the Saxon warrior-princess Camilla, who lusts to avenge the death of her betrothed at Gyan’s hands and will stop at nothing, even the black arts, to achieve her goal. Because Gyan and Arthur have grown estranged, she fears that Arthur may side with Camilla and make her his new queen.
Now Gyan must face all her demons—public as well as private.
50 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 11, 2015
4 people are currently reading
85 people want to read
About the author
Kim Iverson Headlee
18 books339 followersOnly two generations removed from Russian nobility, Kim Headlee lives on a farm with her family, pets, fish, livestock & assorted wildlife in the Appalachian Mountains of southwestern Virginia.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 27, 2015
The Challenge by Kim Iverson Headlee is a short story which is part of The Dragon's Dove Chronicles, an Arthurian series which is slated to comprise of eight books in total.
This stand-alone vignette, narrated in the third person, follows Gyan (i.e. Gyanhumara, an alternative spelling of Guinevere), Arthur's wife, and it is set after Morning's Journey, the second book.
Kim Headlee's writing style is very good, with an olde world feel but not overly descriptive and overbearing. Her grammar is impeccable. Plot and character development are also excellent, and in just 22 pages we get a very good glimpse of the Arthurian world, and of who Gyan is - her strength, priorities and morals.
On the downside, as with many high fantasy titles, I do struggle immensely with most of the names used; I don't know how they should be pronounced, and they are often too long and unusual for me to remember - for example, even Gyan's sword has a name, 'Braonshaffir'. I suppose this is not an issue if you are versed in this genre. For me, and I suspect for anyone who is affected by conditions such as dyspraxia, dyslexia or generally a bad memory, this is rather off-putting and leads me to avoid this type of fiction, although I would otherwise enjoy it.
Having said that, based on this short tale, I definitely want to know more about Gyan and Arthur and I will at the very least try The Color of Vengeance, another short story extracted from book two which can be downloaded free.
[ARC received via Goddess Fish Promotions]
BooksChatter
This stand-alone vignette, narrated in the third person, follows Gyan (i.e. Gyanhumara, an alternative spelling of Guinevere), Arthur's wife, and it is set after Morning's Journey, the second book.
Kim Headlee's writing style is very good, with an olde world feel but not overly descriptive and overbearing. Her grammar is impeccable. Plot and character development are also excellent, and in just 22 pages we get a very good glimpse of the Arthurian world, and of who Gyan is - her strength, priorities and morals.
On the downside, as with many high fantasy titles, I do struggle immensely with most of the names used; I don't know how they should be pronounced, and they are often too long and unusual for me to remember - for example, even Gyan's sword has a name, 'Braonshaffir'. I suppose this is not an issue if you are versed in this genre. For me, and I suspect for anyone who is affected by conditions such as dyspraxia, dyslexia or generally a bad memory, this is rather off-putting and leads me to avoid this type of fiction, although I would otherwise enjoy it.
Having said that, based on this short tale, I definitely want to know more about Gyan and Arthur and I will at the very least try The Color of Vengeance, another short story extracted from book two which can be downloaded free.
[ARC received via Goddess Fish Promotions]
BooksChatter
October 27, 2015
Vikki’s Musings
Recently I read Kim Iverson Headlee’s, Liberty, a book set in ancient Rome and Britain and thoroughly enjoyed it. When I was offered a chance to read and review The Challenge, I eagerly agreed to participate in the tour. This book is very short but packs a lot of riveting action from start to finish.
Gyan, queen to the high king, Arthur of Breatein, must fight the evil Saxon warrior queen, Camilla, to the death or forfeit her kingdom, her husband and her twin daughters. She is placed in a heart-wrenching situation. Does she walk away from all she holds dear, or does she accept the challenge and fight?
Of course she accepts, but when her opponent arrives, she finds out that if she kills Camilla, Arthur decrees that she will still lose her life, which will she choose, to fight or give their kingdom to the sorceress, Camilla?
The challenge is very fast-paced and is over almost before it has started. I enjoyed the battle a great deal. The fight scene is executed with precision and pulled me in. I was rooting for Gyan, even though she will face her husband’s wrath if she wins.
Kim Iverson Headlee has penned an expertly executed short story. Her writing style is smooth and her editing is meticulous. Her ability to set the scene is incredible. I found The Challenge a highly entertaining read.
My only complaint is that the book is so short, 22 pages, it was over before I had a chance to fully understand why the fight was necessary. However, if you are looking for a riveting very short read, then you will enjoy The Challenge. This book would be interesting to men as well as women. Happy reading!
Recently I read Kim Iverson Headlee’s, Liberty, a book set in ancient Rome and Britain and thoroughly enjoyed it. When I was offered a chance to read and review The Challenge, I eagerly agreed to participate in the tour. This book is very short but packs a lot of riveting action from start to finish.
Gyan, queen to the high king, Arthur of Breatein, must fight the evil Saxon warrior queen, Camilla, to the death or forfeit her kingdom, her husband and her twin daughters. She is placed in a heart-wrenching situation. Does she walk away from all she holds dear, or does she accept the challenge and fight?
Of course she accepts, but when her opponent arrives, she finds out that if she kills Camilla, Arthur decrees that she will still lose her life, which will she choose, to fight or give their kingdom to the sorceress, Camilla?
The challenge is very fast-paced and is over almost before it has started. I enjoyed the battle a great deal. The fight scene is executed with precision and pulled me in. I was rooting for Gyan, even though she will face her husband’s wrath if she wins.
Kim Iverson Headlee has penned an expertly executed short story. Her writing style is smooth and her editing is meticulous. Her ability to set the scene is incredible. I found The Challenge a highly entertaining read.
My only complaint is that the book is so short, 22 pages, it was over before I had a chance to fully understand why the fight was necessary. However, if you are looking for a riveting very short read, then you will enjoy The Challenge. This book would be interesting to men as well as women. Happy reading!
September 18, 2015
For a long time now I wanted to read Mrs. Kim Iverson Headlee’ s Dragon’s Dove Chronicles, but free time is usually not what I have.
Without knowing at first that The Challenge is part of this series, I thought that it will give me an image of the author’s style. After I read it, I can only say that now I am even more eager to read her stories.
The Dragon’s Dove Chronicles series has (at least until now) 2 volumes and each of them has around 400 pages. So, one of my big curiosities was to see if Mrs. Iverson will know how to play by the rules of the short story. Yep, in my opinion she did great!
But respecting the rules is not the only thing that she did great. The story is vivid, the imagines and emotions are flowing through the reader. It is not like watching a movie, but like you are there, in the thick of it. I saw, I heard and I wanted to step in.
In only a few words, the characters, good or bad, are presented with their strengths, flaws and sentiments. All of these are shown and not told to you. The rhythm is great. Much more is promised to be found in the main books of the series.
As part of the Dragon’s Dove Chronicles, The Challenge is a great addition that brings more power and gives more depth to the series that one could consider reading the descriptions of the books. The Happily Ever After is not the ending, but a lifelong challenge.
Without knowing at first that The Challenge is part of this series, I thought that it will give me an image of the author’s style. After I read it, I can only say that now I am even more eager to read her stories.
The Dragon’s Dove Chronicles series has (at least until now) 2 volumes and each of them has around 400 pages. So, one of my big curiosities was to see if Mrs. Iverson will know how to play by the rules of the short story. Yep, in my opinion she did great!
But respecting the rules is not the only thing that she did great. The story is vivid, the imagines and emotions are flowing through the reader. It is not like watching a movie, but like you are there, in the thick of it. I saw, I heard and I wanted to step in.
In only a few words, the characters, good or bad, are presented with their strengths, flaws and sentiments. All of these are shown and not told to you. The rhythm is great. Much more is promised to be found in the main books of the series.
As part of the Dragon’s Dove Chronicles, The Challenge is a great addition that brings more power and gives more depth to the series that one could consider reading the descriptions of the books. The Happily Ever After is not the ending, but a lifelong challenge.
September 14, 2015
A dramatic and detailed foray into Arthurian legend. Not sure how they came to be Caledonian, but maybe they were Cornish Celts. Kim Iverson Headlee's writing is explosive and magical. I'm off to read some more!
July 9, 2018
I recieved this at a festival and had a lovely chat with the author as well. This short taste definitely makes me want to check out the series! I found the names a little difficult to pronounce and understand, but everything is translated and explained at the end. There are also some badass women in here :D
March 25, 2016
The Challenge is to know what you're really fighting for The Challenge is a part of Kim Headlee’s The Dragon’s Dove Chronicles and although it is the first story of the series I’ve read, that does not impede its enjoyment. It is a short story set in the world of the Arthurian legends and although it mixes fantasy elements (not that there are no fantasy elements in the story we’re all familiar with) it does refer back to older stories and traditions. Considering its length, the story packs an incredible amount of detail, not only of the action and fight itself (with vivid descriptions of weapons and gear), but also of the relationships of the queen, Gyan, with her men, of her feelings about her people and her kingdom, and also of her mental state at the time. She confronts a rival with supernatural strength, but more important than that she also has to fight her doubts about her relationship with the King. And although I’m not going to give you any spoilers, I can tell you that the ending won’t disappoint.
If you fancy a short read, full of action, with a good mix of historical detail and fantasy, and a superb strong female lead, I strongly recommend it.
If you fancy a short read, full of action, with a good mix of historical detail and fantasy, and a superb strong female lead, I strongly recommend it.
July 14, 2015
4 and 1/2 Stars
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review when I signed up for the release blitz tour. I made no guarantee of a favorable review.
I love reading Arthurian legends so I just had to sign up to host the tour and I am very pleased that I did. My only regret is that it was way to short. The story line moves flawlessly and the author takes the time to ensnare you within her web. The characters are well written and engaging. The fighting sequence was simply amazing and I felt like I was right there cheering Gyan on as she battled Camilla. I also enjoyed the fact that this wasn't a romantic retelling; not that there would have been anything wrong with that but it just would have thrown the story of course.
This was the first book I've read written by this author and I look forward to seeing what the author comes up with next and how the story will continue.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review when I signed up for the release blitz tour. I made no guarantee of a favorable review.
I love reading Arthurian legends so I just had to sign up to host the tour and I am very pleased that I did. My only regret is that it was way to short. The story line moves flawlessly and the author takes the time to ensnare you within her web. The characters are well written and engaging. The fighting sequence was simply amazing and I felt like I was right there cheering Gyan on as she battled Camilla. I also enjoyed the fact that this wasn't a romantic retelling; not that there would have been anything wrong with that but it just would have thrown the story of course.
This was the first book I've read written by this author and I look forward to seeing what the author comes up with next and how the story will continue.
July 14, 2015
FIGHTING FOR WHAT IS RIGHT
This story kept me captivated and the pages turning. A story old as time, good versus evil. Gyan the High Queen of Breatein must confront and fight the Saxon warrior-princess Camilla who is holding her husband, Arthur, the High King captive. The plot twists kept me in constant suspense as decisions must be made, to fight to the death without aid, to allow the archers to intervene, and in the end, what will happen is she is the victor. This is a short story that packs a punch!
This story kept me captivated and the pages turning. A story old as time, good versus evil. Gyan the High Queen of Breatein must confront and fight the Saxon warrior-princess Camilla who is holding her husband, Arthur, the High King captive. The plot twists kept me in constant suspense as decisions must be made, to fight to the death without aid, to allow the archers to intervene, and in the end, what will happen is she is the victor. This is a short story that packs a punch!
October 26, 2015
There is something to be said for really good high fantasy fiction and how can you go wrong with a twist on an Aurthurian Legend? This story is captivating from the start and maintains its intensity throughout. Its vivid imagery puts you in the middle of the heat of battle and leaves you asking for more, mostly because it far too short.
This is the first I have read from this author, however I will make sure it isn’t the last.
I received a copy of this story in exchange for a fair and honest review.
This is the first I have read from this author, however I will make sure it isn’t the last.
I received a copy of this story in exchange for a fair and honest review.
August 25, 2023
The Challenge ~ The Dragon's Dove Chronicles is a short story that is will written. It has a beginning that presents a problem, a middle where the problem is analyzed and a resolution and in this case a happy ending. This meets all my criteria of an excellent short story for components. It is also well written and an enjoyable read about a medieval battle between good and evil.
Gyan is the wife and second to High King of Breatein and he has been captured by the Saxon warrior-princess Camilla and sworn enemy of Gyan. Camilla is using evil spirits to enhance herself in a battle to the death. Gyan calls upon the One God to protect her and....well you will just have to read it to find the ending.
Gyan is the wife and second to High King of Breatein and he has been captured by the Saxon warrior-princess Camilla and sworn enemy of Gyan. Camilla is using evil spirits to enhance herself in a battle to the death. Gyan calls upon the One God to protect her and....well you will just have to read it to find the ending.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews