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Borrowed Magic #1
Borrowed Magic
After a three-year siege, Lord Kern, the dark mage, is dead. Magic has left Tredare, and life is almost back to normal.
For everyone except Maren, that is.
Before the siege, an attack by Lord Kern left Maren near death and with a sliver of magic buried deep inside her. Now, for reasons Maren doesn’t understand, that magic has been triggered, giving her the ability to “see” the truth: that her world is nothing more than a magical façade; and that the kingdom’s hero may not be a hero at all.
But this gift of sight comes at a high cost. Maren is in constant pain, and fears her own death is imminent. Plus, no one believes her suspicions that another Dark Mage has risen, and that Tredare may be in just as much danger as it was when Kern was alive.
With the country’s future in the hands of a man who’s vowed revenge on its king, Maren must convince someone else of the truth. Unfortunately, the only person powerful enough to help is also the one man she can’t trust; the man she almost married; the man who abandoned her and disappeared for three years: Kern’s son.
As Tredare crumbles around them, Maren must persuade him to help - before the king is murdered by the very hero he reveres; and before the same magic that gives Maren the gift of sight also takes her life.
For everyone except Maren, that is.
Before the siege, an attack by Lord Kern left Maren near death and with a sliver of magic buried deep inside her. Now, for reasons Maren doesn’t understand, that magic has been triggered, giving her the ability to “see” the truth: that her world is nothing more than a magical façade; and that the kingdom’s hero may not be a hero at all.
But this gift of sight comes at a high cost. Maren is in constant pain, and fears her own death is imminent. Plus, no one believes her suspicions that another Dark Mage has risen, and that Tredare may be in just as much danger as it was when Kern was alive.
With the country’s future in the hands of a man who’s vowed revenge on its king, Maren must convince someone else of the truth. Unfortunately, the only person powerful enough to help is also the one man she can’t trust; the man she almost married; the man who abandoned her and disappeared for three years: Kern’s son.
As Tredare crumbles around them, Maren must persuade him to help - before the king is murdered by the very hero he reveres; and before the same magic that gives Maren the gift of sight also takes her life.
287 pages, Paperback
Published February 1, 2016
4 people are currently reading
1257 people want to read
About the author
Shari Lambert
3 books63 followersShari has always loved to read. “Bookworm” may even be an understatement. But when she discovered Georgette Heyer in high school, her love of reading exploded. Ms. Heyer’s books were not only entertaining, witty, and smart, but they saved Shari from the awkward, unromantic teenage years. To this day, Shari’s favorite books all have romance in them.
Although Shari spent a good deal of her time at Brigham Young University on the ballroom dance team, she did manage to get a BA in History and English before going on to get a Juris Doctorate. After graduation, she decided her first priority was to be a mom -- a career she’s stuck with and loved.
In between cleaning, laundry, and homework, Shari writes. Just like with reading, she wants to get lost in a world, whether imaginary or historical.
She lives just outside of Salt Lake City, Utah with her husband and four children.
Although Shari spent a good deal of her time at Brigham Young University on the ballroom dance team, she did manage to get a BA in History and English before going on to get a Juris Doctorate. After graduation, she decided her first priority was to be a mom -- a career she’s stuck with and loved.
In between cleaning, laundry, and homework, Shari writes. Just like with reading, she wants to get lost in a world, whether imaginary or historical.
She lives just outside of Salt Lake City, Utah with her husband and four children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
March 26, 2016
Not many books keep me on the edge of my seat, but Borrowed Magic’s nerve-wracking plot and unrelenting heroine was the perfect recipe for just that.
The story starts after a three-year war against the dark mage Kern. Maren, our heroine, is the King and Queen’s closest friend and is nervously awaiting the return of her childhood friend, Phillip, whom she hasn’t seen since he left Maren confused and broken-hearted. When Phillip returns with fellow war hero and mystery-man Teige, who makes Maren uncomfortable – in more than one way. She discovers that not everything is what it seems and becomes a pawn in a deadly game.
“Respect, over time, could transform into love and sincere devotion. It would make people follow a leader without questions, trusting in him not to lead them astray.” – Borrowed Magic, Shari Lambert
I’ll tell the truth. The story started off kind of weird. You were thrown into a conversation between the Queen and Maren without context and I don’t think anything said was explained later. However, once Phillip and Teige arrived, the plot moved along at a steady, building pace that put my emotions through the ringer.
Lamberts prose was on point – it was polished and vivid.
“That’s what poetry is,” she said, running her hand over the well-worn cover. “Truth in beautiful words.” – Borrowed Magic, Shari Lambert
One of my biggest pet-peeves in literature is a weak heroine. I want the girls I read about to be flawed, but strong of character and Lambert delivered when she wrote Maren. Maren is a different type of heroine – she a lady, grew up in a castle, and lives in a society where woman do not have leadership roles. She’s not a warrior/ bad-ass. HOWEVER, that doesn’t negate her strength. Maren is intelligent – the King’s friend and trusted adviser (although in a non-official capacity). She is sweet, kind, and gracious to all those around her even Lady Kira – the castle mean girl – and even those she find’s unsavory.
Maren’s struggles throughout the story are hard and although she succumbs to A LOT, she doesn’t go down without a fight. Sometimes her self-preservation is non-existent and I wanted to scream at her, but even though I felt that there were times she could have saved herself pain, I don’t feel her character would allow even an ounce of selfishness when her loved ones are involved. I simply adored how Maren - who isn’t your typical heroine -was integral to saving the kingdom.
Phillip is a brooding Lord with an interesting history that you discover well into the story. He was the one who found the soldiers and trained them in order to finish the war against Kern – although Phillip was the one to put a sword in his heart. Phillip and Maren have a long history – they loved each other since childhood. Yet, when Phillip discovers a secret that he thinks Maren kept from him, they part after a series of hurtful words were spoken.
“She’d always wondered about girls who cried over a broken heart. Now she understood. It was something intangible that she couldn’t explain. But it brought with it a physical pain that shot through her chest and robbed her of breath.” – Borrowed Magic, Shari Lambert
I won’t lie and say that didn’t bother me because it soooooo did and Maren’s continuous declarations of wanting Phillip to trust her were echoes of what I was thinking. Yet, I completely understood both sides and their reactions. They were young and when they meet again after 3 years and a devastating war, they were both changed. Their love story is beautifully woven throughout a gristly tale. Both characters growth is immense and they have plenty of hardship, but love is never an easy road.
“She recognized the feel of his arms and the sound of his voice, but is was more than that. She recognized him.” – Borrowed Magic, Shari Lambert
Lambert is a master at building your anticipation and tearing your heart out to where you felt there was no happy ending in sight. Although I adored this book, the ending felt rushed. There were a few emotional points that I felt were skipped over that didn’t rise to the standard Lambert started the book with.
If you are a fan of medieval fantasy with mages, a monarchy that you would be happy to live under, a heroine that is selfless and brave, and a deep plot that demands your attention then look no further than Borrowed Magic.
The story starts after a three-year war against the dark mage Kern. Maren, our heroine, is the King and Queen’s closest friend and is nervously awaiting the return of her childhood friend, Phillip, whom she hasn’t seen since he left Maren confused and broken-hearted. When Phillip returns with fellow war hero and mystery-man Teige, who makes Maren uncomfortable – in more than one way. She discovers that not everything is what it seems and becomes a pawn in a deadly game.
“Respect, over time, could transform into love and sincere devotion. It would make people follow a leader without questions, trusting in him not to lead them astray.” – Borrowed Magic, Shari Lambert
I’ll tell the truth. The story started off kind of weird. You were thrown into a conversation between the Queen and Maren without context and I don’t think anything said was explained later. However, once Phillip and Teige arrived, the plot moved along at a steady, building pace that put my emotions through the ringer.
Lamberts prose was on point – it was polished and vivid.
“That’s what poetry is,” she said, running her hand over the well-worn cover. “Truth in beautiful words.” – Borrowed Magic, Shari Lambert
One of my biggest pet-peeves in literature is a weak heroine. I want the girls I read about to be flawed, but strong of character and Lambert delivered when she wrote Maren. Maren is a different type of heroine – she a lady, grew up in a castle, and lives in a society where woman do not have leadership roles. She’s not a warrior/ bad-ass. HOWEVER, that doesn’t negate her strength. Maren is intelligent – the King’s friend and trusted adviser (although in a non-official capacity). She is sweet, kind, and gracious to all those around her even Lady Kira – the castle mean girl – and even those she find’s unsavory.
Maren’s struggles throughout the story are hard and although she succumbs to A LOT, she doesn’t go down without a fight. Sometimes her self-preservation is non-existent and I wanted to scream at her, but even though I felt that there were times she could have saved herself pain, I don’t feel her character would allow even an ounce of selfishness when her loved ones are involved. I simply adored how Maren - who isn’t your typical heroine -was integral to saving the kingdom.
Phillip is a brooding Lord with an interesting history that you discover well into the story. He was the one who found the soldiers and trained them in order to finish the war against Kern – although Phillip was the one to put a sword in his heart. Phillip and Maren have a long history – they loved each other since childhood. Yet, when Phillip discovers a secret that he thinks Maren kept from him, they part after a series of hurtful words were spoken.
“She’d always wondered about girls who cried over a broken heart. Now she understood. It was something intangible that she couldn’t explain. But it brought with it a physical pain that shot through her chest and robbed her of breath.” – Borrowed Magic, Shari Lambert
I won’t lie and say that didn’t bother me because it soooooo did and Maren’s continuous declarations of wanting Phillip to trust her were echoes of what I was thinking. Yet, I completely understood both sides and their reactions. They were young and when they meet again after 3 years and a devastating war, they were both changed. Their love story is beautifully woven throughout a gristly tale. Both characters growth is immense and they have plenty of hardship, but love is never an easy road.
“She recognized the feel of his arms and the sound of his voice, but is was more than that. She recognized him.” – Borrowed Magic, Shari Lambert
Lambert is a master at building your anticipation and tearing your heart out to where you felt there was no happy ending in sight. Although I adored this book, the ending felt rushed. There were a few emotional points that I felt were skipped over that didn’t rise to the standard Lambert started the book with.
If you are a fan of medieval fantasy with mages, a monarchy that you would be happy to live under, a heroine that is selfless and brave, and a deep plot that demands your attention then look no further than Borrowed Magic.
December 12, 2015
Okay. So, I'm not going to tell you how amazing Borrowed Magic is because I happen to know, love, and adore the author, Shari Lambert. I'm not going to tell you how awesome this book is because I actually got to beta read it through it's many transitions, changes, and rewrites. And I'm not going to tell you how fantastic this story is because the truth is, "fantastic" doesn't even begin to describe this story. For me.
Now let me preface the rest of my review by saying that I am not a multi-time book reader. I read a book once and I'm good. Nor am I a big reader of the fantasy genre. But as a beta reader for this book, which Shari has worked her buttocks off writing and re-writing to make it what it has become, I have NEVER tired of reading it and have always looked forward to it (as I have with all her stories). Generally, when I beta read for writers, I find it hard to read the whole thing again because, as I've said, I'm a one-time reader (don't get me wrong, I will read again if I'm asked to, but the second time around I'm usually paying closer attention to certain details or sought out issues the author has asked me about). But I have to admit that I have probably read Borrowed Magic (in it's various versions) about 4 or 5 times and I have NEVER EVER EVER gotten bored reading it. NEVER. The story is brilliant and fresh. The characters are well developed and layered. The descriptions make it easy to picture and feel what is happening. But surprisingly, the thing that made me fall completely in love with this story is the evil that lies within it. The plot contains an evil so sick and twisted that I actually found myself drawn in to the story just to see how far it would go, and boy-oh-boy, did it go there. I don't know what that says about me (though horror and thriller are my favorite movie/story genres--and I'm not saying that this book is horror in any way, it's not), but the twists, turns, and darkness in this cleverly developed story are DELICIOUS. For me.
And then of course, there's the very complicated and wonderfully crafted love story between Maren and Philip (yum!). The tortured relationship between them was so well done, and the situation so believable, that it had me on edge as to whether or not things could ever work out between them. I also loved reading and watching the development and growth of the relationships between Maren and Adare (the queen), Maren and Daric (the king), and Maren and Lady Kira (the bitch--because let's face it, every good book has to have one of those LOL).
Lastly, there's the plot, which for me is EVERYTHING. I don't care how beautiful an author's prose is, or how deeply layered their characters are, or how visceral their writing is (though all of those are important as well). If there isn't a good plot, you will lose me as a reader. Period. And luckily, for me, this books has a kick-ass plot that sucked me in from the get go. Maren is a kick-butt character who doesn't just sit there and react. She is an active, caring, loving, and just character who is always trying to make things right (except when it is physically impossible for her to do so, but I won't go into details about that because *spoilers*). The plot of this story is what has had me wanting to read this book again and again and again. And I just have to say, because I have not yet mentioned him, but TIEGE. OMIGAWD. TIEGE. I will say nothing else on this character except that I FREAKING LOVED HIS CHARACTER. He is seriously one of my favorite characters in any book I've ever read. EVER. You may question my mental status after reading the book, but whatevs. TIEGE!
My rating for this book is 100% genuine and based on the story itself, not the author (though I give her a 5 star rating as well :D). I love love LOVE this story and I cannot wait to own a hard copy of it that I can actually hold in my hands, and, wait for it...READ AGAIN. Yep. I, the one-time book reader, cannot wait to read this book again, because the only thing that could make my experience with Borrowed Magic more magical, would be to actually feel every delicious page between my fingers!
Now let me preface the rest of my review by saying that I am not a multi-time book reader. I read a book once and I'm good. Nor am I a big reader of the fantasy genre. But as a beta reader for this book, which Shari has worked her buttocks off writing and re-writing to make it what it has become, I have NEVER tired of reading it and have always looked forward to it (as I have with all her stories). Generally, when I beta read for writers, I find it hard to read the whole thing again because, as I've said, I'm a one-time reader (don't get me wrong, I will read again if I'm asked to, but the second time around I'm usually paying closer attention to certain details or sought out issues the author has asked me about). But I have to admit that I have probably read Borrowed Magic (in it's various versions) about 4 or 5 times and I have NEVER EVER EVER gotten bored reading it. NEVER. The story is brilliant and fresh. The characters are well developed and layered. The descriptions make it easy to picture and feel what is happening. But surprisingly, the thing that made me fall completely in love with this story is the evil that lies within it. The plot contains an evil so sick and twisted that I actually found myself drawn in to the story just to see how far it would go, and boy-oh-boy, did it go there. I don't know what that says about me (though horror and thriller are my favorite movie/story genres--and I'm not saying that this book is horror in any way, it's not), but the twists, turns, and darkness in this cleverly developed story are DELICIOUS. For me.
And then of course, there's the very complicated and wonderfully crafted love story between Maren and Philip (yum!). The tortured relationship between them was so well done, and the situation so believable, that it had me on edge as to whether or not things could ever work out between them. I also loved reading and watching the development and growth of the relationships between Maren and Adare (the queen), Maren and Daric (the king), and Maren and Lady Kira (the bitch--because let's face it, every good book has to have one of those LOL).
Lastly, there's the plot, which for me is EVERYTHING. I don't care how beautiful an author's prose is, or how deeply layered their characters are, or how visceral their writing is (though all of those are important as well). If there isn't a good plot, you will lose me as a reader. Period. And luckily, for me, this books has a kick-ass plot that sucked me in from the get go. Maren is a kick-butt character who doesn't just sit there and react. She is an active, caring, loving, and just character who is always trying to make things right (except when it is physically impossible for her to do so, but I won't go into details about that because *spoilers*). The plot of this story is what has had me wanting to read this book again and again and again. And I just have to say, because I have not yet mentioned him, but TIEGE. OMIGAWD. TIEGE. I will say nothing else on this character except that I FREAKING LOVED HIS CHARACTER. He is seriously one of my favorite characters in any book I've ever read. EVER. You may question my mental status after reading the book, but whatevs. TIEGE!
My rating for this book is 100% genuine and based on the story itself, not the author (though I give her a 5 star rating as well :D). I love love LOVE this story and I cannot wait to own a hard copy of it that I can actually hold in my hands, and, wait for it...READ AGAIN. Yep. I, the one-time book reader, cannot wait to read this book again, because the only thing that could make my experience with Borrowed Magic more magical, would be to actually feel every delicious page between my fingers!
May 8, 2016
*** 3.5 Cranky Stars ***
This story is a little bit different to your usual historical/magical books you’ll pick up and read. The difference you’ll notice is the feeling that you’re not reading the first book in the “series”. Several events had obviously happened in the past and we’re now stepping into “the next episode”. At first, it threw me off and confused me quite a bit, especially since the rest of the “previous events” had been teased out little by little from the main characters as I read along. In a roundabout way, the trick actually helped hook me into reading the book until I was caught up into the story until the very end.
Here we meet Lady Maren. She’s a very close friend to King Daric and Queen Adare. She also served as a personal advisor to the king. How or why she managed to secure that position wasn’t clearly laid out from the beginning. Yes, it did mention that she was the First Lady but in most historical books, women played a much more subdued roles unless they are warriors or soldiers or magical which would explain why they held such power over the king. Lady Maren wasn’t like that or not in the beginning anyway. So, who or what she was wasn’t really very clear.
Then we meet Phillip, her childhood sweetheart and the hero of the kingdom, who obviously hates her NOW. Again, we don’t know why until the history was dragged out from practically every major character in the book...then we finally understand.
There’s also the other man in the form of Teige who brought in the twist in the plot which was revealed earlier than the rest of the “history” behind the story.
All in all, it shouldn’t work, as major components of how a book comes to life had been all jumbled up. The ending was also predictable and followed the “norm”. It’s really just like any other magical/historical tale one would pick up. Nothing special.
But somehow everything worked out really well. The way the author jumbled up the sequence made it compelling. The way the author avoided focusing on details to make the setting of the book “medieval” as most do by describing decor and people’s mannerisms and way of life that’s so different from today, and instead simply centered on Lady Maren and what was happening around her drew my attention even more. I simply had to read on just to find out what was going to happen to her next.
Then right at the end, I found out that there’s a prequel to this book which could have been helpful to read first before this one to avoid the initial confusion.
However, as a final verdict, it was an enjoyable read simply because the author found a way to make it uniquely hers and showed me that there’s another way to tell a tale told by so many others.
With thanks to Lilac Reviews for the opportunity.
http://twistedbookcur.blogspot.ch/201...
January 18, 2016
Love, loved, loved this book. A truly beautiful and magical novella!
April 13, 2016
See this review in its natural environment, Dani Reviews Things.
I received this book for free from Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.The story starts off with two heroes, Philip and Teige, approaching the castle after defeating the dark mage, Kern, and ending an almost three-year siege. Maren, our heroine and the Queen's closest friend, anxiously waits to face her childhood friend, having not seen him since a night three years before when he'd stormed off in a rage. But in the days and weeks following their tense reunion, Maren learns that her aching heart is the least of her worries, for she begins to suspect that evil still has a hold on her kingdom. What's more, while she is played like a puppet, no one believes her warnings.
I was completely hooked on the plot. From the moment the big twist came, I was terrified. I had no idea how Maren would be able to overcome the challenges she faced.
The control the new threat had over Maren was almost sickening. Lambert did an excellent job illustrating just how utterly overpowered Maren was, with one chapter in particular illustrating so clearly what she was facing that I had to take a moment before continuing.
Maren was strong and kind and loyal, but she faced real challenges that she couldn't overcome on her own. However, she didn't play the damsel in distress; yes, she needed help, but at the same time, she was an integral part to the outcome of the story. Faced with what I saw as magical cancer, I thought her back-and-forth between giving in to the pain and fighting it was more believable than if she had stayed strong through it all.
I loved the other characters as well. Philip was dashing from the start, a brooding lord with too much weighing on him. He had to deal with his own demons and gradually face reality before he could be who he needed to be. Daric and Adare, the beloved monarchs, were absolute darlings, wise and caring. I wouldn't mind a monarchy if they were in power! Kira, palace mean girl, even shined at times, and I almost wish she had a bigger part. Finally, I have to mention the villain: they truly disgusted me.
The one thing I felt didn't quite match the standards set by everything else was the end. It was a tad rushed, and some heavy emotional stuff glazed over. Lambert had done such a fantastic job building up this epic story, with a happy ending seeming more and more unlikely, that I was a little disappointed with the final battle. It wasn't bad, just not up to par with how great everything else was.
Indie authors sometimes get a bad rep, and I will be honest and say that I have read some indies that weren't exactly stellar. However, Lambert has done a stellar job, and I had to keep reminding myself that she didn't have a publisher behind her. She joins a small handful of authors I have read who have actually published better books than big publishers!
If you like your medieval fantasies, complete with balls and royalty and men in uniform, then I beg you... pick this book up.
August 21, 2016
Thoroughly surprised by how engrossed I became in this book in the first few pages. Many fantasy books take a while to get me hooked, but Borrowed Magic had tension and mystery from the first page to the last. I wish that I had started this the day that I got it instead of waiting several months. It had that “can’t put it down” quality that I feel is the strongest compliment I can give to any story.
It starts with the premise that a three-year siege is over and everything that the dark mage, Kern, has done to the kingdom of Tredare will soon be put to right. And it is…maybe? Maren, first lady to the queen, is the only one with doubt. I liked how the author refrained from making the princess or queen the main character. Maren was much more down to earth and believable. She’s not kickass with a sword, nor does she emerge victorious in every scene. She’s a regular person who draws her inner strength from her good heart and strong belief that it’s her duty to fight for those she loves. We often expect the highnesses and majesties in these worlds to be the heroes, or so very often we find out that the lowly peasant is actually the one with royal blood. And that’s a good plot device, but a little tired at times. Borrowed Magic was refreshing in this respect.
The other thing that is seen far too often is a fantasy that drags on and on – up to six books for some! And sure, if the plot and characters are fantastic, that’s fine. But a whole story contained in 300 pages is often more satisfying. I can certainly see where another story could be made with these characters, and I wouldn’t mind that a bit, but the lack of a cliff-hanger was not missed.
What else to say here? Sadistic antagonist? Check. Tension from the get-go? Check. Heart wrenching, ‘what on earth can she do to get out of this’ suspense? Check. Swoony love interest? Double double check. ☺
The only thing I would have liked to see was more development of the side plot with the other kingdoms that are mentioned early on. I think it could have been used to strengthen the argument of how strong Kern was, and to up the suspense even more.
The writing is outstanding, the quality of a traditionally published book (so hard to get these days). In short, I can’t wait to see what Shari Lambert does next.
It starts with the premise that a three-year siege is over and everything that the dark mage, Kern, has done to the kingdom of Tredare will soon be put to right. And it is…maybe? Maren, first lady to the queen, is the only one with doubt. I liked how the author refrained from making the princess or queen the main character. Maren was much more down to earth and believable. She’s not kickass with a sword, nor does she emerge victorious in every scene. She’s a regular person who draws her inner strength from her good heart and strong belief that it’s her duty to fight for those she loves. We often expect the highnesses and majesties in these worlds to be the heroes, or so very often we find out that the lowly peasant is actually the one with royal blood. And that’s a good plot device, but a little tired at times. Borrowed Magic was refreshing in this respect.
The other thing that is seen far too often is a fantasy that drags on and on – up to six books for some! And sure, if the plot and characters are fantastic, that’s fine. But a whole story contained in 300 pages is often more satisfying. I can certainly see where another story could be made with these characters, and I wouldn’t mind that a bit, but the lack of a cliff-hanger was not missed.
What else to say here? Sadistic antagonist? Check. Tension from the get-go? Check. Heart wrenching, ‘what on earth can she do to get out of this’ suspense? Check. Swoony love interest? Double double check. ☺
The only thing I would have liked to see was more development of the side plot with the other kingdoms that are mentioned early on. I think it could have been used to strengthen the argument of how strong Kern was, and to up the suspense even more.
The writing is outstanding, the quality of a traditionally published book (so hard to get these days). In short, I can’t wait to see what Shari Lambert does next.
January 17, 2016
I was given an ARC of this in exchange for an honest review.
First of all. Look at that cover! The cover itself is a work of art! Full of promises of what lurks within the pages of this book Borrowed Magic.
When i received an ARC copy of this book i wasn't sure what to expect but what can i say? As soon as i delved into the pages, i found myself pleasantly surprised. I was enthralled from the very beginning up until the very end. This is one of those rare stories that has been created by a truly talented author, that captivates it's readers and pulls them in. I felt every emotion as it reached it's final conclusion and i was able to breathe a sigh of relief that we were given the ending we so desperately hoped for.
I loved the plot it was full of magic, mystery, intrigue and enough drama to keep you wanting to turn the pages, to find out what is going to happen next.
Shari Lambert is an author to watch for the future! I can't wait to read more!!
I gave it 5 stars but could easily have given it more.
First of all. Look at that cover! The cover itself is a work of art! Full of promises of what lurks within the pages of this book Borrowed Magic.
When i received an ARC copy of this book i wasn't sure what to expect but what can i say? As soon as i delved into the pages, i found myself pleasantly surprised. I was enthralled from the very beginning up until the very end. This is one of those rare stories that has been created by a truly talented author, that captivates it's readers and pulls them in. I felt every emotion as it reached it's final conclusion and i was able to breathe a sigh of relief that we were given the ending we so desperately hoped for.
I loved the plot it was full of magic, mystery, intrigue and enough drama to keep you wanting to turn the pages, to find out what is going to happen next.
Shari Lambert is an author to watch for the future! I can't wait to read more!!
I gave it 5 stars but could easily have given it more.
February 15, 2016
In 3 words, I LOVED IT! I wasn't expecting much, I usually try to keep an open mind and I was so pleasantly surprised and how so nicely written it was and the plot was smart.
I wont add spoilers or the plot cause I believe I am fully capable of giving it all away, but I highly recommend it and no one who would read it would come to regret it.
I wont add spoilers or the plot cause I believe I am fully capable of giving it all away, but I highly recommend it and no one who would read it would come to regret it.
March 29, 2016
This was a captivating read. I recommend reading the prequel Siege first to know some helpful back story from the start. I think it got particularly interesting about a third of the way into the book, though I don't want to give any spoilers as to why. I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys fantasy and clean romance.
February 5, 2016
The cover drew me into this novel, and I'm so glad that it did. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Maren was a character who grew in strength and made me like her through it all. I'd highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good fantasy.
March 17, 2016
This is a perfect fairy tale
This is all I ever wanted in a fairy tale! Best of all someone of any age could enjoy it..though its a bit scary for young children. I am looking forward to more from this author...read the prequel first..
This is all I ever wanted in a fairy tale! Best of all someone of any age could enjoy it..though its a bit scary for young children. I am looking forward to more from this author...read the prequel first..
Read
February 28, 2012Very good young adult fantasy.
December 30, 2015
More later..... But for now, I LOVED this book!
Read
February 26, 2016I thought it was an excellent story. It was original and the characters were fun to read about and root for.
March 1, 2016
I was very surprised at this book! I really loved it, I couldn't put it down. I recommend it to anyone who loves a good quick read full of romance, and magic!
March 15, 2016
It captured my attention from the start of the book and I have never been so into a book like that before.
January 26, 2016
To say that I simply liked it is an understatement. Ok, maybe I'm a little biased because I love the love stories born from long-standing friendships. However it is impossible not to highlight the flaws that I found unpleasant. Beginning with the deepening of some little things, everything happened too quickly and most of the book is made up of the pain of Maren caused by Lord Kern (in disguise) and Philip, the man she loves. Suffering - both physical and mental - and love are the sovereign in this novel and the reader can only feel solidarity with the protagonist and participant in the story.
The book begins with the wonderful news that the dark wizard who besieged the kingdom of Tredare died. To kill him were two brave knights: Lord Philip, the man who has disappeared for about three years from the life of Maren but that she continues to love, and Lord Tiege. In the years of siege, the people of reign went through hell but especially her. Maren, groped to save the newborn prince by Lord Kern, was injured and almost near death. Although she survived, the wound in the shoulder continues to burn and the regret for not being able to save the little prince still torment her. It is not enough to have wonderful friends as the king Daric and the queen Adare, her life is marked forever. And to increase her pain is the return of the man who she was closest to marry years ago. Philip does not trust her but his feelings have not changed. Since he discovered to be the son of Lord Kern, he is terrified of becoming like him and tried to get away from his loved ones. However Maren continues to believe in him and his goodness.
Too bad he is not the only one to be returned. Peace is not really arrived and Lord Kern works undisturbed in the castle. Maren will find out through the wound that contains a pinch of the villain's magic that allows her to see the reality. At that point, there's only one person who could definitely destroy him and he is his son Philip. His love for the girl led him to make the decision to use hated magic then reach the coveted final.
Maren is one of the ladies of Queen Adare, as well as her greatest friend. She is a girl who has endured the pains of hell and that will end up being a pawn in the middle of a game of revenge and old grudges. Despite the broken heart and the constant torment, she was able to move forward. She will use every moment of her life consumed by the magic of her shoulder to try to free the kingdom from the dark wizard. She is a tough character but also rather fragile, especially when it comes to Philip. This last one made me eyes to little hearts. At times he made me a desire to slap him but most of the time I wanted to kiss him. He loves always the girl but the misunderstandings separated them. The thought that he had for half the blood of Kern made him mad and he feared that the similarity with him was not only physical. It's a fear more than legitimate but I did not like much when he was deliberately flirt with the other ladies to hurt Maren. The poor woman suffered enough without it put him. But it must be said that there are scenes where his words of love help him to make amends. Words heart-pounding and that would make sigh any girl.
I liked the style of Lambert and as she featured characters. I did not like only the supersonic speed with which they occurred important scenes and they could be more impact to the reader. For the rest I fell in love and hope intensely of reading even a small sequel (maybe on marriage and the birth of the children of Philip and Maren :3) in addition to the prequel to this wonderful story where the magic of love is stronger that never.
VOTE: 4,5/5
The book begins with the wonderful news that the dark wizard who besieged the kingdom of Tredare died. To kill him were two brave knights: Lord Philip, the man who has disappeared for about three years from the life of Maren but that she continues to love, and Lord Tiege. In the years of siege, the people of reign went through hell but especially her. Maren, groped to save the newborn prince by Lord Kern, was injured and almost near death. Although she survived, the wound in the shoulder continues to burn and the regret for not being able to save the little prince still torment her. It is not enough to have wonderful friends as the king Daric and the queen Adare, her life is marked forever. And to increase her pain is the return of the man who she was closest to marry years ago. Philip does not trust her but his feelings have not changed. Since he discovered to be the son of Lord Kern, he is terrified of becoming like him and tried to get away from his loved ones. However Maren continues to believe in him and his goodness.
Too bad he is not the only one to be returned. Peace is not really arrived and Lord Kern works undisturbed in the castle. Maren will find out through the wound that contains a pinch of the villain's magic that allows her to see the reality. At that point, there's only one person who could definitely destroy him and he is his son Philip. His love for the girl led him to make the decision to use hated magic then reach the coveted final.
Maren is one of the ladies of Queen Adare, as well as her greatest friend. She is a girl who has endured the pains of hell and that will end up being a pawn in the middle of a game of revenge and old grudges. Despite the broken heart and the constant torment, she was able to move forward. She will use every moment of her life consumed by the magic of her shoulder to try to free the kingdom from the dark wizard. She is a tough character but also rather fragile, especially when it comes to Philip. This last one made me eyes to little hearts. At times he made me a desire to slap him but most of the time I wanted to kiss him. He loves always the girl but the misunderstandings separated them. The thought that he had for half the blood of Kern made him mad and he feared that the similarity with him was not only physical. It's a fear more than legitimate but I did not like much when he was deliberately flirt with the other ladies to hurt Maren. The poor woman suffered enough without it put him. But it must be said that there are scenes where his words of love help him to make amends. Words heart-pounding and that would make sigh any girl.
I liked the style of Lambert and as she featured characters. I did not like only the supersonic speed with which they occurred important scenes and they could be more impact to the reader. For the rest I fell in love and hope intensely of reading even a small sequel (maybe on marriage and the birth of the children of Philip and Maren :3) in addition to the prequel to this wonderful story where the magic of love is stronger that never.
VOTE: 4,5/5
March 12, 2016
I downloaded the prequel novella 'Siege' for free on Amazon on the recommendation of an awesome blogger (THANK YOU and your awesome blog,Dani at danireviewsthings dot com!!)and became so completely enthralled that as soon as I finished, I came straight back to download 'Borrowed Magic' because I *had to know what happened next.I was most definitely *not disappointed.
'Borrowed Magic' picks up exactly where 'Siege' left off and immediately continues to draw you into Maren's world and how she deals with life and it's unexpected trials after the siege has ended.
I love this book. So much. Here's why:
-Despite the supporting characters not appearing as much (for good reason), you still love/care about them & what happens to them because of how well they were written in 'Siege'. Things have occurred that are beyond their control but when they do come into a scene, their love for Maren is so heartwarming. Though not related by blood they are most definitely a family... and while reading(especially in Siege though that does continue here as well)you feel like you're a part of that family.
-Maren is stronger, smarter and more selfless than she even is in 'Siege'.(and that says a lot!)
-Perfect pacing. I never once felt bored with tiny unimportant details that would cause me to skim ahead nor did I feel lost or confused because things were happening too fast.
-The plot/storyline: Has everything you'd want.
-Villain you love to hate
-Danger&excitement. (You won't want to put this down until you get to the last page!) -Moments that make you sigh (in a good way) because of well placed Swoony scenes.
-THE WRITING. IS.EXCEPTIONAL. I'm rarely so extremely moved by a character and what happens to her(& the supporting characters)that when things go bad (and they do go SO BAD) that you don't just feel bad&cry for them but you actually feel heartbroken. Like, a physical pain in your chest from the suffering they are going through. I felt that 100 times over. There was a point where I did actually have to stop reading because things were so intense, I was sobbing. (And it's impossible to read while you're sobbing) BUT. The story is SO GOOD that that didn't make me want to DNF it. In fact, it just made me want to keep reading even more. Which I did as soon as I could see again. And I'm so glad I did. The ending gave me everything I wanted/needed to have closure.
I have *no complaints about this book.None.At.All. and I loved every single, breathtaking, heartbreaking moment. If I could, I would have boxes full of this book with me everywhere I went and would hand them out to literally everyone.
'Borrowed Magic' picks up exactly where 'Siege' left off and immediately continues to draw you into Maren's world and how she deals with life and it's unexpected trials after the siege has ended.
I love this book. So much. Here's why:
-Despite the supporting characters not appearing as much (for good reason), you still love/care about them & what happens to them because of how well they were written in 'Siege'. Things have occurred that are beyond their control but when they do come into a scene, their love for Maren is so heartwarming. Though not related by blood they are most definitely a family... and while reading(especially in Siege though that does continue here as well)you feel like you're a part of that family.
-Maren is stronger, smarter and more selfless than she even is in 'Siege'.(and that says a lot!)
-Perfect pacing. I never once felt bored with tiny unimportant details that would cause me to skim ahead nor did I feel lost or confused because things were happening too fast.
-The plot/storyline: Has everything you'd want.
-Villain you love to hate
-Danger&excitement. (You won't want to put this down until you get to the last page!) -Moments that make you sigh (in a good way) because of well placed Swoony scenes.
-THE WRITING. IS.EXCEPTIONAL. I'm rarely so extremely moved by a character and what happens to her(& the supporting characters)that when things go bad (and they do go SO BAD) that you don't just feel bad&cry for them but you actually feel heartbroken. Like, a physical pain in your chest from the suffering they are going through. I felt that 100 times over. There was a point where I did actually have to stop reading because things were so intense, I was sobbing. (And it's impossible to read while you're sobbing) BUT. The story is SO GOOD that that didn't make me want to DNF it. In fact, it just made me want to keep reading even more. Which I did as soon as I could see again. And I'm so glad I did. The ending gave me everything I wanted/needed to have closure.
I have *no complaints about this book.None.At.All. and I loved every single, breathtaking, heartbreaking moment. If I could, I would have boxes full of this book with me everywhere I went and would hand them out to literally everyone.
February 14, 2016
Let me start by saying that this is absolute, sheer genius. I love this book. It's so amazingly, phenomenally well written, you have no idea. You're seriously missing out if you haven't read this. For real.
The plot is amazing. It's well thought out. The story flows amazingly and keeps you on edge. The words flow freely and make for an amazing story on paper. The language is easy to understand and the characters are amazingly intricate. The way she's thought the story out is absolutely phenomenal.
Maren, the heroine, is absolutely effing amazing. I love her. I adore her. I respect her. She's going through so much and tries to fight everything on her own. She maybe afraid of what's happening to her, but she's extremely strong in her fall. She doesn't let others see her pain and bears it all so beautifully that you just have to applaud this one lady for the sheer amount of courage and strength she possesses. She's sweet and kind and loving. She's amazingly smart and intelligent. She's one of the king's most trusted counsil. She's also not above begging if it means saving her kingdom. She's seen a lot of things in her life that have moulded her into what she is. She's been there with her people at every step of the way as the war raged between the kingdom and the evil mage, Kern. She's one person from whom we have a lot to learn. I love her. I really, really love her and respect her.
Phillip, the hero, is equally amazing. He's been instrumental in winning the war against the mage, Kern, who just so happens to be his father. He was the one to kill him. He's been in love with Maren her entire life and the two of them grew up together. They've been close friends since childhood and their friendship turns into something more as they grow up. But, Phillip leaves when he finds out something that he believes Maren was hiding from him, when in truth she wasn't. Maren in understandably upset about being accused of something she didn't do and this leads to a few of their encounters ending pretty awkwardly. But, however indifferent Phillip might appear to the world, he's still in love with that one girl even after all these years and wants her back.
These two have come a long way from the beginning of their story till the end. Their love story is so beautiful it melts my heart. But, there's so much sadness, pain and tears before they can get together. It just makes me all the more happy that they found each other in the end. They're truly meant to be. I love their relationship. It's amazing.
The plot is amazing. It's well thought out. The story flows amazingly and keeps you on edge. The words flow freely and make for an amazing story on paper. The language is easy to understand and the characters are amazingly intricate. The way she's thought the story out is absolutely phenomenal.
Maren, the heroine, is absolutely effing amazing. I love her. I adore her. I respect her. She's going through so much and tries to fight everything on her own. She maybe afraid of what's happening to her, but she's extremely strong in her fall. She doesn't let others see her pain and bears it all so beautifully that you just have to applaud this one lady for the sheer amount of courage and strength she possesses. She's sweet and kind and loving. She's amazingly smart and intelligent. She's one of the king's most trusted counsil. She's also not above begging if it means saving her kingdom. She's seen a lot of things in her life that have moulded her into what she is. She's been there with her people at every step of the way as the war raged between the kingdom and the evil mage, Kern. She's one person from whom we have a lot to learn. I love her. I really, really love her and respect her.
Phillip, the hero, is equally amazing. He's been instrumental in winning the war against the mage, Kern, who just so happens to be his father. He was the one to kill him. He's been in love with Maren her entire life and the two of them grew up together. They've been close friends since childhood and their friendship turns into something more as they grow up. But, Phillip leaves when he finds out something that he believes Maren was hiding from him, when in truth she wasn't. Maren in understandably upset about being accused of something she didn't do and this leads to a few of their encounters ending pretty awkwardly. But, however indifferent Phillip might appear to the world, he's still in love with that one girl even after all these years and wants her back.
These two have come a long way from the beginning of their story till the end. Their love story is so beautiful it melts my heart. But, there's so much sadness, pain and tears before they can get together. It just makes me all the more happy that they found each other in the end. They're truly meant to be. I love their relationship. It's amazing.
March 7, 2016
With dark magic trapped inside her, Maren alone can see through a magic spell placed over the kingdom of Tredare.
For me, this story got off to an incredibly slow start. The background information holds promise, and the mention of a dark wizard was really what kept me reading until around page 80 when the story suddenly became incredibly interesting. Unfortunately, too much information about unimportant characters and numerous scenes of dialogue without action, coupled with so many scenes of MC Maren feeling ill that it further slowed the action. I found myself gripping my ereader with anticipation, but not in a good way. I was frustrated with all the extras and wanted to get to the nuts and bolts.
That first paragraph may seem harsh, but that isn’t the way I intend it. I read a lot of high fantasy, and I expect things to go a certain way. This book is more character based than action, which isn’t my personal preference but isn’t necessarily a bad thing. On the contrary, the story is well written, nicely edited, and Maren’s emotions and thoughts are quite real. There are some fantastic concepts, such as the dark magic implanted in Maren. The same idea was used in Harry Potter as well as Lord of the Rings, and it’s nicely done here as well, without being too similar to those other works. It’s that aspect of Maren that I found most intriguing, though I failed to identify with her much as a character.
Dark wizards are like candy to me. I love them, and I’m always wanting more. The more sinister the better. I didn’t like that ****possible spoiler**** Kern (same name, but not the Klingon) spelled out his plans to Maren. She should have had to figure them out. I hate it when a villain comes forward to say “this is my plan, and you can’t stop me!” I never got that feeling that characters were really in danger, or that the situation was urgent. When I’m promised a dark wizard, I hope for lots of action and despicable acts that make me hate him/her. I didn’t really get that here.
All that leaves is the romantic subplot, which isn’t really my favorite thing, but here it was acceptable. Maren at least has a good head on her shoulders and is realistic about love and marriage. She can’t turn off her feelings, and I get it, but the romance only further slowed the action. Though I suspect fans of romance will enjoy it for its nuances as Maren struggles to come to terms with all of her obligations. That helped shape her into a well-rounded character.
All in all it’s a decent read with more light fairy tale qualities than high fantasy.
For me, this story got off to an incredibly slow start. The background information holds promise, and the mention of a dark wizard was really what kept me reading until around page 80 when the story suddenly became incredibly interesting. Unfortunately, too much information about unimportant characters and numerous scenes of dialogue without action, coupled with so many scenes of MC Maren feeling ill that it further slowed the action. I found myself gripping my ereader with anticipation, but not in a good way. I was frustrated with all the extras and wanted to get to the nuts and bolts.
That first paragraph may seem harsh, but that isn’t the way I intend it. I read a lot of high fantasy, and I expect things to go a certain way. This book is more character based than action, which isn’t my personal preference but isn’t necessarily a bad thing. On the contrary, the story is well written, nicely edited, and Maren’s emotions and thoughts are quite real. There are some fantastic concepts, such as the dark magic implanted in Maren. The same idea was used in Harry Potter as well as Lord of the Rings, and it’s nicely done here as well, without being too similar to those other works. It’s that aspect of Maren that I found most intriguing, though I failed to identify with her much as a character.
Dark wizards are like candy to me. I love them, and I’m always wanting more. The more sinister the better. I didn’t like that ****possible spoiler**** Kern (same name, but not the Klingon) spelled out his plans to Maren. She should have had to figure them out. I hate it when a villain comes forward to say “this is my plan, and you can’t stop me!” I never got that feeling that characters were really in danger, or that the situation was urgent. When I’m promised a dark wizard, I hope for lots of action and despicable acts that make me hate him/her. I didn’t really get that here.
All that leaves is the romantic subplot, which isn’t really my favorite thing, but here it was acceptable. Maren at least has a good head on her shoulders and is realistic about love and marriage. She can’t turn off her feelings, and I get it, but the romance only further slowed the action. Though I suspect fans of romance will enjoy it for its nuances as Maren struggles to come to terms with all of her obligations. That helped shape her into a well-rounded character.
All in all it’s a decent read with more light fairy tale qualities than high fantasy.
March 6, 2016
I was looking forward to reading this one after seeing the blurb and wasn't disappointed. Packed with castles, magic, swords, princes and evil wizards, this is the type of book that makes fantasy fans' hearts beat a little faster.
The main character, a teenage girl named Maren, is a very good friend to the king and queen, and after going through a period which almost destroyed the kingdom, her support is something they treasure greatly. She's ready to give her all to save her friends. . .at times, almost too much so. . .and draws the interest of several gentlemen's glances. Beautiful, well liked, and trusted, she seems to have a perfect position. She's easy to like, and I had no trouble feeling for her and rooting for. I even cringed in several spots and almost hurt for her. Still, there were a few moments where I wanted to whack some sense of self-preservation into her. But only a couple of times, and every main character needs a weakness.
This is a fast-paced novel, the kind that grabs from the first page and refuses to let you go until you reach the end. There are dark secrets, unclear intentions and mysteries which kept me wondering what the truth really was and how the characters would manage to solve everything in the end.
I especially found the bad guy well done. He's evil to the core and ruthless, the kind that you can really hate and love doing so.
There is romance weaved in as well, but it's a very challenged one and slips in nicely with the dark plot. By no means does it take over the story, but still remains a tight part of it.
The only frustrating thing I found in this book was the fact that it felt like it was the second or third in a series. A lot happened before this story gets going, and although the author dribbles the information in bit by bit, I always felt like I'd been dropped in too late in the game. There is a short prequel to this book, and I highly recommend reading that before diving into this one. Still, I personally would have loved to see an entire first novel and really believe that it would have added a lot to the story and characters.
Summed up, this is definitely a good read, the kind that keeps one up until late in the night and has one wishing for more.
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
The main character, a teenage girl named Maren, is a very good friend to the king and queen, and after going through a period which almost destroyed the kingdom, her support is something they treasure greatly. She's ready to give her all to save her friends. . .at times, almost too much so. . .and draws the interest of several gentlemen's glances. Beautiful, well liked, and trusted, she seems to have a perfect position. She's easy to like, and I had no trouble feeling for her and rooting for. I even cringed in several spots and almost hurt for her. Still, there were a few moments where I wanted to whack some sense of self-preservation into her. But only a couple of times, and every main character needs a weakness.
This is a fast-paced novel, the kind that grabs from the first page and refuses to let you go until you reach the end. There are dark secrets, unclear intentions and mysteries which kept me wondering what the truth really was and how the characters would manage to solve everything in the end.
I especially found the bad guy well done. He's evil to the core and ruthless, the kind that you can really hate and love doing so.
There is romance weaved in as well, but it's a very challenged one and slips in nicely with the dark plot. By no means does it take over the story, but still remains a tight part of it.
The only frustrating thing I found in this book was the fact that it felt like it was the second or third in a series. A lot happened before this story gets going, and although the author dribbles the information in bit by bit, I always felt like I'd been dropped in too late in the game. There is a short prequel to this book, and I highly recommend reading that before diving into this one. Still, I personally would have loved to see an entire first novel and really believe that it would have added a lot to the story and characters.
Summed up, this is definitely a good read, the kind that keeps one up until late in the night and has one wishing for more.
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 19, 2016
*4.2 stars*
This was a sweet enjoyable read.
The Writing:
The writing was good. This book was fast paced and easy to read. The scenes were great because they described the surroundings but not too much it made me bored.
The Story:
The story was more complex than I thought it would be and it surprised me in a good way. From the beginning I was drawn into this world.
Starting with the world, I really liked it. It felt like back in time with kings, kingdoms and castles, which I love but at the same time the fantasy aspect gave it an interesting feeling.
I liked how the story developed.
The 'bad things' didn't happen all at once. You read and learn about the bad guy, you start hating him for everything.
The pain in this book is quite important because it's almost all time. More physically but mentally it's quite important and it allows us to see that we are not invincible and what we can endure for what we believe is right, for doing the right thing.
I loved the romance in here. Its just one book, not that long, but the romance was so well done. Slow burning, nothing rushed, not love at first sight. It was really well done and I loved every scene.
I don't give this a 5/5 stars because it's not like this changed my life or anything but it definitely deserves 4,2 stars for being such a good, entertaining and interesting read.
The Characters:
Maren: I loved her character. She was so strong and brave. She respected herself so much and loved everyone. She was a great character.
Philip: He was sweet and nice. At the beginning I was okay with him but by the end I really liked him. But there were some times that I wanted to hit him.
This couple had ups and downs and so many emotions but I definitely like them together.
Daric: He was the perfect big brother, or at least the big brother I would like to have. And he was so sweet with Adare.
Adare: She was so nice, friendly and welcoming. Such a good friend too.
Adare and Daric weren't the main relationship but I loved reading them together.
Teige: He was just too perfect. Not for me.
Kira: At the beginning I didn't like her but her character gets so much better by the end. She proves that not everything is as it seems.
This was a sweet enjoyable read.
The Writing:
The writing was good. This book was fast paced and easy to read. The scenes were great because they described the surroundings but not too much it made me bored.
The Story:
The story was more complex than I thought it would be and it surprised me in a good way. From the beginning I was drawn into this world.
Starting with the world, I really liked it. It felt like back in time with kings, kingdoms and castles, which I love but at the same time the fantasy aspect gave it an interesting feeling.
I liked how the story developed.
The 'bad things' didn't happen all at once. You read and learn about the bad guy, you start hating him for everything.
The pain in this book is quite important because it's almost all time. More physically but mentally it's quite important and it allows us to see that we are not invincible and what we can endure for what we believe is right, for doing the right thing.
I loved the romance in here. Its just one book, not that long, but the romance was so well done. Slow burning, nothing rushed, not love at first sight. It was really well done and I loved every scene.
I don't give this a 5/5 stars because it's not like this changed my life or anything but it definitely deserves 4,2 stars for being such a good, entertaining and interesting read.
The Characters:
Maren: I loved her character. She was so strong and brave. She respected herself so much and loved everyone. She was a great character.
Philip: He was sweet and nice. At the beginning I was okay with him but by the end I really liked him. But there were some times that I wanted to hit him.
This couple had ups and downs and so many emotions but I definitely like them together.
Daric: He was the perfect big brother, or at least the big brother I would like to have. And he was so sweet with Adare.
Adare: She was so nice, friendly and welcoming. Such a good friend too.
Adare and Daric weren't the main relationship but I loved reading them together.
Teige: He was just too perfect. Not for me.
Kira: At the beginning I didn't like her but her character gets so much better by the end. She proves that not everything is as it seems.
April 1, 2016
This book deserves more attention! It was so good! Mages, Kings, Queens, and dark magic! What's not to like!
In the first couple pages there were so many characters introduced. I felt a little confused and wasn't sure if I would remember who was who. However, the author had a wonderful way of introducing all the characters to the reader so that you felt like you knew them and that they were some of your closest friends. I loved the main character Maren. She was a strong chic. With everything she had to go through I think I would have easily gone insane and given up. She had my sympathy card the whole way through the story. That poor girl just couldn't catch a break. I kept hoping things would get better for her but they just got worse and worse. The villain in this story was VERY good at being dark & evil. A little too good! I kept thinking ok, this is finally going to be the time he gets what he deserves. Nope. He would get away with his evil ways again and again. I felt like I was riding on a cliff-hanger the whole way through the book and I enjoyed every moment of it. This was a dark, magical adventure that I thoroughly enjoyed. I feel like I can't say much more without giving away the story and I don't enjoy spoilers so I wouldn't want to spoil it for anyone else. All I can say is if you enjoy books with evil, magic, romance you should pick this up! I think fans of Queen of Shadows series would fall in love with this book! I can't wait to see what this author writes next and I will definitely be stalking her social media until she does.
I purchased Siege: A Borrowed Magic Novella a while back when it was free on BookBub and I am mighty happy that I did! I plan on reading it as soon as Isiege possibly can because I want more of this world and these characters. Hopefully the author will write another book and make this into a series. That would be fantastic.
Thank you to Xpresso Book Tours for sending me an e-copy of this book to read and review!
In the first couple pages there were so many characters introduced. I felt a little confused and wasn't sure if I would remember who was who. However, the author had a wonderful way of introducing all the characters to the reader so that you felt like you knew them and that they were some of your closest friends. I loved the main character Maren. She was a strong chic. With everything she had to go through I think I would have easily gone insane and given up. She had my sympathy card the whole way through the story. That poor girl just couldn't catch a break. I kept hoping things would get better for her but they just got worse and worse. The villain in this story was VERY good at being dark & evil. A little too good! I kept thinking ok, this is finally going to be the time he gets what he deserves. Nope. He would get away with his evil ways again and again. I felt like I was riding on a cliff-hanger the whole way through the book and I enjoyed every moment of it. This was a dark, magical adventure that I thoroughly enjoyed. I feel like I can't say much more without giving away the story and I don't enjoy spoilers so I wouldn't want to spoil it for anyone else. All I can say is if you enjoy books with evil, magic, romance you should pick this up! I think fans of Queen of Shadows series would fall in love with this book! I can't wait to see what this author writes next and I will definitely be stalking her social media until she does.
I purchased Siege: A Borrowed Magic Novella a while back when it was free on BookBub and I am mighty happy that I did! I plan on reading it as soon as Isiege possibly can because I want more of this world and these characters. Hopefully the author will write another book and make this into a series. That would be fantastic.
Thank you to Xpresso Book Tours for sending me an e-copy of this book to read and review!
March 11, 2016
(I recieved a copy from Xpresso Book Tours for review. All opinions are 100% my own.)
3.5/5 stars
The story begins with the triumphant death of Kern, the dark mage, who has wrecked havoc on Tredare with his thirst of power. He was killed by his own son Phillip whom our main character Maren had some history with but who also broke her heart. Right from the beginning, this book hooked me with its fascinating writing and amazing plot line. Shari Lambert made it so easy to adore Maren, Adare, and Daric and when that plot twist came I wasn't sure if Maren would be able to handle it.
Based on the reviews I've read, I think it's a consensus that everyone pretty much adores the characters. Maren is so well crafted as a character and she has this ability to just narrate the story so well. I felt my heart twist in a hundred different ways when she became this puppet like slave and is forced to watch the people she loves get hurt. Thank Goodness she took some action but there were definitely times where I wanted her to stop because it hurt too much to watch. The other characters definitely grow on you as the story progresses. Each one has this distinct personality but Phillip and Kira are definitely my favorite. They are so important in the story and while I definitely disliked Kira in the beginning, she grew on me quite a bit.
Borrowed Magic was full of surprises and had amazing characters to back it up. I really enjoyed the whole story and the ending left me speechless. Speaking of the ending, it was mindblowing but a small part of me still felt unsatisfied with the delivery. The author did such a good job in prepping the everything up to that final moment and there was so much pain and tension in the air that I was waiting for my mind to explode. Instead, my mind "exploded" in a different way due to the unexpected twists but not in the "my life just ended" kind of way. Either way, I still enjoyed the story and it's a definite recommend!
Read my reviews at:
http://extreemeobsessed.blogspot.com/
3.5/5 stars
The story begins with the triumphant death of Kern, the dark mage, who has wrecked havoc on Tredare with his thirst of power. He was killed by his own son Phillip whom our main character Maren had some history with but who also broke her heart. Right from the beginning, this book hooked me with its fascinating writing and amazing plot line. Shari Lambert made it so easy to adore Maren, Adare, and Daric and when that plot twist came I wasn't sure if Maren would be able to handle it.
Based on the reviews I've read, I think it's a consensus that everyone pretty much adores the characters. Maren is so well crafted as a character and she has this ability to just narrate the story so well. I felt my heart twist in a hundred different ways when she became this puppet like slave and is forced to watch the people she loves get hurt. Thank Goodness she took some action but there were definitely times where I wanted her to stop because it hurt too much to watch. The other characters definitely grow on you as the story progresses. Each one has this distinct personality but Phillip and Kira are definitely my favorite. They are so important in the story and while I definitely disliked Kira in the beginning, she grew on me quite a bit.
Borrowed Magic was full of surprises and had amazing characters to back it up. I really enjoyed the whole story and the ending left me speechless. Speaking of the ending, it was mindblowing but a small part of me still felt unsatisfied with the delivery. The author did such a good job in prepping the everything up to that final moment and there was so much pain and tension in the air that I was waiting for my mind to explode. Instead, my mind "exploded" in a different way due to the unexpected twists but not in the "my life just ended" kind of way. Either way, I still enjoyed the story and it's a definite recommend!
Read my reviews at:
http://extreemeobsessed.blogspot.com/
February 8, 2016
YA Fantasy is my favorite genre to read. I was so excited to read this book. The cover alone pulls you in before you ever read one word in the book. It's beautiful and very intriguing, the same goes for the novella.
I first read the FREE novella which is a prequel to Borrowed Magic. It was a great beginning and I recommend that you also read it first. It sets everything up so nicely that you already have met the main characters and understand them and their motivations by the time Borrowed Magic get's underway.
I really liked the plot in this book. I must warn you though there is a lot of angst! Oh, how I felt for main character Maren. It seemed that so many things fell on her shoulders and many times she was helpless to defend herself and those she loved, but she never gave up. I was very anxious as I read this book. The dark character/villain, Kern, is VERY dark and menacing. He reminds me of Lord Voldemort and Darth Vader levels of evil. I kept thinking every time something bad happened, "This can't be happening!" I'd stop reading, go away, breath and then quickly come back to keep reading.
There is a lot in this book: adventure, mystery, magic and lost love. This kind of "edge of your seat" novel usually doesn't happen with a first time author, but that's what we have here. Author Shari Lambert has created a novel that is captivating, and it also has a very sweet love story. Phillip is Maren's love interest and wears the Knight in Shining Armor mantle well. You will love the ending.
This book is recommended to teens and adults that want to be taken away into a magical world where good battles evil.
***There is some mild violence and some kissing.***
I first read the FREE novella which is a prequel to Borrowed Magic. It was a great beginning and I recommend that you also read it first. It sets everything up so nicely that you already have met the main characters and understand them and their motivations by the time Borrowed Magic get's underway.
I really liked the plot in this book. I must warn you though there is a lot of angst! Oh, how I felt for main character Maren. It seemed that so many things fell on her shoulders and many times she was helpless to defend herself and those she loved, but she never gave up. I was very anxious as I read this book. The dark character/villain, Kern, is VERY dark and menacing. He reminds me of Lord Voldemort and Darth Vader levels of evil. I kept thinking every time something bad happened, "This can't be happening!" I'd stop reading, go away, breath and then quickly come back to keep reading.
There is a lot in this book: adventure, mystery, magic and lost love. This kind of "edge of your seat" novel usually doesn't happen with a first time author, but that's what we have here. Author Shari Lambert has created a novel that is captivating, and it also has a very sweet love story. Phillip is Maren's love interest and wears the Knight in Shining Armor mantle well. You will love the ending.
This book is recommended to teens and adults that want to be taken away into a magical world where good battles evil.
***There is some mild violence and some kissing.***
February 19, 2016
I received this book via Book Tour to give an honest review. Thank you!
Starting with the cover, i love it, its perfect!
In the book there's love, family, kingdom, magic, strong and moving characters. I loved one of the main charaacter's Maren's role and her decision to fight against the oddities and find what doesn't seem to fit in the story so well everyone is believing to. And then she sees that..it nearly makes her collapse and hold her breath..The book is powerful and loved to read it!The book was interesting intense, wonderful read and I nearly felt living there :)
The relationship between Phillip and Maren was so called complicated and not first time love "easy go" it involved both characteristics go wild and to their last cords and it didnt felt "sweet" which I enjoyed even more. Phillip characteristics has stubbornness, hot headed, smart, loving and his own personality.
I did enjoy the real queen and king's relationship, it was as one compound together over the kingdom, but as every story there is someone else who wants the throne and who's not wiling not to spread his bad influence on everyone just to get his. Very much could be said to reality where one can go in depth to achieve his/her wanted position just by making the life boiled and a charade.
However, the plot had twists and turns and I didnt expect them, thus I enjoyed the read so much.
The book takes place as one of my recent favorites and I am truly happy for discovering new author's writing style I like.
Starting with the cover, i love it, its perfect!
In the book there's love, family, kingdom, magic, strong and moving characters. I loved one of the main charaacter's Maren's role and her decision to fight against the oddities and find what doesn't seem to fit in the story so well everyone is believing to. And then she sees that..it nearly makes her collapse and hold her breath..The book is powerful and loved to read it!The book was interesting intense, wonderful read and I nearly felt living there :)
The relationship between Phillip and Maren was so called complicated and not first time love "easy go" it involved both characteristics go wild and to their last cords and it didnt felt "sweet" which I enjoyed even more. Phillip characteristics has stubbornness, hot headed, smart, loving and his own personality.
I did enjoy the real queen and king's relationship, it was as one compound together over the kingdom, but as every story there is someone else who wants the throne and who's not wiling not to spread his bad influence on everyone just to get his. Very much could be said to reality where one can go in depth to achieve his/her wanted position just by making the life boiled and a charade.
However, the plot had twists and turns and I didnt expect them, thus I enjoyed the read so much.
The book takes place as one of my recent favorites and I am truly happy for discovering new author's writing style I like.
January 28, 2016
I was given a copy of this book for an honest review free of persuasion from the author or anyone else affiliated with this book.
CONTAINS SOME SPOILERS
Before the siege, an attack by Lord Kern left Maren near death and with a sliver of magic buried deep inside her. Now, for reasons Maren doesn’t understand, that magic has been triggered, giving her the ability to “see” the truth: that her world is nothing more than a magical façade; and that the kingdom’s hero may not be a hero at all.
But this gift of sight comes at a high cost. Maren is in constant pain, and fears her own death is eminent. Plus, no one believes her suspicions that another Dark Mage has risen, and that Tredare may be in just as much danger as it was when Kern was alive.
What a story! An evil mage taking revenge for being imprisoned, his son refusing to accept that he may have magic, a city under siege, a fair maiden caught in the cross hairs. What happens when you can't trust the ones you love? How do you handle deceit and murderous intents? Can trust and respect be attainable? The terror, heart break, death and destruction affect too many innocent people.
Make sure you have a box of tissues handy. This story is heart wrenching.
July 23, 2016
I love high fantasy and this seemed to have a neat hook so I snatched it up. I looked at the earlier reviews before I got it, and it’s a good thing I did. There is actually a free prequel/novella that comes before it. It gives a lot of the history of the characters—something you do get in the flashbacks in the novel as the story goes along, but I really appreciated getting beforehand. I think it made me enjoy the book so much more. The story here starts out as being fairly familiar, but the writing here is really clever, and the emotional conflict sucks you in and gives a fresh light to everything.
The only real negative I have is that some of the plot started to get repetitive and I wished we could understand how more of the magic works, but since the main character doesn’t use much magic herself, I guess it would make sense that it should be a bit vague.
This novel stands alone well (something I’m getting increasingly grateful for in first-of-the series books), but I would LOVE to see more from this author.
The only real negative I have is that some of the plot started to get repetitive and I wished we could understand how more of the magic works, but since the main character doesn’t use much magic herself, I guess it would make sense that it should be a bit vague.
This novel stands alone well (something I’m getting increasingly grateful for in first-of-the series books), but I would LOVE to see more from this author.
March 24, 2016
Borrowed Magic is one of the best medieval books I have ever read. In my opinion it is up in the top with Narnia and Lord Of The Rings. If you haven’t read it I highly suggest that you do. It is about Lady Maren who lives in the kingdom of Tredare. Everyone in the kingdom is happy since the war against the Dark Mage Kern is over. Her father was murdered by Kern during this war and her fiance left her and didn’t come back until three years later. Now orphaned and left with a wound that is slowly killing her she must save the kingdom from someone the kingdom has been tricked to love. Borrowed Magic pulled me in from the very beginning and didn’t let me out. It had a great plot with lots of details. The author uses great description about the characters and the setting. The description made me connect with the characters and helped me imagine the scenery. It all fit together perfectly. I liked this book because it had lots of suspense, unexpected changes and action.
March 28, 2016
After reading Siege, the prequel novella, I was readily primed for this captivating story. Fast paced and full of emotions and action, I found it very hard to put down for even a few moments. The writing was excellent and Sheri Lambert weaves a tight spell around you with her story of magical will. The characters are very well thought out and you can physically feel the emotions of the main character, Maren, and all the trials and angst that she endures. It was very easy to visualize everything in my head with the very detailed descriptions throughout the entire book. With plenty of action, a dash of romance and a generous scoop of magic, I was completely enthralled by this marvelous book! I can't wait to read more of Sheri Lambert's work!
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