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Lost Continent #2
The Misted Cliffs
Award-winning author Catherine Asaro, creator of The Skolian Empire, returns to the world of Aronsdale, a place rich with magic and power. One generation after war had nearly destroyed three nations, evil was returning. And only Mel Dawnfield's daring sacrifice could stop it....
The promise of peace rested on this young woman's noble vow: to marry Cobalt the Dark—heir to a family of legendary cruelty. With only her uncontrolled spells to guide her, isolated in Cobalt's solitary home in the Misted Cliffs, knowing poisoned blood ran through her husband's veins, Mel struggled to embrace her unexplored mage powers and unveil the light in her shadowy new world—including the radiance hidden in her husband's soul. For her enemies were gathering strength and they would soon unleash the darkest of evils in the name of war. In the final battle, Mel's ability to harness her magic would mean the difference between a harmonious world... and annihilation.
The promise of peace rested on this young woman's noble vow: to marry Cobalt the Dark—heir to a family of legendary cruelty. With only her uncontrolled spells to guide her, isolated in Cobalt's solitary home in the Misted Cliffs, knowing poisoned blood ran through her husband's veins, Mel struggled to embrace her unexplored mage powers and unveil the light in her shadowy new world—including the radiance hidden in her husband's soul. For her enemies were gathering strength and they would soon unleash the darkest of evils in the name of war. In the final battle, Mel's ability to harness her magic would mean the difference between a harmonious world... and annihilation.
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First published July 1, 2005
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About the author
Catherine Asaro
93 books698 followersThe author of more than twenty-five books, Catherine Asaro is acclaimed for her Ruby Dynasty series, which combines adventure, science, romance and fast-paced action. Her novel The Quantum Rose won the Nebula® Award, as did her novella “The Spacetime Pool.” Among her many other distinctions, she is a multiple winner of the AnLab from Analog magazine and a three time recipient of the RT BOOKClub Award for “Best Science Fiction Novel.” Her most recent novel, Carnelians, came out in October, 2011. An anthology of her short fiction titled Aurora in Four Voices is available from ISFiC Press in hardcover, and her multiple award-winning novella “The City of Cries” is also available as an eBook for Kindle and Nook.
Catherine has two music CD’s out and she is currently working on her third. The first, Diamond Star, is the soundtrack for her novel of the same name, performed with the rock band, Point Valid. She appears as a vocalist at cons, clubs, and other venues in the US and abroad, including recently as the Guest of Honor at the Denmark and New Zealand National Science Fiction Conventions. She performs selections from her work in a multimedia project that mixes literature, dance, and music with Greg Adams as her accompanist. She is also a theoretical physicist with a PhD in Chemical Physics from Harvard, and a jazz and ballet dancer. Visit her at www.facebook.com/Catherine.Asaro
Catherine has two music CD’s out and she is currently working on her third. The first, Diamond Star, is the soundtrack for her novel of the same name, performed with the rock band, Point Valid. She appears as a vocalist at cons, clubs, and other venues in the US and abroad, including recently as the Guest of Honor at the Denmark and New Zealand National Science Fiction Conventions. She performs selections from her work in a multimedia project that mixes literature, dance, and music with Greg Adams as her accompanist. She is also a theoretical physicist with a PhD in Chemical Physics from Harvard, and a jazz and ballet dancer. Visit her at www.facebook.com/Catherine.Asaro
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
August 27, 2019
this reads like it was written in crayon, but i'm a simple woman: i see a gal in an arranged marriage to an evil emperor and i follow her there
May 25, 2021
I first read this book back in 2005 when it was originally published, and while I loved it then at age 20, it certainly isn't the type of book I read now. After trying to clear some space on my book shelf I found it again and thought I would give it another reread. It's a classic fantasy/romance novel with a big strong man and the small delicate looking female that is also a warrior mage. The story goes where you expect it to, but it is a nice light read.
October 16, 2012
The Misted Cliffs started off slow and I wasn't sure if I was going to like it. Especially sinced it started out with the resuce of the villain from the previous book in the series, by the man who the back blurb claimed would be the hero of this one. It also took a number of chapters for the main protagonists to ever meet each other.
However, once things got going, the book began to take off. Again, at first I was unsure as the hero and heroine seemed to be caught in a romance novel about the dark tortured hero and the heroine who would bring him to life again. It was well written and enjoyable but something was missing. Once all the pieces were set in place though, the plot didn't just speed up, it took off.
One of the things I like about Catherine Asaro's book is the way she can introduce characters who appear to be black and white unpleasant at the least and evil at the most, and then reveal more and more about them until we begin to understand them and maybe even like them. She does this with Varqelle Escar. He is Cobalt's father and the villain of The Charmed Sphere and while he is never a truly nice or likeable character, by the end of the book he is much more understandable - as is the fact that Cobalt is so desperate for his love and approval, which was a puzzle earlier in the story.
As for Cobalt himself, he is a tortured character, badly treated as a child and broken inside because of it. Mel doesn't miraculous heal him by her very presence; and I was delighted by this as it is much too easy an answer used often in straight romance novels. She sets that healing in process, but it still has a long was to go. Cobalt is still walking a fine line between light and dark at the end of the novel and while he's shifted that edge, it hasn't vanished. It is part of his character and he will always be dark and driven to some degree; he has better balance now and Mel there to remind and guide him when necessary, but there hasn't been a magical and unrealistic reforming of his essential character.
I also liked the way Asaro turned another near-cliché on its head. This is a fantasy novel and it includes an invading army and a stand against them, complete with cavalry, swords and a mage. But our characters are at the head of the invading force, not the defending one. They don't have some magically or divinely given right of conquest, nor is there a logical or funadmentally righteous reason for the invasion. The characters are doing what people do, following ambition and desire and Cobalt's reasons for this aggression is again understandable if far from perfect. What did a son with the skill and drive of a conqueror do in peace time when they didn't have organised sports where he could overwhelm his fellow men?
Yet, despite thinking of himself only as a warrior, Cobalt proves to have a real talent for making up dipomatic solutions to potentially violent problems on the spot. Yes, he'll need Mel to temper his darker side, but she isn't the cause of his brighter actions, only a catalyst to help him make better choices.
As for Mel herself, I have less to say about her. She is a well developed young woman at the beginning of the novel and remains so throughout it. She doesn't need to find herself; she's already done that through a safe, happy and secure childhood. She just needs to learn to apply who she is to the new situations she finds herself in the book. If everything had stayed peaceful and she's married her cousin as planned, she would still have had a happy and fulfilled life, although it wouldn't have been nearly as dramatic and adventurous. She is a well developed character and I'm eager to read more about her, there's just less to say about her in a review like this.
I tossed up between an 8 and a 9 for a rating for this book. In the end I decided to go with the nine as I was left with a really good feeling at the end of the book. I think Asaro's SF is more edgy and better than her fantasy, but her fantasties are also good, enjoyable reads in well developed world. I am already looking forward to the next book (especially since I saw Stephanie Law's amazing cover art.
[Copied across from Library Thing; 16 October 2012]
However, once things got going, the book began to take off. Again, at first I was unsure as the hero and heroine seemed to be caught in a romance novel about the dark tortured hero and the heroine who would bring him to life again. It was well written and enjoyable but something was missing. Once all the pieces were set in place though, the plot didn't just speed up, it took off.
One of the things I like about Catherine Asaro's book is the way she can introduce characters who appear to be black and white unpleasant at the least and evil at the most, and then reveal more and more about them until we begin to understand them and maybe even like them. She does this with Varqelle Escar. He is Cobalt's father and the villain of The Charmed Sphere and while he is never a truly nice or likeable character, by the end of the book he is much more understandable - as is the fact that Cobalt is so desperate for his love and approval, which was a puzzle earlier in the story.
As for Cobalt himself, he is a tortured character, badly treated as a child and broken inside because of it. Mel doesn't miraculous heal him by her very presence; and I was delighted by this as it is much too easy an answer used often in straight romance novels. She sets that healing in process, but it still has a long was to go. Cobalt is still walking a fine line between light and dark at the end of the novel and while he's shifted that edge, it hasn't vanished. It is part of his character and he will always be dark and driven to some degree; he has better balance now and Mel there to remind and guide him when necessary, but there hasn't been a magical and unrealistic reforming of his essential character.
I also liked the way Asaro turned another near-cliché on its head. This is a fantasy novel and it includes an invading army and a stand against them, complete with cavalry, swords and a mage. But our characters are at the head of the invading force, not the defending one. They don't have some magically or divinely given right of conquest, nor is there a logical or funadmentally righteous reason for the invasion. The characters are doing what people do, following ambition and desire and Cobalt's reasons for this aggression is again understandable if far from perfect. What did a son with the skill and drive of a conqueror do in peace time when they didn't have organised sports where he could overwhelm his fellow men?
Yet, despite thinking of himself only as a warrior, Cobalt proves to have a real talent for making up dipomatic solutions to potentially violent problems on the spot. Yes, he'll need Mel to temper his darker side, but she isn't the cause of his brighter actions, only a catalyst to help him make better choices.
As for Mel herself, I have less to say about her. She is a well developed young woman at the beginning of the novel and remains so throughout it. She doesn't need to find herself; she's already done that through a safe, happy and secure childhood. She just needs to learn to apply who she is to the new situations she finds herself in the book. If everything had stayed peaceful and she's married her cousin as planned, she would still have had a happy and fulfilled life, although it wouldn't have been nearly as dramatic and adventurous. She is a well developed character and I'm eager to read more about her, there's just less to say about her in a review like this.
I tossed up between an 8 and a 9 for a rating for this book. In the end I decided to go with the nine as I was left with a really good feeling at the end of the book. I think Asaro's SF is more edgy and better than her fantasy, but her fantasties are also good, enjoyable reads in well developed world. I am already looking forward to the next book (especially since I saw Stephanie Law's amazing cover art.
[Copied across from Library Thing; 16 October 2012]
December 16, 2023
It was good. Not the stellar banger I expected, maybe because I have become a drama-hungry creature.
The writing here was very good. There was excellent world-building, a solid plot, stakes, a family mystery ...
But I wish there had been more pages & more time for the couple to spend with each other.
I think a part of the problem may have been early-2000s editing: I saw a panel with Catherine Asaro where she spoke about the challenges of writing SFF with female protagonists (gasp!) or novels of that genre with a romantic focus. Apparently she got told "no one wants to read that!" a lot.
That must have weighed on her mind, because the romance here was so integrated with the plot, there barely was a superfluous scene of the MMC and the FMC just interacting without also achieving something else for the plot.
I really liked everything that was going on here, but I needed more of that.
The writing here was very good. There was excellent world-building, a solid plot, stakes, a family mystery ...
But I wish there had been more pages & more time for the couple to spend with each other.
I think a part of the problem may have been early-2000s editing: I saw a panel with Catherine Asaro where she spoke about the challenges of writing SFF with female protagonists (gasp!) or novels of that genre with a romantic focus. Apparently she got told "no one wants to read that!" a lot.
That must have weighed on her mind, because the romance here was so integrated with the plot, there barely was a superfluous scene of the MMC and the FMC just interacting without also achieving something else for the plot.
I really liked everything that was going on here, but I needed more of that.
November 4, 2012
Romantic fantasy is one of my favorite genres, and reading Catherine Asaro's THE MISTED CLIFFS, I was reminded of the reason why. Deposed kings, sword and sorcery, magic and spells, kings and queens, dark-hearted rulers and self-sacrificing princesses, all combine to make this story one of the best.
For Princess Melody Dawnfield, being the daughter of the current king of Harsdown means more than looking pretty and watching men vie for her hand in marriage. Trained as a mage and excellent swordsmen, Mel is her parents' pride and joy. She also feels so deeply for her town, and the adjoining towns of Aronsdale and Misted Cliffs, that she agrees to marry a man feared far and wide to save her people from the threat of war.
Cobalt the Dark is a man at war within himself. His half-crazy mother and terror-inducing grandfather raised him, and hold much of the blame for his dark heart. When Cobalt learns that his father, Varquelle, isn't dead as he once thought, but imprisoned, he risks his own life to rescue the deposed king. Now that the former king is free, however, war looms on the horizon. Although tortured at heart and feeling that war is the only answer, Cobalt agrees to marry Princess Melody in the hopes that the war, although undoubtedly inevitable, can at least be put off.
While much of the kingdom feels that Cobalt is evil, Mel learns that he's only troubled by his own inner demons and the seemingly insurmountable obstacles that stand before him. Melody, as well, is not what her husband expected. Not only is she powerful in her own right, but her love and warm heart begin to thaw something within him that he thought was long dead and buried.
THE MISTED CLIFFS is Ms. Asaro at her writing best. A tried and true formula of a haunted hero and a warm-hearted heroine, combined with the magic of a kingdom you'll want to visit again and again, make this book a true winner. I highly recommend that you read THE CHARMED SPHERE, her previous LUNA release, as well as THE MISTED CLIFFS. They are both stand alone books, but THE CHARMED SPHERE will delve you into the kingdom of Aronsdale , which plays a supporting role in this current book. I don't yet know the title of the third book in the trilogy, but no doubt it will bring us even deeper into this world where love and magic are intertwined.
For Princess Melody Dawnfield, being the daughter of the current king of Harsdown means more than looking pretty and watching men vie for her hand in marriage. Trained as a mage and excellent swordsmen, Mel is her parents' pride and joy. She also feels so deeply for her town, and the adjoining towns of Aronsdale and Misted Cliffs, that she agrees to marry a man feared far and wide to save her people from the threat of war.
Cobalt the Dark is a man at war within himself. His half-crazy mother and terror-inducing grandfather raised him, and hold much of the blame for his dark heart. When Cobalt learns that his father, Varquelle, isn't dead as he once thought, but imprisoned, he risks his own life to rescue the deposed king. Now that the former king is free, however, war looms on the horizon. Although tortured at heart and feeling that war is the only answer, Cobalt agrees to marry Princess Melody in the hopes that the war, although undoubtedly inevitable, can at least be put off.
While much of the kingdom feels that Cobalt is evil, Mel learns that he's only troubled by his own inner demons and the seemingly insurmountable obstacles that stand before him. Melody, as well, is not what her husband expected. Not only is she powerful in her own right, but her love and warm heart begin to thaw something within him that he thought was long dead and buried.
THE MISTED CLIFFS is Ms. Asaro at her writing best. A tried and true formula of a haunted hero and a warm-hearted heroine, combined with the magic of a kingdom you'll want to visit again and again, make this book a true winner. I highly recommend that you read THE CHARMED SPHERE, her previous LUNA release, as well as THE MISTED CLIFFS. They are both stand alone books, but THE CHARMED SPHERE will delve you into the kingdom of Aronsdale , which plays a supporting role in this current book. I don't yet know the title of the third book in the trilogy, but no doubt it will bring us even deeper into this world where love and magic are intertwined.
November 6, 2015
It was a little bit better than first book, but still same patterns appear - arranged wedding, husband who is more emotional and better than at first sight. New things in this book where even more tortured soul who needs to fight between dark and light. Scratch that we had this pattern too in the first book as a grandson of old king and surprise, surprise our tortured soul in this book is in same position. I take this as a very light listening (fantasy soap opera) and progress to next level in my own personal purgatory.
February 10, 2012
I really liked this book, maybe I was overdue for a tortured hero story but even if I hadn't been, Mel's character is great. She's just so spunky.
March 1, 2023
Varquelle was imprisoned eighteen years ago after leading an invasion and losing. Cobalt leads an assault to free the father he never knew. When they get back to the Misted Cliffs they think about regaining the Jaguar throne for the house of Escar. With his grandfather's army they can probably do it. They are on the cusp of invading Harsdown, when Cobalt has second thoughts of killing the people he wants to rule and suggests he marry the Dawnfield heir. Melody agrees and a treaty is made. Unfortunately the treaty doesn't say anything about not invading the bordering countries. Cobalt is driven to conquer, his father is even more driven and doesn't have any of the compassion that his son has. Can Melody do anything to change the single minded conquering attitude of her husband and in-laws?
Romance thrown in when we find that Melody and Cobalt hit it off. Nice characters. Melody is fantastic. Cobalt is torn, on the one hand he has a pathologic need to conquer on the other he doesn't hit women or children in spite of his upbringing. Great climactic scene. 4.8 stars. I probably should have read The Charmed Sphere first, but other than the fact that I know where this novel started, there didn't seem to be any spoilers.
Romance thrown in when we find that Melody and Cobalt hit it off. Nice characters. Melody is fantastic. Cobalt is torn, on the one hand he has a pathologic need to conquer on the other he doesn't hit women or children in spite of his upbringing. Great climactic scene. 4.8 stars. I probably should have read The Charmed Sphere first, but other than the fact that I know where this novel started, there didn't seem to be any spoilers.
March 18, 2012
18 years after Varquelle tried to invade Aronsdale, Melody Dawnfield is Muller and Chime's daughter, the current heir to the Jaguar Throne of Harsdown. When Cobalt the Dark frees his father Varquelle and threatens invasion to regain the throne, Melody agrees to wed him in order to save her country from war.
I much enjoyed the Charmed Sphere, so I was excited to read this book. Melody is a typical heroine, kind and able to charm her way into her husband's good graces. What I found more interesting, however, was Cobalt. Abused and isolated by his grandfather, Cobalt has long-simmering issues of anger and ambition. He is determined to build an empire through conquest, to finally prove himself a worthy heir. I found it very interesting how love did NOT conquer all; Melody still struggles to try to temper his ambition and is unable to convince him not to move against his targets. This is very unusual and made it a very interesting book. Things are left hanging, and continuing the series is a necessity.
I much enjoyed the Charmed Sphere, so I was excited to read this book. Melody is a typical heroine, kind and able to charm her way into her husband's good graces. What I found more interesting, however, was Cobalt. Abused and isolated by his grandfather, Cobalt has long-simmering issues of anger and ambition. He is determined to build an empire through conquest, to finally prove himself a worthy heir. I found it very interesting how love did NOT conquer all; Melody still struggles to try to temper his ambition and is unable to convince him not to move against his targets. This is very unusual and made it a very interesting book. Things are left hanging, and continuing the series is a necessity.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 8, 2015
As an avid reader of Catherine Asaro, I got bored waiting for another Skolian book to come out and so decided to try her other series.
I was not disappointed. It was as corny as I had expected. Definitely not one of her greatest books, I still enjoyed the plotline. The characters were a bit stiff-too much explaining how they thought instead of just letting them think-and the first five chapters had way to much description.
All I can say is that her editor sucked. There were several descriptions that should have been taken out, and made the story a little boring in the beginning. I stuck it out though, since I like her a lot. The final battle was by far the best part of the story. I will probably pick up the third book to see how things go.
My recommendation? If you've never read Asaro pick up her Skolian series. SO good. If you're wanting a casual read, then you might like this book.
I didn't read the first one, and only felt slightly lost about the spells, but Asaro does a good job of explaining it so the first book isn't necessary to read this one.
I was not disappointed. It was as corny as I had expected. Definitely not one of her greatest books, I still enjoyed the plotline. The characters were a bit stiff-too much explaining how they thought instead of just letting them think-and the first five chapters had way to much description.
All I can say is that her editor sucked. There were several descriptions that should have been taken out, and made the story a little boring in the beginning. I stuck it out though, since I like her a lot. The final battle was by far the best part of the story. I will probably pick up the third book to see how things go.
My recommendation? If you've never read Asaro pick up her Skolian series. SO good. If you're wanting a casual read, then you might like this book.
I didn't read the first one, and only felt slightly lost about the spells, but Asaro does a good job of explaining it so the first book isn't necessary to read this one.
July 23, 2016
The Dawnfield family returns in this second book of magic and political conflict in the fictional land of Aronsdale. Chime and Muller's daughter Melody (Mel) has grown into a beautiful, headstrong young woman. To prevent an army from the neighboring Misted Cliffs from invading her homeland, she agrees to wed Cobalt Escar, son of Varquelle, ruler of the Misted Cliffs. Despite the cruelty and darkness in the Escar family, Mel is able to find a seed of good in Cobalt and begins to nurture it. Varquelle and Cobalt, however, are not satisfied in their desire for conquest. I recommend this book to fans of romantic fantasy. However, many of the characters are quite two-dimensional and predictable.
September 18, 2021
I have very mixed feelings about this book.
It was a romance, and the writer got that part right, mostly. It went way too fast, there was no time for the relationship to develop.
It was also supposed to be a fantasy novel, which is where my issue comes in. The author left so many gaping plot holes open, and it was also very rushed.
There was a 'mystery' involved about halfway in that was as obvious as it could get, and it was answered before it was really acknowledged.
I will read the rest if I manage to find it somewhere cheap, but I wouldn't pay full price for this book or the next one.
It was a romance, and the writer got that part right, mostly. It went way too fast, there was no time for the relationship to develop.
It was also supposed to be a fantasy novel, which is where my issue comes in. The author left so many gaping plot holes open, and it was also very rushed.
There was a 'mystery' involved about halfway in that was as obvious as it could get, and it was answered before it was really acknowledged.
I will read the rest if I manage to find it somewhere cheap, but I wouldn't pay full price for this book or the next one.
January 19, 2019
I was very much looking forward to reading this novel after reading the short story that proceeded it. I thought the magic system was very unique and interesting, and enjoyed the romance centered story. I felt that the short story format worked better as this novel seemed to drag on in more than one place. For all those pages, I would have like to see the magic system explored in greater depth and the character interactions more developed.
August 21, 2007
This book was a nice follow up to The Charmed Sphere. The ending was not as conclusive, and you knew there was going to be another book, but it was sweet. A very quick read and I definitely enjoyed it.
April 2, 2010
This whole series just lacks art and style in its delivery. I find myself very unsatisfied at the end of each book thus far. I probably wouldn't have even bothered with the second one unless I hadn't had it laying around.
Dinfinitely not going for number three.
Dinfinitely not going for number three.
January 23, 2016
Cobalt the Dark, very tormented hero
February 8, 2019
I skimmed the battle stuff, but loved the magic stuff.
May 21, 2022
Very fast read that feels like a YA novel.
November 20, 2017
2.5 stars because this had every cliche one might think of in fantasy romance -- political feud between warring kingdoms, arranged political marriages, enemies turned lovers, become who you were born to be -- but it didn't deliver any of them extraordinarily well. As a result, this story just became one big glob of been-there-done-that-better.
THE GOOD
The cat.
THE BAD
Bland story, insta-lurve, unconvincing characterizations, mediocre pacing.
THE VERDICT
The Winter King by C.L. Wilson does all these fantasy romance tropes...but loads better. Do yourself a favor and pick up that series instead.
THE GOOD
The cat.
THE BAD
Bland story, insta-lurve, unconvincing characterizations, mediocre pacing.
THE VERDICT
The Winter King by C.L. Wilson does all these fantasy romance tropes...but loads better. Do yourself a favor and pick up that series instead.
April 28, 2025
I received this book as a birthday gift from a friend. I love fantasy titles and had never heard of this one. Man, did it draw me right in! The characters are amazing, and the surprises are just so unexpected! A very, VERY good read, enjoyed every page!
July 12, 2019
I loved this book! As with many of Catherine Astro’s characters, they had depth and were beyond interesting. I basically inhaled this book.
Read
March 6, 2021Asaro does fantasy romance. Typical.
January 6, 2023
The first book was “okay” but I enjoyed the second much more and am looking forward to reading the whole series. It is definitely a fantasy book, no heavy thoughts just easy light reading.
June 3, 2021
On my TBR pile since 2005, but based on the reviews of others, I super seriously thought I needed to read Book 1 first…and never got Book 1 (mostly cause of Recession related book collecting halt). Anyhow, this month I decided to dive in anyways because I wanted a light fantasy. Sweet read. A little slow paced for my liking, but I’ve added more Asaro ebooks to my TBR pile - wish her Nebula win was available as an ebook.
January 16, 2022
Much like The Charmed Sphere, I found it difficult to put this book down. I loved seeing how the beloved characters in the first book aged and raised families. I would have liked to know more about Jarid and Iris though.
To me, this is more a story about redemption. It had less of that good vs. bad feeling of the first book. But I do have to say that Stonebreaker and Varqelle were so much more fleshed out. I could really see them as the instigators of a war this time around.
After reading Lawhead's The Pendragon Cycle, the battles just didn't seem realistic at all, I mean, besides the whole mage business. Of course, I'm not a big fan of the overly detailed war, so it's kind of a plus for me.
The good characters also were nicely depicted which isn't much of a change from book 1. Melody was so real to me especially. She was helpless and strong and courageous all at the same time. I really felt that I could understand her. Cobalt was so confused all the time, which added depth to his character.
The thing I didn't understand was all the talk about heirs and raising children between Cobalt and Varqelle. I understand that Cobalt was trying to probe his father to find out the reason why his mother left him, but it seemed like too much to me. They're talking about an heir that hasn't even been conceived yet.
It would've been difficult to read this book without having the first one under your belt, but I do think that the author spun this tale a little better than the first one.
2021 Update (though I have absolutely no remembrance of when I read it because I waited so long to post): Upon a second reading of this a decade later, I felt it was kind of rapey. The author seems to have a thing for much older dominating men. To each their own, but that's a fair warning for you.
To me, this is more a story about redemption. It had less of that good vs. bad feeling of the first book. But I do have to say that Stonebreaker and Varqelle were so much more fleshed out. I could really see them as the instigators of a war this time around.
After reading Lawhead's The Pendragon Cycle, the battles just didn't seem realistic at all, I mean, besides the whole mage business. Of course, I'm not a big fan of the overly detailed war, so it's kind of a plus for me.
The good characters also were nicely depicted which isn't much of a change from book 1. Melody was so real to me especially. She was helpless and strong and courageous all at the same time. I really felt that I could understand her. Cobalt was so confused all the time, which added depth to his character.
The thing I didn't understand was all the talk about heirs and raising children between Cobalt and Varqelle. I understand that Cobalt was trying to probe his father to find out the reason why his mother left him, but it seemed like too much to me. They're talking about an heir that hasn't even been conceived yet.
It would've been difficult to read this book without having the first one under your belt, but I do think that the author spun this tale a little better than the first one.
2021 Update (though I have absolutely no remembrance of when I read it because I waited so long to post): Upon a second reading of this a decade later, I felt it was kind of rapey. The author seems to have a thing for much older dominating men. To each their own, but that's a fair warning for you.
October 2, 2013
The Misted Cliffs is even better than the first book in the series: The Charmed Sphere. It does start off a bit slow, but then the marriage between Cobalt and Mel happens and it is impossible to put the book down.
I really enjoyed Cobalt as a character. He is tortured, violent, and has the temper of a fire crab (HP reference ;P). But underneath his rough exterior he is gentle and smart, and when he falls in love with Mel she helps to mellow him out a bit. Their love is slow to grow, which made me happy. I hate when romance novels immediately jump into head-over-heels mode. I also liked Mel’s character. She sees through Cobalt and knows exactly how to calm him down. And the way she learns about her powers was really fun.
Read more here: http://readbookwormread.blogspot.com/...!
I really enjoyed Cobalt as a character. He is tortured, violent, and has the temper of a fire crab (HP reference ;P). But underneath his rough exterior he is gentle and smart, and when he falls in love with Mel she helps to mellow him out a bit. Their love is slow to grow, which made me happy. I hate when romance novels immediately jump into head-over-heels mode. I also liked Mel’s character. She sees through Cobalt and knows exactly how to calm him down. And the way she learns about her powers was really fun.
Read more here: http://readbookwormread.blogspot.com/...!
August 21, 2011
This is just the 2nd book in a series of currently 5books. Great continuance from The Charmed Sphere, you pick right up as if you had never left the story yet its several years later.
Loved it.
My favorite character so far has shown up in this book and since I've read the entire series, he still is my favorite. Cobalt is just so intense and goes from one extreme to the other. His love is almost deadly it's so extreme. I love him.
This was my Cobalt, Sam Horrigan
Loved it.
My favorite character so far has shown up in this book and since I've read the entire series, he still is my favorite. Cobalt is just so intense and goes from one extreme to the other. His love is almost deadly it's so extreme. I love him.
This was my Cobalt, Sam Horrigan
September 25, 2013
Well paced, the story thankfully stands alone - I picked it up at a used book sale without knowing that it was the second in a series. I really enjoyed the shapes-and-colors based magic. My main criticism is that a major twist, on which a huge chunk of the plot was based, was foreshadowed far too early and felt so obvious to me that it drained a lot of suspense and made me frustrated with the characters. Otherwise - a good novel. I probably won't seek out the rest of the series, but I'd read them if they fell into my lap.
August 9, 2015
The magic set up in this book is unique, and the character interaction is as well. It's not a complete love story, though that does play a big part in it and it isn't sickeningly romance-novel-ish. Time and distance seem a bit strange when it comes to traveling through this world though. It's an enjoyable book to escape into, with just enough fluff and emotion to make it interesting instead of overbearing.
April 13, 2010
I really loved this book. I enjoyed The Charmed Sphere, but The Misted Cliffs trumped it. I love a strong female lead. Mel followed her destiny, and although she was afraid, unsure, and alone, she didn’t let anyone to stop her. A great romance but yet it wasn’t cliché. I loved the fact that even though Mel came to love her husband, she wasn’t blinded by that love. She knew and battled his faults. Twists, turns, and intrigue. Can’t wait to read book 3!
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