Clara's Return

Stories of Lorst #2

by Suzanna J. Linton

Clara, lost and disillusioned from a hard-fought war, hopes to discover some answers about her lineage and abilities in the quiet village of Bluebell, where she once lived before being sold into slavery. However, as she and the Captain of the Royal Guard make their journey, a new threat to the kingdom arises in the form of a traitor.

This new threat has been patiently brewing since the fall of the sorceror-king Marduk and careful plans are now coming to fruition. Emmerich’s struggles with his new role as king and his ever-present nightmares leave him feeling inadequate to the task. What he needs most is Clara.

But how can she help from so far away? And how can she help if she does not even know who she is?

Genres: Fantasy

Unknown Binding

First published April 26, 2016

About the author

Suzanna J. Linton grew up in rural Orangeburg County. At age eight, she tried to read The Secret Garden by herself. After following her mother around for a day, asking questions about the Yorkshire accent, she gave up, but that didn't deter her in developing a deep appreciation for books and the worlds to which they open. A few years later, she wrote her first poem, which eventually led her to try writing fiction.

In 2002, she went to the summer program at the SC Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities, where she refined her poetry and wrote her first decent short story (before this, she mostly wrote novels along with her poetry). In 2003, Suzanna began attending Francis Marion University, where she graduated with a Bachelor's in English.

Today, she continues to live in South Carolina with her husband and their menagerie of animals.

Reviews

[Natalie all_books_great_and_small · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a gifted copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review as part of the book tour hosted by Lovebookstours.

Clara's Return is the second book in the Stories of Lorst series by Suzanna J. Linton.
In this installment we learn more about Clara and what makes her tick. Clara also discovers more about who and what she is and her abilities as a seer.I loved reading about how Clara comes into her own in this book and she does become quite a force to be reckoned with on occasions too! I loved her character development through this book. I did find the book sped up and slowed down in pace as I read this,but this wasn't much of an issue.
The other characters were more endearing in this installment too compared to book 1 and I enjoyed reading more about the two captains - Jarrett and Asher too.

[Vicky · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the first book in the series was about getting to know the main character, Clara, how she grew up and then went on to lose her voice and how she found the strength to gain it back. The second book was about finding out more about her, not only about her past but also what makes her a person and that was a very good journey. We see a little more of the capital of Lorst and we see a little bit of how things work in the castle and lots of court politics, but otherwise, the book still is very centered on the characters, not that’s it’s a bad thing. I also like to see Clara and Emmerich’s relationship grow even if they were apart and I do appreciate again the lack of cliffhangers. I look forward to the final installment in this series.

*I received a copy of this book, but all thoughts and opinions are my own

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5🌟

The second book in the Stories of Lorst series is all about Clara finding out who she really is. Is she more than just her seer ability? Is she worthy without? There is a lot of exciting action scenes for Clara, where she is able to proves she is a badd a** and capable of standing on her own agaisnt mythical creatures.

Emmerich's character became much more human in Clara's Return. He grew on me a bit with a lot of help from his Aerial magical creature friend Niall, and the fact that by the end he was able to fully express his feelings for Clara. It was also great to see more of Captian Jarrett and Captian Asher, I really enjoy thier personalities.

[Justine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Less love, more action

Compared to the first installment, I thought there was less introspection and more action in this middle book. Some people prefer that, some like it the other way around...I just thought there were some pacing issues, which I didn't feel were a problem in the first. I enjoyed the new characters, but the Lady introduced at the end fell flat, for having such a pivotal role (don't want to spoil it). There were a lot of questions left unanswered, which I assume will be resolved in the final part of the trilogy. Overall I enjoyed it very much.

[Teri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the first book and yes they can be read as a stand a lone but then you would cheat yourself of the background of how Clara got to where she is I loved this one because throughout Clara shows she is strong and resilient and yes stubborn. The intrigue and action has Clara right in the midst of it all and finding out who she really is. The story line is strong as the characters and you find yourself lost in the story until the very last page. I want more!

[Nagma (Take A Look At My Bookshelf) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clara’s Return is the second book in the Stories of Lorst series. This book was fast-paced, action-packed, and intriguing. The first book was about Clara’s past, her upbringing, and how she found the strength to overcome the things of her past. This book is Clara’s journey to discovering who she is while also learning more about her past. It’s also a journey of some growth for Clara and her relationship with Emmerich.

This adventure filled fantasy was entertaining with many twists and turns that held my attention. This book was more action focused rather than romance focused. I liked that we got to see a more confident Clara as well as learn more about Emmerich. The complex characters, well-written book, and intrigue made this a really good read. I did feel that the ending was rather abrupt and I have a few questions I’m hoping will be answered in the next book.

Rating: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Amy Thomas · Rating 2 out of 5]

Clara's Return is the second instalment of the Stories of Lorst series by Suzanna J. Linton.

While the first book focussed on Clara's past, in this one we learn more about Clara's character as she is now and we follow her journey of developing her skills as a seer. The story has a number of scenes that really are full of action and we see Clara come into her own.

I found the writing easy to read; the pace changed quite a lot throughout which I did enjoy. The story had lots of twists and turns which I found held my attention well. This could be read as a standalone but I do think reading the first adds to the character development in this one. Really enjoyed it.

[Nicola Hancock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hello, book two… been dying to share this with you since reading the first. This series is brilliant I said it before and I’ll say it again.

Clara is still a huge character for me and one I’m extremely fond of and have connected to on multiple levels. She’s even stronger than before although to begin with she’s deflated and has to fight with all her inner strength to build herself back up again. You need to read book one to understand this.

There was just as much mystery and fantasy built into this one but one I found it easier to keep up to speed with a follow. I loved embarking with Clara on the journey back to bluebell. I’m a lot more acceptable to the magical side of things now than I was before. The fast paced action parts keep you on the edge of the pages at all times.

I loved the overall plot for this one the not knowing who you are and the journey of self discovery. The need to be wanted and needed and not being able to help. These books just keep getting better and better. I cannot wait to see what comes out of the love element built within this. I cannot wait to read book three and share my review with you all.

This author is fantastic!!

[AJ Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

[3.5]
I was so excited to jump back in this series after reading the first one. This book focuses more on Clara's character rather than her history, which I loved. I've always been a fan of books with self-discovery, so this was right up my alley!

My favorite thing about this series is how quick and investing it is. It's so easy to lose yourself in the story once you've been sucked in, and it feels like it takes no time to read at all. The characters, plot, and settings are very well-written and just captivating. I love Linton's writing style and can't wait to read the rest of the series!

Disclaimer: I received a gifted copy of this book via the author and Love Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.

[JayRaeReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

💜This is Book 2 in the Stories of Lorst Series. Clara is a seer, but since she was sold into slavery she is not sure who she is or why she has these abilities. This book is all about the journey Clara goes through to become the person she is supposed to be, and she definitely becomes a force to be reckoned with.
💜The love story between Clara and the new king Emmerich was beautiful and enticing. It was nice to learn more about the king and who he is, and it was interesting to see how they worked through being apart.
💜I’m very excited to learn more about these characters and their world in the final installment of the trilogy.

[EllenZReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this sequel to Clara, Stories of Lorst Book 1, Clara is on a journey with Captain Jarrett, in search of her unknown past, and Emmerich is dealing with his new, uncomfortable responsibilities. New and intriguing characters are introduced, as well as a number of fantastical creatures both great and small. What should be a time of celebration and renewal after the fall of the horrible King Marduk devolves into chaos as the murders begin and secret alliances are revealed. I thought this book was even better than the first in the series, and I am looking forward to the continuation of the story in Secret Burdens, Stories of Lorst Book 3.

[Kate Shotliff · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was gifted this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was very happy to get back into Clara’s story, find out more of her character’s history as she goes on her journey of self-discovery and she continues to be a strong, independent woman who is learning to deal with the traumas of her past. I liked that we still followed the intrigues and characters of the court even when Clara was off on her travels. I liked the new characters we followed, little Bran especially. This is a series I am genuinely enjoying and I can’t wait to start book 3!

[Nimalee Ravi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to read the first book and was absolutely thrilled when I was given this opportunity to read thd second one.

This book continues Clara's journey as she goes in search of her past and to find answers.

Clara's is still the best character and I think she definitely shines better in this book. Beautifully written and highly recommend.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mystical Battles Soothe None

I am really enjoying the opportunity to read this series. As I read, I'm expecting one outcome in the war against an unknown ememy, only to find another, better one, throughout the book. This is definitely a series to pick up!

[Elise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this book and the book just before it! (There were a few editing mistakes. But the story is too good to make that matter.)

[Kristen Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second book in the Tales of Lorst series does show some improvement in the writing from the first. In particular, most POV changes are marked by a scene break, making it much easier to follow the narrative.

Clara also takes a more active role in this book. She can speak freely, which helps, and she's on a return trip to her childhood home to find out more about her origins so she's making choices instead of getting dragged along with an army. She's more confident in fighting and can defend herself against monsters.

There's also less romance than in the previous book due to the characters being separated. I actually thought that their relationship was fading away and the king might be falling for someone else. It was rather abrupt when they got back together in the end. I don't really feel why these two are together, so I would rather see a change in the relationship or an end.

This book has a lot more subplots and characters to keep track of than the first book and it feels more scattered because of that. I didn't like Valliance enough to care about his story, so I didn't mind that it got dropped for most of the book. I did want more about Bran and the aerials but those weren't the main plot. The main story about Clara's family is pushed off mostly until the end and then happens in a rush. I would have liked more time devoted to that but instead she spends most of her time traveling.

I'm not sure where this series plans to go in future books. It does seem like Clara has more to learn about her power and maybe going to Tier will help her learn. But while I like Clara, I'm not sure that I like Emmerich enough to stay with the series. He needs to grow a lot before he could be a good love interest for Clara, especially learning to control his temper. Still can't get over the time he slapped her in the first book and he'd have to do some major work before I could forgive that.

[Tony Parsons · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lieutenant Valliance “Val” (son, Palace Guard), & his sister Abelia “Abbey” had been bullied by a bunch of men.
They gave Abbey a letter to give to Val.
Marduck (Sorcerer) monsters remain in the forest.
The Council is purging the city of all the Male & Female Aerial’s.

King Emmerich (Lorst, former General, Captain Palace Guard) had moved up the ranks & had his own inner circle.
Bran Weston (Page, Lord Barkeley son) did not really trust Acting Captain Valiance.
Lady Clara (Tieran) & Captain Jarrett were scouting for Giants.
She was also wondering where she came from.
Master Amherst & Healer Paula inspected the patient Niall (Aerial).
Captain Jarrett asked Lieutenant Valiance if he knew anything about Matteo Havens (nephew, Page) murder.
General Asher had given Val permission to look into the crime also.

What is Sorcerer-King Marduk drumming up?
What happened to Gavin (soy, minstrel, Emmerich’s spy)?
What plans did Captain Percy, Lieutenant Valiance, Harold Raines (Wizard, North), & Remus (Thaila’s son) have?

What did Lady Clara receive from King Emmerich?

I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one. All thoughts & opinions are entirely my own.

A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A fairly well written fantasy book. It wasn’t always very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish, but never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a large set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great fantasy movie, or a mini TV series. To be continued? Not my normal read, but I will still rate it at 4/5 stars.

Thank you for the free Story Cartel; ARC; PDF book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)

[Laura Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great fantasy read. As a sequel the book picks up where the previous left off, and starts with a well done re-cap that lets you read this if you haven't read Clara (or serves as a good reminder if it's been a while since you read Clara).

Clara is a seer and her gift is important to the King. Following the war and defeat of Marduk, Clara has stopped having visions. Without her gift she really isn't sure who she is or where she fits in. In an effort to figure it out she journey's back to the village where she lived before she was sold as a slave. She is stubborn and strong willed, but as we see along her journey Clara needs to gain more confidence in herself and her value even without her gift. It's really nice to watch her gain this confidence.

At the same time, the kingdom is under threat from an unknown source. There are monsters threatening outside the city walls...creatures that defy any known origin. And a giant is roaming the countryside destroying towns. King Emmerich is in danger and is having trouble dealing with his new role as King. His transition from Captain of the Guard to King has been rough and the outside conflict doesn't help. He really tries his best, but has some challenges.

Most delightful are some of the new characters. I loved the aerials...part bird, part dragon, part I'm not sure what, they're delightful. Especially the young one named Niall. I hope someone with some talent will draw some fan art of them as I'd love to see that! I also really enjoyed meeting 9 year old Bran. He too seems to have the gift of sight and I'm really hoping that a future book will follow his story.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book for review is “ Clara's Return” by Suzanna J. Linton. It falls in the genre of fiction and fantasy. This is volume two in the series.

Meet Clara who is the seer of the kingdom. Her visions are important to the King. All she knows prior to be elevating to this position is that she was sold as a slave at a very young age. Emmerich is now the ruler. However unknown to him his seer has a problem. She no longer sees visions of any kind.

To work this out she set off on a journey, with Jarrett at her side to protect her, to find her family, her background and learn about herself in hopes of learning about who she is. Will she see visions again remains to be seen.

Clara however is stubborn and wants to prove she is capable of taking carte of herself. One night she takes off leaving Jarrett and his protection, concealing herself as a boy in hopes it will help.

Jarrett has no choice but to return home and tell the King of what has happened. Neither is happen about the situation.

Trouble is brewing inside the Kingdom, pages are being killed and it points to someone inside the royal circle. Will Clara come back to help her King?

I suggest reading the first book, it will help with some of the background for this series. I gravitated toward two characters, Jarrett and Emmerich, from the book. They both care about Clara and have her best interest in mind. The flow was really good, the pace as well. It is a good read for this genre.

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

[Dana Busenbark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emmerich is now the King, having taken care of Murduk in the first book. Clara is off on her journey to 'rediscover' herself and who she is, what she is and how she can be a productive member of society. Jarrett is sent with her, as she heads to Bluebell, where she came from, when Emmerich first met her. What sorts of things do Clara and Jerrett see on the road? What does clara do in the middle of the night after telling Jarrett to go home to the King, who needs him? What sorts of things does she encounter on her travels to Bluebell? This book is titled Clara's Return, but it does not really tell us her return to what, Bluebell or back to the King and the Palace. Reading the book is the only way to figure this out. I had to cheer on Emmerich when he took over the kingdom and disbanded the Council. What events took place that prompted that decision? Well, once again, you're going to have to read to find out. I really like Emmerich, I was uncertain about him at the end of the first book, but I am finding the more I read about him, the more I like. I hope that Clara finds herself and realizes what she wants and feels that she can accept it.

RECEIVED THIS BOOK AS A GIFT FOR A FAIR/HONEST REVIEW and REVIEWER FOR Bloggin' With M.Brennan.

[Merissa (Archaeolibrarian) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clara's Return starts where Clara finished. She is on her way back to her home as she tries to find out just who she is. Is she 'just' the King's Seer, or is there more to her than that? Clara is a wonderful character who has grown in these two books. She is quiet and happy to stay in the background, but she won't take any prisoners either. Stubborn as a mule, un-trusting and sometimes cynical, she is also loyal, quick-witted and warm. Clara and Emmerich spend most of the book apart, but that doesn't stop them from 'seeing' each other.

I really enjoyed this book and would have no hesitation in recommending it to anyone. However, I did feel that the ending was a bit abrupt - even Clara had questions that weren't answered. I sincerely hope that this means there will be another book in the Stories of Lorst series.

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jun 3, 2016

[Linda Levine · Rating 5 out of 5]

The journey continues for Clara as she is determined to learn more about her past. The war may be won but it has not resolved her pain and leaves her with a strong desire to revisit her childhood home. The kingdom faces many challenges. Emmerich finds that being a king is not an easy role for him and wants Clara there to help him adjust to his new life.There are real threats to their being together.

I enjoyed this second book in the series and seeing Clara continue to grow in strength. She needs to be more confident if she wants to be able to have a successful relationship. This books reveals many secrets about her origins. You also get to learn more about Emmerich. The book switches back and forth between the two. While I enjoyed the opportunity to learn more about him, I wish they had more time together. I look forward to her story continuing.

I received a copy in return for a honest review.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though I found the first book "Clara" to be a little choppy at times, this book blew me away. In fact, it made me rethink the first book a great deal! The characters continued to be well-developed, the intrigue kept the pages turning quickly as I sought to see if I could figure out what would happen next. The magical world that has been created is truly amazing and could easily be imagined. I hope to someday see it onscreen and that's not something I say often. I am now following this author and hope to see another book in this series soon! Although I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, I felt the need to purchase this myself. I HIGHLY recommend this series.

[Tequila · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recieved a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

While this could be read as a standalone novel, I highly suggest reading the first book because you'll get so much more out of this book if you do.

This book continues Clara's journey as she tries to find out about her past and who she really is. I feel Clara shines so much in this book. I fell in love with her during the first book but fell even more in love with her. Linton has created such a fantastic world filled with adventure, magic, and love.

[Shelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This second book is just as great as the first. With the complex characters and fast paced storyline. This time we get more into some of the people's lives after the first book. Clara is wanting to find out about who she is and is feeling like she can't help the King. I'm hoping their are more in this series. Must read book

[Vickie Raynor · Rating 5 out of 5]

The adventure continued in this sequel to Clara. This book was amazing! The fight scenes and the display of magic was off the charts exciting. The characters really came to life for me in this addition. Clara and Simmering and the rest of the people were spot on! Provided by Raven PA Booktours in exchange for an honest review.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Magic and adventure from start to end

What an absolutely wonderful world and characters that Suzanna J Linton has created again in this book
I really like the Aerials especially Niall and hope that there will be more to the series in the future

[Gay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book! Unrequited love, intrigue, espionage, and magic abound. It kept me on the edge of my seat. Great job Ms. Linton!