An artificial girl...and the sorcerer who loved her.
Velsa is Grau's wife and a free woman--thanks to a lie. And the High Sorcerer's Palace is no place for keeping a secret, with its bustling social life of parties and balls. The beautiful princess with coveted magic, the doll girl heiress, the Peacock General and the blood-sucking gentleman from another realm--are they friends or enemies?
Velsa is torn between her old role as a concubine and her place in a strange new world. When she takes in a young telepathic slave, she is inadvertently led to a dark secret...and a danger that might tear her and Grau apart forever...
**This novel contains scenes of adult intimacy**
Books in the Hidden Lands Series (Series can be read in any order)
THE TELEPATH AND THE SORCERER: Book 1: The Sorcerer's Concubine Book 2: The Sorcerer's Wife Book 3: The Sorcerer's Equal (Jan 2017)
THE ATLANTIS FAMILIES: Book 1: The Vengeful Half Book 2: The Stolen Heart (June 2016) Book 3: TBA
Jaclyn Dolamore has a passion for history, thrift stores, vintage dresses, David Bowie, drawing, and organic food. She lives in western Maryland with her partner and plot strategist, Dade, and three weird cats. To keep abreast of new releases, sales, and extras, please join her mailing list! http://tinyurl.com/JaclynDolamore
The Sorcerer's Wife continues where the previous book, The Sorcerer's Concubine, left off. + The world-building got deeper. We get to know the main city of the country and the mystery behind all weird similarities to Earth gets resolved (in a good way). +- Velsa is still ruling the show, while all other pale in comparison.
The Sorcerer's Wife was a nice sequel that got me even more intrigued to find out how this trilogy will end. Looking forward to the next part.
Since I loved the first book in this series, I was afraid the sequel would let me down, but no, it was just as good: memorable characters, a fun story, and a wildly inventive imagination behind it all. My one complaint is that it ends on a cliffhanger and it looks like the next book won't be out for another year.
I'm slowly getting through this series. The books aren't bad and are interesting enough that I'm engaged when I'm reading it but when I set it down I would rather read anything else.
Book 2 in this series has me more interested in the side characters than either Velsa or Grau. They were a welcome addition to the story for me, and I'm only sad that the book isn't focused on any of them. Grau in this book gives me "nice guy" kind of vibes as he says a lot of things that say he wants Velsa to be her own independent person, but some of his actions still read like he'd only be ok with it as long as it still fits to what he wants. I was hoping that when Velsa started wondering about possibly be attracted to women that it would lead to her dropping Grau, and starting a new relationship anyone else. Not Irik though. Her relationship with Irik started to get weird and the kiss was even more unnecessary.
And to speak of Irik she is the second female character, the other being Grau's sister, who likes women, or at least queer, and has a sad romance attached to them. Not everyone needs a happy story but the only two female side characters we get to know a decent amount about, who are also queer, and both have not so great romantic backstories doesn't sit comfortably with me. I'm hoping in the last book at least one of them has a positive or at least neutral romance or something.
Also on kindle the "Thank You" paragraph is separate from the rest of the book so it just looks like short additional paragraph at a glance. It was jarring to go from story to the thanks for reading without any indication of a change.
I really liked the freshness of this series but book 2 unfortunately was a little slower to me then book one but still good.
They left on a ship to a new land where they were hoping to go unnoticed & just live as man and wife without any issues.
Yet right away things started happening, both of their magical powers were found out by the peacock general and they kind of adopted a child.
She met a vampire & shapeshifter as apparently there’s portals to other worlds and that’s where they have gotten the ideas for technology.
They walk a fine line between her husband working for the general & her sneaking out to work with a rebellion.
I think all the portraits of there leader that’s in everyone’s house is enchanted, because it seems to much of a coincidence that when she finally told her husband everything they were picked up and arrested shortly after.
I think it’s interesting that everyone still believes there 200 year old leader is still the one making all the decisions because it seems like he’s dead or an illusion. People hardly see him and when they do it’s so briefly I wonder if he’s not an illusion figure head.
I hate seeing dragons die & wish we would have been further along with the helping to fight the rebellion.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Second verse, same as the first. In a good way, I mean. There are kind of a lot of... elements... introduced (shapeshifters gateways to other worlds VAMPIRES) but hell, I still like the dang doll people concept and Velsa as a character. I like Parsons and Sorla, especially Sorla, and I like the continued struggle for identity and humanity, and it was a nice pleasant easy read.
The point of view of a artificially created woman in a fantasy world setting makes for a variety of new points of view. It is a love story and allegory on the rights of different beings.
This book was so much better than the first one. It was a lot grander with high stakes and a lot of action towards the end with intriguing new characters. Velsa and Grau are very likeable. They are so ADORABLE together and they make one hell of a duo.
I just loved this story. I found the first one and couldn't put it down so I had to get the second one and it did not disappoint. I can't wait for the third.
The Sorcerer's Wife picks up where The Sorcerer’s Concubine left off, and while sequels often run the risk of faltering under the weight of expectation, this one holds its ground well. It’s a story that deepens the world, expands its mythology, and continues the steady unraveling of its central mystery. Though not without its hiccups, it remains a strong entry in what’s shaping up to be a very satisfying trilogy.
The worldbuilding is where this installment shines brightest. We finally get to explore the capital and peel back some of the lingering questions about why this fantasy realm bears such uncanny similarities to our own world. Without spoiling anything, the explanation is one of the more creative takes I’ve read in recent fantasy. It left me intrigued and eager to see how it all ties together in the final book. There’s also a growing sense of genre-blending here: portals, vampires, shapeshifters, even a slightly anachronistic tinge of 20th-century culture creeping in. It makes for a colorful, if occasionally dissonant, tapestry.
At the heart of the narrative is Velsa, who remains the true anchor of this series. Her journey of self-discovery continues with nuance and emotional depth, and her inner conflicts, particularly around loyalty, independence, and identity are handled thoughtfully. Her relationship with Grau remains one of the more tender and functional partnerships I’ve encountered in fantasy. That said, I do wish Grau was allowed a bit more narrative space to grow. He continues to play the role of steadfast, supportive husband and while that’s refreshing in its own right, it also leaves him feeling a touch underdeveloped compared to the vivid supporting cast.
This is very much a character-driven story, and the secondary figures, rebels, generals, child stowaways, even a dragon, often bring more dynamic energy to the page than Velsa and Grau themselves. The pacing, particularly in the first half, does lag a bit. Much of the tension hinges on secrecy and sneaking rather than action, and while I appreciated the slow-burn strategy, I did occasionally wish the plot would move with more urgency, especially with so many interesting threads in play.
One subplot involving a kiss between Velsa and another character (Irik) felt abrupt and thematically murky. While it seems to serve as part of her emotional and sexual awakening, the moment lacked enough buildup to land with weight, and left me slightly disconnected from her arc at that point. Still, the narrative doesn’t shy away from these messier parts of her growth, and I respect that choice, even when I don’t entirely agree with it.
The political intrigue and subtle dystopian elements (especially the eerie, ever-present portraits of a possibly long-dead ruler) add compelling texture to the story. The rebellion plotline is simmering, and while I was hoping for more advancement there, particularly involving the dragons, it’s clear the groundwork is being laid for a more explosive finale.
In summary, The Sorcerer's Wife may not hit every beat perfectly, but it’s a solid continuation that expands the world and deepens the emotional stakes. If you enjoyed the first book, you’ll likely find this one equally engaging, perhaps even more so, depending on how invested you are in Velsa’s arc.
Recommended for readers who enjoy: - Character-driven fantasy with strong female leads - Subtle world-mysteries and portal elements - Slow-burn romantic tension with emotional realism - Fantasy settings that challenge genre boundaries
There were things I liked more and things I liked less than the 1st book. I liked how much more rich and complex the world building became. But at the same time at places it feels like a mess. The addition of 20th century pop culture makes the story colorful, but makes it loose some of the Fantasy-ish charm. I liked that the story lost it pretense for romance and developed into sort of High Fantasy adventure. I really loved all the changes and self-discoveries Velsa want through in the book. This is truly character driven plot. I’m still sad that no such growth is there for Grau. I like their romance, but he never rises above his role as sweet supporting husband. I really enjoyed all the supporting characters (all of whom are so much more interesting than Grau, ha-ha!) Still very enjoyable read that leaves you with the desire to read more of this world.
I liked it even better than the first book (with the exception of a small niggle discussed below.) We see new worlds, the plot thickens, the stakes rise, and in the middle of it all, Velsa continues her journey of self discovery of what it means to be human and she and Grau continue to be one of the sweetest, healthiest relationships I've read in a while.
This a solid continuation of the story. The characters have grown since the last entry which was nice to see. The plot was still engaging and the relations built up in a natural way.
Second book of the series. Adding to the unique world already built the story continues but in a big city. Lots of strange new people. Definitely a cliffhanger.