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Tales of Tehovir
Source-Breaker
For years, Kaniev has made a good living as a traveling repairman of magical Sources. But the last few months, all the malfunctioning Sources he's tried to fix have resisted his best efforts, and he can't figure out what's wrong. When his lodestone leads him to Source Chaitrasse, yet another Source with a problem, his drained self-confidence and finances demand that this time he succeed at the job.
Fransisa always assumed that one day she would be the High Priestess of Source Chaitrasse, until a young Chosen was found, the natural heir to the position. Fransisa is struggling to hold on to her authority and her place at Chaitrasse when a wandering tradesman arrives, insisting that Source Chaitrasse is damaged and that he can fix it. Though the man looks more like a wandering brigand than a powerful wizard or wise scholar, Fransisa decides it can't hurt anything to let him take a look.
Kaniev's ill-fated attempt to repair Source Chaitrasse leads to a sorcerer who is conducting dangerous experiments with magic, that could revolutionize the practice of magic at the risk of corrupting all the magical Sources in the world. Caught in the sorcercer's schemes, Fransisa and Kaniev must overcome their past failures and the differences between them to stop him before the Sources of magic and all the lands around them are destroyed.
Fransisa always assumed that one day she would be the High Priestess of Source Chaitrasse, until a young Chosen was found, the natural heir to the position. Fransisa is struggling to hold on to her authority and her place at Chaitrasse when a wandering tradesman arrives, insisting that Source Chaitrasse is damaged and that he can fix it. Though the man looks more like a wandering brigand than a powerful wizard or wise scholar, Fransisa decides it can't hurt anything to let him take a look.
Kaniev's ill-fated attempt to repair Source Chaitrasse leads to a sorcerer who is conducting dangerous experiments with magic, that could revolutionize the practice of magic at the risk of corrupting all the magical Sources in the world. Caught in the sorcercer's schemes, Fransisa and Kaniev must overcome their past failures and the differences between them to stop him before the Sources of magic and all the lands around them are destroyed.
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First published January 9, 2017
33 people want to read
About the author
Kyra Halland
33 books96 followersKyra Halland has always loved fantasy. She has also always loved a good love story. She combines those two loves by writing the kinds of romantic fantasy novels she loves to read, tales of magical worlds where complicated, honorable heroes and strong, smart, feminine heroines work together to save their world - or their own small corner of it - and each other.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 20, 2017
Kyra Halland’s one of very few authors who writes proper fantasy romance, that is, stories that have a fully-formed romance at their heart, but are also well-constructed fantasies. It’s a hard trick to pull off (I know because I’ve tried and failed) but she does it superbly.
This book drew me in from the very first paragraph. I loved the idea of a man whose job it is to fix magical sources (the well-springs of magical power, each one different). Kaniev travels around the country to wherever his lodestone tells him a source needs attention, fixes it with a bit of arm-wavy business that only he is trained to do, and then goes on his way to the next job. That makes it sound very prosaic, like an old-fashioned tinker who turns up out of the blue, fixes your bucket and sharpens your knives and then vanishes until the next time. Except that Kaniev is hotter than any tinker. I did mention that it’s a romance, didn’t I?
Kaniev’s suffered some mysterious failures recently, but his next job is at Source Chaitrasse, where Fransisa is the Priestess in charge, nursing resentments of her own, and not at all pleased to have her work disrupted by this hot bloke who thinks rather too well of himself. She ought to send him on his way, but maybe the source does need a bit of fixing. And then he’s so hot… I think I may have mentioned that’s it’s a romance. But when a ceremony goes wrong and Fransisa is torn away from her everyday world into the grasp of a dangerous rogue sorcerer, she and Kaniev must overcome their mutual dislike and past failures to defeat the sorcerer before there’s a catastrophe.
Now the fantasy element of the story isn’t the most complicated one ever in the history of fantasy, but it works fine and the depth of world-building more than makes up for it. The author is brilliant at creating worlds which appear simple on the surface but are endlessly complex and fascinating underneath. The idea of different sources of magic, each subtly different, each affecting the people using them in different ways, is beautiful but also powerful, and the concept of the time source blew me away. I didn’t see that coming, but that’s the sign of great world-building, when a basic idea can be applied in a multitude of ingenious ways.
The romance element was charming and delightful and tear-inducing and heart-warming and utterly wonderful. I loved, loved, loved that these two are not in the first flush of youth (the author says they’re facing mid-life crises!), and Fransisa isn’t your average skinny beauty, either - she’s a nicely rounded lady, which Kaniev likes a lot. Kaniev? Well, he’s the conventional hot hero, with the muscular arms which he shows off with a sleeveless leather vest and silver jewelry. He might be just a little vain. But definitely hot. Their final coming together made me go all mushy inside, and if the epilogue was just a tad sentimental, these two earned their right to it.
Would I recommend this? Only if you like delicious romances wrapped up in terrific fantasy. And hot blokes. Five stars.
This book drew me in from the very first paragraph. I loved the idea of a man whose job it is to fix magical sources (the well-springs of magical power, each one different). Kaniev travels around the country to wherever his lodestone tells him a source needs attention, fixes it with a bit of arm-wavy business that only he is trained to do, and then goes on his way to the next job. That makes it sound very prosaic, like an old-fashioned tinker who turns up out of the blue, fixes your bucket and sharpens your knives and then vanishes until the next time. Except that Kaniev is hotter than any tinker. I did mention that it’s a romance, didn’t I?
Kaniev’s suffered some mysterious failures recently, but his next job is at Source Chaitrasse, where Fransisa is the Priestess in charge, nursing resentments of her own, and not at all pleased to have her work disrupted by this hot bloke who thinks rather too well of himself. She ought to send him on his way, but maybe the source does need a bit of fixing. And then he’s so hot… I think I may have mentioned that’s it’s a romance. But when a ceremony goes wrong and Fransisa is torn away from her everyday world into the grasp of a dangerous rogue sorcerer, she and Kaniev must overcome their mutual dislike and past failures to defeat the sorcerer before there’s a catastrophe.
Now the fantasy element of the story isn’t the most complicated one ever in the history of fantasy, but it works fine and the depth of world-building more than makes up for it. The author is brilliant at creating worlds which appear simple on the surface but are endlessly complex and fascinating underneath. The idea of different sources of magic, each subtly different, each affecting the people using them in different ways, is beautiful but also powerful, and the concept of the time source blew me away. I didn’t see that coming, but that’s the sign of great world-building, when a basic idea can be applied in a multitude of ingenious ways.
The romance element was charming and delightful and tear-inducing and heart-warming and utterly wonderful. I loved, loved, loved that these two are not in the first flush of youth (the author says they’re facing mid-life crises!), and Fransisa isn’t your average skinny beauty, either - she’s a nicely rounded lady, which Kaniev likes a lot. Kaniev? Well, he’s the conventional hot hero, with the muscular arms which he shows off with a sleeveless leather vest and silver jewelry. He might be just a little vain. But definitely hot. Their final coming together made me go all mushy inside, and if the epilogue was just a tad sentimental, these two earned their right to it.
Would I recommend this? Only if you like delicious romances wrapped up in terrific fantasy. And hot blokes. Five stars.
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March 17, 2017Not the usual fantasy coming-of-age story, but a fantasy midlife crisis story. Because people over 40 should get to have adventures, fall in love, and save the world too! My book, by me :-)
March 19, 2023
3.5⭐️
This is a short novella which can easily be read in 1/2 days. I just read it in a busy period of time so I took a bit longer. However im glad I finished it because I was debating dnf'ing this.
This book starts off really interesting about a woman in her forties who is the priestess of a source. She has this feeling that she is going to die an old lonely spinster without a partner or kids. Then her source breaks and a source-fixer comes along. He is looking into the source when she suddenly gets sucked into it. If you want to know what happens next you should go read it for yourself!
What I liked about the book:
I never really read books with older mc's. It's very refreshing to not read about an eighteen-twenty-one year old. The book was also pretty entertaining because it didn't last long. But somewhere in the middle I did get a bit bored and actually wanted to give up. I'm glad I didn't because I ended up liking the novella.
What I didn't like about the book:
However this is not a romance book. There is some romance in it but very very little and it shouldn't be put in that category. And because there is very little romance I didn't really see the relationship develop between the priestess and the source-fixer. They met one day, didn't really get to know each other or anything, then the priestess disappeared into the source for a while and boom when she was saved they were in a relationship. It didn't make sense at all.
Would I recommend this book?
If you want to read a good short fantasy novella that is interesting and keeps you entertained. Or need short easy book to get out of your reading slump? Definitely. This is a great quick read for pretty much almost everyone. (there are no smut scenes for anyone who is wondering.)
But if you are looking for a (fantasy) romance I wouldn't really suggest it. I mean if you do want to read this book go ahead you won't waste your time but there are better (fantasy) romances out there.
This is a short novella which can easily be read in 1/2 days. I just read it in a busy period of time so I took a bit longer. However im glad I finished it because I was debating dnf'ing this.
This book starts off really interesting about a woman in her forties who is the priestess of a source. She has this feeling that she is going to die an old lonely spinster without a partner or kids. Then her source breaks and a source-fixer comes along. He is looking into the source when she suddenly gets sucked into it. If you want to know what happens next you should go read it for yourself!
What I liked about the book:
I never really read books with older mc's. It's very refreshing to not read about an eighteen-twenty-one year old. The book was also pretty entertaining because it didn't last long. But somewhere in the middle I did get a bit bored and actually wanted to give up. I'm glad I didn't because I ended up liking the novella.
What I didn't like about the book:
However this is not a romance book. There is some romance in it but very very little and it shouldn't be put in that category. And because there is very little romance I didn't really see the relationship develop between the priestess and the source-fixer. They met one day, didn't really get to know each other or anything, then the priestess disappeared into the source for a while and boom when she was saved they were in a relationship. It didn't make sense at all.
Would I recommend this book?
If you want to read a good short fantasy novella that is interesting and keeps you entertained. Or need short easy book to get out of your reading slump? Definitely. This is a great quick read for pretty much almost everyone. (there are no smut scenes for anyone who is wondering.)
But if you are looking for a (fantasy) romance I wouldn't really suggest it. I mean if you do want to read this book go ahead you won't waste your time but there are better (fantasy) romances out there.
June 29, 2021
Who says you have to be an eighteen-year old chosen one to save the world? It’s rare I read fantasies with heroes in their forties, but I loved this adventure romance so much! Kaniev was a rugged and dashing hero, and I loved his quest to save Fransisa, a priestess swept up in a sorcerer’s plot to alter the magic in their world. I loved Kaniev’s work as a Source-Fixer, a repairman of magical sources, and his clever personality made him a fun hero to follow. The romance was sweet and slow and a great example of “opposites attract.” I would recommend this to anyone who likes fantasy set in an interesting world with unique, somewhat unlikely heroes.
May 9, 2023
Kaniev repairs Sources, from where magic comes. Summoned by his lodestone to Source Chaitrasse, he meets Fransisa, and so begins this wonderful adventure.
In their forties, Kaniev and Fransisa are not the normal heroes, but Halland draws upon their maturity to add another dimension to her characters. This is a brilliant story, thrilling and moving, very exciting.
In their forties, Kaniev and Fransisa are not the normal heroes, but Halland draws upon their maturity to add another dimension to her characters. This is a brilliant story, thrilling and moving, very exciting.
August 26, 2017
What an adventure this eBook was, with just the right amount of romantic seasoning! I have now read all of the author’s eBooks and will just have to reread them before the next one comes out. Kyra Halland, please write on…
March 18, 2017
Source-Breaker is a fantasy novel about a sorcerer who is hijacking power from the world’s Sources of magic and performing dangerous experiments that put all the world’s Sources in peril. Kaniev, a failed Source-Fixer discovers this plot and sets out to stop the sorcerer and save Fransisa, a woman who is swept up in the sorcerer’s diabolic scheme.
I really enjoyed Source-Breaker. I found the entire system of magic unique and intriguing. The protagonist, Kaniev, is very likeable in a roguish sort of way. The heroine of the story, Fransisa, seems a little arrogant at first but then is brought down pretty epically by an event that was truly disturbing. Both Kaniev and Fransisa have their own inner demons to battle while at the same time distrusting each other and confronting the sorcerer, which makes for a pretty potent plot. This book is a quick read that drags you ahead at full speed. I had a very hard time putting it down!
I really enjoyed Source-Breaker. I found the entire system of magic unique and intriguing. The protagonist, Kaniev, is very likeable in a roguish sort of way. The heroine of the story, Fransisa, seems a little arrogant at first but then is brought down pretty epically by an event that was truly disturbing. Both Kaniev and Fransisa have their own inner demons to battle while at the same time distrusting each other and confronting the sorcerer, which makes for a pretty potent plot. This book is a quick read that drags you ahead at full speed. I had a very hard time putting it down!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews