Enshrine

by Kay Bennson

When Sage Wolfe is accidentally mistaken for a peace offering, her world turns upside down. Eighteen-year-old Sage is convinced she has no future. As the eldest daughter of a warrior’s widow, she has no dowry and doubts that anyone would want her in her tiny village named Community. All that changes when Dayton, the young, handsome, and ruthless King of Rosmenth rides into Sage’s life. A misunderstanding causes him to whisk her away to his castle where he promises to give her the world and anything she desires. Unfortunately, Dayton’s wickedness outweighs his gifts and brief moments of kindness and Sage knows she must leave him or die trying. Can Sage save herself from Dayton's wrath? Is there someone that can come to her aid? Or is she doomed to misery forever?

Genres: Romance, Young Adult

305 pages, ebook

Published July 11, 2020

About the author

Kay Bennson is from Northwestern Connecticut where she lives with her husband. She doesn't remember a time where she wasn't writing stories (in fact, some of her best ideas were forged in high school classes and at part time jobs). When she isn't writing, she is a competitive Irish Dancer. Enshrine is her first novel.

Reviews

[Dianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Her dance was like magic to those who watched her, but it was that very dance and the love for it that would change Sage’s life forever. It was the night the insane young king came to loot the town and “take his due.” Sage became an offering of sorts, when her dance pleased the king and his men, she became his and was stolen from the simple life she knew.

Tormented and lonely as the king’s prisoner, Sage would see glimpses of who the king could be if not for his blood thirsty and twisted side, but would that be enough to base a forced marriage on? Just when all seemed lost for any hope of happiness, a stranger arrived and with him a spark of hope, a sliver of goodness in a life so broken by cruelty. Who is this cloaked stranger and what will his arrival mean for Sage?

Little did she know then, but that cloaked stranger would once again change Sage’s future, but would it be for the better?

ENSHRINE by Kay Bennson has everything for a fabulous young adult read, a fantasy world, kings, evil warriors and the mysterious hero who will stand against all, as well as a young heroine who must deal with a life she was ill-prepared for. One couldn’t help be feel sorry for the despicable young king, in modern times, he could get help, but as it stood, he ran roughshod over his people in brutal ways. Sage was not easy to connect with, at times she seemed so young and vulnerable and at times she seemed to think she could love a man who hurt her, can you say, clueless?

My favorite was the mystery warrior, Jonathan, probably the best developed character of the lot. There are scenes where Sage dances and the crowds are awed at her movements, but I couldn’t feel them, I couldn’t see them in my mind, or hear the music she danced to. There was no magic in it for me. Ms. Bennson definitely added details and many events in order to bring her story to life and there IS an amazing story in here, trust me, but for me, it just fell a little flat.

I received this copy from Kay Bennson in exchange for my honest review.

Publisher: Solstice Publishing - Solstice Shadows Imprint (June 4, 2017)
Publication Date: June 4, 2017
Genre: Fantasy
Print Length: 306 pages
Available from: Amazon 
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com

[Finitha Jose · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you think for a moment that I picked this book because of the stunning cover, then you are ABSOLUTELY . . . right! Yes, yes, I know; you should not judge the book by its cover. Since my judgment is not made poorly, I think the problem resolves itself. Trust me, the story inside is as intriguing as the cover itself.
Kay Bennson was an unfamiliar name, but one couldn't help but be drawn to this storyline. From the very beginning, the beautiful landscape and the small community piques our interest and the author cleverly maintains this throughout the novel. One part of my brain had hoped for a Beauty and the Beast storyline, but that is not to be so. This is all about Sage and Jonty, aka Jonathan and what a delightful love story it is! But be warned, this is a sweet, slow-burning romance which makes the last scenes all the better.
Still, I maintained a soft spot for Dayton till the very end. An orphaned Prince burdened with leading a kingdom on its decline will always touch a chord. However cruel he is, I did wish for his redemption. But the most touching scene involves Martin and Nev. They might be part of an irrelevant side story, but they surely have stolen the show. I don't want to give out any spoilers, but suffice to say that their eternal love brings back memories of 'Titanic'.
On the whole, a beautiful book inside and out that won't fail to leave some traces in your bookish world.

[Eclectic Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am pleasantly surprised with Ms. Bennson’s debut fantasy romance presenting a strong heroine, an evil king, and a mysterious hero.

Sage is the best dancer in her hometown of Community, who catches the eye of the handsome, but evil, Dayton the Pillager King, who kidnaps her and claims her as queen. His periods of kindness and spells of violence and twisted depravity eventually come to light, and Sage feels confused and hopeless to her fate. When the attractive and mysterious stranger, Jonty, arrives to help her escape, his dedication to keep her safe is baffling for someone she doesn’t know, but he seems so familiar. What will the king do to Sage and Jonty when he finds them?

He didn’t care if people thought he was insane, being crazy made people fear you. It was the idea his men didn’t think he was capable of ruling, that he’d somehow gotten soft. It was the looks of sympathy and insecurity he couldn’t take. That and his soldier’s negligence.

I found a pitiful king with a dual personality to be a clever move. On the one hand, he is sweet and immature, and on the other hand, he is unexpectedly violent and damaged. I think I was just as astonished at Dayton’s behavior as Sage was.

Sage is a brave, unselfish, and smart young woman who makes the best of her situation, but when she realizes it is either die at the hands of the king or escape, she courageously goes for it.

Jonty is my favorite character. His determination to protect Sage and his reasons why (which I cannot include due to spoilers) are so honorable and romantic. He’s a true hero in my book!

Overall, Ms. Bennson has done a wonderful job combining a sweet romance with some dark subject matter such as mental illness, abuse, and abandonment. Give this debut novel a try!

Thank you to Ms. Bennson for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.

[Sarah Fairbairn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love it when a book pleasantly surprises me. I signed up to read Enshrine when I saw it in YA Bound's review call out email late last year. At the time I was in a bit of a mood and thought, I could go for a good old basic love triangle fantasy. That's not what this ended up being, but back to that a little later. I received the ecopy and then realised it was a 2017 release. It didn't fill me with hope that the author was still trying to build up reviews a few years down the track. In the end I went into reading this one a little apprehensive, but ended up really enjoying it!! Love it when a book not only beats my expectations, but blows them out of the water.

Firstly, there is no love triangle. Secondly, this book got me hooked and so much more invested in Sage's life then I expected AND that epilogue! If Kay ever writes a sequel, i'll be reading it. Thirdly, Sage's true love interest. Not the piece of crap boy king, but the sexy man muffin warrior that was Jonty (Jonathan). Jonty was a good dude. Okay a little messed up thanks to his daddy and mummy, but a good dude, and fortunately an excellent fighter. He always treated Sage like she was his equal and taught her how to fight and survive on the run. In the end they both ended up saving each other a few times over and fell in love and lived happily ever after.

Now to the piece of crap boy king Dayton, that tried as hard as he could, and almost succeeded in ruining that happily ever after. Dayton was a Ramsay/Joffrey type, so umm... trigger warnings for domestic violence. Thankfully you never saw the darker stuff, it was just hinted at.

All in all this was an extremely enjoyable YA fantasy romance romp. Our heroine goes from being the lowly poor eldest daughter of a war widow, who's prospects for the future are low and sad in the little village she calls home - to a well traveled sassy ass kicking adventure seeking young woman. And she picks up some arm candy along the way. Way to go Sage!!

[K Beyus]

I'm not going to review my own book because that would be totally biased, but seeing as how I read this at least half a dozen times in the last three months, I was waiting for the day I could add this to my reading challenge.

Also...love Jonty. He's my boy <3

[Karen (BaronessBookTrove) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the YA Bound Book Tours. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Enshrine by Kay Bennson is a fantasy tale of how two lovers came to be. 
Will Jonathan be Sage's saving grace?
Sage Wolfe
Sage Wolfe is one of the main characters in this story. She is the one that gets kidnapped by Dayton then has to deal with his evil ways. Sage has done a lot of character development from the moment she is captured to the end of the story. She is a fantastic character that made me root for her and feel bad for every time something happened. 

I like about this character that no matter how many times she is beaten, she waits to unleash her fury. Sage is one of those ladies who get through their abusive relationships for the better. The one thing that I didn't like is how, at times, she just let Dayton walk all over her.
Dayton the Pillager King
Dayton is another main character of this story, but someone that I didn't know what to think about. He is one of those characters where you feel bad for him at first but then grows to dislike him. I know that is a terrible thing to say, but once you read the book, then it will all be clear. Dayton had to grow up faster than most people at the age of thirteen. 

I had a lot of different feelings for this character, and I am ultimately sad about his fate. 
Jonathan
Jonathan is the one guy that has feelings for Sage beside her family, and it shows. The sign of love when he showed it to her in the best way possible. Jonathan is a great character who also has done a lot of character development throughout the story. I love the way that he comes more into the story after a certain point. No spoilers. 

I love the growth of the couple throughout this story. Jonty is a fabulous character who deserved more in terms of family life.

What I like about him is that he helps Sage and lets her fall for him as he did with her before that point. 
Five Stars
In Enshrine, Sage and Jonathan have had a tough time getting to each other and being happy. They have faced a lot of turmoil, and I am glad that it was a happy ending for these two. That is all I am going to say on that, though. Sage and Jonathan are the couple that I rooted for throughout the book, which is why I am recommending and giving it five stars. 

Ms. Bennson is a marvelous author that I continue to watch for her new books. 


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Happy Reading!

This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove

[S.C. Alban · Rating 4 out of 5]

ENSHRINE is the debut fantasy romance novel from author Kay Bennson. It follows the story of 18yo Sage Wolfe as she is kidnapped by the handsome, but evil, Pillager King, Dayton, her attempts to survive within the castle, and her escape from captivity.

Bennson does a good job with descriptive setting. The story takes place in the kingdom of Rosementh, and several villages within. Bennson creates a realistic world for readers to fall into. Her descriptions of the landscape and various villages make the book come to life. Her ability to make the characters real is also a strength. The relationships between Martin and Nev, Nev and Sage, Sage and Jonty, and even Dayton's relationship with his people were well thought out.

This love story element to this book is of two people who belong together. Jonty has loved Sage for many years, but for various reasons, has never been able to profess his love. With Sage's recent abduction, Jonty must travel to the Pillager King's Castle (The Stronghold) and risk everything to rescue her.

The romance is sweet, but I think the story is more about Sage's growth as she finds herself in many unpleasant and dangerous situations. She must rely on her inner strength and wits to overcome these emotional challenges and become the warrior she is in her heart. Okay, now for my TOTALLY SUBJECTIVE opinion. I think the romance is given too much importance to the story. It's the main reason I'm giving the novel 4 stars instead of 5. I really feel that although Jonty is a great character with potential, I would have liked to see Sage develop more independently- not so much because of Jonty. The way Bennson was able to do this a lot of the time is what kept me going. I just felt that Sage was such a strong character that she really didn't need Jonty. I mean, sure, he was nice to have, but really, I think the romance was too much, especially after being kidnapped. Overall, Bennson does a good job counteracting this, but for me, it lingered.

In conclusion, it is clear that Bennson can write. She definitely has skills and can tell a story to keep a reader's attention. The ending was strong, with potential for more books to come.....



***WARNING: SPOILER***

And, I really hope Sage gets the throne and turns into her fathers' warrior daughter.

[Jo Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a delightful read by a first time author. Fantasy is normally not a genre I choose for myself but having read The Black Swans by N.W. Moors and enjoying that tale and now this one, I may have to give up all those murder mysteries. Kay Benson can tell a story, I got caught up in the story and her depictions of the surroundings made me feel like I was there. I appreciated, especially for the young adult reader, that the story was primarily about the female lead, Sage, and her unwitting quest to discover her own strength and worth. While some may think the romance was secondary, I had no issue with it since I felt she allowed Sage to come to love on her own terms and establish a relationship with the male lead, Jonty, that was mutually supportive. Sage was not the weaker sex, and in fact became the heroine when she saved Jonty's life. I did not guess the "secret" Jonty was hiding and when revealed I felt it brought the story full circle. While there were some editing issues and 1 or 2 references to modern society that didn't seem to belong (reference to the King being bipolar comes to mind, cursed or bewitched would have been more appropriate to the setting) I would definitely recommend this book. I appreciated also Kay's underlying themes of the importance of faith and family, and since I finished it on a day when I was quite cranky her naming the village "Community" was not lost on me....I think it's something we could use more of today. Well done.

[Rachael Tamayo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy a good romance. While historical books aren't usually my thing, I really love this time period, always have.  In some ways this book was a re-telling  of a story that's been done. Young beauty in a small village is taken captive by a king. But my friends, that's where the similarities stop.  There was nothing about this book that was "done" as they say. It was new and fresh and a page turner.   Bennson had a way of almost making me like the "bad guy" king in the beginning, even though I knew that I wasn't supposed to. He was dark and mysterious and a twisted kind of sexy, even though you sort of hate him.  A tiny piece of you almost roots for him as you read, until the even more mysterious hooded stranger shows up.  I really liked this book. In a genre like romance where nothing is new, Bennson managed to find something old and make it fresh again. I can't wait to see what she comes up with next. Highly recommend this book,

[HANNAH (Books, Films, and Tea) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enshrine by Kay Bennson was a fantasy YA read that I enjoyed. Sage Wolfe is kidnapped by King Dayton. Dayton had a dual personality, and was ultimately very violent and depraved. I really liked Jonathan, who loves Sage and is a fighter. He worked to help Sage and loved her. Sage could act very young and a bit immaturely at times. This was an enjoyable story, but it wasn't one I absolutely loved. It might be because I am not the biggest fan of fantasy books, but this had a solid story overall.

[J · Rating 2 out of 5]

Predictable, with uneven prose.

[Zara Hoffman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review coming soon