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Spoils of War
Jecks Cordant, High General of the Kabarian army was used to life being a certain way. Jecks knew things didn’t tend to change when you were at the top of your career. He was wrong. In one moment, because of one small letter, his entire world tilted. Everything changed.
Being forced into a marriage he didn’t want, with a prince he had nothing in common with, Jecks watched his life crumble around him. Yet, he could do nothing other than go along with the plans for the sake of peace and the thousands of lives at risk in both empires.
Calling on the support of his friends, he makes the journey to meet his fiancé. Along the way, he meets a man he never expected to find— one he could fall in love with. Battling the enemies intent on stopping the peace deal from going ahead, and his own heart, Jecks steels himself for what the future holds— a life of loneliness and regrets.
Forced to confront feelings he can't afford to explore, and fighting to bring peace to both lands, Jecks will stand together with his men and fight for what is right, even if it's sacrificing his own feelings. His duty to Kabaria is more important than the love of a man.
With enemies out to stop them, and danger meeting them around every corner, Jecks must learn to trust while ignoring the growing emotions he shouldn't feel. With their goal in sight, Jecks knows he must honor the duty given him, but once he arrives at the castle, he finds his problems have only begun.
258 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 10, 2017
88 people are currently reading
230 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
July 5, 2017
~3.5~
The world building was sparse and the political intrigue too easily solved, but the romance burned bright and hot. Jecks and Dorian had scorching chemistry.
I enjoyed the banter between the soldiers and the rather creative insults. I'm dying to call someone a "thrice-poxed fucker."
The world building was sparse and the political intrigue too easily solved, but the romance burned bright and hot. Jecks and Dorian had scorching chemistry.
I enjoyed the banter between the soldiers and the rather creative insults. I'm dying to call someone a "thrice-poxed fucker."
dnf
July 5, 2017Gorgeous cover but the book itself is seriously meh. With a blurb like that, you'd expect a lot more passion - but no. Characters have no personality. Everything flat and drab. DNF at 32%.
June 25, 2017
Brilliant historical fantasy novel
I've never read Hannah Walker before but I suspect that will change quite quickly following this book.
This is everything I love in a fantasy novel just minus the magic. It has a feudal style medieval feel to the worlds, it has hot alpha men, powerful but also compassionate and loving and it has a great plot.
Both the MCs in this one are men who know their own worth but are still humble enough to courageously put their kingdoms before their feelings.
I loved the friendships they have with their fellow soldiers too and the sneaky political plotting worked well to drive the tensions in the romance.
I know this is marketed as a stand alone but I'd love to read more of this universe as I want to know more about the rest of the gang.
Also truly gorgeous cover, one of the reasons I picked this out to read.
I've never read Hannah Walker before but I suspect that will change quite quickly following this book.
This is everything I love in a fantasy novel just minus the magic. It has a feudal style medieval feel to the worlds, it has hot alpha men, powerful but also compassionate and loving and it has a great plot.
Both the MCs in this one are men who know their own worth but are still humble enough to courageously put their kingdoms before their feelings.
I loved the friendships they have with their fellow soldiers too and the sneaky political plotting worked well to drive the tensions in the romance.
I know this is marketed as a stand alone but I'd love to read more of this universe as I want to know more about the rest of the gang.
Also truly gorgeous cover, one of the reasons I picked this out to read.
December 12, 2017
Well...
I think I may be the odd person out here, but IMO this book was just ‘okay’. To be honest I was more interested in the whole sabotage/assassination plot than I was by the relationship between Dorane and Jecks.
I think I may be the odd person out here, but IMO this book was just ‘okay’. To be honest I was more interested in the whole sabotage/assassination plot than I was by the relationship between Dorane and Jecks.
July 4, 2017
It was a Kindle Unlimited offering, so I thought I'd take a chance.
In order to make peace, Kabarian Gen. Jecks Cordant is pressured into agreeing to marry the heir to the throne of the enemy Tefausltians. As he journeys to meet his intended, he encounters Dorane, a respected adversary, who's been ordered to escort Jecks to the Tefausltian capital for the wedding. As Jecks and Dorane travel, they grow closer, and soon find themselves falling hard for each other; but even as Jecks yearns for more with Dorane, he knows he can't turn away from his duty to marry. However, soon they realize that they're victims of a plot that puts their lives, and peace, in jeopardy. Can Jecks survive long enough to find the future he wants so desperately?
I was hoping to like this book a lot more. The blurb sort of reminded me of C.S. Pacat's amazing "Captive Prince" trilogy, but sadly, the resemblance ended there..
The characters were just so very....meh. There's Saint Jecks, who's the Best General Ever..he loves his country, he's devoted to his soldiers, and even cares about his enemies. He's even prepared to marry one if that's what it takes to end the war. Yes, he's the hero -- he's supposed to be a good guy -- but all that saintly self-sacrifice just got a little old. It's hard to even see Dorane -- at least until close to the end when you learn more about him. There's absolutely no sexual tension at all -- so even when the guys get together, it's pretty tepid.
There are plot holes aplenty -- there didn't seem to be much attention paid to all the details surrounding the Big Conspiracy. And..the villains are outed and dealt with much too quickly.
There's absolutely no world-building at all -- so it's hard to tell if this is Sci-Fi, Fantasy, or what. Maybe it's like "Lord of the Rings," where it's just a place with lots of soldiers and fantastic beasts who can fly....except without the amazingly hot Aragorn....
So...lots of reasons for just 2 stars.
In order to make peace, Kabarian Gen. Jecks Cordant is pressured into agreeing to marry the heir to the throne of the enemy Tefausltians. As he journeys to meet his intended, he encounters Dorane, a respected adversary, who's been ordered to escort Jecks to the Tefausltian capital for the wedding. As Jecks and Dorane travel, they grow closer, and soon find themselves falling hard for each other; but even as Jecks yearns for more with Dorane, he knows he can't turn away from his duty to marry. However, soon they realize that they're victims of a plot that puts their lives, and peace, in jeopardy. Can Jecks survive long enough to find the future he wants so desperately?
I was hoping to like this book a lot more. The blurb sort of reminded me of C.S. Pacat's amazing "Captive Prince" trilogy, but sadly, the resemblance ended there..
The characters were just so very....meh. There's Saint Jecks, who's the Best General Ever..he loves his country, he's devoted to his soldiers, and even cares about his enemies. He's even prepared to marry one if that's what it takes to end the war. Yes, he's the hero -- he's supposed to be a good guy -- but all that saintly self-sacrifice just got a little old. It's hard to even see Dorane -- at least until close to the end when you learn more about him. There's absolutely no sexual tension at all -- so even when the guys get together, it's pretty tepid.
There are plot holes aplenty -- there didn't seem to be much attention paid to all the details surrounding the Big Conspiracy. And..the villains are outed and dealt with much too quickly.
There's absolutely no world-building at all -- so it's hard to tell if this is Sci-Fi, Fantasy, or what. Maybe it's like "Lord of the Rings," where it's just a place with lots of soldiers and fantastic beasts who can fly....except without the amazingly hot Aragorn....
So...lots of reasons for just 2 stars.
July 26, 2017
I hate it when a book comes out everyone has one opinion of it and I end up having another. Spoils of War by Hannah Walker was not one of my favorite reads. In fact two minor characters Pasha & Hawk were far more entertaining then the characters I was supposed to love in love with. I didn't like the witty banter combined with the lack of world building for me were completely off putting. I am bummed out!
July 5, 2017
DNF at 26%
Zero world building. Uninspiring writing. Cardboard characters.
Zero world building. Uninspiring writing. Cardboard characters.
July 9, 2017
Ugh, one of the most disappointing books I've ever read. I had such high expectations from the first chapter, the very high rating, and others' reviews, but very early on things start to bug me, and it just continued in that manner.
Bad dialogue--especially flowery, silly crap during the sex scenes that didn't feel like it would be consistent with their rather grizzled characters, reused and recycled insults even though much ado was repeatedly made about each others' creativity with insults, plot twists and turns that I saw coming from the first chapter or two, a lot of telling instead of showing and talking down to the reader by over explaining and repeating so many things...
"He watched as two young children sprinted across the space, a harried young mother chasing after them as they squealed in delight. The sight made him smile. They were part of the reason he was going through with this marriage. Of course, not those children in particular, but all the children across the two empires." No sh*t. I didn't think for one second that it was because of those two random children whom Jecks didn't know, in city he'd never been to, in a country he'd never been in, that were the reason. Author, you don't have to explain it as if I were moon-touched!
...and just so many things that made me scan sections, roll my eyes, and look forward to finally being done with this read. Plus, all the grammatical errors bothered me, like the frequent use of "was" where "were" should have been. (Author, please see an example of the corrected usage above.)
Also, I wish so much that this would have been slow-burn, with the wanting and wishing building up, and with long, scorching looks and tortured longing wrenching my heart instead of them getting together so quickly [even though Jecks is engaged to someone else (major spoiler-->)] and them being totally upfront and long-winded repeatedly about how much they want...no, need each other. *rolls eyes*
I gave it three stars because of the decent world-building, that I was curious enough about how things would work out to skim/read to the end and not stop and return it early on, the insults and camaraderie between the characters were fun, and I liked their creative names.
Overall, it was a huge letdown from the time Dorane came in until the end. Not really recommended, but hey, I am in he minority. *shrugs*
P.S. Here's an example of the ridiculously overdone, flowery dialogue:
(It's from towards the end of the book, so please pay attention to the spoiler tag.)
Bad dialogue--especially flowery, silly crap during the sex scenes that didn't feel like it would be consistent with their rather grizzled characters, reused and recycled insults even though much ado was repeatedly made about each others' creativity with insults, plot twists and turns that I saw coming from the first chapter or two, a lot of telling instead of showing and talking down to the reader by over explaining and repeating so many things...
"He watched as two young children sprinted across the space, a harried young mother chasing after them as they squealed in delight. The sight made him smile. They were part of the reason he was going through with this marriage. Of course, not those children in particular, but all the children across the two empires." No sh*t. I didn't think for one second that it was because of those two random children whom Jecks didn't know, in city he'd never been to, in a country he'd never been in, that were the reason. Author, you don't have to explain it as if I were moon-touched!
...and just so many things that made me scan sections, roll my eyes, and look forward to finally being done with this read. Plus, all the grammatical errors bothered me, like the frequent use of "was" where "were" should have been. (Author, please see an example of the corrected usage above.)
Also, I wish so much that this would have been slow-burn, with the wanting and wishing building up, and with long, scorching looks and tortured longing wrenching my heart instead of them getting together so quickly [even though Jecks is engaged to someone else (major spoiler-->)] and them being totally upfront and long-winded repeatedly about how much they want...no, need each other. *rolls eyes*
I gave it three stars because of the decent world-building, that I was curious enough about how things would work out to skim/read to the end and not stop and return it early on, the insults and camaraderie between the characters were fun, and I liked their creative names.
Overall, it was a huge letdown from the time Dorane came in until the end. Not really recommended, but hey, I am in he minority. *shrugs*
P.S. Here's an example of the ridiculously overdone, flowery dialogue:
(It's from towards the end of the book, so please pay attention to the spoiler tag.)
September 14, 2018
**Grammar**
The good thing is that you can always count on Hannah Walker to have a fluffy and steamy read. She writes well and also if she uses always too many pages to say one simple thing, in the end I always love her characters.
Jecks is the high General of the Kabarian army, he got his position only with hard work and at only 35 years he is one of the most powerful men in his country. He would do anything for his people and is for this reason that he accepts his King's order to marry the prince of the rival kingdom. If this will stop the impeding war and bring peace, Jecks Cordant will gladly follow the order.
The only good thing is that he doesn't have to say goodbye to some lover, bcs for too many years he never had time to be in a stable relationship. All this changes when he meets the men that will escort him to his future husband.
Dorane is chief, or to better say, he was chief of the Wardens, an high military trained group of men that protects the royal family. His job was to explain the clauses of the peace treaty and then go back to his country, but when he heard that Jecks' king was giving only 3 men to the Genaral as escort he couldn't do it. The treaty is too important and nothing can happen to the man before he marries the prince. Or at least these are the excuses he makes for himself. He doesn't only want to protect the man bcs he is important, but also bcs when he met the other man's eyes, he felt something he thought was lost to him, passion. Jecks is an incredible man, he is hadsome but his mind is the most beautiful thing. During their journey back to Dorane's kingdom, Jecks and Dorane start spending a lot ot time together and in the end their attraction is too strong and they end up having sex. There are feelings involved, but both of them know that duty comes before love and when they will reach the capital, they'll end this relationship.
While we see them together, and yes there are a lot of hot scenes, we also see them talk about their past and previous experiences, and Dorane tells to Jecks about his death husband, a man he had loved an lost 10 years before (when he was probably 25/24 since Jecks and him have the same age)for a stupid illness, something that could have been cured if his husband had called for a doctor. For many years he had been angry with himself and his family and only then he had understood that the one he was mostly angry with had been his husband for not caring enough about himself and for not asking for help in time.
After the loss, he had been reckless, joining the Wardens and the most dangerous missions they had had for him. He had been sure that he would die on a battlefield like Jecks had thought many times, alone and without love left to give. All this before he had met Jecks.
They found in each other the perfect partner, but at the wrong time.
To make this shorter....
Dorane has some secrets (I already was sure about his identity), Jecks knows he is hiding something, but at the same time he knows that nothing will change the fact that he is soon going to marry the prince....he is wrong.
We find out that Dorane is the oldest son of the king, that he gave up his right to the throne after the loss of his husband and that he is now regretting it bcs now his decision is biting him in the ass, making his brother, now the rightful successor, be the one to marry the man he loves.
Luckily with this author you know that the angst is not going to last too much.
The king was a good ruler and an awesome father and in the end he will help his sons, both of them since Dorane's younger brother was also in love with another man and didn't want to marry Jecks.
When the news of Jecks' king death arrives, our general is called back to his country to fight for the throne.
Now there is something I want to say about this part of the story. I liked the book but the action part was really too short. All the book was about the journey to the capital, where Jecks was going to marry the prince, and few pages were left to the main story. The "battle" for the throne, never happens, all is resolved too easily and yes Dorane gets shoot while protecting Jecks but we already know he is going to be fine. The bad guys are captured, thrown to jail and then 2 months later, in the epilogue, we hear that they have been executed.
We don't know if someone else was helping them, if there are more enemies lurking in the shadows and we can just presume that Dorane's brother is back being betrothed to the man he loves.
I wanted to know more....Idk, the book missed something and sure as hell the author had enough pages to fix this but didn't...anyway....
In the epilogue we see our MCs being happy and in love and going at it like rabbits. Jecks is now king and Dorane is his husband and together they are gonna rule Kabarian. Finally there is peace.
Said all this, I wanna add that I found Dorane and Jecks so damn hot together and I loved the fact that both didn't have a problem on being top or bottom depending on the mood.
{"...I'm the only King that will ever fuck you, the only man who will ever fuck you. You. Are. Mine." Jecks snarled.}
{"Yes, My King," Dorane groaned and pushed his pants down, turning to brace against the wall. "Hurry the fuck up."}
---
{"Fuck, I love this. I love you."..."I love you too." Dorane tipped his head back and to the side, managing to give Jecks a sloppy kiss. "Now fuck me like you mean it, and do it fast, before someone comes looking for us."..."Yes, My Prince, my love, my husband".}
Like I said HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT!
The good thing is that you can always count on Hannah Walker to have a fluffy and steamy read. She writes well and also if she uses always too many pages to say one simple thing, in the end I always love her characters.
Jecks is the high General of the Kabarian army, he got his position only with hard work and at only 35 years he is one of the most powerful men in his country. He would do anything for his people and is for this reason that he accepts his King's order to marry the prince of the rival kingdom. If this will stop the impeding war and bring peace, Jecks Cordant will gladly follow the order.
The only good thing is that he doesn't have to say goodbye to some lover, bcs for too many years he never had time to be in a stable relationship. All this changes when he meets the men that will escort him to his future husband.
Dorane is chief, or to better say, he was chief of the Wardens, an high military trained group of men that protects the royal family. His job was to explain the clauses of the peace treaty and then go back to his country, but when he heard that Jecks' king was giving only 3 men to the Genaral as escort he couldn't do it. The treaty is too important and nothing can happen to the man before he marries the prince. Or at least these are the excuses he makes for himself. He doesn't only want to protect the man bcs he is important, but also bcs when he met the other man's eyes, he felt something he thought was lost to him, passion. Jecks is an incredible man, he is hadsome but his mind is the most beautiful thing. During their journey back to Dorane's kingdom, Jecks and Dorane start spending a lot ot time together and in the end their attraction is too strong and they end up having sex. There are feelings involved, but both of them know that duty comes before love and when they will reach the capital, they'll end this relationship.
While we see them together, and yes there are a lot of hot scenes, we also see them talk about their past and previous experiences, and Dorane tells to Jecks about his death husband, a man he had loved an lost 10 years before (when he was probably 25/24 since Jecks and him have the same age)for a stupid illness, something that could have been cured if his husband had called for a doctor. For many years he had been angry with himself and his family and only then he had understood that the one he was mostly angry with had been his husband for not caring enough about himself and for not asking for help in time.
After the loss, he had been reckless, joining the Wardens and the most dangerous missions they had had for him. He had been sure that he would die on a battlefield like Jecks had thought many times, alone and without love left to give. All this before he had met Jecks.
They found in each other the perfect partner, but at the wrong time.
To make this shorter....
Dorane has some secrets (I already was sure about his identity), Jecks knows he is hiding something, but at the same time he knows that nothing will change the fact that he is soon going to marry the prince....he is wrong.
We find out that Dorane is the oldest son of the king, that he gave up his right to the throne after the loss of his husband and that he is now regretting it bcs now his decision is biting him in the ass, making his brother, now the rightful successor, be the one to marry the man he loves.
Luckily with this author you know that the angst is not going to last too much.
The king was a good ruler and an awesome father and in the end he will help his sons, both of them since Dorane's younger brother was also in love with another man and didn't want to marry Jecks.
When the news of Jecks' king death arrives, our general is called back to his country to fight for the throne.
Now there is something I want to say about this part of the story. I liked the book but the action part was really too short. All the book was about the journey to the capital, where Jecks was going to marry the prince, and few pages were left to the main story. The "battle" for the throne, never happens, all is resolved too easily and yes Dorane gets shoot while protecting Jecks but we already know he is going to be fine. The bad guys are captured, thrown to jail and then 2 months later, in the epilogue, we hear that they have been executed.
We don't know if someone else was helping them, if there are more enemies lurking in the shadows and we can just presume that Dorane's brother is back being betrothed to the man he loves.
I wanted to know more....Idk, the book missed something and sure as hell the author had enough pages to fix this but didn't...anyway....
In the epilogue we see our MCs being happy and in love and going at it like rabbits. Jecks is now king and Dorane is his husband and together they are gonna rule Kabarian. Finally there is peace.
Said all this, I wanna add that I found Dorane and Jecks so damn hot together and I loved the fact that both didn't have a problem on being top or bottom depending on the mood.
{"...I'm the only King that will ever fuck you, the only man who will ever fuck you. You. Are. Mine." Jecks snarled.}
{"Yes, My King," Dorane groaned and pushed his pants down, turning to brace against the wall. "Hurry the fuck up."}
---
{"Fuck, I love this. I love you."..."I love you too." Dorane tipped his head back and to the side, managing to give Jecks a sloppy kiss. "Now fuck me like you mean it, and do it fast, before someone comes looking for us."..."Yes, My Prince, my love, my husband".}
Like I said HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 18, 2017
Chick-with-a-dick lit.
July 31, 2017
Ostensibly an effort in the fantasy genre, Spoils has little to no world building rendering virtually everything generic and bland. This includes the political intrigue that makes little sense and gets little attention as it is. Instead the focus of the novel is almost entirely on the romance between the leads, two seasoned warriors who act precisely like teenage boys. To have an idea of how inane it all gets, heavy swearing is very common and time and time ago it will turn into sexy talk. This would not be as grating if it was done sparingly but it is all over the story.
It is a wasted opportunity. M/m as a genre has an annoying tendency to simply reproduce very normative pairings that boil down to 'manly gyy' and 'fey guy', a dynamic that needs not necessarily be shallow but unfornately is often a combination of clichés. But Spoils of War actually goes out of its way to establish romantic interests who are not contrasting in terms of body type, for once we have two strong military types, only to turn them into utter saps.
The dialogue, when it is not comprised of senseless swearing punning on sex talk, is full of flowery, absurd, long winded declarations of love. Which is annoying in itself but doubles up as an inconsistency in the inner logic of the novel as Jecks, our lead, is described as a man of few words.
But if there are moments of inconsistency that undermine the story at a fundamental level, there is a perfect confluence between the narrator's incessant praise of the main character and the rest of the cast's incessant praise of the main character. The several minor characters that are virtually interchangable take turns reminding the reader about how amazing Jecks is, how self-sacrificing, how generous, how brave, etc etc. Even characters who have just met Jecks go on these spiels.
The constant banter between subordinates and Jecks adds another layer of artificiality to it all. The scondary cast seems to be self-aware that they are indeed background characters and true to form, are extremely interested in the main couple's relationship. They also act like giggly pre-teens regarding sex. Despite their all being soldiers and having lived in barracks and seen war, they still behave around anything remotely sexual with blubbering terrible.
The romance between Jecks, high general who is being shipped off to marry the prince of a rival kingdom to put an end to the war, and Dorane, a commander of said rival kingdom, is both rushed and drawn out. It is supposed to be forbidden love since Jecks is too honorable to cheat after marriage so a lot of their interaction consists of 'we can't do this', 'but you're so hot', 'no, you're so hot'.
The plot twists itself to provide scenarios that force them into close proximity and nakeness. At one point the novel reaches an epiphany of unintentional self-awareness when Dorane comments that fate is conspiring to bring them together. What could border on meta only brings into relief just how contrived the whole mess is.
Add to this the extremely one note villains that revel in being evil because they can and even go into the trademark explanation of their motives because what are bad guy if they don't fully reveal their plot, in detail, before getting defeated?
There are also twists that anyone can see a mile off, a character that is introduced and then almost dropped entirely from the narrative without an explanation, acrobatic sex involving an injured party and a resolution that is rushed and exploited for extra faux heroics.
But not all is lost, this novel taught me a valuable lesson:
It is a wasted opportunity. M/m as a genre has an annoying tendency to simply reproduce very normative pairings that boil down to 'manly gyy' and 'fey guy', a dynamic that needs not necessarily be shallow but unfornately is often a combination of clichés. But Spoils of War actually goes out of its way to establish romantic interests who are not contrasting in terms of body type, for once we have two strong military types, only to turn them into utter saps.
The dialogue, when it is not comprised of senseless swearing punning on sex talk, is full of flowery, absurd, long winded declarations of love. Which is annoying in itself but doubles up as an inconsistency in the inner logic of the novel as Jecks, our lead, is described as a man of few words.
But if there are moments of inconsistency that undermine the story at a fundamental level, there is a perfect confluence between the narrator's incessant praise of the main character and the rest of the cast's incessant praise of the main character. The several minor characters that are virtually interchangable take turns reminding the reader about how amazing Jecks is, how self-sacrificing, how generous, how brave, etc etc. Even characters who have just met Jecks go on these spiels.
The constant banter between subordinates and Jecks adds another layer of artificiality to it all. The scondary cast seems to be self-aware that they are indeed background characters and true to form, are extremely interested in the main couple's relationship. They also act like giggly pre-teens regarding sex. Despite their all being soldiers and having lived in barracks and seen war, they still behave around anything remotely sexual with blubbering terrible.
The romance between Jecks, high general who is being shipped off to marry the prince of a rival kingdom to put an end to the war, and Dorane, a commander of said rival kingdom, is both rushed and drawn out. It is supposed to be forbidden love since Jecks is too honorable to cheat after marriage so a lot of their interaction consists of 'we can't do this', 'but you're so hot', 'no, you're so hot'.
The plot twists itself to provide scenarios that force them into close proximity and nakeness. At one point the novel reaches an epiphany of unintentional self-awareness when Dorane comments that fate is conspiring to bring them together. What could border on meta only brings into relief just how contrived the whole mess is.
Add to this the extremely one note villains that revel in being evil because they can and even go into the trademark explanation of their motives because what are bad guy if they don't fully reveal their plot, in detail, before getting defeated?
There are also twists that anyone can see a mile off, a character that is introduced and then almost dropped entirely from the narrative without an explanation, acrobatic sex involving an injured party and a resolution that is rushed and exploited for extra faux heroics.
But not all is lost, this novel taught me a valuable lesson:
May 1, 2018
I immediately liked the cover of this book, which unfortunately often does not say a lot about the content. In this case, the blurb also sounded quite interesting and I can say that I was quite happy with this story.
The beginning was more drama and suspense and I liked the setting among the soldiers, even if the cursing sometimes got a little too much.
Jecks - the high commander of the army was immediately likable, as were his friends.
Dorane, a warden from the country they were at war with, was also an interesting character and they had nice chemistry and later on really hot sex.
The suspense plot was not really too difficult to see through, it did, however, add some tension and kept the story going (although it took Jecks way to long to figure out who this warden really was).
Towards the end, the whole story got an extreme sugar coating. It was quite sweet already, but what happened in the grand finale was almost too much to stand - like biting in a sugar cane when you already suffer from a toothache...
Jecks transformed from sinister warlord to angelic saint, who singlehandedly saved half of his nation from starving, unemployment and probably the plague in the past, as we learned.
I love a HEA, but this didn`t fit the story in my eyes.
It didn`t really ruin it for me, but I would have wished for a more appropriate ending, with a little less pathos.
Still, I enjoyed reading this and had a good time, so I would rate it slightly above average at 3.5 stars.
The beginning was more drama and suspense and I liked the setting among the soldiers, even if the cursing sometimes got a little too much.
Jecks - the high commander of the army was immediately likable, as were his friends.
Dorane, a warden from the country they were at war with, was also an interesting character and they had nice chemistry and later on really hot sex.
The suspense plot was not really too difficult to see through, it did, however, add some tension and kept the story going (although it took Jecks way to long to figure out who this warden really was).
Towards the end, the whole story got an extreme sugar coating. It was quite sweet already, but what happened in the grand finale was almost too much to stand - like biting in a sugar cane when you already suffer from a toothache...
Jecks transformed from sinister warlord to angelic saint, who singlehandedly saved half of his nation from starving, unemployment and probably the plague in the past, as we learned.
I love a HEA, but this didn`t fit the story in my eyes.
It didn`t really ruin it for me, but I would have wished for a more appropriate ending, with a little less pathos.
Still, I enjoyed reading this and had a good time, so I would rate it slightly above average at 3.5 stars.
June 15, 2017
I really like the cover art for this book. Not because it calls to me or makes me want to read the book, but because as I read the book the cover made sense and helped me picture Jecks. Our hero Jecks Cordant is not a pretty man. He is a rough, strong, capable warrior. He can stand alone and does so. But he also has friends and loves his country and the men who serve under him. He willingly sacrifices for them. As he travels to the neighbouring land with a handful of his men he meets a man he connects with. Their dialogue is good and the connection felt real. However the mystery surrounding that man is hardly a mystery and the whole ending was too pat. There were some minor editing issues. Still I enjoyed it and would read other stuff set in this universe.
July 16, 2019
Little description, mostly dialogue, some of which is witty,but it is repetitive
Skim read the end, disappointing
Skim read the end, disappointing
May 6, 2018
2.5
There are fantasy stories that draw you in with their detailed world building, then there are those that caputre you with authentic characters and then there are those promising an interesting plot. The start of Spoils of War made me believe I'm reading a plot driven story because I couldn't see any real effort in world building and the characters felt a bit one-dimensional but there was the promise of a political intrigue and I would be quite okay with that.
Strangely it turned out to be some kind of character dominated story. While those characters still were one-dimensional and I didn't always saw the logic in their action at least there was a great chemistry between the MCs and I could believe in the friendship to some of the supporting characters. The political intrigue however just imploded. If you create your villain as some kind of comic book character without depth then at least make him cunning and evil and not only greedy and simple.
And Ms. Walker did again what also made her Dragonis series a hard read sometimes: excessive explanations and detailed reasoning in dialogues, not quite as endless as in her series but ...
There are fantasy stories that draw you in with their detailed world building, then there are those that caputre you with authentic characters and then there are those promising an interesting plot. The start of Spoils of War made me believe I'm reading a plot driven story because I couldn't see any real effort in world building and the characters felt a bit one-dimensional but there was the promise of a political intrigue and I would be quite okay with that.
Strangely it turned out to be some kind of character dominated story. While those characters still were one-dimensional and I didn't always saw the logic in their action at least there was a great chemistry between the MCs and I could believe in the friendship to some of the supporting characters. The political intrigue however just imploded. If you create your villain as some kind of comic book character without depth then at least make him cunning and evil and not only greedy and simple.
And Ms. Walker did again what also made her Dragonis series a hard read sometimes: excessive explanations and detailed reasoning in dialogues, not quite as endless as in her series but ...
Read
June 16, 2017DNF at 24%
Completely uninspired.
Completely uninspired.
August 19, 2017
this was a good book and I liked it ... the connection was quite quick actually and the ending was a bit ... not sure.
nevertheless, all in all a good read
nevertheless, all in all a good read
August 23, 2017
Totally enjoyed and I'll be adding Hannah Walker to my watch list. Now I have to go and see if she has anything else out there for me to devour.
June 15, 2017
Ummmm
Let me start by saying this book was well written like every book this author writes... But this plot for me was just stupid.... This whole I have to marry for peace thing didn't work for me... The reason for the secret Dorane was keeping fell flat...why keep that a secret??? It was like nobody had a brain in this book.. I give it 3 stars because I finished it in one setting but this book was just blah....
Let me start by saying this book was well written like every book this author writes... But this plot for me was just stupid.... This whole I have to marry for peace thing didn't work for me... The reason for the secret Dorane was keeping fell flat...why keep that a secret??? It was like nobody had a brain in this book.. I give it 3 stars because I finished it in one setting but this book was just blah....
October 2, 2025
2018 = 1 star / DNF
2021 = 2 stars / review written
After three years, I decided to try this book again. At 60%, I was about to give up, so I skimmed heavily to finish it. The story is okay. It’s not terrible, which is why I gave it 2 stars.
Jecks, the High General of the Kabarian army, is planning to marry a neighboring prince to bring peace between their kingdoms. We're told repeatedly how wonderful he is—willing to sacrifice his own happiness to save lives and maintain peace. Despite some opposition, he insists he must do it for the good of the people, to prevent more deaths. Honestly, just stick a halo on his head! 😇 🙄
Dorane, the former Chief Warden of Tefaulst, is who Jecks falls in love with on the way to the neighboring kingdom. He has a secret he’s hiding from Jecks, which was unnecessary and dumb. It felt like a pointless plot device just to add drama. Within a day or two, they start having serious feelings for each other. It's a classic case of unbelievable 'insta-love'.
🙄 What the MCs said after a day or two:
“My heart is hungering for your touch. I want you in my arms, I want you sleeping next to me. I want to turn to you, turn you on and light you on fire."
"I burn for you, ache for you.”
"The hardest thing is… even my husband, even with Aeleoan, I never experienced this compulsion, this all out need to be with him. Oh, I loved him, with everything in me, but this, what’s between you and me, is calling to me on some primal level. I’ve never experienced anything like it.”
"It’s more than a physical thing. Every part of you has me in a thrall. Your mind, your heart and your soul."
(These are scarred, battle-hardened warriors talking like this! I don't know how Jecks was able to "ride" Dorane after being seriously injured.) Ugh. 😬
Someone is trying to kill Jecks to stop the peace agreement, because they want the two kingdoms to go to war. It's obvious from the start who the villains are—they don’t bother to hide it. They just blurt out who they are whenever needed, instead of actually taking the time to show you by their actions. There are no surprises or twists. It’s a very simple, generic story, similar to "Captive Prince," but much worse.
😠 One of my biggest complaints: there are almost no physical descriptions. The MCs get just a little, and everyone and everything else is described even less. This is a book. Descriptions are important!
🙂 What I Liked:
✔ Iscara, a woman who gave me a few chuckles.
✔ The camaraderie between Jecks and his friends, even if their swearing was annoyingly repetitive.
Recommended for those who want a shallow story, with eye-rolling romance at the heart of it, and a little fantasy on the side.
2021 = 2 stars / review written
After three years, I decided to try this book again. At 60%, I was about to give up, so I skimmed heavily to finish it. The story is okay. It’s not terrible, which is why I gave it 2 stars.
Jecks, the High General of the Kabarian army, is planning to marry a neighboring prince to bring peace between their kingdoms. We're told repeatedly how wonderful he is—willing to sacrifice his own happiness to save lives and maintain peace. Despite some opposition, he insists he must do it for the good of the people, to prevent more deaths. Honestly, just stick a halo on his head! 😇 🙄
Dorane, the former Chief Warden of Tefaulst, is who Jecks falls in love with on the way to the neighboring kingdom. He has a secret he’s hiding from Jecks, which was unnecessary and dumb. It felt like a pointless plot device just to add drama. Within a day or two, they start having serious feelings for each other. It's a classic case of unbelievable 'insta-love'.
🙄 What the MCs said after a day or two:
“My heart is hungering for your touch. I want you in my arms, I want you sleeping next to me. I want to turn to you, turn you on and light you on fire."
"I burn for you, ache for you.”
"The hardest thing is… even my husband, even with Aeleoan, I never experienced this compulsion, this all out need to be with him. Oh, I loved him, with everything in me, but this, what’s between you and me, is calling to me on some primal level. I’ve never experienced anything like it.”
"It’s more than a physical thing. Every part of you has me in a thrall. Your mind, your heart and your soul."
(These are scarred, battle-hardened warriors talking like this! I don't know how Jecks was able to "ride" Dorane after being seriously injured.) Ugh. 😬
Someone is trying to kill Jecks to stop the peace agreement, because they want the two kingdoms to go to war. It's obvious from the start who the villains are—they don’t bother to hide it. They just blurt out who they are whenever needed, instead of actually taking the time to show you by their actions. There are no surprises or twists. It’s a very simple, generic story, similar to "Captive Prince," but much worse.
😠 One of my biggest complaints: there are almost no physical descriptions. The MCs get just a little, and everyone and everything else is described even less. This is a book. Descriptions are important!
🙂 What I Liked:
✔ Iscara, a woman who gave me a few chuckles.
✔ The camaraderie between Jecks and his friends, even if their swearing was annoyingly repetitive.
Recommended for those who want a shallow story, with eye-rolling romance at the heart of it, and a little fantasy on the side.
January 1, 2024
I enjoyed reading this fantasy world.
Hannah Walker has a way of writing characters that are full of life, quick-witted and a little rough around the edges.
I liked Jeck's and Dorane's story.
Spoils of War also has some damn creative cursing.
Hannah Walker has a way of writing characters that are full of life, quick-witted and a little rough around the edges.
I liked Jeck's and Dorane's story.
Spoils of War also has some damn creative cursing.
October 16, 2017
There was a whole lot of this book that just didn't make sense. The characters could be engaging, I did like them, but one of the most jarring things was that they spoke like this was a contemporary romance, too modern and full of slang. It was seriously out of place.
The guns made no sense. One, if they have that kind of technology, they should have had other types of technology that were glaringly missing. Everything else about this book read as a medieval setting. And then random guns enter the mix. Especially since it's specifically mentioned at one point that the gunpowder is in the bullet, and they seemed to fire multiple rounds at once. But given the vague time period, it seems like they would have been using something closer to a musket, which means they're barrel loaded, the gunpowder is packed in separately, and the musket ball after. So this was like Knights and Dragons with modern guns and it was just very ????
The plotholes:
1) why was he summoned, then sent back, and ordered to travel his own way to his wedding? That makes ZERO SENSE for a man who's marriage is the only thing making peace possible. If it was so time urgent he get to his destination, they should have summoned him, relieved him, and sent him off with an already-waiting escort.
2) but fine, ignore that. he and three dudes traipse along by themselves for Reasons, get attacked, and help shows up... and promptly sends off the firebirds that could have taken him to safety within hours? So his men aren't left alone? We have how many veteran soldiers in this party and they all decide the best and most responsible way to get a vitally important man to his life or death marriage is to take the long, dangerous way instead of throwing him on a firebird?
and frankly the marriage itself never made a lick of sense to me. A general with no title (or a minor title? I swear he had no title, but then later they say he's a minor noble), no ties to the throne or anything, which means basically he's really good at war and nothing else, is to be married to a crown prince of a country that is ten times more powerful than his? It was never really explained convincingly why such a politically useless marriage was decided upon. Because he's nice and wants peace? That's fine but he was relieved of duty so he had no authority to do anything, not really. The king didn't grant him power or anything. But maybe I missed something with all the other distractions.
This book wasn't awful, but it really needed work on the world-building and some of the plot points.
June 30, 2017
Original review on Molly Lolly
Four and a half stars!
Oh my word I enjoyed the heck out of this book. Ms. Walker is wonderful at creating worlds and characters that you quite literally get lost in. The different factions working towards their own goal and how everything was intertwined was amazingly written. You could see how they’re all connected and how the actions of one affected another. The world building was lovely and I enjoyed getting lost in someplace new.
Jecks was such a badass. He wouldn’t take anyone’s crap and he fought for what was right and just in the world. He took care of his soldiers and their families. He was honorable and legitimately wanted the best for both Kabaria and Tefaulst. He struggled with his feelings for Dorane so much in the beginning of the story. I loved how Jecks interacted with his friends, with the other soldiers, and with Dorane. He had a camaraderie with others that was so great to watch. He knew how to let loose and relax but also when to be serious and focused.
Dorane was fascinating. He was an accomplished soldier that knew how to fight. He also had reached a point in his life where he hoped to not have to fight anymore. In some ways, he wore his heart on his sleeve but he also kept his emotions well hidden. Especially from those who would use his feelings against him. He cared what happened to his men and those he deemed close enough to be considered family. Dorane struggled with his past and the ramifications it has on his future. You could tell he wasn’t being completely forthcoming about a few details as the story went on. But the scene where Jecks and his friends figure it out and the scene where Jecks confronts Dorane about it were wonderful. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time.
I loved Jecks getting a happy ending. There were times I wondered if they’d work it out and make it happen. But oh man by the end of the book I was cheering along with everyone else. I adored the happily ever after ending. You know they’re going to make it long term and be able to overcome any obstacles thrown in their path. I desperately hope for a sequel because I would love some of the others in the story to get their own well deserved happy ending.
Four and a half stars!
Oh my word I enjoyed the heck out of this book. Ms. Walker is wonderful at creating worlds and characters that you quite literally get lost in. The different factions working towards their own goal and how everything was intertwined was amazingly written. You could see how they’re all connected and how the actions of one affected another. The world building was lovely and I enjoyed getting lost in someplace new.
Jecks was such a badass. He wouldn’t take anyone’s crap and he fought for what was right and just in the world. He took care of his soldiers and their families. He was honorable and legitimately wanted the best for both Kabaria and Tefaulst. He struggled with his feelings for Dorane so much in the beginning of the story. I loved how Jecks interacted with his friends, with the other soldiers, and with Dorane. He had a camaraderie with others that was so great to watch. He knew how to let loose and relax but also when to be serious and focused.
Dorane was fascinating. He was an accomplished soldier that knew how to fight. He also had reached a point in his life where he hoped to not have to fight anymore. In some ways, he wore his heart on his sleeve but he also kept his emotions well hidden. Especially from those who would use his feelings against him. He cared what happened to his men and those he deemed close enough to be considered family. Dorane struggled with his past and the ramifications it has on his future. You could tell he wasn’t being completely forthcoming about a few details as the story went on. But the scene where Jecks and his friends figure it out and the scene where Jecks confronts Dorane about it were wonderful. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time.
I loved Jecks getting a happy ending. There were times I wondered if they’d work it out and make it happen. But oh man by the end of the book I was cheering along with everyone else. I adored the happily ever after ending. You know they’re going to make it long term and be able to overcome any obstacles thrown in their path. I desperately hope for a sequel because I would love some of the others in the story to get their own well deserved happy ending.
June 16, 2017
While Walker is mostly an author of fantasy/paranormal books, this had more of a medieval, historical feel to it. There was also, thank goodness, none of the sappy, overly sweet declarations of love or sickeningly cute magical beasts. Here we have a story of two men whose desire and budding love for each other are impossible given the political machinations around them. Jenks is the High General of his country but is being forced to marry into their enemy's royal family to avoid war. He and Dorrane, the former High Warden of his own country, don't have the luxury to indulge in their feelings for each other. But of course they do! (No cheating, this in en route to the betrothal) While this is the primary drama of the story there are other political and personal situations swirling around the countries--and more importantly--the group of travelers. It's all very mysterious and provides many tense and dangerous moments. There is additionally a great deal of humor, in the form of humorous banter, in the story. My only fault with that would be that everyone was doing it--it wasn't just a trait of a few people and also didn't respect the expected barriers of rank or country (but I really enjoyed it anyway!). The sex was hot and there was lots of sexual innuendo and teasing to keep things racy outside the bedroom. There were a few things that I could fault 1) Jenks was made to be just a little too perfect and self-sacrificing, 2) the big twist was obvious (but had some layers in the end to keep it from being completely silly), and 3) the cursing was worthy of a drinking game (the f-word sounds very odd in a medieval setting on another world--especially hundreds of times). Altogether I was really pleased with it--such a huge improvement over the Avanti series (!!!). I would really love for this to become a series, putting new characters (or the secondaries) into this world and maybe giving us a glimpse at Jenks and Dorrane in their new life.
June 18, 2017
(Originally reviewed for Love Bytes Reviews. Rated 4.5 out of 5.0 Love Bytes.)
Wow, and I thought I loved the other books I’ve read by this lady. They were indeed very enjoyable, but this one I liked even more! I enjoy her writing because she takes me away from the real world for a time and wraps me up in her stories.
There is something that draws me into a fantasy story like this one with strong military main characters, and hidden plots and subterfuge. I’ll admit that I figured out the largest ‘hidden’ item in the story—and long before the characters were allowed to get there—but it didn’t hurt my read at all.
Ms. Walker did a good job at world building, bringing us two countries locked in combat because of the greed of the King of Kabaria. He and his advisors want to stop at nothing to gain control of the resources of their neighbor. Resources they feel should rightly be theirs.
Their army is being led by High General Jecks Cordant, who is surprised to be summoned to the Capital and informed that peace has been brokered with their enemy, but only if he agrees to be married to the Crown Prince from the enemy country. A prince who is already planning to marry another man… a love match.
There begins Jecks’ journey. Along with three of his friends, he sets off to the other country. Along the way he finds help from unexpected sources, and they end up running for their lives from mysterious pursuers.
The story had it all. And it was a standalone! With a HEA. Does it get better? I highly recommend it for anyone who enjoys a fairly light, fast moving fantasy story. My only complaint? It is a standalone and I read it much too quickly because it pulled me along. I was sorry to see the last page, even though it had the ending I had hoped for.
If you’re new to this author, give it a try, I think you’ll enjoy it. If you’ve been reading her books, I’m surprised you don’t already have this one downloaded.
Wow, and I thought I loved the other books I’ve read by this lady. They were indeed very enjoyable, but this one I liked even more! I enjoy her writing because she takes me away from the real world for a time and wraps me up in her stories.
There is something that draws me into a fantasy story like this one with strong military main characters, and hidden plots and subterfuge. I’ll admit that I figured out the largest ‘hidden’ item in the story—and long before the characters were allowed to get there—but it didn’t hurt my read at all.
Ms. Walker did a good job at world building, bringing us two countries locked in combat because of the greed of the King of Kabaria. He and his advisors want to stop at nothing to gain control of the resources of their neighbor. Resources they feel should rightly be theirs.
Their army is being led by High General Jecks Cordant, who is surprised to be summoned to the Capital and informed that peace has been brokered with their enemy, but only if he agrees to be married to the Crown Prince from the enemy country. A prince who is already planning to marry another man… a love match.
There begins Jecks’ journey. Along with three of his friends, he sets off to the other country. Along the way he finds help from unexpected sources, and they end up running for their lives from mysterious pursuers.
The story had it all. And it was a standalone! With a HEA. Does it get better? I highly recommend it for anyone who enjoys a fairly light, fast moving fantasy story. My only complaint? It is a standalone and I read it much too quickly because it pulled me along. I was sorry to see the last page, even though it had the ending I had hoped for.
If you’re new to this author, give it a try, I think you’ll enjoy it. If you’ve been reading her books, I’m surprised you don’t already have this one downloaded.
July 4, 2017
Before I do my review I have to say this ~ Before I started reading this book I was told by a few friends who'd already read it that they thought this was this authors best book yet.
I have to say I can see why they said that.
When an author who predominantly writes sci-fi and fantasy changes direction slightly it can be hard but this author has done it with such smoothness and finesse.
Yes this is still within the fantasy and sci-fi genre sort of, but there's also so much more too.
As I've come to expect from this author the characters were amazingly written and the plot was (excuse the pun), out of this world!
I'm not usually such a huge an of sci-fi/fantasy but the way this author writes it makes it easy for me to get lost in their world, understanding their politics, their infrastructure of what makes them who they are and why they do what they do.
I loved everything about this story and loved the humour and creative expletives too!!
Quite a few times I felt sorry for Jecks, the main character, and was cursing the author for what she put him through.
There was so much going on in this story that it was easy to get lost in it making sure I never missed a thing!
I really hope we're going to get more books in this series as just like with her AVANTI, DEMONS, and DRAGONIS books, this really does have the room to grow !!
ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT!!
I have to say I can see why they said that.
When an author who predominantly writes sci-fi and fantasy changes direction slightly it can be hard but this author has done it with such smoothness and finesse.
Yes this is still within the fantasy and sci-fi genre sort of, but there's also so much more too.
As I've come to expect from this author the characters were amazingly written and the plot was (excuse the pun), out of this world!
I'm not usually such a huge an of sci-fi/fantasy but the way this author writes it makes it easy for me to get lost in their world, understanding their politics, their infrastructure of what makes them who they are and why they do what they do.
I loved everything about this story and loved the humour and creative expletives too!!
Quite a few times I felt sorry for Jecks, the main character, and was cursing the author for what she put him through.
There was so much going on in this story that it was easy to get lost in it making sure I never missed a thing!
I really hope we're going to get more books in this series as just like with her AVANTI, DEMONS, and DRAGONIS books, this really does have the room to grow !!
ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT!!
May 16, 2020
This one is just ok. Or not even that. Skimmed a lot past 60%.
I had been saving this book. When i read the blurb i thought it was going to be an awesome one. But really, its very dissapointing. Such a huge number of cliches and lines I have read in so many other books, which i dont want to read in the contemporary novels anymore, much less a historic one.
But was it really historic? No. It was all a jumble of so many things. A place where people have no knowledge of operating guns safely, but they surely have a sniper scope. They fight with swords on horseback, dont know about the prostrate, but they talk like modern day Americans, what with their love of coffee and laws about underage drinking. *sigh* past did not operate on the present day rules. But again was it really past?
Both of the MC's had zero chemistry. I have read scenes of hookups more sizzling then this. There were so many long long dialogues. If more attention was paid to the relation than those dialogues, then maybe they might have had a bit of spark. But by the time they were talking about their emotions I could not help rolling my eyes.
Also. One female character. And that too the stereotypical gay romance banshee type. She just had to jump on other people's throat the moment she saw them. I dont think real women behave that way.
I had been saving this book. When i read the blurb i thought it was going to be an awesome one. But really, its very dissapointing. Such a huge number of cliches and lines I have read in so many other books, which i dont want to read in the contemporary novels anymore, much less a historic one.
But was it really historic? No. It was all a jumble of so many things. A place where people have no knowledge of operating guns safely, but they surely have a sniper scope. They fight with swords on horseback, dont know about the prostrate, but they talk like modern day Americans, what with their love of coffee and laws about underage drinking. *sigh* past did not operate on the present day rules. But again was it really past?
Both of the MC's had zero chemistry. I have read scenes of hookups more sizzling then this. There were so many long long dialogues. If more attention was paid to the relation than those dialogues, then maybe they might have had a bit of spark. But by the time they were talking about their emotions I could not help rolling my eyes.
Also. One female character. And that too the stereotypical gay romance banshee type. She just had to jump on other people's throat the moment she saw them. I dont think real women behave that way.
July 22, 2017
This is a solid 3.5
I like Jecks and Dorane, in this because they are two battle harden men who understand each other. It starts off pretty fast, but it leaves a lot of stuff out. It has not real plot. All the things in the story for the most part are just circumstances to get Jecks and Dorane at the end. None of it seems deliberately crafted to support more than just a romantic story. It is somewhat insta-love also. The most they have going off in their relationship is their mutual attraction. Jecks is set off to be married, but they end up falling and sleeping with each other anyway. There's no slow burn, and nothing that builds up any anticipation in the story, or in their relationship. I felt this was an easily anticipated story. It wasn't hard to see where it would go.
On top of how average the story and characters were, the writing itself could have been better. These are warriors, it's hard to pin point what era the author was going for because they used guns, and other types of mechanics, but the speech of the characters "Mr. Sexy"...doesn't really fit the context. The world itself was barely existent to support the story and the character romance. It just doesn't fit together, and I was really looking forward to this story.
I like Jecks and Dorane, in this because they are two battle harden men who understand each other. It starts off pretty fast, but it leaves a lot of stuff out. It has not real plot. All the things in the story for the most part are just circumstances to get Jecks and Dorane at the end. None of it seems deliberately crafted to support more than just a romantic story. It is somewhat insta-love also. The most they have going off in their relationship is their mutual attraction. Jecks is set off to be married, but they end up falling and sleeping with each other anyway. There's no slow burn, and nothing that builds up any anticipation in the story, or in their relationship. I felt this was an easily anticipated story. It wasn't hard to see where it would go.
On top of how average the story and characters were, the writing itself could have been better. These are warriors, it's hard to pin point what era the author was going for because they used guns, and other types of mechanics, but the speech of the characters "Mr. Sexy"...doesn't really fit the context. The world itself was barely existent to support the story and the character romance. It just doesn't fit together, and I was really looking forward to this story.
Read
July 19, 2017This was my first time reading anything by Walker and I really enjoyed Spoils of War. Jecks is a fantastic character, a grizzled mature soldier pushed into a situation he cannot just fight his way through. I thoroughly enjoyed him as a character. The plot moves right along, but not so fast you cannot keep up with the political maneuvering or internal struggles. The romance is believable and organic for the most part and had me cheering them on.
That being said, there were a couple of things that kept me from that last star. Repeated phrases sometimes pulled me out of the story. Especially the inventive cursing, don't get me wrong I loved it, but at times it was just a little much and called too much attention to itself. Also, I didn't get a clear picture as to the world, it felt a bit tacked on at times with little depth other than the political scene. But that could just be having everything from Jecks' point-of-view as well.
One other niggle. Where are the women? In the entire book, there is one woman character who I remember speaking or even being on the page.
Overall, I really enjoyed this and will be picking up other books by Walker as well.
That being said, there were a couple of things that kept me from that last star. Repeated phrases sometimes pulled me out of the story. Especially the inventive cursing, don't get me wrong I loved it, but at times it was just a little much and called too much attention to itself. Also, I didn't get a clear picture as to the world, it felt a bit tacked on at times with little depth other than the political scene. But that could just be having everything from Jecks' point-of-view as well.
One other niggle. Where are the women? In the entire book, there is one woman character who I remember speaking or even being on the page.
Overall, I really enjoyed this and will be picking up other books by Walker as well.
August 20, 2017
This book was was entertaining enough that I read to the end, but there were a few passages that had me rolling my eyes with the cheesiness of the dialog. Here we have 2 "hardened soldiers" both in high positions of authority, presented as gruff and masculine. I just couldn't suspend my disbelief enough, I felt the writing was sophmoric, and yes, again, cheesy. The 2 main characters, Jecks and Dorane are supposed to be older, big men, who have commanded large contingents of men, and yet after the first initmate encounter, Jecks tells his 2nd in command "better get back before Dorane paddles my ass". (eye roll).
This group of men, including the two main ones, Jecks and Dorane, spend the book alternately speaking seriously about war, espionage, assassins, and traitors and then being described with behavior such as "pouting", "hissing" "stomping off" and other silly teen girl actions.
In my opinion this made the story clash not mesh.
It was an easy, light fluffy read that could have been more. There were firebirds and griffons that were mentioned but not really elaborated on that could have been so interesting. The sex scenes were hot, but not scorching.
This group of men, including the two main ones, Jecks and Dorane, spend the book alternately speaking seriously about war, espionage, assassins, and traitors and then being described with behavior such as "pouting", "hissing" "stomping off" and other silly teen girl actions.
In my opinion this made the story clash not mesh.
It was an easy, light fluffy read that could have been more. There were firebirds and griffons that were mentioned but not really elaborated on that could have been so interesting. The sex scenes were hot, but not scorching.
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