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Guardians of Sky and Shadow #1
Priestess Awakened
My world isn’t safe. The northern gate lies open and monsters roam the land. Towns are locked behind walls, protected by the emperor and his Black Army. Once, a fated priestess and her four guardians kept the gate sealed with magic, but there hasn’t been a priestess in over a century…or so I thought.
When a monster attacks me within the walls of my village, I am saved by Sir Forrest—the quiet former soldier who came to Istim three years ago.
Turns out, he’s been watching me. Waiting for my powers to awaken.
I am the fated priestess.
But there have been others. The genius commander Abel and the Black Army have killed them all. Sir Forrest found out the truth, and now he is driven by his sacred mission to help me find my guardians and bring me to the gate.
All I have to do? Find them and join with them in the Grand Quintet to grant them the powers I apparently hold, close the gate, and save the world…without suffering the same dire fate as the priestesses who came before me.
I’ve always liked attention…but this is too much.
This reverse harem fantasy romance trilogy is for those who enjoy plenty of steam, strong heroines, a few hot guys (and one who is just pretty and probably sparkles), more tragic pasts and secrets than any group of people should reasonably have, and winged cats.
When a monster attacks me within the walls of my village, I am saved by Sir Forrest—the quiet former soldier who came to Istim three years ago.
Turns out, he’s been watching me. Waiting for my powers to awaken.
I am the fated priestess.
But there have been others. The genius commander Abel and the Black Army have killed them all. Sir Forrest found out the truth, and now he is driven by his sacred mission to help me find my guardians and bring me to the gate.
All I have to do? Find them and join with them in the Grand Quintet to grant them the powers I apparently hold, close the gate, and save the world…without suffering the same dire fate as the priestesses who came before me.
I’ve always liked attention…but this is too much.
This reverse harem fantasy romance trilogy is for those who enjoy plenty of steam, strong heroines, a few hot guys (and one who is just pretty and probably sparkles), more tragic pasts and secrets than any group of people should reasonably have, and winged cats.
238 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 26, 2018
449 people are currently reading
802 people want to read
About the author
Lidiya Foxglove
61 books437 followersLidiya Foxglove grew up on a steady diet of fairy tales, folklore and fantasy and also reads way too much manga. Fantasy romance is her favorite thing in the world, but she likes it steamy. She also loves cats and tea--it's cliche for a reason!
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January 30, 2018
The moment I heard of this book I knew I had to read it, something about that pretty cover and the sound of the blurb made me curious about this one. And I haven't seen a lot of Fantasy Reverse Harem books so far. I am glad I picked it up as I really enjoyed this book. I have to admit when I first started reading I wasn't sure how much I would enjoy it, but things picked up quickly and soon I found myself really enjoying this one and wanting to read more. And it felt like it only got better once the story progressed.
Priestess awakened is about Phoebe, who discovers she is the Priestess of the Gate and there this retired soldier that was staying in her village is actually one of her guardians and she needs to find the other 3 guardians and close the gate. By having sex with her guardians she can give them power and each guardian has a different sigil. Yes her role in this whole thing is actually to provide her guardians with extra powers and heal them that way.
I have to admit the concept did sounded a bit ridiculous with how the sex served as a means to give them power and heal them, but it was actually really well written, developed and tastefully done. It had a solid story with focus on the characters and their relationships and emotions. And I liked how things were handled and there are some interesting twists at the end that make me really curious about the next book. It was just a very fun read and I wanted to see how everything played out.
I liked Phoebe as a main character, she felt pretty realistic to me. She had seen a bit of the world when she was picked as Strawberry Girl when she was younger and traveled around a bit, so she has seen more of the world than most of the villagers in her village, but at the same time also doesn't really know what's going on out there. I liked how she was sad to lose her dreams for the future, but she also handled the responsibility well. I liked how she had her doubts and was a bit afraid or nervous at times, it made her feel real. And I am looking forward to see how she developed over the course of the series.
This book was a bit different than the Reverse Harem books I read so far, but I liked how this book handled the Reverse Harem aspect. It was a bit of the chosen one type of plot, but it worked here and I liked that while they did mostly go along with this plan, they also struggled accepting their role a bit. I thought that felt realistic that they had their doubts and struggles as well. I liked how each of the guardians were very different and there's also a non guardian that travels with them. The author did a good job to give each of the guardians a different feel.
I also liked how it dealt with the emotions and interactions between the different guardians. And the struggle between what they wanted and what they had to do. There is a bit of jealously, some doubt and guilt and a bunch of other emotions that get addresses. It was pretty interesting to read about and I liked how this way the harem aspect got worked out.
I would've liked to learn a bit more about the guardians, they all were pretty interesting characters. But as the book isn't too long and there are multiple of them it still felt like we only get a bit of each of them and even less of the ones she meets later. But even with that I think the author did a good job developing their personalities and giving the reader a feel for each of them. And I am hoping to learn more about them in later books.
The book does have a bunch of steamy scenes, but with the set-up I excepted even more, but it actually had a petty good balance between everything going on. There is enough about the characters, their journey, their role and then some steamy scenes added in the mix. It was also interesting how every guardian was quite different in the steamy scenes as well. And I liked how every sex scene was quite different from the other sex scenes as well.
The world building felt a bit limited. We get to know a bit about the priestess, her role and her guardians and they actually have a book that details a few of those things, but it also felt like there's a lot we don't know. Which get illustrated at the end when someone else has different information/ point of view. I also wanted to know more about the monsters, they seemed a bit stereotypical evil creatures so the main characters have something to fight against. But later on we get a few hints there might be more to the monsters and I can't wait to see how things develop in the later books.
I also had some trouble getting a good grip on the world at times, what was possible and where they were on aspect like technological advancement, what kind of magic there was etc. I also would've liked a map as sometimes I had trouble visualizing were everything was in relation to the rest. there also were a few mentions of other countries and realms and I wasn't quite sure how that related to this place. I did like the set-up with the emperor who wanted more power and is conquering other places and how the cities were all walled against the monsters and the safe houses and such. Oh and there is a flying cat, which was pretty cool.
To summarize: I really enjoyed this book. It's a fun fantasy Reverse harem book. Phoebe is the Priestess of the Gate and only she with her four guardians can close the gate so the monsters can't get through. She needs to have sex with her guardians to give them more power, and while that sounded like a bit of ridiculous set-up at first it was actually quite tastefully done and developed. I liked how different all her guardians were in their personality and even in bed as well. It also deal with a bunch of emotions and struggles with how they have this responsibility, but they all have hopes and dreams they might have to give up as well. And I liked how that got touched upon in this book. While there are a bunch of steamy scenes, there is also enough space for the story and to get to know the characters. Although I am looking forward to get to know more about them in later books. The world building is pretty minimal and it could be hard to get a full feel for the world at times. The monsters seemed a bit stereotypical evil, but something at the end makes me think we will learn more about that in the next books. I would definitely recommend this if you're looking for a steamy Fantasy Reverse Harem book.
Priestess awakened is about Phoebe, who discovers she is the Priestess of the Gate and there this retired soldier that was staying in her village is actually one of her guardians and she needs to find the other 3 guardians and close the gate. By having sex with her guardians she can give them power and each guardian has a different sigil. Yes her role in this whole thing is actually to provide her guardians with extra powers and heal them that way.
I have to admit the concept did sounded a bit ridiculous with how the sex served as a means to give them power and heal them, but it was actually really well written, developed and tastefully done. It had a solid story with focus on the characters and their relationships and emotions. And I liked how things were handled and there are some interesting twists at the end that make me really curious about the next book. It was just a very fun read and I wanted to see how everything played out.
I liked Phoebe as a main character, she felt pretty realistic to me. She had seen a bit of the world when she was picked as Strawberry Girl when she was younger and traveled around a bit, so she has seen more of the world than most of the villagers in her village, but at the same time also doesn't really know what's going on out there. I liked how she was sad to lose her dreams for the future, but she also handled the responsibility well. I liked how she had her doubts and was a bit afraid or nervous at times, it made her feel real. And I am looking forward to see how she developed over the course of the series.
This book was a bit different than the Reverse Harem books I read so far, but I liked how this book handled the Reverse Harem aspect. It was a bit of the chosen one type of plot, but it worked here and I liked that while they did mostly go along with this plan, they also struggled accepting their role a bit. I thought that felt realistic that they had their doubts and struggles as well. I liked how each of the guardians were very different and there's also a non guardian that travels with them. The author did a good job to give each of the guardians a different feel.
I also liked how it dealt with the emotions and interactions between the different guardians. And the struggle between what they wanted and what they had to do. There is a bit of jealously, some doubt and guilt and a bunch of other emotions that get addresses. It was pretty interesting to read about and I liked how this way the harem aspect got worked out.
I would've liked to learn a bit more about the guardians, they all were pretty interesting characters. But as the book isn't too long and there are multiple of them it still felt like we only get a bit of each of them and even less of the ones she meets later. But even with that I think the author did a good job developing their personalities and giving the reader a feel for each of them. And I am hoping to learn more about them in later books.
The book does have a bunch of steamy scenes, but with the set-up I excepted even more, but it actually had a petty good balance between everything going on. There is enough about the characters, their journey, their role and then some steamy scenes added in the mix. It was also interesting how every guardian was quite different in the steamy scenes as well. And I liked how every sex scene was quite different from the other sex scenes as well.
The world building felt a bit limited. We get to know a bit about the priestess, her role and her guardians and they actually have a book that details a few of those things, but it also felt like there's a lot we don't know. Which get illustrated at the end when someone else has different information/ point of view. I also wanted to know more about the monsters, they seemed a bit stereotypical evil creatures so the main characters have something to fight against. But later on we get a few hints there might be more to the monsters and I can't wait to see how things develop in the later books.
I also had some trouble getting a good grip on the world at times, what was possible and where they were on aspect like technological advancement, what kind of magic there was etc. I also would've liked a map as sometimes I had trouble visualizing were everything was in relation to the rest. there also were a few mentions of other countries and realms and I wasn't quite sure how that related to this place. I did like the set-up with the emperor who wanted more power and is conquering other places and how the cities were all walled against the monsters and the safe houses and such. Oh and there is a flying cat, which was pretty cool.
To summarize: I really enjoyed this book. It's a fun fantasy Reverse harem book. Phoebe is the Priestess of the Gate and only she with her four guardians can close the gate so the monsters can't get through. She needs to have sex with her guardians to give them more power, and while that sounded like a bit of ridiculous set-up at first it was actually quite tastefully done and developed. I liked how different all her guardians were in their personality and even in bed as well. It also deal with a bunch of emotions and struggles with how they have this responsibility, but they all have hopes and dreams they might have to give up as well. And I liked how that got touched upon in this book. While there are a bunch of steamy scenes, there is also enough space for the story and to get to know the characters. Although I am looking forward to get to know more about them in later books. The world building is pretty minimal and it could be hard to get a full feel for the world at times. The monsters seemed a bit stereotypical evil, but something at the end makes me think we will learn more about that in the next books. I would definitely recommend this if you're looking for a steamy Fantasy Reverse Harem book.
June 6, 2018
I wanted to like this so very much but I just wasn’t liking the character at all. The men just didn’t seem into her but had to be because they had no choice. Wasn’t a fan of that. Just not for me.
February 21, 2018
Bummed.
Made it to the line about a monster cut into two lumps "bleeding everywhere" and villagers yelling and stuff or some variation of that phrase I knew the writing style wasn't going to work for me. Quips and slang totally have their place in New literature styles but I felt the phrases being used were put in due to lack of effort rather than witty writing. I loved the idea of this book I'm bummed about the way it was written.
Made it to the line about a monster cut into two lumps "bleeding everywhere" and villagers yelling and stuff or some variation of that phrase I knew the writing style wasn't going to work for me. Quips and slang totally have their place in New literature styles but I felt the phrases being used were put in due to lack of effort rather than witty writing. I loved the idea of this book I'm bummed about the way it was written.
January 29, 2018
Ok book
The writing was a little too teenager-ish if this is meant for a mature audience then the writing needs to be a little more grown up
The writing was a little too teenager-ish if this is meant for a mature audience then the writing needs to be a little more grown up
February 2, 2018
I really enjoyed this one! I can’t wait to see what happens in book 2!!!
March 1, 2018
For complete review check out my blog at https://booksaplentybookreviews.blogs...
April 26, 2018
I had a bunch of issues with this book buuuut it wasn't terrible. I rented the audio for free from Hoopla and if the next one is on there I will read it but if not then I will not bother with the next book.
November 26, 2018
I don't like to give a book one star. I really want to support new authors by reading their books and giving honest reviews. With that in mind I can't recommend this book. It's my impression that the author wanted to write an erotic book and this is her idea of how to do it.
Phoebe is a girl from a small town of around 300 people. She has a bit of notoriety after being part of a troupe in the Strawberry festival and this has made her famous in her small town. While singing on stage for the local festival Phoebe is attacked by a flying monster. She is hauled out of town by a guy who has saved her from the monster and then proceeds to tell her that she's the next Priestess that will save them all. He gives her a book that outlines her "duties" which basically entail having sex with 4 guys who are her "Guardians". The book shows the positions these guys will take in order to get the most out of her power. Phoebe is able to heal these guys and give them strength through the act of sex. So in order to get the most out of their powers they will ultimately need to gang bang her (which of course she doesn't mind because it feels SO good).
I have read books with delicate topics before and I've read books with sex scenes before. The difference here is how well the book is written to incorporate the sex scenes into the story line. In the case of Priestess Awakened the author doesn't do the necessary footwork to lay the foundation for this type of scene. That's just my opinion, but that's what book reviews are all about.
Phoebe is a girl from a small town of around 300 people. She has a bit of notoriety after being part of a troupe in the Strawberry festival and this has made her famous in her small town. While singing on stage for the local festival Phoebe is attacked by a flying monster. She is hauled out of town by a guy who has saved her from the monster and then proceeds to tell her that she's the next Priestess that will save them all. He gives her a book that outlines her "duties" which basically entail having sex with 4 guys who are her "Guardians". The book shows the positions these guys will take in order to get the most out of her power. Phoebe is able to heal these guys and give them strength through the act of sex. So in order to get the most out of their powers they will ultimately need to gang bang her (which of course she doesn't mind because it feels SO good).
I have read books with delicate topics before and I've read books with sex scenes before. The difference here is how well the book is written to incorporate the sex scenes into the story line. In the case of Priestess Awakened the author doesn't do the necessary footwork to lay the foundation for this type of scene. That's just my opinion, but that's what book reviews are all about.
February 3, 2018
I usually try not to review books when I finish them and I am angry. However, I am with this book. You might like this book if you like stories like Mockingjay series or Divergence. I did not read them, but admittedly saw the movies. I have no idea if the authors attempted to give a back story to the new world they were creating. If, like this author they did not...I am glad I did not read them.
Throughout out the book there are inconsistencies like caravan buses vs carriages and horses. Characters using modern slang like "cool".
Then there are the characters themselves. This book would almost be a great porno script. The main character is flimsy with no strong personality traits. From her perspective, she assumes a lot about people's feelings. Her first guardian wants her to himself and struggles with his jealousy, but pretty much treats her with indifference.
In fact, pretty much her whole roll is to have orgasms and give the guys their power boosts.
Though the book goes on and on that they all feel protective of her. Not to mention attracted to her immediately. Yet, the last guy pretty much sends her to her doom at the end of the book without hesitation even though it seems apparent he has doubts about her safety before he even knows he is a guardian.
Don't worry she can ... oh yeah, she can't defend herself at all.
So many things bothered me in this book, I can not even try to read the second and hope it gets better. Save yourself a headache and don't read it.
Throughout out the book there are inconsistencies like caravan buses vs carriages and horses. Characters using modern slang like "cool".
Then there are the characters themselves. This book would almost be a great porno script. The main character is flimsy with no strong personality traits. From her perspective, she assumes a lot about people's feelings. Her first guardian wants her to himself and struggles with his jealousy, but pretty much treats her with indifference.
In fact, pretty much her whole roll is to have orgasms and give the guys their power boosts.
Though the book goes on and on that they all feel protective of her. Not to mention attracted to her immediately. Yet, the last guy pretty much sends her to her doom at the end of the book without hesitation even though it seems apparent he has doubts about her safety before he even knows he is a guardian.
Don't worry she can ... oh yeah, she can't defend herself at all.
So many things bothered me in this book, I can not even try to read the second and hope it gets better. Save yourself a headache and don't read it.
February 25, 2018
Just ugh!
I tried so hard to finish the book but just couldn’t. I stopped multiple times but kept making myself pick it back up thinking maybe it would get interesting. Nope. Made it to 70% and just couldn’t get any further.
I tried so hard to finish the book but just couldn’t. I stopped multiple times but kept making myself pick it back up thinking maybe it would get interesting. Nope. Made it to 70% and just couldn’t get any further.
April 1, 2020
Priestess Awakened is terrible and I'm completely obsessed with it. The tormented part of my soul that enjoyed watching Jersey Shore and drinking Four Loko with my friends back in college is also fascinated by this book. Those of you with more self-restraint and self-preservation than me may be wondering what makes it simultaneously so bad and so captivating? Let's crack into it.
First, it's FULL of anachronisms. From the cover and synopsis I was expecting a high fantasy romance adventure, albeit a cheesy one. And it was that... Sort of... But it was also overflowing with 20th & 21st Century slang and turns of phrase that made it really difficult to feel the seriousness of their mission.
"Craaap," I said, which was really an insufficient response. "Craaaaaaaap. I know where this is going."
Between a high-strung cat and a high-strung man, I took it upon myself to be the chill member of the party [...] Some of the safe houses were pretty grungy.
I definitely do not expect to see words like "crap," "chill," or "grungy" used in this way in a fantasy setting.
Capamere was about fifty gazillion miles from Empero. Or, like, two hundred. Same difference on foot…
This is how Phoebe talks through the whole book. Made up modern words, exaggeration, "like" thrown in any which way. If you can't handle that, get out now because this is only a few chapters in, and it does not get better.
Forrest was clamoring to his feet, grumbling a wide array of curses while brushing the remnants of cigarette butts off his clothes.
I am endlessly amused that what little world-building there is in this story includes the fact that cigarette butts exist, and thus by extension I'm assuming so do cigarettes. We have no idea how the magic works, what it really does, or how it can help them do anything, but I know there's probably lung cancer.
He scratched his head, nudging his feathered cap. Of course he had a feathered cap. I mean, bards be bardin’.
Yeah... You can't even be surprised by the time this line shows up. It totally fits in the context of everything else you know so far.
And on the subject of the bard... While homosexuality seems to be normal, accepted, and sometimes expected, apparently bisexuality does not exist in this world.
"I was always attracted to men," he said. "And others tend to assume that as well. I mean, bardic college, you know—it is a hotspot of homosexuality."
"Yeah," I said. "When I was in the troupe, we always had a lot of gay guys around. Some of the musicians…and a lot of the fans."
"But I was always deeply drawn to women. My friends tried to offer explanations; oh, Gilbert, you just admire their beauty, maybe you should try cross dressing, or maybe you are looking for a mother figure…but surely you aren’t sexually attracted to them? But—I was. Sort of."
You can be attracted to anyone, my dude! And that's totally okay! Major points deducted for bi erasure.
Another thing of note - there's a flying cat. Now, ordinarily I am all about animal gimmicks, but in this case, we never really get to know much about her except that she's rare. So rare, it's worth 4 distinct characters commenting on.
"And Wretch."
"Wretch?"
"My flying cat?" I glared at him. He had to be playing dumb. It was hard to miss Wretch. Flying cats were very rare to begin with. (Phoebe)
"Winged cats are very rare," he said. (Forrest)
"Winged cats are rare," he said. (Gilbert)
"All winged cats are black," he said. "I suppose you’ve never seen one." (Niko)
Did y'all get that? Winged cats are rare. The message was subtle, so I want to be sure nobody missed it. Other than exist to be commented on, all Wretch really gets to do is squirm in Phoebe's arms when she's not allowed to fight monsters, though . Of course, we can't waste time on that fact because there's sex to be had. Really not-entertaining sex, at that.
I think I was so disinterested in the "steamy" scenes because there wasn't anything amusing about them - they were short, there was very little preamble to them, there weren't any funny lines, it did not sound like good sex, and if I'm completely honest, it was difficult for me to see Phoebe as a sexual character. She is incredibly vain and notably immature...
"Ooh…like a date?" That sounded awesome, actually. If I had to be with four men, I should get four times the dates, right? So far it had been zero dates.
"No way. Noodles? Noodles are probably my favorite food. My mom never makes noodles. She says they’re too much work. In fact, the first time I had noodles—" He gave me a look that said, Please don’t say the word ‘noodles’ this many times.
I was starting to feel really in over my head now. I felt like I could either start screaming, or just stare at him with my mouth slightly open like a hick. So I did that for a minute. The staring. Not the screaming.
She comes off as a young teenager far too often for me to be comfortable with the idea of her having sex with grown men, much less having group sex. Fortunately, there aren't that many scenes, and since they were short, they were easy to skim.
The vanity, meanwhile, is definitely part of why I was so engrossed in all the parts of the book where she had her clothes on. Sure, I've read (and typically hated) egotistical protagonists before, but there's something about the way she's so forthright and brazenly self-important that I can't look away from it.
Wasn’t it nice of me to try and help? I got the feeling Sir Forrest wasn’t quick with praise, but I liked praise a lot, and it was driving me nuts.
This was strictly business, I mean, until he expressed the proper level of excitement that he had basically gotten to kidnap Istim’s town celebrity.
I was annoyed because my guardian’s smexy golden eyes had barely even looked at me.
I wanted to be pissed off at Niko. I should be, right? He wasn’t treating me the proper respect and deference due to a priestess!
"Did you sleep, my pet?"
"I’m not a pet."
"All right, I see. You’re that kind of girl."
"The kind of girl who doesn’t want to be your pet? Yes. Exactly. I’m very important."
"You’re easy to love."
"Aw, well…yeah."
"Yeah?" He snorted.
"Sure, I was selected to be a Strawberry Girl, I know I’m charming."
"It’s—it’s too late. You need to protect the elders… They’ve been here for centuries. Priestesses come and go." That sounded really brave, didn’t it? Damn, I was brave.
This is the woman destined to save the world, folks!
In spite of the significant levels of vanity (or maybe slightly in addition to...), I can relate to Phoebe a bit.
A) She's very food-oriented.
Creepy, but her stew was good. After all those beans and grains, the big chunks of sausage and different vegetables were heavenly.
Reluctantly, I took out the stone. Gilbert looked at Rin anxiously. The prince’s arms were crossed. Was I the only one who was going to eat this stew no matter what the conversation?
Now even I had lost my taste for the stew. Well, actually, I’d finished the bowl, so it was convenient.
Keep in mind, the point of this scene was to reveal to her second guardian who he is and why he's important, but equally as important to Phoebe is making sure she gets to eat. I can relate.
B) She does not like the sight of old-man feet.
[A]pparently sandals were in? I wasn’t so sure about that one. Some feet were better left covered up, especially the feet of rich old men.
I completely agree!
C) She wants authority, but then doesn't know what to do with it.
"Wait a minute, this is my very survival and the fate of the whole continent we’re talking about," I said. "I’m not going to take a decision like that lightly."
"Then, tell us what you think," Forrest said.
"Um…" Actually, I really didn’t want to make the decision at all. I just wanted to be taken seriously. I guess the problem with being taken seriously is that you have to do things. Damnit.
I will give Phoebe credit for being genuinely bothered by the fact that she has a very passive role in saving the world - she states a couple of times that she's disappointed her purpose is simply to impart power upon the guardians, not wield any herself, and despite the fact that there are very few other women in the book, she never shows signs of being immediately hostile towards any of them, and in fact, on several occasions has a protective affinity towards them.
"Maybe she’s stronger than you think," I said, feeling some sympathy for all girls who were aggressively protected.
Hell yeah, I'll take a vain brat standing up for women!
Amidst all the brain-melting inner dialogue and painful exchanges between characters, occasionally there is a well-written line that makes me wonder if they're flukes or if the rest is intentionally terrible. About half of these moments can be attributed to Forrest, so maybe it's simply my natural draw to the gruff, moody types that's coloring my opinion, but I legitimately stopped and took note (in a good way) when I read them.
"What I’m trying to say is, this isn’t a dalliance. It’s more like a marriage. And if you were my wife, I would give you something better than a hovel with a creaky bed for your wedding night. That’s how I was brought up."
What a sweet, precious babe!
It was like trying to compare a delicious roast to chocolate—how could you? It would be equally tragic to never taste either.
This is essentially 90% of why I read reverse harem novels. I like a complete meal.
It’s like plunging into a volcano and being reborn as a fire god.
"I can protect you from everything but fate," Forrest said gently.
"I have pulled some strings and my long time colleague Sully the Moccasin is waiting for us to get in the Temple of Stones through the old sewer."
"There is not one reassuring word in that entire sentence," Sir Forrest said.
I honestly really loved reading this, even though it is obviously hot garbage. I cannot stress enough that I absolutely cannot recommend this to anyone, but I also want everyone to read it and talk about it with me. I know it's unhealthy. It might make me a worse person for indulging in such base urges. But in the end I figure, at least it's not meth, right?
First, it's FULL of anachronisms. From the cover and synopsis I was expecting a high fantasy romance adventure, albeit a cheesy one. And it was that... Sort of... But it was also overflowing with 20th & 21st Century slang and turns of phrase that made it really difficult to feel the seriousness of their mission.
"Craaap," I said, which was really an insufficient response. "Craaaaaaaap. I know where this is going."
Between a high-strung cat and a high-strung man, I took it upon myself to be the chill member of the party [...] Some of the safe houses were pretty grungy.
I definitely do not expect to see words like "crap," "chill," or "grungy" used in this way in a fantasy setting.
Capamere was about fifty gazillion miles from Empero. Or, like, two hundred. Same difference on foot…
This is how Phoebe talks through the whole book. Made up modern words, exaggeration, "like" thrown in any which way. If you can't handle that, get out now because this is only a few chapters in, and it does not get better.
Forrest was clamoring to his feet, grumbling a wide array of curses while brushing the remnants of cigarette butts off his clothes.
I am endlessly amused that what little world-building there is in this story includes the fact that cigarette butts exist, and thus by extension I'm assuming so do cigarettes. We have no idea how the magic works, what it really does, or how it can help them do anything, but I know there's probably lung cancer.
He scratched his head, nudging his feathered cap. Of course he had a feathered cap. I mean, bards be bardin’.
Yeah... You can't even be surprised by the time this line shows up. It totally fits in the context of everything else you know so far.
And on the subject of the bard... While homosexuality seems to be normal, accepted, and sometimes expected, apparently bisexuality does not exist in this world.
"I was always attracted to men," he said. "And others tend to assume that as well. I mean, bardic college, you know—it is a hotspot of homosexuality."
"Yeah," I said. "When I was in the troupe, we always had a lot of gay guys around. Some of the musicians…and a lot of the fans."
"But I was always deeply drawn to women. My friends tried to offer explanations; oh, Gilbert, you just admire their beauty, maybe you should try cross dressing, or maybe you are looking for a mother figure…but surely you aren’t sexually attracted to them? But—I was. Sort of."
You can be attracted to anyone, my dude! And that's totally okay! Major points deducted for bi erasure.
Another thing of note - there's a flying cat. Now, ordinarily I am all about animal gimmicks, but in this case, we never really get to know much about her except that she's rare. So rare, it's worth 4 distinct characters commenting on.
"And Wretch."
"Wretch?"
"My flying cat?" I glared at him. He had to be playing dumb. It was hard to miss Wretch. Flying cats were very rare to begin with. (Phoebe)
"Winged cats are very rare," he said. (Forrest)
"Winged cats are rare," he said. (Gilbert)
"All winged cats are black," he said. "I suppose you’ve never seen one." (Niko)
Did y'all get that? Winged cats are rare. The message was subtle, so I want to be sure nobody missed it. Other than exist to be commented on, all Wretch really gets to do is squirm in Phoebe's arms when she's not allowed to fight monsters, though . Of course, we can't waste time on that fact because there's sex to be had. Really not-entertaining sex, at that.
I think I was so disinterested in the "steamy" scenes because there wasn't anything amusing about them - they were short, there was very little preamble to them, there weren't any funny lines, it did not sound like good sex, and if I'm completely honest, it was difficult for me to see Phoebe as a sexual character. She is incredibly vain and notably immature...
"Ooh…like a date?" That sounded awesome, actually. If I had to be with four men, I should get four times the dates, right? So far it had been zero dates.
"No way. Noodles? Noodles are probably my favorite food. My mom never makes noodles. She says they’re too much work. In fact, the first time I had noodles—" He gave me a look that said, Please don’t say the word ‘noodles’ this many times.
I was starting to feel really in over my head now. I felt like I could either start screaming, or just stare at him with my mouth slightly open like a hick. So I did that for a minute. The staring. Not the screaming.
She comes off as a young teenager far too often for me to be comfortable with the idea of her having sex with grown men, much less having group sex. Fortunately, there aren't that many scenes, and since they were short, they were easy to skim.
The vanity, meanwhile, is definitely part of why I was so engrossed in all the parts of the book where she had her clothes on. Sure, I've read (and typically hated) egotistical protagonists before, but there's something about the way she's so forthright and brazenly self-important that I can't look away from it.
Wasn’t it nice of me to try and help? I got the feeling Sir Forrest wasn’t quick with praise, but I liked praise a lot, and it was driving me nuts.
This was strictly business, I mean, until he expressed the proper level of excitement that he had basically gotten to kidnap Istim’s town celebrity.
I was annoyed because my guardian’s smexy golden eyes had barely even looked at me.
I wanted to be pissed off at Niko. I should be, right? He wasn’t treating me the proper respect and deference due to a priestess!
"Did you sleep, my pet?"
"I’m not a pet."
"All right, I see. You’re that kind of girl."
"The kind of girl who doesn’t want to be your pet? Yes. Exactly. I’m very important."
"You’re easy to love."
"Aw, well…yeah."
"Yeah?" He snorted.
"Sure, I was selected to be a Strawberry Girl, I know I’m charming."
"It’s—it’s too late. You need to protect the elders… They’ve been here for centuries. Priestesses come and go." That sounded really brave, didn’t it? Damn, I was brave.
This is the woman destined to save the world, folks!
In spite of the significant levels of vanity (or maybe slightly in addition to...), I can relate to Phoebe a bit.
A) She's very food-oriented.
Creepy, but her stew was good. After all those beans and grains, the big chunks of sausage and different vegetables were heavenly.
Reluctantly, I took out the stone. Gilbert looked at Rin anxiously. The prince’s arms were crossed. Was I the only one who was going to eat this stew no matter what the conversation?
Now even I had lost my taste for the stew. Well, actually, I’d finished the bowl, so it was convenient.
Keep in mind, the point of this scene was to reveal to her second guardian who he is and why he's important, but equally as important to Phoebe is making sure she gets to eat. I can relate.
B) She does not like the sight of old-man feet.
[A]pparently sandals were in? I wasn’t so sure about that one. Some feet were better left covered up, especially the feet of rich old men.
I completely agree!
C) She wants authority, but then doesn't know what to do with it.
"Wait a minute, this is my very survival and the fate of the whole continent we’re talking about," I said. "I’m not going to take a decision like that lightly."
"Then, tell us what you think," Forrest said.
"Um…" Actually, I really didn’t want to make the decision at all. I just wanted to be taken seriously. I guess the problem with being taken seriously is that you have to do things. Damnit.
I will give Phoebe credit for being genuinely bothered by the fact that she has a very passive role in saving the world - she states a couple of times that she's disappointed her purpose is simply to impart power upon the guardians, not wield any herself, and despite the fact that there are very few other women in the book, she never shows signs of being immediately hostile towards any of them, and in fact, on several occasions has a protective affinity towards them.
"Maybe she’s stronger than you think," I said, feeling some sympathy for all girls who were aggressively protected.
Hell yeah, I'll take a vain brat standing up for women!
Amidst all the brain-melting inner dialogue and painful exchanges between characters, occasionally there is a well-written line that makes me wonder if they're flukes or if the rest is intentionally terrible. About half of these moments can be attributed to Forrest, so maybe it's simply my natural draw to the gruff, moody types that's coloring my opinion, but I legitimately stopped and took note (in a good way) when I read them.
"What I’m trying to say is, this isn’t a dalliance. It’s more like a marriage. And if you were my wife, I would give you something better than a hovel with a creaky bed for your wedding night. That’s how I was brought up."
What a sweet, precious babe!
It was like trying to compare a delicious roast to chocolate—how could you? It would be equally tragic to never taste either.
This is essentially 90% of why I read reverse harem novels. I like a complete meal.
It’s like plunging into a volcano and being reborn as a fire god.
"I can protect you from everything but fate," Forrest said gently.
"I have pulled some strings and my long time colleague Sully the Moccasin is waiting for us to get in the Temple of Stones through the old sewer."
"There is not one reassuring word in that entire sentence," Sir Forrest said.
I honestly really loved reading this, even though it is obviously hot garbage. I cannot stress enough that I absolutely cannot recommend this to anyone, but I also want everyone to read it and talk about it with me. I know it's unhealthy. It might make me a worse person for indulging in such base urges. But in the end I figure, at least it's not meth, right?
April 26, 2024
3.5 stars, rounded up because there's humor throughout. Series fantasy fiction. Adult.
This is a somewhat quirky, wacky fantasy with romance ... well, sort of romance. Well, yes, there's romance, but not your ordinary romance, and with decidedly adult content.
Phoebe used to be what was called a Strawberry Girl, part of a troupe of performers who traveled around the country entertaining people in cities and villages along the way. That was a few years ago. She's a young woman now, and has been home in her own village, Istim, for a few years. But having once been a member of the troupe, she's still a celebrity in her own village, and the people like to hear her sing at festivals. Today, when she stands up for her performance in the village square, suddenly everyone runs away as a flying monster of some kind swoops down toward her. One person doesn't run away, Sir Forrest, a retired soldier, who cleaves the monster in two. Then he proceeds to inform Phoebe that her priestess powers are awakening and the monsters sense it, so she'll have to come with him. Her mother protests, but only a little. Apparently she's known Phoebe was to be a priestess for some time but wanted her to have a normal life for a while. Sir Forrest insists they have to leave in a hurry. He instructs Phoebe to read a book about priestesses and their guardians, and to pack very little. One thing Phoebe insists on taking with her is her flying black cat, Wretch.
I know! I thought it seemed like a hokey beginning, but as I read, and things began to happen pretty quickly, and the humor and almost Princess Bride-like, irreverent silliness of it washed over me, I got caught up and had to continue. The language is casual, the slang almost modern, and it's a bit hard to pin down this fantasy world. It's kind of a cross between medieval and steampunk.
This is a reverse harem story, which is a trope I wasn't at all familiar with until reading this book. It's also not at all chaste, which is a 180-degree divergence from my usual preferred reading. It's also not a standalone, but part of a trilogy, and the ending leaves the reader wanting to know what happens next. So don't pick this one up unless you intend to read the series, or you'll be disappointed or angry. But all three are published books, so you won't have to wait long for the next installment. Also, warning, these books were written in a hurry, and there are typos.
I'm surprised that I enjoy this type of fiction, but the story moves along quickly, and I now need to know how this trilogy turns out.
But why did I begin to read this book to begin with, when it's so different from my usual fare? Well, I watch YouTube a lot, and the author's channel (The Cozy Creative) came up in suggestions on my feed there. I enjoy her video content, and especially her somewhat quirky and yet cozy personality, so I decided to try one of her books. I'm glad I did. What a fun author.
This is a somewhat quirky, wacky fantasy with romance ... well, sort of romance. Well, yes, there's romance, but not your ordinary romance, and with decidedly adult content.
Phoebe used to be what was called a Strawberry Girl, part of a troupe of performers who traveled around the country entertaining people in cities and villages along the way. That was a few years ago. She's a young woman now, and has been home in her own village, Istim, for a few years. But having once been a member of the troupe, she's still a celebrity in her own village, and the people like to hear her sing at festivals. Today, when she stands up for her performance in the village square, suddenly everyone runs away as a flying monster of some kind swoops down toward her. One person doesn't run away, Sir Forrest, a retired soldier, who cleaves the monster in two. Then he proceeds to inform Phoebe that her priestess powers are awakening and the monsters sense it, so she'll have to come with him. Her mother protests, but only a little. Apparently she's known Phoebe was to be a priestess for some time but wanted her to have a normal life for a while. Sir Forrest insists they have to leave in a hurry. He instructs Phoebe to read a book about priestesses and their guardians, and to pack very little. One thing Phoebe insists on taking with her is her flying black cat, Wretch.
I know! I thought it seemed like a hokey beginning, but as I read, and things began to happen pretty quickly, and the humor and almost Princess Bride-like, irreverent silliness of it washed over me, I got caught up and had to continue. The language is casual, the slang almost modern, and it's a bit hard to pin down this fantasy world. It's kind of a cross between medieval and steampunk.
This is a reverse harem story, which is a trope I wasn't at all familiar with until reading this book. It's also not at all chaste, which is a 180-degree divergence from my usual preferred reading. It's also not a standalone, but part of a trilogy, and the ending leaves the reader wanting to know what happens next. So don't pick this one up unless you intend to read the series, or you'll be disappointed or angry. But all three are published books, so you won't have to wait long for the next installment. Also, warning, these books were written in a hurry, and there are typos.
I'm surprised that I enjoy this type of fiction, but the story moves along quickly, and I now need to know how this trilogy turns out.
But why did I begin to read this book to begin with, when it's so different from my usual fare? Well, I watch YouTube a lot, and the author's channel (The Cozy Creative) came up in suggestions on my feed there. I enjoy her video content, and especially her somewhat quirky and yet cozy personality, so I decided to try one of her books. I'm glad I did. What a fun author.
October 10, 2021
Little silly, lot of fun
Phoebe is a little more traveled than the usual small town girl but that doesn't mean she is ready for what's coming for her. Singing as a Strawberry Girl is a lot different than being The Priestess. First of all, the pressure, right? Because having 4 guardians and being the 1 thing that powers them to be able to save the whole realm? Terrifying. Also a little undignified. Being the human equivalent of a battery pack, don't even mention the rituals needed, isn't as glamorous as it sounds. But, she and her hidden knight (she thought he was just a retired soldier needing solitude), and winged cat are about to head on a journey for the books.
Spoilers ahead.
I've read this before but didn't leave a review. I just finished rereading it bec I needed a little lighthearted read after a few heavies back to back. The story uses a lot of slang, that somehow even though they're in a sort of magical bronze age, seems to fit. Phoebe is not impressed with her lot of being a battery that 4 guys get to "plug in to" to power up. It doesn't help that her 1st guardian is jealous, her 2nd is bi and already has a male partner he doesn't want to leave, her 3rd is a thief and the 4th doesn't want a thing to do with her. Talk about a mixed bag. We have an evil emperor, an army at his command, a prince in hiding, a disillusioned knight, a thief turned escort turned bard, a thief turned matchmaker, a little flying cat with a huge attitude, monsters that seem to be more than just monsters, a commander that is fighting for the wrong side unknowingly, conniving priests, mysterious fables that may have se truth and a legend that seems too big for a small town girl who sings to sell cabbages. The romance, such as it is, is a little rickety starting off. The scenes come more of obligation to this prophecy than emotional bondings, but the journey is what brings them together. And humor is woven through the whole thing lol.
Phoebe is a little more traveled than the usual small town girl but that doesn't mean she is ready for what's coming for her. Singing as a Strawberry Girl is a lot different than being The Priestess. First of all, the pressure, right? Because having 4 guardians and being the 1 thing that powers them to be able to save the whole realm? Terrifying. Also a little undignified. Being the human equivalent of a battery pack, don't even mention the rituals needed, isn't as glamorous as it sounds. But, she and her hidden knight (she thought he was just a retired soldier needing solitude), and winged cat are about to head on a journey for the books.
Spoilers ahead.
I've read this before but didn't leave a review. I just finished rereading it bec I needed a little lighthearted read after a few heavies back to back. The story uses a lot of slang, that somehow even though they're in a sort of magical bronze age, seems to fit. Phoebe is not impressed with her lot of being a battery that 4 guys get to "plug in to" to power up. It doesn't help that her 1st guardian is jealous, her 2nd is bi and already has a male partner he doesn't want to leave, her 3rd is a thief and the 4th doesn't want a thing to do with her. Talk about a mixed bag. We have an evil emperor, an army at his command, a prince in hiding, a disillusioned knight, a thief turned escort turned bard, a thief turned matchmaker, a little flying cat with a huge attitude, monsters that seem to be more than just monsters, a commander that is fighting for the wrong side unknowingly, conniving priests, mysterious fables that may have se truth and a legend that seems too big for a small town girl who sings to sell cabbages. The romance, such as it is, is a little rickety starting off. The scenes come more of obligation to this prophecy than emotional bondings, but the journey is what brings them together. And humor is woven through the whole thing lol.
June 26, 2023
4.5 stars
While a great and interesting plot, i didnt fully connect to the characters. I enjoyed reading the story and didnt stuggle to keep going, i wasnt that invested it in. The MF could do with some improvement in my eyes but shes not a smippering wimp which is always a plus. The MLs could do with more depth and connecting moments with the MF.
While a great and interesting plot, i didnt fully connect to the characters. I enjoyed reading the story and didnt stuggle to keep going, i wasnt that invested it in. The MF could do with some improvement in my eyes but shes not a smippering wimp which is always a plus. The MLs could do with more depth and connecting moments with the MF.
April 17, 2023
Phoebe was a Strawberry Girl, a young, above-average, pretty girl who could sing. She was selected and toured the kingdom for a year in an armored caravan. She was a member of one of four all-female entertainment troops whose members were aged sixteen to twenty but no more and no less. That was then. This is now. She had her year in the limelight. She longed for it to return and not to be a shadow of the past. She could barely fit into the dress she wore when she toured. Her mom said she was no longer a girl but a woman. But she was the main attraction in a village of about three-hundred people. She was the “it” girl because she was once famous and toured with the Strawberry Girls. As she climbed on the stage, the local talent played as best as they could so she could sing, but a monster who could fly caused the crowd to flee in fear. It landed near the stage and started crawling toward her, and in her rush to escape, she saw a flash of a blade, and the monster was dead. It was Mr. Argrave’s blade that dispatched the creature. Of course, he was a retired soldier, but come to find out, he was a knight named Sir Forrest and the first of the four guardians to be with her. She was supposed to be with them and give them the power to defend the gate from those monsters and men who want the monsters to roam the land. She never really paid attention to him, but now being this close to him, she noticed that under that scraggly beard, he was quite handsome, had well-defined muscles, and hardly any fat. He gave her a book that told her of her duties to the kingdom and the four guardians. When she opened it, the book had drawings of how she would be with multiple men at once, her guardians. These images freaked her out, but on the other hand, they said she was ready, and yes, she was ready.
An interesting premise for a woman to need a reverse harem, and in the case of our heroine, she wants to be the center of attention. So I have decided not to talk about her heroes because I can’t think of a way to describe their interactions without them becoming spoilers. But the interactions are interesting and maybe could have gone deeper. The world-building gives you enough information to know the political and social status, and the description surrounding the protagonist’s location provides a fuzzy around the edges view.
WARNING: ADULT SCENES: If you like adult romantic scenes in a fictional fantasy setting with an epic adventure the protagonist undertakes, then you will like this book. I give this saga four stars out of five stars.
An interesting premise for a woman to need a reverse harem, and in the case of our heroine, she wants to be the center of attention. So I have decided not to talk about her heroes because I can’t think of a way to describe their interactions without them becoming spoilers. But the interactions are interesting and maybe could have gone deeper. The world-building gives you enough information to know the political and social status, and the description surrounding the protagonist’s location provides a fuzzy around the edges view.
WARNING: ADULT SCENES: If you like adult romantic scenes in a fictional fantasy setting with an epic adventure the protagonist undertakes, then you will like this book. I give this saga four stars out of five stars.
January 28, 2018
Liked it
This book started off pretty slow, but once it picked up I found it to be pretty entertaining. I felt like there was a good bit of info on each character, especially Phoebe, but I didn't connect well with any of them. They lacked an emotional depth that would have made the book much better. There were some scenes that should have left me feeling raw, but didn't hit the mark. I liked the idea of the monsters and I also liked the mystery of not truly knowing who's the bad guy at the end. I also found that I liked the tension amongst the men, it made it even better when they came together.
I saw that the author mentioned in her note that there would be side stories available about the men and I actually think putting it into the books would be just as good. It would be a way to give Phoebe a better understanding of the men while also giving the readers much needed depth.
The ending was pretty good. It definitely gave me more to look forward to. I think this series has the potential to get to 5 stars, but for me, it's not quite there yet. I will be reading the rest of the series and I would recommend it to others.
This book started off pretty slow, but once it picked up I found it to be pretty entertaining. I felt like there was a good bit of info on each character, especially Phoebe, but I didn't connect well with any of them. They lacked an emotional depth that would have made the book much better. There were some scenes that should have left me feeling raw, but didn't hit the mark. I liked the idea of the monsters and I also liked the mystery of not truly knowing who's the bad guy at the end. I also found that I liked the tension amongst the men, it made it even better when they came together.
I saw that the author mentioned in her note that there would be side stories available about the men and I actually think putting it into the books would be just as good. It would be a way to give Phoebe a better understanding of the men while also giving the readers much needed depth.
The ending was pretty good. It definitely gave me more to look forward to. I think this series has the potential to get to 5 stars, but for me, it's not quite there yet. I will be reading the rest of the series and I would recommend it to others.
November 19, 2018
This book took me by surprise!! I love Phoebe and her inner ramblings. From the first page you know that there is something "more" to this world that the author created. When you first hear about the "old" soldier that showed up to retire in Phoebe's little town I thought she was speaking about an old man. Then when you finally meet Mr. Argrave you realize how very wrong you are. I loved him even if he is a bit standoffish and I enjoyed getting to know him throughout the book. I loved how she finds her guardians. The world described in this story is scary and full of intrigue. I cannot wait for book #2 and find out more about Phoebe and her guardians. The heat is just right and I'm hoping that the next book brings about a little more of it. Looking forward to reading more about Phoebe and her guardians. If you like a great fantasy RH then this series will be for you.
February 1, 2021
Missed opportunity
This is a story about a young country bumpkin that fate has decided should save the world. Pretty common premise with some twists and turns along the road.
I never know if I should start with the good news or the bad news... but here we go
Bad news:
The characters.... I did not like the characters at all. The plot dragged on with negligible forward momentum, too much mystery with not enough answers.
The MFC was regularly tstl. Phoebe had a hard time putting things together, often, even seemingly obvious things. She also acknowledged her failure to pay attention or listen to others as if it was too much of a bother to even attempt. Its good to have flawed characters but they've gotta be likable and she wasn't.
There was zero growth of character for Phoebe throughout the whole book. She was awkward and unintelligent with no signs of improvement or change. It actually felt like it got worse rather than better.
Also, considering how adult her tasks were, she came across as incredibly immature and young. I had a hard time with the steamy scenes due to the MFCs immaturity. To make that matter worse the first male love interest we meet is much older. If you are a fan of age gap romance you may enjoy this fact.
I won't go too much into the rest of the guardians because spoilers but I was not a fan of them as people either. They were okish at best.
The journey dragged on for longer than it probably should have. I stopped around 40 or 50% because it was like slogging through mud. It had very little forward momentum on any of the things that mattered.
By the end the most pressing questions are still unknown, and I feel like there have been little to no hints or foreshadowing of the answers. That left me very unsatisfied.
The good news
The concept was pretty interesting and at the end something really unexpected and exciting happens with some of the guardians. I really liked the ideas and the possibilities that this book presented but none of those things were realized by the end. I have a lot of questions still.
So I guess the sum up is, there were some really great ideas but the characterization ruined it and the lack of forward momentum made it really hard to get through. I was left unsatisfied by the unanswered questions and i'm not willing to waste more time on the drawn out boring bits just to have my questions answered in the next book. Was it an ok book? Sure I guess... but it could have been phenomenal.
This is a story about a young country bumpkin that fate has decided should save the world. Pretty common premise with some twists and turns along the road.
I never know if I should start with the good news or the bad news... but here we go
Bad news:
The characters.... I did not like the characters at all. The plot dragged on with negligible forward momentum, too much mystery with not enough answers.
The MFC was regularly tstl. Phoebe had a hard time putting things together, often, even seemingly obvious things. She also acknowledged her failure to pay attention or listen to others as if it was too much of a bother to even attempt. Its good to have flawed characters but they've gotta be likable and she wasn't.
There was zero growth of character for Phoebe throughout the whole book. She was awkward and unintelligent with no signs of improvement or change. It actually felt like it got worse rather than better.
Also, considering how adult her tasks were, she came across as incredibly immature and young. I had a hard time with the steamy scenes due to the MFCs immaturity. To make that matter worse the first male love interest we meet is much older. If you are a fan of age gap romance you may enjoy this fact.
I won't go too much into the rest of the guardians because spoilers but I was not a fan of them as people either. They were okish at best.
The journey dragged on for longer than it probably should have. I stopped around 40 or 50% because it was like slogging through mud. It had very little forward momentum on any of the things that mattered.
By the end the most pressing questions are still unknown, and I feel like there have been little to no hints or foreshadowing of the answers. That left me very unsatisfied.
The good news
The concept was pretty interesting and at the end something really unexpected and exciting happens with some of the guardians. I really liked the ideas and the possibilities that this book presented but none of those things were realized by the end. I have a lot of questions still.
So I guess the sum up is, there were some really great ideas but the characterization ruined it and the lack of forward momentum made it really hard to get through. I was left unsatisfied by the unanswered questions and i'm not willing to waste more time on the drawn out boring bits just to have my questions answered in the next book. Was it an ok book? Sure I guess... but it could have been phenomenal.
May 26, 2020
It's as bad as the other reviews say
I have to start this with the preface that I love RH novels, I'm thrilled with M/M storylines (though none happens in this book), and fantasy/paranormal/sci-fi are my preferred genres. I am also way too nice when giving book reviews and always find the best in a book. All that being said, this book stinks.
I read all of the negative reviews and completely ignored them because I like all of the subplot ideas. This story must be outside of people's comfort zone, right? Nope. I should have listened and saved myself a couple of hours. This book was beyond subpar. Not only was the storyline awkward and underdeveloped, it was just plain weird. The magic of the priestess in this story revolves around sex (which sounds great, right?) but none of the characters, including the FMC, are interested in this destiny. One of the guardians is gay and in a committed relationship when he's told he has to "make magic" with the FMC and he and his partner shrug it off because it's fate. So far, their relationship does nothing to build the storyline (no M/M, unfortunately) but instead, we have this awkward "is this cheating?" subplot for 75% of the story. None of the love interests are particularly likable, the FMC is weak and whiny, and the villain was so poorly flushed out that it was difficult to feel anything but indifferent about him. This book also desperately needs an editor. While it's not the worse indie editing I've seen, there are blatant typos, errors, poor sentence structures, and plot failures that I'm surprised the beta readers didn't catch any of it.
So, if all of that is wrong with the story, why am I giving it two stars? Because the sex scenes were pretty good and the concept was really, really interesting. Had the author gotten some good alpha/beta reader feedback, it might have been excellent. However, I cannot recommend this book and will not be continuing the series.
I have to start this with the preface that I love RH novels, I'm thrilled with M/M storylines (though none happens in this book), and fantasy/paranormal/sci-fi are my preferred genres. I am also way too nice when giving book reviews and always find the best in a book. All that being said, this book stinks.
I read all of the negative reviews and completely ignored them because I like all of the subplot ideas. This story must be outside of people's comfort zone, right? Nope. I should have listened and saved myself a couple of hours. This book was beyond subpar. Not only was the storyline awkward and underdeveloped, it was just plain weird. The magic of the priestess in this story revolves around sex (which sounds great, right?) but none of the characters, including the FMC, are interested in this destiny. One of the guardians is gay and in a committed relationship when he's told he has to "make magic" with the FMC and he and his partner shrug it off because it's fate. So far, their relationship does nothing to build the storyline (no M/M, unfortunately) but instead, we have this awkward "is this cheating?" subplot for 75% of the story. None of the love interests are particularly likable, the FMC is weak and whiny, and the villain was so poorly flushed out that it was difficult to feel anything but indifferent about him. This book also desperately needs an editor. While it's not the worse indie editing I've seen, there are blatant typos, errors, poor sentence structures, and plot failures that I'm surprised the beta readers didn't catch any of it.
So, if all of that is wrong with the story, why am I giving it two stars? Because the sex scenes were pretty good and the concept was really, really interesting. Had the author gotten some good alpha/beta reader feedback, it might have been excellent. However, I cannot recommend this book and will not be continuing the series.
September 3, 2018
I made the mistake of reading the basically fourth instalment (Glass Princess) first - or maybe it was mistake to simply pick up the book in the first place but honestly... I have no regrets.
The whole series is one of those that make you doubt your taste in literature and doubt the skills of the author but that you are still unable to put down. And let me not count how many smiles and emotions this thing wrought from me...
I mean, I just spent the WHOLE day going from one book to another, barely stopping to do those pesky things like eat drink or stand up from the couch/bed, it was simply ... riveting is not the right world but I had troubles putting it down and that is not always the case even with more "serious" books (this one I consider quite a good example of guilty pleasures).
But, while some elements and scenes felt quite odd and foreign, there are more than few things I respected: the characters were very well made (just you try making five distinct love interests), there were many unexpected turns, their life and love life was not easy, the politics (the world), the society, the magic felt thought through... basically, I had really low expectations and thought this will be just another attempt at making a risque romance book into something that it is not, where the classification fantasy is more of a code for someone´s dirty fantasy but this was an actual story and yeah, I can admit I enjoyed it and it was good and the author has definitely some skill.
And one thing I have to mention: moe than dragons this series/fantasy world has WINGED CATS.
You heard me. WINGED CATS.
It might be a silly detail for most but I adore cats and I adore everything winged so winged cats are like a perfect specie dor me. A lot of cookie points just for that fact alone and for how they were portrayed here.
The whole series is one of those that make you doubt your taste in literature and doubt the skills of the author but that you are still unable to put down. And let me not count how many smiles and emotions this thing wrought from me...
I mean, I just spent the WHOLE day going from one book to another, barely stopping to do those pesky things like eat drink or stand up from the couch/bed, it was simply ... riveting is not the right world but I had troubles putting it down and that is not always the case even with more "serious" books (this one I consider quite a good example of guilty pleasures).
But, while some elements and scenes felt quite odd and foreign, there are more than few things I respected: the characters were very well made (just you try making five distinct love interests), there were many unexpected turns, their life and love life was not easy, the politics (the world), the society, the magic felt thought through... basically, I had really low expectations and thought this will be just another attempt at making a risque romance book into something that it is not, where the classification fantasy is more of a code for someone´s dirty fantasy but this was an actual story and yeah, I can admit I enjoyed it and it was good and the author has definitely some skill.
And one thing I have to mention: moe than dragons this series/fantasy world has WINGED CATS.
You heard me. WINGED CATS.
It might be a silly detail for most but I adore cats and I adore everything winged so winged cats are like a perfect specie dor me. A lot of cookie points just for that fact alone and for how they were portrayed here.
April 23, 2024
I had no clue what I was getting into with this book but I absolutely love it!!!
It has awesome world building, humorous banter, spice, progressive themes & action.
In this world there are monsters that especially come out at night & a black army that says they are good but they seem to be colonizing the world one territory at a time.
There’s a re writing of history & a propaganda machine meant to keep the population placid.
There once was a woman who had 4 guardians 2 human & 2 daemon to bridge the gap between the humans & monsters.
That is until something happened, but a new woman comes into power every 5 years to try to recreate that magical bond either 4 guardians but the black army keeps finding the girls & we think they kill them.
Right now this book ends in a cliffhanger with our girl just finding her 4th guardian but he is the leader of the black army and I think someone knew what he would be and raised him to believe only in the propaganda. He’s also of a demon bloodline that he had no idea about until she unleashed his power. In his fear he pushed her away.
I can’t wait for the next book, I’m absolutely loving this series!!!
It has awesome world building, humorous banter, spice, progressive themes & action.
In this world there are monsters that especially come out at night & a black army that says they are good but they seem to be colonizing the world one territory at a time.
There’s a re writing of history & a propaganda machine meant to keep the population placid.
There once was a woman who had 4 guardians 2 human & 2 daemon to bridge the gap between the humans & monsters.
That is until something happened, but a new woman comes into power every 5 years to try to recreate that magical bond either 4 guardians but the black army keeps finding the girls & we think they kill them.
Right now this book ends in a cliffhanger with our girl just finding her 4th guardian but he is the leader of the black army and I think someone knew what he would be and raised him to believe only in the propaganda. He’s also of a demon bloodline that he had no idea about until she unleashed his power. In his fear he pushed her away.
I can’t wait for the next book, I’m absolutely loving this series!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 14, 2019
So there is a legend of a priestess and her guards who are able to protect the lands from monsters. Phoebe is the priestess of this generation and her guards have to protect her because the priestesses have all been murdered before they could fully come into their power. Oh, and to come into their power they need to have sex their guards, preferably more than one at a time. But it's ok because the sex also makes them stronger.
So this made me feel uncomfortable most of the time and it got worse when one h=of her guards was gay and was in a relationship when she found him. But, like many times before...I trudged on. Then this particular guard basically says that he thinks he was only interested in guys because he was waiting to meet her. And that really rubbed me the wrong way, it was just super unnecessary. Like people who say that being gay is a choice and you can just turn it on and off. I already wasn't really enjoying it and at this point I didn't feel like I needed to know the ending.
So this made me feel uncomfortable most of the time and it got worse when one h=of her guards was gay and was in a relationship when she found him. But, like many times before...I trudged on. Then this particular guard basically says that he thinks he was only interested in guys because he was waiting to meet her. And that really rubbed me the wrong way, it was just super unnecessary. Like people who say that being gay is a choice and you can just turn it on and off. I already wasn't really enjoying it and at this point I didn't feel like I needed to know the ending.
December 15, 2018
I purchased Priestess Awakened as part of the Guardians of the Sky and Shadow box set. I'll have to admit, this protagonist never drew me in. Phoebe seemed to easily distracted (often as I was reading, I mentally shouted "squirrel!" when she went off track), but I think it was the lack of conflict that made it so difficult to engage. The she and the men were so accepted of circumstances, so there was no tension or drawing out suspense. The author also had a hard time world-building, as she created a medieval-type world, but threw in weird mechanical things, and phrases (like soundtracks and dates- which felt too contemporary for the storyline). Small things cropped up such as grandma's age in one chapter was 98 and two chapters later was 95. The story had some really good moments and an interesting overall plot, but lacked complexity and attention to details. I shelved books 2 and 3 for possible read
June 8, 2018
The good:
Interesting concept, intriguing description, beautiful cover, and it was free. The fact that it cost me nothing is a serious bonus in this case. And I always hesitate to give a book one star because hey, this person wrote a book and put it out in the world and that takes work and guts and I respect both of those things.
The bad:
The writing was decent but never made it much above that. There's potential there for sure but needs some seasoning and more practice. Nowhere was this more evident than in the tone, which was super uneven. The plot was ok but the world-building was thin (normally I would forgive that since it's a romance novel and the bar is lower but I couldn't overlook it this time). And then came my pet peeve, which is modern language in a fantasy world. Can't handle it, it's like nails on a chalkboard for me.
Interesting concept, intriguing description, beautiful cover, and it was free. The fact that it cost me nothing is a serious bonus in this case. And I always hesitate to give a book one star because hey, this person wrote a book and put it out in the world and that takes work and guts and I respect both of those things.
The bad:
The writing was decent but never made it much above that. There's potential there for sure but needs some seasoning and more practice. Nowhere was this more evident than in the tone, which was super uneven. The plot was ok but the world-building was thin (normally I would forgive that since it's a romance novel and the bar is lower but I couldn't overlook it this time). And then came my pet peeve, which is modern language in a fantasy world. Can't handle it, it's like nails on a chalkboard for me.
March 15, 2018
This is the first in a new reverse harem series. Based in a steampunk/medieval themed world, where the priestess and her 4 guardians have to complete the ritual and save the world.
The character dynamics are interesting, as not all of the characters are willing to take up their fated roles for various reasons. This is set against a world where the emperor is trying to both military might and manipulation to take over. There are a number of characters where you're not entirely certain of their motives, and even at the end of the book - which is a cliffhanger - you're still not sure!
This is a fun read, and has enough to keep me wanting to come back for the next installment.
***I received a complimentary copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review***
The character dynamics are interesting, as not all of the characters are willing to take up their fated roles for various reasons. This is set against a world where the emperor is trying to both military might and manipulation to take over. There are a number of characters where you're not entirely certain of their motives, and even at the end of the book - which is a cliffhanger - you're still not sure!
This is a fun read, and has enough to keep me wanting to come back for the next installment.
***I received a complimentary copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review***
March 20, 2019
I normally don't like this genre. I was bored and it was free, which basically means I had low expectations for the story. I was pleasantly surprised. The world building was good. The characters are very distinct and I appreciate that because too often characters in this scenario blend together. It actually reminded me of an old anime I watched in high school, so there was some nostalgic emotion. I didn't like the use of modern language in a clearly fantasy setting (for example the juxtaposition of a character named Sir Forrest with the word "cool"). If you're in the mood for a quick entertaining read I'd say give it a go. The author has a story to tell and I think she does a good job with writing it.
August 7, 2020
3.5
Eh good enough :) Not absolutely amazing, but quite original.
I really enjoyed that it departed from usual RH clichés. First, not all guys are a band. Second, they have their own lives. They're even reluctant about this whole fate business. I loved that one of them actually is in a relationship, and a gay one at that! Yay for representation, and it's a nice touch to the plot. I also liked that the main character actually questions her role, and doesn't simply accept it like it so often happens in RH stories.
I was a bit disappointed that Abel turns out to be the fourth guardian because it is predictable. But I'm guessing it'll make a good plot for the next book.
All in all, a decent story, with quality steam too!
Eh good enough :) Not absolutely amazing, but quite original.
I really enjoyed that it departed from usual RH clichés. First, not all guys are a band. Second, they have their own lives. They're even reluctant about this whole fate business. I loved that one of them actually is in a relationship, and a gay one at that! Yay for representation, and it's a nice touch to the plot. I also liked that the main character actually questions her role, and doesn't simply accept it like it so often happens in RH stories.
I was a bit disappointed that Abel turns out to be the fourth guardian because it is predictable. But I'm guessing it'll make a good plot for the next book.
All in all, a decent story, with quality steam too!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 25, 2018
Good
Priestess awakened was an interesting story that started a little slow, but definitely picked up. Phoebe was a former "star" and fell into a boring life until one day when the monsters attacked and she was saved by one of her guardians. This story takes place in a fantasy kingdom with monsters, priestesses, and kings.
The intro to the characters was pretty good. Sometimes the dialogue didn't seem connected to the story, and I occasionally got confused on who or what was being talked about.
Overall I'm looking forward to the next book. The story was a different concept and the characters were enjoyable.
P. S. The book ends with a huge cliffhanger
Priestess awakened was an interesting story that started a little slow, but definitely picked up. Phoebe was a former "star" and fell into a boring life until one day when the monsters attacked and she was saved by one of her guardians. This story takes place in a fantasy kingdom with monsters, priestesses, and kings.
The intro to the characters was pretty good. Sometimes the dialogue didn't seem connected to the story, and I occasionally got confused on who or what was being talked about.
Overall I'm looking forward to the next book. The story was a different concept and the characters were enjoyable.
P. S. The book ends with a huge cliffhanger
March 1, 2018
This was an interesting rh. Phoebe finds out that she is the newest priestess of the gate. She may be able to push back the darkness with the help of four guardians. I like that she doesn't know who the guardians are and has to travel the country to find them with the help of her first guardian who found her. Since none of the men really know each other there is jealousy and a learning curve to her harem. Phoebe was funny and the way she gives her men extra power is different but I can't wait to read book 2.
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