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The Wolf of Oberhame #1-3
The Gladiator Queen: Complete Trilogy
In this epic low fantasy trilogy, one pampered little princess will discover that coming of age means a lot more than simply growing up. Fighting against the temptation of forbidden love, striving to survive the horrors of combat, and determined to save her country, the delicate girl in the fancy pink dress will become more than anyone expected.
She is the Gladiator Queen.
When We Were Kings:
Tossed into the gladiator arena, everyone expected the delicate girl in the fancy pink dress to be the first to die. Leyli had other plans. Surviving was at the top of her list. Revenge was a close second.
In the cell beside her, the Lion of Lenlochlien was impressed. The first day, they all cried. But this one was different. Her tears didn't slow her down, they just made her stronger, and when he looked in her eyes, he saw it. Her desperation was feral. This girl might be cornered, but the bitch was the kind that would bite.
He had no idea that he was about to become her best weapon. Leyli didn't just want to live through the games, she wanted to protect her father's throne, but to do that, she had to become someone else. She couldn't be the Princess of Norihame. The Lion had to make her a Wolf.
Chained side by side, he'll show her how to be a killer. She'll give him a reason to keep fighting. Together, they'll learn that it takes a friend to survive.
When We Were Dancing:
Leyli never wanted power, but her cousin's scheming left no other option. He'd killed her brother, trying to claim the throne for himself, and sold her off to be a gladiator, hoping to get rid of her. It didn't work. Now, she'll do whatever it takes to make sure Palino can't destroy the country her family fought so hard to keep safe.
On the sands of the arena, death was honest. In the palace, everything is different. The threats are veiled in fancy clothes and whispered rumors. Spies lay in wait around every corner, bribed with promises of power and wealth. To win, she has to keep her cousin far from succession. The best way is an heir of her own. That means a noble husband who won't kill her in her sleep and -- hopefully -- one who will ignore the hulking shadow of her best friend turned bodyguard.
The game is King of the Hill. The music for their dance is made of politics. Fate gave her a chance to change everything, but he's a fickle god. Leyli has to get this right. She may not be on the sands of the arena, but she's still fighting, and the Wolf of Oberhame will not be defeated.
When We Were Crowned:
With the crown safely on Leyli's head, her problems should've been over. Her country is safe. Her family is together. What more could a new Queen ask for?
Unfortunately, spending her mornings purging her stomach isn't it. Evidently, not even the Queen of Norihame is immune to morning sickness. Even worse, women in her country were expected to produce the next generation, not rule it. As soon as the men in court realize she's pregnant with the heir, they'll try to take away all the power she fought so hard to gain.
If that was all she had to worry about, things would be great.
But Rhia is closing in. The expansionist nation to the west has been seeking a trade alliance in violation of her father's peace treaty. Is this merely a misunderstanding between politicians, or is it the first hint of things to come? And why is one of the Senators saying the exact same thing her cousin cited as his reason for rebellion?
When all the pieces come together, Leyli realizes it's worse than she feared. Only one thing can save her country now, but that means putting herself - and her unborn child - in harm's way. Thankfully, she's got one thing going for her that Rhia will never expect.
She's a gladiator.
That means she doesn't fight fair.
She is the Gladiator Queen.
When We Were Kings:
Tossed into the gladiator arena, everyone expected the delicate girl in the fancy pink dress to be the first to die. Leyli had other plans. Surviving was at the top of her list. Revenge was a close second.
In the cell beside her, the Lion of Lenlochlien was impressed. The first day, they all cried. But this one was different. Her tears didn't slow her down, they just made her stronger, and when he looked in her eyes, he saw it. Her desperation was feral. This girl might be cornered, but the bitch was the kind that would bite.
He had no idea that he was about to become her best weapon. Leyli didn't just want to live through the games, she wanted to protect her father's throne, but to do that, she had to become someone else. She couldn't be the Princess of Norihame. The Lion had to make her a Wolf.
Chained side by side, he'll show her how to be a killer. She'll give him a reason to keep fighting. Together, they'll learn that it takes a friend to survive.
When We Were Dancing:
Leyli never wanted power, but her cousin's scheming left no other option. He'd killed her brother, trying to claim the throne for himself, and sold her off to be a gladiator, hoping to get rid of her. It didn't work. Now, she'll do whatever it takes to make sure Palino can't destroy the country her family fought so hard to keep safe.
On the sands of the arena, death was honest. In the palace, everything is different. The threats are veiled in fancy clothes and whispered rumors. Spies lay in wait around every corner, bribed with promises of power and wealth. To win, she has to keep her cousin far from succession. The best way is an heir of her own. That means a noble husband who won't kill her in her sleep and -- hopefully -- one who will ignore the hulking shadow of her best friend turned bodyguard.
The game is King of the Hill. The music for their dance is made of politics. Fate gave her a chance to change everything, but he's a fickle god. Leyli has to get this right. She may not be on the sands of the arena, but she's still fighting, and the Wolf of Oberhame will not be defeated.
When We Were Crowned:
With the crown safely on Leyli's head, her problems should've been over. Her country is safe. Her family is together. What more could a new Queen ask for?
Unfortunately, spending her mornings purging her stomach isn't it. Evidently, not even the Queen of Norihame is immune to morning sickness. Even worse, women in her country were expected to produce the next generation, not rule it. As soon as the men in court realize she's pregnant with the heir, they'll try to take away all the power she fought so hard to gain.
If that was all she had to worry about, things would be great.
But Rhia is closing in. The expansionist nation to the west has been seeking a trade alliance in violation of her father's peace treaty. Is this merely a misunderstanding between politicians, or is it the first hint of things to come? And why is one of the Senators saying the exact same thing her cousin cited as his reason for rebellion?
When all the pieces come together, Leyli realizes it's worse than she feared. Only one thing can save her country now, but that means putting herself - and her unborn child - in harm's way. Thankfully, she's got one thing going for her that Rhia will never expect.
She's a gladiator.
That means she doesn't fight fair.
1194 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 12, 2018
425 people are currently reading
242 people want to read
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September 15, 2018💝FREE on Amazon today (9/15/18)!💝
In this epic low fantasy trilogy, one pampered little princess will discover that coming of age means a lot more than simply growing up. Fighting against the temptation of forbidden love, striving to survive the horrors of combat, and determined to save her country, the delicate girl in the fancy pink dress will become more than anyone expected.
She is the Gladiator Queen.
When We Were Kings:
Tossed into the gladiator arena, everyone expected the delicate girl in the fancy pink dress to be the first to die. Leyli had other plans. Surviving was at the top of her list. Revenge was a close second.
In the cell beside her, the Lion of Lenlochlien was impressed. The first day, they all cried. But this one was different. Her tears didn't slow her down, they just made her stronger, and when he looked in her eyes, he saw it. Her desperation was feral. This girl might be cornered, but the bitch was the kind that would bite.
He had no idea that he was about to become her best weapon. Leyli didn't just want to live through the games, she wanted to protect her father's throne, but to do that, she had to become someone else. She couldn't be the Princess of Norihame. The Lion had to make her a Wolf.
Chained side by side, he'll show her how to be a killer. She'll give him a reason to keep fighting. Together, they'll learn that it takes a friend to survive.
When We Were Dancing:
Leyli never wanted power, but her cousin's scheming left no other option. He'd killed her brother, trying to claim the throne for himself, and sold her off to be a gladiator, hoping to get rid of her. It didn't work. Now, she'll do whatever it takes to make sure Palino can't destroy the country her family fought so hard to keep safe.
On the sands of the arena, death was honest. In the palace, everything is different. The threats are veiled in fancy clothes and whispered rumors. Spies lay in wait around every corner, bribed with promises of power and wealth. To win, she has to keep her cousin far from succession. The best way is an heir of her own. That means a noble husband who won't kill her in her sleep and -- hopefully -- one who will ignore the hulking shadow of her best friend turned bodyguard.
The game is King of the Hill. The music for their dance is made of politics. Fate gave her a chance to change everything, but he's a fickle god. Leyli has to get this right. She may not be on the sands of the arena, but she's still fighting, and the Wolf of Oberhame will not be defeated.
When We Were Crowned:
With the crown safely on Leyli's head, her problems should've been over. Her country is safe. Her family is together. What more could a new Queen ask for?
Unfortunately, spending her mornings purging her stomach isn't it. Evidently, not even the Queen of Norihame is immune to morning sickness. Even worse, women in her country were expected to produce the next generation, not rule it. As soon as the men in court realize she's pregnant with the heir, they'll try to take away all the power she fought so hard to gain.
If that was all she had to worry about, things would be great.
But Rhia is closing in. The expansionist nation to the west has been seeking a trade alliance in violation of her father's peace treaty. Is this merely a misunderstanding between politicians, or is it the first hint of things to come? And why is one of the Senators saying the exact same thing her cousin cited as his reason for rebellion?
When all the pieces come together, Leyli realizes it's worse than she feared.
In this epic low fantasy trilogy, one pampered little princess will discover that coming of age means a lot more than simply growing up. Fighting against the temptation of forbidden love, striving to survive the horrors of combat, and determined to save her country, the delicate girl in the fancy pink dress will become more than anyone expected.
She is the Gladiator Queen.
When We Were Kings:
Tossed into the gladiator arena, everyone expected the delicate girl in the fancy pink dress to be the first to die. Leyli had other plans. Surviving was at the top of her list. Revenge was a close second.
In the cell beside her, the Lion of Lenlochlien was impressed. The first day, they all cried. But this one was different. Her tears didn't slow her down, they just made her stronger, and when he looked in her eyes, he saw it. Her desperation was feral. This girl might be cornered, but the bitch was the kind that would bite.
He had no idea that he was about to become her best weapon. Leyli didn't just want to live through the games, she wanted to protect her father's throne, but to do that, she had to become someone else. She couldn't be the Princess of Norihame. The Lion had to make her a Wolf.
Chained side by side, he'll show her how to be a killer. She'll give him a reason to keep fighting. Together, they'll learn that it takes a friend to survive.
When We Were Dancing:
Leyli never wanted power, but her cousin's scheming left no other option. He'd killed her brother, trying to claim the throne for himself, and sold her off to be a gladiator, hoping to get rid of her. It didn't work. Now, she'll do whatever it takes to make sure Palino can't destroy the country her family fought so hard to keep safe.
On the sands of the arena, death was honest. In the palace, everything is different. The threats are veiled in fancy clothes and whispered rumors. Spies lay in wait around every corner, bribed with promises of power and wealth. To win, she has to keep her cousin far from succession. The best way is an heir of her own. That means a noble husband who won't kill her in her sleep and -- hopefully -- one who will ignore the hulking shadow of her best friend turned bodyguard.
The game is King of the Hill. The music for their dance is made of politics. Fate gave her a chance to change everything, but he's a fickle god. Leyli has to get this right. She may not be on the sands of the arena, but she's still fighting, and the Wolf of Oberhame will not be defeated.
When We Were Crowned:
With the crown safely on Leyli's head, her problems should've been over. Her country is safe. Her family is together. What more could a new Queen ask for?
Unfortunately, spending her mornings purging her stomach isn't it. Evidently, not even the Queen of Norihame is immune to morning sickness. Even worse, women in her country were expected to produce the next generation, not rule it. As soon as the men in court realize she's pregnant with the heir, they'll try to take away all the power she fought so hard to gain.
If that was all she had to worry about, things would be great.
But Rhia is closing in. The expansionist nation to the west has been seeking a trade alliance in violation of her father's peace treaty. Is this merely a misunderstanding between politicians, or is it the first hint of things to come? And why is one of the Senators saying the exact same thing her cousin cited as his reason for rebellion?
When all the pieces come together, Leyli realizes it's worse than she feared.
December 14, 2021
Amazing series.
This series was nothing like I initially expected it to be. i devoured these audiobooks and I just love the feel of this story. As usual, not only the main characters win me over, but also the secondary ones get great character arcs and I simply love it. The love and acceptance is so strong in this series!
This series was nothing like I initially expected it to be. i devoured these audiobooks and I just love the feel of this story. As usual, not only the main characters win me over, but also the secondary ones get great character arcs and I simply love it. The love and acceptance is so strong in this series!
February 4, 2019
This trilogy is awesome. AWESOME. It is under Science Fiction and Fantasy… myths and legends section on Amazon. Imagine the Gladiator fights like in Rome and Greece… Add a villain who is trying to become king and doesn’t care how he does it. Another country trying at the same time to conquer the heroine’s country and you have the basis for a fascinating trilogy. The heroine actually stops the other country from conquering hers. Not the Hero. The Heroine. The author portrays the heroine as brilliant, strong, fierce, honorable and after training able to take on several other gladiators at once and win. The Hero is also great. He literally was willing to die for her and he didn’t even know she was a princess at the time.
Loved this series! The only issue I have with it is it ended sort of abruptly. I loved the characters and I am not ready to let them go. I loved the action. I loved the storyline. I loved these books! The first 2 books were FREAKIN' Phenomenal! PHENOMENAL!!! (The third book is good just not as good as the first two. In fact, I probably would have rated the 3rd book higher if I didn't have the first two to compare it to!) These books reminded me of my love of fantasy books. I have only read a dozen or so books in the last decade that grabbed my attention this completely, captivating me and making me pause reading repeatedly because I didn't want the books to end! How crazy is that? (And I have read thousands of books in the last decade. I have only paused reading half a dozen of them to make them last longer. Another book that I took my time reading was Honor Bound By Michelle Howard The Warlord Series. I discovered it 2/2014. It is the first one in a series... another Fantasy/Sci-fi series I highly recommend.)
I continuously took breaks just to prolong reading this. I have other books on my TBR pile (who doesn't), but I actually think I am going to re-read this again... I borrowed it on Kindle Unlimited... so you understand how much I like this series I bought it so I can re-read it whenever I want.
Did I say it is AWESOME? Well, it is AWESOME!!!
I cannot go on enough about this series. (Even though I didn't like the way it ended so abruptly I still love this series.)
The world building was rich and detailed. The characters were real and complex. They each played a role that was necessary to finish the story. Not one was useless, unneeded, or gratuitous.
The heroine was brilliant, fierce and cunning and grew beautifully throughout the series. She started out a scared young girl (a princess) and become a Gladiator who ended up becoming Queen.
Not only did the author have the heroine learn to kicka$$... She made her realistic in a lot of ways... (some things weren't that realistic, I mean really... a 5 foot tall pampered princess who spent her whole days sewing... taking on trained gladiators... muscular men over 6 foot tall and used to using weapons and then winning against them... yeah not very realistic but it is a fantasy book) and the author had the heroine realize her limits. She gathered up a group of allies and asks other people to help when she needed it, she wasn't afraid to admit when something was beyond her.
Women were portrayed as smart, capable, and strong. Repeatedly. Not just the heroine but the secondary characters also. And it wasn't at the expense of the male characters. The author didn't eviscerate the male characters to make the females seem more powerful. She made it a partnership between the females and the males. Knowing having a strong female character doesn't mean you need a weak male one... It actually means you need a stronger male to be able to handle the heroine.
The plot twisted and turned leaving you breathless one minute, screaming the following one and cheering the next.
It was a very detailed, intricate plot with treaties, laws, bargains, and relationships that provided depth and complications to the storyline.
FYI: There is some M/M, F/F. As far as I remember none of the sex was graphic. (It was more along the lines of the old harlequins... talked about and mostly happening behind closed doors.) And seriously, this isn't a book that you are reading for the steam. This is a book that has so much more than 'steam' to offer.
I have to say this was a wonderful series and I am going to try other books by this author.
If you like fantasy (this one is sort of an alternative history type of story) you should enjoy this book. I LOVE finding a new author. Even better I love finding a new author who has already written several books that I haven't had the pleasure of reading yet. But I will. I have already downloaded 6 of her books in a different series through Kindle Unlimited. I decided to read most of her books through Kindle Unlimited to decide which ones I want to buy. This series is top of my list. Seriously, if you haven't read this series and you like Fantasy books buy it or if you have Kindle Unlimited, borrow it. (But if you are like me you will end up buying a copy of it so you can re-read it whenever you want.) Definitely A TEN STAR Series!!!
Loved this series! The only issue I have with it is it ended sort of abruptly. I loved the characters and I am not ready to let them go. I loved the action. I loved the storyline. I loved these books! The first 2 books were FREAKIN' Phenomenal! PHENOMENAL!!! (The third book is good just not as good as the first two. In fact, I probably would have rated the 3rd book higher if I didn't have the first two to compare it to!) These books reminded me of my love of fantasy books. I have only read a dozen or so books in the last decade that grabbed my attention this completely, captivating me and making me pause reading repeatedly because I didn't want the books to end! How crazy is that? (And I have read thousands of books in the last decade. I have only paused reading half a dozen of them to make them last longer. Another book that I took my time reading was Honor Bound By Michelle Howard The Warlord Series. I discovered it 2/2014. It is the first one in a series... another Fantasy/Sci-fi series I highly recommend.)
I continuously took breaks just to prolong reading this. I have other books on my TBR pile (who doesn't), but I actually think I am going to re-read this again... I borrowed it on Kindle Unlimited... so you understand how much I like this series I bought it so I can re-read it whenever I want.
Did I say it is AWESOME? Well, it is AWESOME!!!
I cannot go on enough about this series. (Even though I didn't like the way it ended so abruptly I still love this series.)
The world building was rich and detailed. The characters were real and complex. They each played a role that was necessary to finish the story. Not one was useless, unneeded, or gratuitous.
The heroine was brilliant, fierce and cunning and grew beautifully throughout the series. She started out a scared young girl (a princess) and become a Gladiator who ended up becoming Queen.
Not only did the author have the heroine learn to kicka$$... She made her realistic in a lot of ways... (some things weren't that realistic, I mean really... a 5 foot tall pampered princess who spent her whole days sewing... taking on trained gladiators... muscular men over 6 foot tall and used to using weapons and then winning against them... yeah not very realistic but it is a fantasy book) and the author had the heroine realize her limits. She gathered up a group of allies and asks other people to help when she needed it, she wasn't afraid to admit when something was beyond her.
Women were portrayed as smart, capable, and strong. Repeatedly. Not just the heroine but the secondary characters also. And it wasn't at the expense of the male characters. The author didn't eviscerate the male characters to make the females seem more powerful. She made it a partnership between the females and the males. Knowing having a strong female character doesn't mean you need a weak male one... It actually means you need a stronger male to be able to handle the heroine.
The plot twisted and turned leaving you breathless one minute, screaming the following one and cheering the next.
It was a very detailed, intricate plot with treaties, laws, bargains, and relationships that provided depth and complications to the storyline.
FYI: There is some M/M, F/F. As far as I remember none of the sex was graphic. (It was more along the lines of the old harlequins... talked about and mostly happening behind closed doors.) And seriously, this isn't a book that you are reading for the steam. This is a book that has so much more than 'steam' to offer.
I have to say this was a wonderful series and I am going to try other books by this author.
If you like fantasy (this one is sort of an alternative history type of story) you should enjoy this book. I LOVE finding a new author. Even better I love finding a new author who has already written several books that I haven't had the pleasure of reading yet. But I will. I have already downloaded 6 of her books in a different series through Kindle Unlimited. I decided to read most of her books through Kindle Unlimited to decide which ones I want to buy. This series is top of my list. Seriously, if you haven't read this series and you like Fantasy books buy it or if you have Kindle Unlimited, borrow it. (But if you are like me you will end up buying a copy of it so you can re-read it whenever you want.) Definitely A TEN STAR Series!!!
June 22, 2019
These books really challenged what I felt about feminity. Fantastic read except the whole underlying romance crap.
June 21, 2021
This is such a wonderful epic trilogy of true love, and selflessness. You must read all 3 books in order.
Book 1: Illegally sold into slavery and forced to fight in the Gladiator games, Leyli becomes the Wolf of Oberhame and must fight in 250 battles or die to win her freedom and return to her father, the King of Norihame.
Book 2: Leyli must battle wits against the nobility to win their acceptance as her father's heir to the throne rather than marry a man who would be the King. While dealing with the political intrigue and machinations of the nobility, attempts on Leyli's life are being made.
Book 3: The battles for Norihame's freedom on the field and in the gladiatorial arena are a wonder to read. Deals are made and friendships are formed to weave a bond so powerful that Norihame cannot be defeated.
The stories of the individuals, the couples, the families, the history, the gods, and the HEA were such a pleasure to read.
Long the the Wolf Of Oberhame. Long live the Gladiator Queen.
Book 1: Illegally sold into slavery and forced to fight in the Gladiator games, Leyli becomes the Wolf of Oberhame and must fight in 250 battles or die to win her freedom and return to her father, the King of Norihame.
Book 2: Leyli must battle wits against the nobility to win their acceptance as her father's heir to the throne rather than marry a man who would be the King. While dealing with the political intrigue and machinations of the nobility, attempts on Leyli's life are being made.
Book 3: The battles for Norihame's freedom on the field and in the gladiatorial arena are a wonder to read. Deals are made and friendships are formed to weave a bond so powerful that Norihame cannot be defeated.
The stories of the individuals, the couples, the families, the history, the gods, and the HEA were such a pleasure to read.
Long the the Wolf Of Oberhame. Long live the Gladiator Queen.
December 4, 2019
Wasn’t a fan of book 2...
Let’s see... loved book 1. The premise was fresh and original and you couldn’t help but feel for Leyli and that ending with Tristan and her dad? Amazing
Book 2 was very boring, it all hinges on getting married and the only action seemed to be at the end.
Book 3 tied everything up nicely and it was overall okay.
Here’s my biggest gripe with this story... the lack of racial tension. People were quick to call Rhians found in Norihamme “slaves” and the Rhians similarly referred to Norihammers as “barbarians” but then when Essa met up with Death for he first time she started making out with him and no one mentioned the pairing as odd despite not knowing the political connections at the time? It seemed a bit too far fetched. Also what happened to changing the gladiator games and the laws associated to giving the gladiators more room to work off their debts? It was mentioned in book 2 and then completely forgotten about.
Let’s see... loved book 1. The premise was fresh and original and you couldn’t help but feel for Leyli and that ending with Tristan and her dad? Amazing
Book 2 was very boring, it all hinges on getting married and the only action seemed to be at the end.
Book 3 tied everything up nicely and it was overall okay.
Here’s my biggest gripe with this story... the lack of racial tension. People were quick to call Rhians found in Norihamme “slaves” and the Rhians similarly referred to Norihammers as “barbarians” but then when Essa met up with Death for he first time she started making out with him and no one mentioned the pairing as odd despite not knowing the political connections at the time? It seemed a bit too far fetched. Also what happened to changing the gladiator games and the laws associated to giving the gladiators more room to work off their debts? It was mentioned in book 2 and then completely forgotten about.
Read
April 1, 2020LOVED this series. Great fun. Awesome characters. I would recommend, but...
The downside: Really needs professionally edited, not copy-edited (don't worry, it's not riddled with typos or anything), but edited for length. There were a number of repetitive parts (where they're talking feelings, nothing new/different, just rehashing the same thing I thought they just discussed, but in a different scene). I'm not saying life's not repetitive itself or it's not perhaps believable, but I think a good professional editor would have slimmed it a bit, and made it better - those many instances of repetition detract from the awesomeness of the books and remove the reader from the fast pace of the plot.
That said, I'd still recommend the series, just be aware it would ideally be more polished.
Borrowed from Kindle Unlimited.
The downside: Really needs professionally edited, not copy-edited (don't worry, it's not riddled with typos or anything), but edited for length. There were a number of repetitive parts (where they're talking feelings, nothing new/different, just rehashing the same thing I thought they just discussed, but in a different scene). I'm not saying life's not repetitive itself or it's not perhaps believable, but I think a good professional editor would have slimmed it a bit, and made it better - those many instances of repetition detract from the awesomeness of the books and remove the reader from the fast pace of the plot.
That said, I'd still recommend the series, just be aware it would ideally be more polished.
Borrowed from Kindle Unlimited.
August 19, 2024
I LOVE THIS AUTHOR!!!
Like with most of this authors books (and trust me I’ve read almost all of them) this series has become one of my favorites. The story is beautifully written. The worlds that she can build are amazing and complex. The depth of all the relationships are heart warming. I LOVE Tristan and Leyli so much. And I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE reading a woman who kicks a little ass!! I love seeing a woman who can rule and be a gladiator and a mother all at once. And the men who stand beside them…. Not in front of them or instead of them but beside them… AMAZING. Great story, great characters, great series. One of my favorites with this author along with flawed, ruin, Iliri, path of temptation, the dark orchid, wolves next door, where the wild things grow, and demons muse. Would HIGHLY recommend! Im on to the next series!!
Like with most of this authors books (and trust me I’ve read almost all of them) this series has become one of my favorites. The story is beautifully written. The worlds that she can build are amazing and complex. The depth of all the relationships are heart warming. I LOVE Tristan and Leyli so much. And I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE reading a woman who kicks a little ass!! I love seeing a woman who can rule and be a gladiator and a mother all at once. And the men who stand beside them…. Not in front of them or instead of them but beside them… AMAZING. Great story, great characters, great series. One of my favorites with this author along with flawed, ruin, Iliri, path of temptation, the dark orchid, wolves next door, where the wild things grow, and demons muse. Would HIGHLY recommend! Im on to the next series!!
October 5, 2022
God this trilogy was amazing. I haven’t gone on such an emotional journey with books in so long. The diversity of all the types characters was incredible and a strong female lead was chefs kiss. They all went through so much growth and the love and support they had for each other had me in tears on so many occasions. The dynamic of the story really went against so many stereotypes and it was so refreshing to read. The pace was also perfect and detailed enough to feel like you’re going through the journey with the characters but not dealing with a bunch of filler/fluff details that hold no value to the story (although I was super anxious to find out what happened next so I was a bit impatient lol). Absolutely incredible series - 10/10 would recommend.
December 9, 2020
Totally beyond expectations!
Attention caught by the title hooked by book 1 totally enthralled by book 2 and totally thankful the series was completed as the torture of waiting for rhe next book was averted.
Made sure to purchase the completed Box set after reading through Kindle unlimited. Couldn't bear not being able to re-read again so added to my special book collection of worth re-reading books.
Characters totally to believe and support, the political and social ramifications make you think or rethink their validity at least in the context given and to consider as a comparison, maybe, to real life.
Try them ..I'm sure you will like them.
Attention caught by the title hooked by book 1 totally enthralled by book 2 and totally thankful the series was completed as the torture of waiting for rhe next book was averted.
Made sure to purchase the completed Box set after reading through Kindle unlimited. Couldn't bear not being able to re-read again so added to my special book collection of worth re-reading books.
Characters totally to believe and support, the political and social ramifications make you think or rethink their validity at least in the context given and to consider as a comparison, maybe, to real life.
Try them ..I'm sure you will like them.
November 8, 2018
I loved this series. This was my introduction to Aurangzeb Hadley, and I am impressed. Her characters are rich and complex, evolving over the course of the trilogy. Robert Howard would have been proud to have written these.
She used some unfamiliar (to me) Russian terms to give this fantasy story an exotic feel. From beginning to end it was a great ride. The language may be a bit rough for younger readers, but it feels right (mostly) from the characters. The takeaway message from the story is strong and timeless.
I look forward to more of her stories.
She used some unfamiliar (to me) Russian terms to give this fantasy story an exotic feel. From beginning to end it was a great ride. The language may be a bit rough for younger readers, but it feels right (mostly) from the characters. The takeaway message from the story is strong and timeless.
I look forward to more of her stories.
January 8, 2019
If you want a book series that will just make you feel good with a little bit of drama thrown in, this is definitely the series for you! I love Tristan and the way he is there for Leyli. It's not the most conventional situation but it's a great fairy tale, HEA type of story that will help you have a lot of faith in the goodness of humanity again when they are overcoming overwhelming odds. Even if gladiators aren't your thing, it's only a small portion of the overarching story and is definitely worth the read! I've read it a few times now and it never gets old! :)
January 28, 2019
AMAZING....
I went into this Trilogy with the bare minimum of what it was about and it was freaking amazing!!
I love the strong and amazing woman that we got with The Wolf. And the fact that the romance and amazing family she collected along the way gave us some freaking AWESOME side characters didn’t hurt either.
The Wolf and the Lion was an amazing story of Love, Awesome Families, and what a strong and compassionate woman can do with the right people at her side.
This book is definitely a hidden gem I’m glad I found.
I went into this Trilogy with the bare minimum of what it was about and it was freaking amazing!!
I love the strong and amazing woman that we got with The Wolf. And the fact that the romance and amazing family she collected along the way gave us some freaking AWESOME side characters didn’t hurt either.
The Wolf and the Lion was an amazing story of Love, Awesome Families, and what a strong and compassionate woman can do with the right people at her side.
This book is definitely a hidden gem I’m glad I found.
September 26, 2019
The Wolf of Oberhame Trilogy
This started as a KU library read for me, but I loved it so much it ended up being a purchase for my own library. I'm currently making my way through Auryn Hadley's book list and am enjoying every single book. This is one of my favorites, though. Auryn writes strong, smart women who are devoted to those they love and those who are loyal to them. Her men are the kind of man you'd want to meet in real life, both supportive and protective within reason. I can't say enough good things about this trilogy.
This started as a KU library read for me, but I loved it so much it ended up being a purchase for my own library. I'm currently making my way through Auryn Hadley's book list and am enjoying every single book. This is one of my favorites, though. Auryn writes strong, smart women who are devoted to those they love and those who are loyal to them. Her men are the kind of man you'd want to meet in real life, both supportive and protective within reason. I can't say enough good things about this trilogy.
April 27, 2020
Second best book of the year, for me!
Wow..3 books, 4 days! It was awesome!
I would give the trilogy 7stars if I could..
• The first book, keeps you on tour toes, fast paced, edge of your seat action. You just have to know what happens next!!
• Second book...made me search the first time they kissed, I found 2 major developments...I was confused as hell. Kept asking myself...how is this gonna end with HEA?
• Third book was slow-paced for me. I guessed how the action was gonna flow, but enjoyed the ride anyway!
Wow..3 books, 4 days! It was awesome!
I would give the trilogy 7stars if I could..
• The first book, keeps you on tour toes, fast paced, edge of your seat action. You just have to know what happens next!!
• Second book...made me search the first time they kissed, I found 2 major developments...I was confused as hell. Kept asking myself...how is this gonna end with HEA?
• Third book was slow-paced for me. I guessed how the action was gonna flow, but enjoyed the ride anyway!
June 8, 2020
Queen Wolf
From the sands to the court, Leyli was everything a strong woman should be. I loved how she fought to overcome all the odds that were stacked against her...and there were a lot of them. Even more, I loved how she formed her own family from people that were seen as “common.” Tristan was the greatest. Strong and loyal, he stood by Leyli’s side through it all. And Connall was such a freaking sweetheart. I’m so glad he didn’t turn out to be scum. He made there family even more wonderful.
From the sands to the court, Leyli was everything a strong woman should be. I loved how she fought to overcome all the odds that were stacked against her...and there were a lot of them. Even more, I loved how she formed her own family from people that were seen as “common.” Tristan was the greatest. Strong and loyal, he stood by Leyli’s side through it all. And Connall was such a freaking sweetheart. I’m so glad he didn’t turn out to be scum. He made there family even more wonderful.
January 7, 2019
Something you do not want to put down
I enjoyed this book immensely. The reason I gave this trilogy five stars is because of the unique spin that the author put on the whole story line. You have a bit of secrecy, fights, death, love, family, royalty and fierce people all together! You get to see the characters mature and become great. I would recommend this to anyone who loves any of the things I mentioned earlier and whoever loves a strong woman in power.
I enjoyed this book immensely. The reason I gave this trilogy five stars is because of the unique spin that the author put on the whole story line. You have a bit of secrecy, fights, death, love, family, royalty and fierce people all together! You get to see the characters mature and become great. I would recommend this to anyone who loves any of the things I mentioned earlier and whoever loves a strong woman in power.
March 16, 2019
Loved this!
This series was awesome! Each book built on the over arching story but could still be read for their own individual plot. I love the concept of creating your family and the love between characters, both romantic and platonic. The story allows for redemption and lessons in acceptance. The battle was descriptive and engaging and the characters were fun and dynamic! Great story! Definitely recommended and will re-read.
This series was awesome! Each book built on the over arching story but could still be read for their own individual plot. I love the concept of creating your family and the love between characters, both romantic and platonic. The story allows for redemption and lessons in acceptance. The battle was descriptive and engaging and the characters were fun and dynamic! Great story! Definitely recommended and will re-read.
April 1, 2019
Epic storyline
Really enjoyed these books. Leyli is a smart and strong woman and is sadly thrown into a situation she couldn't free herself from easily. Instead she had to dig deep and survive. There are big topics and themes told in this book covering prejudice, patriarchy and inherited privilege. Much more about the story than the intimacy in this book and the unconventional family Leyli builds for herself.
Really enjoyed these books. Leyli is a smart and strong woman and is sadly thrown into a situation she couldn't free herself from easily. Instead she had to dig deep and survive. There are big topics and themes told in this book covering prejudice, patriarchy and inherited privilege. Much more about the story than the intimacy in this book and the unconventional family Leyli builds for herself.
April 3, 2019
Gladiator Queen
Just read all three in the series, I may be lacking in the sleep department right now. Exceptionally well written series, from riches to rags to riches and not all riches are material. Emotional roller coaster from start to finish, beautiful love story showing how different people work so perfectly together when you refuse to make judgements. Anyone into sci-fi/historical/ fantasy style genre is going to love this.
Just read all three in the series, I may be lacking in the sleep department right now. Exceptionally well written series, from riches to rags to riches and not all riches are material. Emotional roller coaster from start to finish, beautiful love story showing how different people work so perfectly together when you refuse to make judgements. Anyone into sci-fi/historical/ fantasy style genre is going to love this.
April 19, 2019
This Gladiator Queen Rocks
I liked that I could read all of this story in one boxed set. This is a great story, set in a time when combat was done with swords and shields and life was a bit more violent. I love that this story takes a woman who is kidnapped and thrown away and turns her into The Wolf of Oberhame. Interesting storytelling, great characters, and a satisfying read.
I liked that I could read all of this story in one boxed set. This is a great story, set in a time when combat was done with swords and shields and life was a bit more violent. I love that this story takes a woman who is kidnapped and thrown away and turns her into The Wolf of Oberhame. Interesting storytelling, great characters, and a satisfying read.
July 19, 2019
An intricate, well-written plot, and series
The author wove a rich tapestry of interesting characters, intriguing situations, and a well described Countryside. I like the way that she put the strong women characters on equal footing with the males. I like the way that she stressed the importance of friends and family, and that love could occur between people of the same gender. This is an engaging series, and I highly recommend it.
The author wove a rich tapestry of interesting characters, intriguing situations, and a well described Countryside. I like the way that she put the strong women characters on equal footing with the males. I like the way that she stressed the importance of friends and family, and that love could occur between people of the same gender. This is an engaging series, and I highly recommend it.
June 4, 2020
You have to read this Trilogy.
Just when I think Auryn Hadley can’t impress me more, I find The Wolf. Everything that you could possibly want in a gladiator turned queen saga. Hot men, wonderful friends, intense fights, royal drama and my favorite, happily ever after! This series is so long, yet ended way too soon. The eloquence and precision in her books absolutely amazes me. Do yourself a huge favor and read this series!
Just when I think Auryn Hadley can’t impress me more, I find The Wolf. Everything that you could possibly want in a gladiator turned queen saga. Hot men, wonderful friends, intense fights, royal drama and my favorite, happily ever after! This series is so long, yet ended way too soon. The eloquence and precision in her books absolutely amazes me. Do yourself a huge favor and read this series!
September 25, 2020
Noteworthy
What an inspiring book series that hits on a lot of the relevant topics for today's social issues - women in power, homosexuality, equal rights, "non-conventional" families and social status (I've probably missed a couple of more). I've never left an actual recommendation before but this series was just too good to not tell others about (and having all the books in a box set made it that much easier to binge). Thank you for this wonderful world Auryn.
What an inspiring book series that hits on a lot of the relevant topics for today's social issues - women in power, homosexuality, equal rights, "non-conventional" families and social status (I've probably missed a couple of more). I've never left an actual recommendation before but this series was just too good to not tell others about (and having all the books in a box set made it that much easier to binge). Thank you for this wonderful world Auryn.
February 6, 2021
Beautiful!
So its official! I've read every book written by Auryn Hadley! I have loved them all! Many authors can write good books but very few can write great books!
Auryn Hadley is one of the few.
All of her books have incredible characters , tummy burning romance , believable story lines and epic adventures!
The Wolf of Oberhame trilogy did not disappoint. I fell in love with this series as much as I did with Gamer Girls and Rise of the Ilirri.
So its official! I've read every book written by Auryn Hadley! I have loved them all! Many authors can write good books but very few can write great books!
Auryn Hadley is one of the few.
All of her books have incredible characters , tummy burning romance , believable story lines and epic adventures!
The Wolf of Oberhame trilogy did not disappoint. I fell in love with this series as much as I did with Gamer Girls and Rise of the Ilirri.
July 25, 2022
I found this series through browsing Kindle Unlimited. What a fantastic find. I could not put them down. Started them on Saturday night and read them all by Sunday evening and this is not something I do very often anymore. These books are well worth the time, the characters are believable, the plot is a bit shallow; but does not detract from the story. Will definitely pick up more books by this author.
September 26, 2018
Would love more books about Gladiator Queen
I downloaded the first book and then saw she had the complete set. No brainer. All three in one read. She is a new author to me. Glad I found her. I just got a new book of her's to read. Tells you all about it at the end of her bundle. If you like kick assing heroines the Wolf should be your next read.
I downloaded the first book and then saw she had the complete set. No brainer. All three in one read. She is a new author to me. Glad I found her. I just got a new book of her's to read. Tells you all about it at the end of her bundle. If you like kick assing heroines the Wolf should be your next read.
December 17, 2018
4.5 stars
I really REALLY loved it. It had just enough of everything. My only qualms are that Tristan getting his necklace was never fully explained (just hinted), the rampant use of the word "bitch", and Ley and Tristan had one too many discussions about their insecurities within their relationship. However, I am not bothered enough by these things to love the story any less, so yay!
I really REALLY loved it. It had just enough of everything. My only qualms are that Tristan getting his necklace was never fully explained (just hinted), the rampant use of the word "bitch", and Ley and Tristan had one too many discussions about their insecurities within their relationship. However, I am not bothered enough by these things to love the story any less, so yay!
January 1, 2019
Decent series about a princess kidnapped and doomed to die as a gladiator - except she doesn't. She gets partnered up with a winning gladiator, and then all kinds of interesting things happen. The first of the three is the best story - the other two wrap up various threads and plots that are mentioned in the first story.
February 19, 2019
Good read!!
Auryn Hadley is a new author for me and I've thoroughly enjoyed getting to know her writing style and the fantastic fantasy worlds she creates. It was s pleasure getting to know the Wolf and the Lion and all of their friends and family. I look forward to reading more books by Auryn!
Auryn Hadley is a new author for me and I've thoroughly enjoyed getting to know her writing style and the fantastic fantasy worlds she creates. It was s pleasure getting to know the Wolf and the Lion and all of their friends and family. I look forward to reading more books by Auryn!
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