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Court of Mystery #3
Burdened Bloodline
What's a little blood among brothers?The Duchess is forced to find out in Burdened Bloodline, the next chapter of the Court of Mystery saga."I loved the beginning of this series. Somewhat lighthearted, romantic, great mysteries, and awesome character and world-building. And I love where it is going...stakes are getting higher, friendships, relationships, and alliances are getting tested and the opposition gets stronger and more devious." - AudibleStill coming to terms with the deadly events of her romantic getaway at Ogdam Oasis, Duchess Jacqueline Arienta Xavier is eager to leave the deserts of Kwatalar behind. She rides to her allies in the Duchy of Pettraud, determined to put the War Council in motion. As she prepares for inevitable bloodshed and fighting to assault the Realm of Virtues, she can't help but get caught up in the Pettraud family drama as she meets many of Perry's brothers for the first time. With the Duke's ailing health, the lust for their father's crown has never been more heated, and Jax fears something terribly dark is lurking among the shadows of the castle keep, dangerously fueling these tensions. With the Duchess stranded in a foreign duchy, it's not a royal visit until someone ends up dead…Discover who is family and who is foe in Burdened Bloodline, a Court of Mystery novel.Read more of Duchess Jacqueline's adventures in the Court of Mystery, an enchanting series full of fantastical intrigue.Court of MysteryThe Ducal DetectiveA Feast Most FoulA Voyage of VengeanceA Summit in ShadowThrone of ThreatsParadise PlaguedBurdened BloodlineSovereign SiegedCrown of ChaosHarrowed HeirRavaged ReignInnocence ImprisonedArdent Ascension
253 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 18, 2018
9 people are currently reading
51 people want to read
About the author
Sarah E. Burr
27 books240 followersSarah E. Burr lives near New York City. Hailing from the small town of Appleton, Maine, she has been dreaming of being Nancy Drew since she was a little girl. After not finding any mysteries in corporate America, Sarah began creating some of her own.
She writes the award-winning Glenmyre Whim Mysteries, the Trending Topic Mysteries, the Book Blogger Mysteries, and the Court of Mystery series. "You Can’t Candle the Truth" was a 2022 NGIBA Best Mystery Finalist and a 2022 Silver Falchion Best Supernatural Mystery Finalist. "Too Much to Candle" was a 2023 NGIBA Best Paranormal Finalist, and "#TagMe for Murder" was a 2024 NGIBA Best Chick Lit Finalist.
Sarah is the co-host of "It's Bookish Time," a live-streamed web series featuring author interviews and book discussions. She writes on the Writers Who Kill blogging team and is a member of Sisters in Crime. When she’s not spinning up stories, Sarah sings Broadway show tunes, plays video games with her husband, and enjoys walks with her rescue dogs, Eevee and Itto.
Stay connected with Sarah and receive free stories, be the first to learn about book news, book deals, and more by signing up for her newsletter: https://bit.ly/saraheburrbookssignup.
She writes the award-winning Glenmyre Whim Mysteries, the Trending Topic Mysteries, the Book Blogger Mysteries, and the Court of Mystery series. "You Can’t Candle the Truth" was a 2022 NGIBA Best Mystery Finalist and a 2022 Silver Falchion Best Supernatural Mystery Finalist. "Too Much to Candle" was a 2023 NGIBA Best Paranormal Finalist, and "#TagMe for Murder" was a 2024 NGIBA Best Chick Lit Finalist.
Sarah is the co-host of "It's Bookish Time," a live-streamed web series featuring author interviews and book discussions. She writes on the Writers Who Kill blogging team and is a member of Sisters in Crime. When she’s not spinning up stories, Sarah sings Broadway show tunes, plays video games with her husband, and enjoys walks with her rescue dogs, Eevee and Itto.
Stay connected with Sarah and receive free stories, be the first to learn about book news, book deals, and more by signing up for her newsletter: https://bit.ly/saraheburrbookssignup.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
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April 5, 2021🎁 FREE on Amazon today (4/5/2021)! 🎁
February 20, 2023
With enjoyable dialogue, action, and characters, my only quibble with this otherwise well-written story is the apparent insouciance, at times, of the lead protagonist, notwithstanding her high responsibilities for the lives of others. Having said that, I expect that the target audience here is younger adults not yet excessively hardened by such responsibilities, in which case the protagonist’s state of relative idealism, periodic naivete, and emotional youthfulness set an appropriately fun and light tone.
The author writes very well, with good humor and with highly engaging political intrigue, mystery, and suspense. Agatha Christie meets J.K. Rowling, with a little dose of Padme Amidala-esque political machinations, make this book a unique and fun new creation. The physical settings are wonderfully depicted and brought to life effectively. Without giving away too many details, this book could also be seen as a sympathetic and thoughtful, albeit metaphorical, take on the modern-day Alzheimer’s crisis.
Overall, this book provides excellent escapist historical fiction, with a very lively, interesting, and entertaining plot. I look forward to further installments, and perhaps seeing the lead character mature and start to develop a deeper, more credible and sincerely selfless empathy and gravitas, through earned life and leadership challenges, failures, and successes.
The author writes very well, with good humor and with highly engaging political intrigue, mystery, and suspense. Agatha Christie meets J.K. Rowling, with a little dose of Padme Amidala-esque political machinations, make this book a unique and fun new creation. The physical settings are wonderfully depicted and brought to life effectively. Without giving away too many details, this book could also be seen as a sympathetic and thoughtful, albeit metaphorical, take on the modern-day Alzheimer’s crisis.
Overall, this book provides excellent escapist historical fiction, with a very lively, interesting, and entertaining plot. I look forward to further installments, and perhaps seeing the lead character mature and start to develop a deeper, more credible and sincerely selfless empathy and gravitas, through earned life and leadership challenges, failures, and successes.
August 4, 2021
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Jax is trying to find a safe route home and the quickest way is by trusting an ally. Her father-in-law. She doesn’t really know him that we as the only interactions she has had with him was in the beginning when he was forcing the arranged marriage of her and his son Perry. Then again at at their wedding. Now she is escorted to his Dukedom and waits for her ducal guard to come and escort her home.
Of course when meeting family there are bound to be awkward moments and then there are bound to be scary moments. Jax try’s to work with her father-in-law in drafting letters for a meeting of the war counsel. But there are strange moments when he keeps referring to her as his dead wife.
The plot thickens of course when murder happens in a secure place that literally limits the murder suspects.
Such a great book. I can’t wait for the next one. I want to know if the war counsel can settle things peacefully for if they have to go to war. Something Ajax really hopes it doesn’t come to but also is not afraid of.
Jax is trying to find a safe route home and the quickest way is by trusting an ally. Her father-in-law. She doesn’t really know him that we as the only interactions she has had with him was in the beginning when he was forcing the arranged marriage of her and his son Perry. Then again at at their wedding. Now she is escorted to his Dukedom and waits for her ducal guard to come and escort her home.
Of course when meeting family there are bound to be awkward moments and then there are bound to be scary moments. Jax try’s to work with her father-in-law in drafting letters for a meeting of the war counsel. But there are strange moments when he keeps referring to her as his dead wife.
The plot thickens of course when murder happens in a secure place that literally limits the murder suspects.
Such a great book. I can’t wait for the next one. I want to know if the war counsel can settle things peacefully for if they have to go to war. Something Ajax really hopes it doesn’t come to but also is not afraid of.
January 23, 2019
Another wonderful little vacation to the Realm of Virtues. Some really nice palace intrigue coupled with international politics and just a hint of commentary on politics in the real world. Nice job Sarah!
January 1, 2021
I absolutely adore this series! I highly recommend it!
November 22, 2021
Murder mystery
A murder for power, some unexpected twists. Having only read this one book, some of the character developments may have already taken place in previous books.
A murder for power, some unexpected twists. Having only read this one book, some of the character developments may have already taken place in previous books.
September 12, 2025
I love this series full of intrigue, a touch of humor, and romance. I clearly see the character listening to Melissa Green’s narration. What a collaboration! I can’t wait for the next installment!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews