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The Soldier's Heart
A perilous journey. A dark conscience. An unforgivable sin. When Black Guards capture the ancient mage Maven and the heroine Kelsa, Maven disguises herself as the once distinguished Sir Corbin, now assumed to be a mage-in-hiding due to the old woman's carelessness. Kelsa, guided by the spirit of a sassy blade mistress, pretends to be a mercenary, but the guards wonder. What ties beyond gold bind her to the traitor knight? The Black Guards gleefully drag their prisoners toward the cruel clutches of the empress so that she might wring the secrets from their bodies. Kelsa must escape the empress's grasp, desperate to rekindle the mage revolt whose leaders have vanished into the barbarian north. It is a land of dark forests and ice-choked rivers where worth is proven on a dagger's edge and feuding clans are more vicious than any Black Guard. Can Kelsa find and reignite the mages' passion or has the heart of the revolution grown cold? Grab The Soldier's Heart, the third epic fantasy intrigue of The Mage Conspiracy series. Discover a dark world where love and lies cut deeper than any sword. Praise for The Soldier's Heart "A spunky young heroine journeying through barbarian territory in search of dangerous rebel mages? Daring disguises, crazy escapes, and (squeal) adorable baby dragons??? Yeah...I'll take it." - Erin Kahn "The action in the book was exceptional. There could have been a bit less explicit sex." -Sidney "A wonderful story. I highly recommend this story to everyone who loves reading about magic, mages and dragons." - Scarolet Ellis "This is not a predictable by the numbers story. Its full of twists and turns and is totally great!" - HazelM "I really liked this novel, it is full of action and intrigue. It was slow at times and I almost gave it up, but then things started to happen and I got all involved again." - Frank Geimer The Mage Conspiracy Series 1. The Knight's Secret 2. The Dragon's Mercy 3. The Soldier's Heart 4. The Tyrant's Peace (pending) 5. The Mage's Armor (pending) P. The Scion's Delight
318 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 3, 2019
3 people are currently reading
20 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 20, 2019
A spunky young heroine journeying through barbarian territory in search of dangerous rebel mages? Daring disguises, crazy escapes, and (squeal) adorable baby dragons??? Yeah, OK, I'll take it.
That's sarcasm, readers. I loved The Soldier's Heart. As if the above weren't enough, there's another story line told in parallel: one about a young recruit navigating the Imperial Army, falling in love, and proving herself to the world.
Kelsa's story is the immediate one. She's the young heroine journeying through barbarian country in search of Gordius and his rebel mages.
Meanwhile, due to a stubborn mage who messed with her head (see book 2), Kelsa finds her thoughts often invaded by Minerva--the young Imperial Army recruit--and as a result we also get Minerva's story (happening in the past) alongside Kelsa's.
You might think that would be confusing, but it's not because the author has an uncanny knack for telling multiple stories simultaneously. Far from being confusing, two plots makes the novel doubly engaging.
It helps that both stories are helmed by killer protagonists. I've loved Kelsa since book 1, but it was this book that really endeared me to Minerva. She's formidable yet vulnerable; prickly yet affectionate; she could take everyone down but deep inside, she just wants to be loved.
While I felt like the last book in this series wandered a bit, The Soldier's Heart has perfect pacing--all leading up to its pair of smoking hot climaxes: Kelsa must convince the rebel mages and barbarian rulers to help her wage war against the Empress, while Minerva duels Corbin Destrus--the man she either loathes or loves.
In the first two books, we heard a lot about Corbin and Minerva, but in this book we flashback to see how they meet and progress from enemies to frenemies to lovers. It's dynamite.
My only negative reaction to this book is that it's a little crude and there's some sex scenes that made me a little squeamish. But on that note, when Corbin and Minerva finally come together, it's described in so few words, as a thing so clean and fitting, that it's a relief and it feels so right after all the messy love affairs in previous pages. Corbin and Minerva feel meant to be.
I'm eager to see where Kelsa's and Minerva's stories go in the next book--when I assume a lot of things will come to a head and there will be a day of reckoning for everyone: country girl, soldier, empress, and mage.
That's sarcasm, readers. I loved The Soldier's Heart. As if the above weren't enough, there's another story line told in parallel: one about a young recruit navigating the Imperial Army, falling in love, and proving herself to the world.
Kelsa's story is the immediate one. She's the young heroine journeying through barbarian country in search of Gordius and his rebel mages.
Meanwhile, due to a stubborn mage who messed with her head (see book 2), Kelsa finds her thoughts often invaded by Minerva--the young Imperial Army recruit--and as a result we also get Minerva's story (happening in the past) alongside Kelsa's.
You might think that would be confusing, but it's not because the author has an uncanny knack for telling multiple stories simultaneously. Far from being confusing, two plots makes the novel doubly engaging.
It helps that both stories are helmed by killer protagonists. I've loved Kelsa since book 1, but it was this book that really endeared me to Minerva. She's formidable yet vulnerable; prickly yet affectionate; she could take everyone down but deep inside, she just wants to be loved.
While I felt like the last book in this series wandered a bit, The Soldier's Heart has perfect pacing--all leading up to its pair of smoking hot climaxes: Kelsa must convince the rebel mages and barbarian rulers to help her wage war against the Empress, while Minerva duels Corbin Destrus--the man she either loathes or loves.
In the first two books, we heard a lot about Corbin and Minerva, but in this book we flashback to see how they meet and progress from enemies to frenemies to lovers. It's dynamite.
My only negative reaction to this book is that it's a little crude and there's some sex scenes that made me a little squeamish. But on that note, when Corbin and Minerva finally come together, it's described in so few words, as a thing so clean and fitting, that it's a relief and it feels so right after all the messy love affairs in previous pages. Corbin and Minerva feel meant to be.
I'm eager to see where Kelsa's and Minerva's stories go in the next book--when I assume a lot of things will come to a head and there will be a day of reckoning for everyone: country girl, soldier, empress, and mage.
March 5, 2019
ONE AMAZING EXPERIENCE!!!
Wow! Talk about dropping the bomb. This is such a thrilling rollercoaster ride with a plethora of emotions to sort through as you follow along to see what happens next. You're not going to believe how this bad boy plays out. I have to say this is one interesting tale. Fast paced, action packed, page turning bombshell that grabs your attention and holds steady from start to finish. The characters are realistic, well developed and believable with just enough flaws to relate. Their personalities are unique with qualities and traits that balance out perfectly. The scenes are so graphic and descriptive it paints an incredible backdrop that really makes the storyline pop. The twists and turns, ups and downs, along with a few glitches, bumps and bruises bring this bad boy roaring to life brilliantly. Throw in all the drama and suspense along with danger and you have yourself one amazing plot. Shayne did a remarkable job bringing this read together beautifully. Thanks Jeffrey for sharing this little guy with us.
Wow! Talk about dropping the bomb. This is such a thrilling rollercoaster ride with a plethora of emotions to sort through as you follow along to see what happens next. You're not going to believe how this bad boy plays out. I have to say this is one interesting tale. Fast paced, action packed, page turning bombshell that grabs your attention and holds steady from start to finish. The characters are realistic, well developed and believable with just enough flaws to relate. Their personalities are unique with qualities and traits that balance out perfectly. The scenes are so graphic and descriptive it paints an incredible backdrop that really makes the storyline pop. The twists and turns, ups and downs, along with a few glitches, bumps and bruises bring this bad boy roaring to life brilliantly. Throw in all the drama and suspense along with danger and you have yourself one amazing plot. Shayne did a remarkable job bringing this read together beautifully. Thanks Jeffrey for sharing this little guy with us.
March 6, 2019
This is the third book in this wonderful series. The momentum just keeps building in this character driven quest. If you love mages, dragons and civil unrest, try these exciting books.
Kelsa and Maven, in the guise of Sir Corbin, have been captured by the Blackguards. Now they are being marched in chains down the Northern Road back to the capital. The Empress wants their lives, but not before long, drawn out torture.
Along the way there are plenty of towns to appreciate their parade as they pass. The people have no love for mages, or mage lovers. The two can look forward to being pelted with rotten produce. If they are lucky, that’s all that will be thrown.
Under constant guard, how will the women have a chance to escape? Is this the end of Kelsa’s vow to free all the mages of the empire? What of the rebellion they traveled north to join?
Kelsa and Maven, in the guise of Sir Corbin, have been captured by the Blackguards. Now they are being marched in chains down the Northern Road back to the capital. The Empress wants their lives, but not before long, drawn out torture.
Along the way there are plenty of towns to appreciate their parade as they pass. The people have no love for mages, or mage lovers. The two can look forward to being pelted with rotten produce. If they are lucky, that’s all that will be thrown.
Under constant guard, how will the women have a chance to escape? Is this the end of Kelsa’s vow to free all the mages of the empire? What of the rebellion they traveled north to join?
May 15, 2019
The Soldier's Heart (The Mage Conspiracy Book 3) by Jeffrey Bardwell is a wonderful story to read. This is book number three in this wonderful series that I have read. I highly recommend this story to everyone who loves reading about magic, mages and dragons in your stories.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book
March 9, 2019
I really liked this novel, it is full of action and intrigue. It was slow at times and I almost gave it up, but then things started to happen and I got all involved again. What can I say, I enjoy a good novel!
March 10, 2019
Good book with
interesting names for private body parts. The dragonette were the cutest things! Lela’s could change forms, had a mage’s voice in her head and a preferred male companion. She’s having a lot of weird adventures and experiences!
interesting names for private body parts. The dragonette were the cutest things! Lela’s could change forms, had a mage’s voice in her head and a preferred male companion. She’s having a lot of weird adventures and experiences!
March 16, 2019
Stunning. Fast paced, with loads of action. The characters are fantastic as well. Don’t miss out.
April 1, 2019
My sixth read from author Jeffrey Bardwell, as always a well-written, page-turning, enjoyable read.
May 11, 2019
Another great chapter in Kelsa's story. The characters get more complex as we learn more about them and the story is full of twists and turns that keep you interested until the very end.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews