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Black Blade #2
Das dunkle Herz der Magie
"Jennifer Estep is a genius!" --Simply Nerdy
Something Wicked This Way Comes . . .
As a thief, I stick to the shadows as much as possible. But when the head of the Sinclair Family picks me to compete in the Tournament of Blades, there's no escaping the spotlight--or the danger.
Even though he's my competition, Devon Sinclair thinks I have the best shot at winning what's supposed to be a friendly contest. But when the competitors start having mysterious "accidents," it looks like someone will do anything to win--no matter who they hurt.
As if I didn't have enough to worry about, mobster Victor Draconi is plotting against Devon and the rest of my friends, and someone's going around Cloudburst Falls murdering monsters. One thing's for sure. Sometimes, humans can be more monstrous than anything else...
Something Wicked This Way Comes . . .
As a thief, I stick to the shadows as much as possible. But when the head of the Sinclair Family picks me to compete in the Tournament of Blades, there's no escaping the spotlight--or the danger.
Even though he's my competition, Devon Sinclair thinks I have the best shot at winning what's supposed to be a friendly contest. But when the competitors start having mysterious "accidents," it looks like someone will do anything to win--no matter who they hurt.
As if I didn't have enough to worry about, mobster Victor Draconi is plotting against Devon and the rest of my friends, and someone's going around Cloudburst Falls murdering monsters. One thing's for sure. Sometimes, humans can be more monstrous than anything else...
Paperback
First published October 27, 2015
299 people are currently reading
2562 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Estep
97 books12k followersJennifer Estep is a New York Times, USA Today, and internationally bestselling author who prowls the streets of her imagination in search of her next fantasy idea.
Jennifer is the author of the Elemental Assassin, Section 47, Galactic Bonds, Crown of Shards, Gargoyle Queen, and other fantasy series. She has written more than 40 books, along with numerous novellas and stories.
In her spare time, Jennifer enjoys hanging out with friends and family, doing yoga, and reading fantasy and romance books. She also watches way too much TV and loves all things related to superheroes.
For more information on Jennifer and her books, visit her website at www.JenniferEstep.com or sign up for her newsletter: http://www.jenniferestep.com/contact-....
FOLLOW JENNIFER ONLINE:
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Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jennifer_Estep
Amazon: https://amzn.to/39lCyX6
BookBub: https://tinyurl.com/y4dm3zso
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Jennifer's blog: https://tinyurl.com/2dj4afb
Jennifer's newsletter: http://www.jenniferestep.com/contact-...
Happy reading, everyone! 😎
Jennifer is the author of the Elemental Assassin, Section 47, Galactic Bonds, Crown of Shards, Gargoyle Queen, and other fantasy series. She has written more than 40 books, along with numerous novellas and stories.
In her spare time, Jennifer enjoys hanging out with friends and family, doing yoga, and reading fantasy and romance books. She also watches way too much TV and loves all things related to superheroes.
For more information on Jennifer and her books, visit her website at www.JenniferEstep.com or sign up for her newsletter: http://www.jenniferestep.com/contact-....
FOLLOW JENNIFER ONLINE:
Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/yyj59omw
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennifer_es...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jennifer_Estep
Amazon: https://amzn.to/39lCyX6
BookBub: https://tinyurl.com/y4dm3zso
Goodreads: https://tinyurl.com/y638q98k
Jennifer's blog: https://tinyurl.com/2dj4afb
Jennifer's newsletter: http://www.jenniferestep.com/contact-...
Happy reading, everyone! 😎
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December 2, 2020
Audiobook Review
I enjoyed this book even more during this re-read than I did the first time around. It is amazing that I can forget the entire plot of a book that I have read in just a few years but apparently I can so I almost felt like I was reading this book for the first time. Once I started listening to this book, I didn't want to stop because I was really curious about how things would work out. I am so glad that I decided to revisit this series in audio.
This is the second book in the Black Blade series which really should be read in order since this book builds on the events from the previous installment. There are a lot of things going on and Lila, Devon, Felix, and the rest of the characters are keeping their eyes open for anyone looking to harm the Sinclair Family. The annual tournament that the families participate in is about to begin and Lila is chosen to participate and represent the Sinclair Family. Of course, there are few other things going on that they will need to deal with while the tournament plays out.
I grew to like the characters even more with this book. I have really enjoyed learning more about the characters and there were some pretty big revelations in this book. While I didn't remember what really happened in the story, I did find that there was one character that I never fully trusted so I did wonder if I might have subconsciously known that this character wasn't what they appeared to be. I found the story to be really exciting and the mystery did keep me guessing.
Brittany Pressley continues to do an excellent job with the narration of this series. I had no problem listening to her performance for hours at a time. I thought that she brought a lot of excitement to the story in her reading and I loved all of her character voices. I feel like I enjoyed this book even more because of her narration.
I would recommend this book to others. This is such a fun series that is filled with quite a bit of excitement. I cannot wait to dive into the final book in the trilogy.
Original Review
This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life.
I liked this book but I didn't like it quite as much as I did the first book in the series. My 4 star rating is probably a bit generous but it is really a fun read. This book really has a lot going for it and the world that it is set in is amazing. I just love the combination of magic, monsters, and the mob that this world is built upon. This book picks up right where the first book in the series, Cold Burn of Magic, leaves off so I would recommend that this series be read in order.
Lila has assumed her role as bodyguard to the Sinclair family bruiser, Devon. It is time for the annual Tournament of Blades competition. This competition will consist of selected members from each family facing off against each other until the champion is named. Lila doesn't know a whole lot about this tournament from her prior life as a thief but she may be the Sinclair family's best chance at winning. When some unusual things start happening, Lila works to try to find out what is going on through the use of her magic and the skills that she has developed from her work as a thief.
The tournament was interesting and I liked that it allowed members from the different families to interact. Some of the characters from the other families are actually pretty interesting and others are just ugly to their core. The action during the tournament was exciting but not quite as exciting as the action that occurred outside of the tournament. There were a few twists and turns in this story which I really loved. Lila had grown as a character and seems a bit more sure of herself as she learns more about her parents' past.
The only thing that bothered me about this book was the romantic pieces. I know that this is a YA novel and I am just an old lady but the romance felt so very young and was distracting at times. I do appreciate that the story is not centered on a love triangle but Lila's indecision regarding her feelings for Devon are becoming old. I kind of wanted to slap her so that she would either act on her feelings or stop thinking about it. I am hoping that the next installment will have some forward momentum in terms of their relationship even if it means that they don't have one...I just want someone to make a decision and quit talking about it.
I would recommend this book to fans of Young Adult novels. This story is set in an interesting and creative world and there is a lot of action to keep things exciting. I have read several books by Jennifer Estep and plan to continue with this series when the next installment is released.
I received an advance reader edition of this book from Kensington Books via NetGalley for the purpose of providing an honest review.
Initial Thoughts
I liked this but not quite as much as I liked the first book in the series. There was a lot of action and enough of a mystery to keep me guessing. I do really like the world this series is set in and the characters are great.
I enjoyed this book even more during this re-read than I did the first time around. It is amazing that I can forget the entire plot of a book that I have read in just a few years but apparently I can so I almost felt like I was reading this book for the first time. Once I started listening to this book, I didn't want to stop because I was really curious about how things would work out. I am so glad that I decided to revisit this series in audio.
This is the second book in the Black Blade series which really should be read in order since this book builds on the events from the previous installment. There are a lot of things going on and Lila, Devon, Felix, and the rest of the characters are keeping their eyes open for anyone looking to harm the Sinclair Family. The annual tournament that the families participate in is about to begin and Lila is chosen to participate and represent the Sinclair Family. Of course, there are few other things going on that they will need to deal with while the tournament plays out.
I grew to like the characters even more with this book. I have really enjoyed learning more about the characters and there were some pretty big revelations in this book. While I didn't remember what really happened in the story, I did find that there was one character that I never fully trusted so I did wonder if I might have subconsciously known that this character wasn't what they appeared to be. I found the story to be really exciting and the mystery did keep me guessing.
Brittany Pressley continues to do an excellent job with the narration of this series. I had no problem listening to her performance for hours at a time. I thought that she brought a lot of excitement to the story in her reading and I loved all of her character voices. I feel like I enjoyed this book even more because of her narration.
I would recommend this book to others. This is such a fun series that is filled with quite a bit of excitement. I cannot wait to dive into the final book in the trilogy.
Original Review
This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life.
I liked this book but I didn't like it quite as much as I did the first book in the series. My 4 star rating is probably a bit generous but it is really a fun read. This book really has a lot going for it and the world that it is set in is amazing. I just love the combination of magic, monsters, and the mob that this world is built upon. This book picks up right where the first book in the series, Cold Burn of Magic, leaves off so I would recommend that this series be read in order.
Lila has assumed her role as bodyguard to the Sinclair family bruiser, Devon. It is time for the annual Tournament of Blades competition. This competition will consist of selected members from each family facing off against each other until the champion is named. Lila doesn't know a whole lot about this tournament from her prior life as a thief but she may be the Sinclair family's best chance at winning. When some unusual things start happening, Lila works to try to find out what is going on through the use of her magic and the skills that she has developed from her work as a thief.
The tournament was interesting and I liked that it allowed members from the different families to interact. Some of the characters from the other families are actually pretty interesting and others are just ugly to their core. The action during the tournament was exciting but not quite as exciting as the action that occurred outside of the tournament. There were a few twists and turns in this story which I really loved. Lila had grown as a character and seems a bit more sure of herself as she learns more about her parents' past.
The only thing that bothered me about this book was the romantic pieces. I know that this is a YA novel and I am just an old lady but the romance felt so very young and was distracting at times. I do appreciate that the story is not centered on a love triangle but Lila's indecision regarding her feelings for Devon are becoming old. I kind of wanted to slap her so that she would either act on her feelings or stop thinking about it. I am hoping that the next installment will have some forward momentum in terms of their relationship even if it means that they don't have one...I just want someone to make a decision and quit talking about it.
I would recommend this book to fans of Young Adult novels. This story is set in an interesting and creative world and there is a lot of action to keep things exciting. I have read several books by Jennifer Estep and plan to continue with this series when the next installment is released.
I received an advance reader edition of this book from Kensington Books via NetGalley for the purpose of providing an honest review.
Initial Thoughts
I liked this but not quite as much as I liked the first book in the series. There was a lot of action and enough of a mystery to keep me guessing. I do really like the world this series is set in and the characters are great.
June 10, 2016
Final review, first posted on Fantasy Literature:
Note: some spoilers for the first book, Cold Burn of Magic.
In Dark Heart of Magic, the second book in Jennifer Estep’s BLACK BLADE teen urban fantasy series, the adventures of seventeen year old Lila Merriweather ― orphan, ex-homeless person and pickpocket, current bodyguard, and swordfighter extraordinaire ― continue. In a world that contains both normal mortals and magicks, humans endowed with different magical powers, Lila has two extraordinary powers: soulsight, which enables her to read the emotions of another person by looking into their eyes, and transference, the ability to mirror another person’s magical powers that are being used against her. This makes Lila a particularly valued bodyguard for the Sinclair Family, one of the most powerful magical families in the town of Cloudburst Falls, which has unusually high levels of magical activity ― so much that it’s become a tourist hotspot for people who want to see pixies, monsters, trolls and other magical creatures.
Lila intends to serve out a year-long term with the Sinclair Family and then leave town, despite the “soulful green eyes, teasing grin, and rocking body” of Devon Sinclair, the son and heir of the head of the Sinclair Family. Devon is a caring, kind person who wants to pursue a relationship with Lila, but because of her plans not to hang around long-term and her unwillingness to allow anyone to get too close to her and possibly hurt her, Lila keeps pushing Devon away.
Lila gets roped by the head of the Sinclair Family into taking part in the annual Tournament of Blades, a sword-fighting competition with over a hundred competitors. The competitors also include her friend Devon, Deah Draconi (daughter of the arch-rival Draconi clan and past champion of the Tournament), Deah’s nasty brother Blake, and Katia Volkov, a gorgeous redhead with designs on Devon’s best friend Felix … who’s no longer interested in Katia because he’s now involved in a Romeo-and-Juliet type of secret relationship with Deah Draconi. Winning the Tournament will bring honor and accolades, as well as a cash prize, but Lila would really prefer to avoid attention, particularly from the nefarious Victor Draconi and his son Blake, who killed Lila’s mother years ago and whom Lila now suspects of planning to take down the other magical Families and take control of Cloudburst Falls.
What with sneaking into the Draconi mansion to discover Victor’s plans, trying to figure out who is killing all of the tree trolls in town, and pining after Devon, Lila has a lot distracting her from the Tournament. Not that Lila really cares about the Tournament, at least at first, but when an unknown person sabotages the obstacle course that’s the first round of the competition, gravely endangering Lila and others, Lila starts to think it might be worth trying to win the Tournament.
Between the competition, the murdered tree troll mystery, Draconi skullduggery, another mystery about Lila’s family and past, and the obligatory love interest, there’s a lot going on in Dark Heart of Magic. The quick pace and multiple plotlines help to make up for some superficiality. Lila, who has a young and frequently snarky voice, narrates the story. I didn’t find the constant sniping of Lila and some of the other characters particularly witty, so it got tedious for me, but younger readers might disagree. The characters, other than Lila and the hidden villain, are strictly one-dimensional. Even the secret villain is fairly easy to spot, given a couple of rather obvious clues that Estep leaves in the text.
As the main character, Lila has some greater depth, particularly as she attempts to come to terms with her painful past and determine what she really wants in life. But, as often happens in fantasy novels, Lila’s skills are over the top, between her super-special magical powers, amazing sword-fighting ability, and expert skills at spying, pickpocketing and lock-picking. In fact, she’s extraordinarily good at pretty much everything except interpersonal relationships.
Overall, Dark Heart of Magic is a light and fun read, if you don’t mind some murder and mayhem. I’d recommend this to a teenager who likes fast-paced fantasy adventures with a dash of humor, but isn’t looking for anything really deep or complex. If you enjoyed Cold Burn of Magic, the first book in this series, you’ll probably like this one just as well.
Note: some spoilers for the first book, Cold Burn of Magic.
In Dark Heart of Magic, the second book in Jennifer Estep’s BLACK BLADE teen urban fantasy series, the adventures of seventeen year old Lila Merriweather ― orphan, ex-homeless person and pickpocket, current bodyguard, and swordfighter extraordinaire ― continue. In a world that contains both normal mortals and magicks, humans endowed with different magical powers, Lila has two extraordinary powers: soulsight, which enables her to read the emotions of another person by looking into their eyes, and transference, the ability to mirror another person’s magical powers that are being used against her. This makes Lila a particularly valued bodyguard for the Sinclair Family, one of the most powerful magical families in the town of Cloudburst Falls, which has unusually high levels of magical activity ― so much that it’s become a tourist hotspot for people who want to see pixies, monsters, trolls and other magical creatures.
Lila intends to serve out a year-long term with the Sinclair Family and then leave town, despite the “soulful green eyes, teasing grin, and rocking body” of Devon Sinclair, the son and heir of the head of the Sinclair Family. Devon is a caring, kind person who wants to pursue a relationship with Lila, but because of her plans not to hang around long-term and her unwillingness to allow anyone to get too close to her and possibly hurt her, Lila keeps pushing Devon away.
Lila gets roped by the head of the Sinclair Family into taking part in the annual Tournament of Blades, a sword-fighting competition with over a hundred competitors. The competitors also include her friend Devon, Deah Draconi (daughter of the arch-rival Draconi clan and past champion of the Tournament), Deah’s nasty brother Blake, and Katia Volkov, a gorgeous redhead with designs on Devon’s best friend Felix … who’s no longer interested in Katia because he’s now involved in a Romeo-and-Juliet type of secret relationship with Deah Draconi. Winning the Tournament will bring honor and accolades, as well as a cash prize, but Lila would really prefer to avoid attention, particularly from the nefarious Victor Draconi and his son Blake, who killed Lila’s mother years ago and whom Lila now suspects of planning to take down the other magical Families and take control of Cloudburst Falls.
What with sneaking into the Draconi mansion to discover Victor’s plans, trying to figure out who is killing all of the tree trolls in town, and pining after Devon, Lila has a lot distracting her from the Tournament. Not that Lila really cares about the Tournament, at least at first, but when an unknown person sabotages the obstacle course that’s the first round of the competition, gravely endangering Lila and others, Lila starts to think it might be worth trying to win the Tournament.
Between the competition, the murdered tree troll mystery, Draconi skullduggery, another mystery about Lila’s family and past, and the obligatory love interest, there’s a lot going on in Dark Heart of Magic. The quick pace and multiple plotlines help to make up for some superficiality. Lila, who has a young and frequently snarky voice, narrates the story. I didn’t find the constant sniping of Lila and some of the other characters particularly witty, so it got tedious for me, but younger readers might disagree. The characters, other than Lila and the hidden villain, are strictly one-dimensional. Even the secret villain is fairly easy to spot, given a couple of rather obvious clues that Estep leaves in the text.
As the main character, Lila has some greater depth, particularly as she attempts to come to terms with her painful past and determine what she really wants in life. But, as often happens in fantasy novels, Lila’s skills are over the top, between her super-special magical powers, amazing sword-fighting ability, and expert skills at spying, pickpocketing and lock-picking. In fact, she’s extraordinarily good at pretty much everything except interpersonal relationships.
Overall, Dark Heart of Magic is a light and fun read, if you don’t mind some murder and mayhem. I’d recommend this to a teenager who likes fast-paced fantasy adventures with a dash of humor, but isn’t looking for anything really deep or complex. If you enjoyed Cold Burn of Magic, the first book in this series, you’ll probably like this one just as well.
November 1, 2015
Reviewed by: Rabid Reads.
The Tournament of Blades was the driving force behind DARK HEART OF MAGIC which was perfect because what better way to go full throttle on the action than with lots of fighting while also fleshing out all of the pertinent characters’ strengths and weaknesses by putting all of the Cloudburst Falls Families on display. Lila’s no longer a team of one, things are moving along with Devon, and Victor is THE villain to beat. Game. Set. Match.
Unlike the previous installment which was a little of both, this novel was centered around the mafia-style plotting rather than the monsters and magicks that comprise Jennifer Estep’s BLACK BLADE universe. I enjoyed the scheming a great deal; this author certainly excels at whodunnit story telling, and Talents were vital, but I did find myself longing for more of the world-building that was so strong in book 1, tree trolls notwithstanding.
Seleste was a welcomed addition to this trilogy’s cast, and Deah continued to surprise me at every turn. I was kind of disappointed with how Felix dealt with his love life dilemma, and Vance & Blake were just stupid bullies. The Tournament of Blades ended up being an excellent equalizer, and I liked that most of the baddies got their due. Well, except for Victor, but that’s what BRIGHT BLAZE OF MAGIC IS FOR—right?
I’m happy with the way Devon & Lila’s romance has progressed thus far; there’s no triangle which is a BIG plus in Young Adult, next to zero drama, and they are in an optimal spot going into the conclusion. I loved that Sinclair was a genuinely good guy, and that he won Merriweather over by simply being himself. The soulsight sessions between the two of them packed one heck of an emotional punch, and the last few pages definitely pulled on my heartstrings.
DARK HEART OF MAGIC is one of the better trilogy middle installments that I’ve read.
The Tournament of Blades was the driving force behind DARK HEART OF MAGIC which was perfect because what better way to go full throttle on the action than with lots of fighting while also fleshing out all of the pertinent characters’ strengths and weaknesses by putting all of the Cloudburst Falls Families on display. Lila’s no longer a team of one, things are moving along with Devon, and Victor is THE villain to beat. Game. Set. Match.
Unlike the previous installment which was a little of both, this novel was centered around the mafia-style plotting rather than the monsters and magicks that comprise Jennifer Estep’s BLACK BLADE universe. I enjoyed the scheming a great deal; this author certainly excels at whodunnit story telling, and Talents were vital, but I did find myself longing for more of the world-building that was so strong in book 1, tree trolls notwithstanding.
Seleste was a welcomed addition to this trilogy’s cast, and Deah continued to surprise me at every turn. I was kind of disappointed with how Felix dealt with his love life dilemma, and Vance & Blake were just stupid bullies. The Tournament of Blades ended up being an excellent equalizer, and I liked that most of the baddies got their due. Well, except for Victor, but that’s what BRIGHT BLAZE OF MAGIC IS FOR—right?
I’m happy with the way Devon & Lila’s romance has progressed thus far; there’s no triangle which is a BIG plus in Young Adult, next to zero drama, and they are in an optimal spot going into the conclusion. I loved that Sinclair was a genuinely good guy, and that he won Merriweather over by simply being himself. The soulsight sessions between the two of them packed one heck of an emotional punch, and the last few pages definitely pulled on my heartstrings.
DARK HEART OF MAGIC is one of the better trilogy middle installments that I’ve read.
October 15, 2015
After falling in love once again with Estep's writing in Cold Burn of Magic, (okay okay I was a huge fan before but you get the idea!), Dark Heart of Magic was one of my most anticipated reads for fall of 2015.
As I picked it up and started reading, it didn't take me long to remember exactly why that was the case.
Estep has a way with words, not to mention characters. Her heroines are always tough, fierce, feisty, and full of sarcasm, some of my most favorite traits in a protagonist. Add in her unique talent of making something over used, completely new and fresh, not to mention plots that are every bit as fast paced as they are addicting, and you truly have a read that stands out and is every bit as entertaining as those of us that are familiar with Estep's work, have come to expect from her.
And her second installment in the Black Blade series was not a disappointment by any stretch of the imagination.
Once again filled with mystery, great one liners, humor, friendship, action, and danger, this series truly is a stand out series in the genre of young adult.
Every bit as fun as it is adventurous, this second installment lived up to the first and made me anxious for the third.
I'm on edge curious about how this will all end but have complete faith in Estep's ability to deliver with a well rounded, well written story.
*An ARC Copy of this was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
As I picked it up and started reading, it didn't take me long to remember exactly why that was the case.
Estep has a way with words, not to mention characters. Her heroines are always tough, fierce, feisty, and full of sarcasm, some of my most favorite traits in a protagonist. Add in her unique talent of making something over used, completely new and fresh, not to mention plots that are every bit as fast paced as they are addicting, and you truly have a read that stands out and is every bit as entertaining as those of us that are familiar with Estep's work, have come to expect from her.
And her second installment in the Black Blade series was not a disappointment by any stretch of the imagination.
Once again filled with mystery, great one liners, humor, friendship, action, and danger, this series truly is a stand out series in the genre of young adult.
Every bit as fun as it is adventurous, this second installment lived up to the first and made me anxious for the third.
I'm on edge curious about how this will all end but have complete faith in Estep's ability to deliver with a well rounded, well written story.
*An ARC Copy of this was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
Want to read
March 16, 2015
WHAT IS THAT TEASER. I AM NOT OKAY. SEND HELP.
The sad thing about reading a book early is that YOU ALSO HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE NEXT BOOK EVEN LONGER THAN USUAL. (Unless you get an ARC again which I would love to have by the way LOL)
I mean...
So yeah. I will patiently wait for this. And I do mean patiently.
October 2, 2015
This is the second book in the Black Blade series and we catch up with Lila as she continues to work as a magical bodyguard for Devon the son of the Sinclair family. This does have a YA feel to it but nevertheless the author continues to pull this reader in. Most of the action happens as the four revered families enter contestants in a tournament designed to entertain both humans and those with magic alike. It's pretty clear right from the start though that someone is determined to win no matter at what cost. Fairness and friendly competition is most definitely not on the agenda ! As Lila continues to fight she becomes increasingly aware that enemies of the Sinclair family are about to step up their game as they prepare for an all out war! In this land where monsters roam the streets and attack the unwary Lila usually has an edge but something nasty is in Cloudburst Falls and magic and blood are far too often linked!
I really like this series with it's likeable heroine. Lila is hellbent on avenging her parents but is intelligent enough to bide her time and make sure she is in the right place at the right time. Not a gung-ho type but most definitely one who will take on any and all comers ! It's obvious that her affections for Devon cannot be ignored for ever as these two seem more drawn to each other with each book and yes there's a little romance within these pages. Fear not though it's not a sloppy story but a mystery to unravel as the reader follows the clues to find out just how monstrous a person can be. Answers are given here about Lila's family that are both shocking and surprising and we even get to find out more about the often hilarious Mo. Fans of this author will smile as a certain barbecue restaurant is mentioned but I'm a little over all the foodie bits as it seems a little too like a certain series involving Gin. I did stay glued to my kindle and had guessed who the big bad was if honest but it's a great story with such amazing possibilities and I know for sure that I will be snapping up the next instalment .
I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review Four and a half from me
I really like this series with it's likeable heroine. Lila is hellbent on avenging her parents but is intelligent enough to bide her time and make sure she is in the right place at the right time. Not a gung-ho type but most definitely one who will take on any and all comers ! It's obvious that her affections for Devon cannot be ignored for ever as these two seem more drawn to each other with each book and yes there's a little romance within these pages. Fear not though it's not a sloppy story but a mystery to unravel as the reader follows the clues to find out just how monstrous a person can be. Answers are given here about Lila's family that are both shocking and surprising and we even get to find out more about the often hilarious Mo. Fans of this author will smile as a certain barbecue restaurant is mentioned but I'm a little over all the foodie bits as it seems a little too like a certain series involving Gin. I did stay glued to my kindle and had guessed who the big bad was if honest but it's a great story with such amazing possibilities and I know for sure that I will be snapping up the next instalment .
I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review Four and a half from me
May 17, 2016
I'm still not madly in love with this series, but I do think it's decent and definitely readable, as is this installment in particular.
Lila is a great protagonist, even when she's often too blind to see the obvious when it comes to what's happening around her; Devon is a very likeable love interest, and there's quite a bit of character development going on, especially for the secondary characters. A fairly riveting story, too, though I like the overarching plot more than the individual mysteries each book revolves around.
However, there's a little too much petty teen drama for my taste, I'm not exactly crazy about the writing (too repetitive, overuse of onomatopoeia, very simplistic regarding clues and hints and far too obvious for me to be surprised by any of the twists and revelations), and I still haven't warmed up toward the world building, though it's becoming easier to ignore.
This is an easy to read series, all in all enjoyable and compelling enough to make me curious as to what's going to happen in the sequel, but it's not perfect by any stretch.
December 8, 2015
Quick review:
Cover: Fits
Rating: 3.5
Overall: Disappointed
Characters: Okay
Plot: Girl trying to make it on her own
Page Turner: Maybe
Series Cont.? Probably
Recommend: Not Sure
Book Boyfriend: Devon
SUMMARY (50 words or less)
I have to say there is promise in this series but aggravating to read. I like UF and not every story needs romance. So if you don’t want romance, don’t add it in as a afterthought. I think this story would have been 10 times better without it.
For a full review and yummy pic, see my blog post at:
http://www.mybookboyfriend.net/2015/1...
Audio Review
Brittany Pressley does a great job at narration. She nails the spirit of all the characters.
Cover: Fits
Rating: 3.5
Overall: Disappointed
Characters: Okay
Plot: Girl trying to make it on her own
Page Turner: Maybe
Series Cont.? Probably
Recommend: Not Sure
Book Boyfriend: Devon
SUMMARY (50 words or less)
I have to say there is promise in this series but aggravating to read. I like UF and not every story needs romance. So if you don’t want romance, don’t add it in as a afterthought. I think this story would have been 10 times better without it.
For a full review and yummy pic, see my blog post at:
http://www.mybookboyfriend.net/2015/1...
Audio Review
Brittany Pressley does a great job at narration. She nails the spirit of all the characters.
September 10, 2015
Initial Thoughts: Ms Estep is a wonderful storyteller. I know that I can always count on her stories to keep me entertained.
The Review: Dark Heart of Magic is the second book in Jennifer Estep's Black Blade series. For those familiar with the author's Elemental Assassin series, this series is a companion series, written for a young adult audience. The world is similar, though I think that there are more monsters in this one, and the power struggles are with magical mafia-like families.
In this installment, our heroine Lila discovers some disturbing things about a rival family. I liked the way that Lila developed in this book - her character gets stronger and wiser. And she likes bacon. Lots and lots of bacon. The supporting cast was great, especially Oscar the pixie and his pet tortoise Tiny.
I was describing the writing style to my husband and I had to chuckle. As I mentioned above, she is a wonderful storyteller and that keeps me reading. She does have a few little quirks - there are multiple instances of eye colors. It can get annoying. The other thing she does is describe food in such a way that you are certain that there should be a follow up cookbook somewhere. (Alas, there isn't). So don't read if you are hungry. Oh, there is a shout out to Gin's Pork Pit....
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for a review copy of this book.
The Review: Dark Heart of Magic is the second book in Jennifer Estep's Black Blade series. For those familiar with the author's Elemental Assassin series, this series is a companion series, written for a young adult audience. The world is similar, though I think that there are more monsters in this one, and the power struggles are with magical mafia-like families.
In this installment, our heroine Lila discovers some disturbing things about a rival family. I liked the way that Lila developed in this book - her character gets stronger and wiser. And she likes bacon. Lots and lots of bacon. The supporting cast was great, especially Oscar the pixie and his pet tortoise Tiny.
I was describing the writing style to my husband and I had to chuckle. As I mentioned above, she is a wonderful storyteller and that keeps me reading. She does have a few little quirks - there are multiple instances of eye colors. It can get annoying. The other thing she does is describe food in such a way that you are certain that there should be a follow up cookbook somewhere. (Alas, there isn't). So don't read if you are hungry. Oh, there is a shout out to Gin's Pork Pit....
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for a review copy of this book.
November 2, 2025
Once again, I’m thrilled by the newest addition of the Black Blade series, Dark Heart of Magic, a young adult spin off that takes place in the marvelous world of Estep's Elemental Assassin series.
Lila is now caught up in the Sinclair family, serving as Devon’s body guard.
A magical tournament is about to take place, pitting the 4 revered families in the ultimate battle for power and bragging rights. Lila is chosen by the Sinclair’s matriarch to be one of their representatives in these magical duels and challenges.
I’m loving this new series! Lila continues to grow and bloom under tests that certainly would push even the most trained individuals to their limit. She’s lived homeless for years, on her own, hiding from discerning eyes and surviving by her own wits as a thief. To suddenly become a revered warrior in one of the strongest magical families around and in the spot light; it truly is something to watch Estep’s amazing imagination make this transformation come alive.
Don’t miss this outstanding urban fantasy, its packed full of humor and tension that bring a marvelous cast and tender, slow building romances right off the pages and into your life.
I received this ARC copy of Dark Heart of Magic from Kensington Books in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication October 27, 2015.
My Rating: 5 Stars
Lila is now caught up in the Sinclair family, serving as Devon’s body guard.
A magical tournament is about to take place, pitting the 4 revered families in the ultimate battle for power and bragging rights. Lila is chosen by the Sinclair’s matriarch to be one of their representatives in these magical duels and challenges.
I’m loving this new series! Lila continues to grow and bloom under tests that certainly would push even the most trained individuals to their limit. She’s lived homeless for years, on her own, hiding from discerning eyes and surviving by her own wits as a thief. To suddenly become a revered warrior in one of the strongest magical families around and in the spot light; it truly is something to watch Estep’s amazing imagination make this transformation come alive.
Don’t miss this outstanding urban fantasy, its packed full of humor and tension that bring a marvelous cast and tender, slow building romances right off the pages and into your life.
I received this ARC copy of Dark Heart of Magic from Kensington Books in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication October 27, 2015.
My Rating: 5 Stars
October 29, 2017
Leider nur 3,5 Sterne, da es wieder mal sehr vorhersehbar war und mich das an Jennifers Esteps Büchern langsam wirklich stört.
November 27, 2015
The Black Blade series started out as Elemental Assassin lite, a young adult version of the series Jennifer Estep is first known for. I liked it well enough at the time, but saw it merely as a reprise of sorts, a nice way to pass the time, but a book I could have easily done without. The same does not apply to the sequel. Jennifer Estep truly stepped up her game and gave us a book that stands out.
We reunite with Lila only days after she’s become Devon Sinclair’s personal bodyguard. Their world is still as violent as ever, with threats from other magical families always looming over their heads. But even with an outright war brewing, traditions need to be upheld, and one of those traditions is the Tournament of Blades. Lila is naturally one of the contestants, and so is Devon, and they work together more closely than ever to discover the various conspiracies and traps set by other participants.
I distinctly remember feeling ambivalent about the lack of romance in the first book. I had no such problems here – the romance is understated, yes, but wonderful nevertheless. Devon’s steady, dependable presence and Lila’s reactions to him hit all the right notes for me. Even when they fight against each other, they do it as a team, which is very difficult to achieve, but so beautiful to behold.
My only true objection is aimed at the predictability of this book. I don't like feeling that much smarter than the characters and I intensely dislike feeling frustrated while waiting for them to catch up. Lila was painfully slow in this book, always failing to see what was right in front of her. To make matters worse, the villain was glaringly obvious the second he/she showed up, which made it impossible not to feel bothered by the blindness of our heroine. If you can put that aside, however, Dark Heart of Magic is an exciting, emotionally charged book that outshines its predecessor by far. I have very high hopes for Bright Blaze of Magic and I absolutely trust Jennifer Estep to deliver a fabulous read.
October 26, 2015
**I received this book for free from Jennifer Estep in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.**
*Genre* Young Adult, Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 4.0
*My Thoughts*
Dark Heart of Magic is the second installment in the Black Blade trilogy by author Jennifer Estep. Welcome to Cloudburst Falls, West Virginia home to magicks, monsters, and powerful families that control everything. Cloudburst has accepted the label as the most magical place on the planet. A label that is hard to dispute. It is what brings the tourists and money into town in droves. Protagonist Lila Merriweather (17) now works for the Sinclair Family as a bodyguard for Devon Sinclair, the bruiser, and second in command of the family. After living on the streets for the past 4 years as an thief extraordinaire, she is steadily working her way towards completing her revenge against the man who killed her mother; Victor Draconi.
*Full Review Posted 10/26/2015 @ Gizmos Review/Blog Tour Stop*
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
Expected publication: October 27th 2015 by Kensington
*Genre* Young Adult, Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 4.0
*My Thoughts*
Dark Heart of Magic is the second installment in the Black Blade trilogy by author Jennifer Estep. Welcome to Cloudburst Falls, West Virginia home to magicks, monsters, and powerful families that control everything. Cloudburst has accepted the label as the most magical place on the planet. A label that is hard to dispute. It is what brings the tourists and money into town in droves. Protagonist Lila Merriweather (17) now works for the Sinclair Family as a bodyguard for Devon Sinclair, the bruiser, and second in command of the family. After living on the streets for the past 4 years as an thief extraordinaire, she is steadily working her way towards completing her revenge against the man who killed her mother; Victor Draconi.
*Full Review Posted 10/26/2015 @ Gizmos Review/Blog Tour Stop*
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
Expected publication: October 27th 2015 by Kensington
October 29, 2016
What a page turner!!
November 5, 2015
In Cold Burn of Magic Lila found herself reluctantly pulled into service with one of the ruling crime families of Cloudburst Falls. Now in book two, Dark Heart of Magic her quiet life as a thief slipping by under the radar is well and truly over. She has been entered into the Tournament of Blades which pits the best of each family against each other.
But in the shadows a vicious sadist has been attacking and brutally murdering the monsters that make the woods around Cloudburst Falls home, and Victor Draconi is plotting a pogrom which will end all the other families. And Lila is the only one who can stop him.
The Black Blade Trilogy has Jennifer Estep writing Young Adult Urban Fantasy. Honestly as soon as YA is mentioned I get a little wary. When it's good, it's great, but it sadly often ends up as an angsty, self-absorbed soup. Thankfully this series is way up at the "great" end of the sliding scale. It's entertaining fun for older young adults and there are plenty of adults who will love these books too.
But in the shadows a vicious sadist has been attacking and brutally murdering the monsters that make the woods around Cloudburst Falls home, and Victor Draconi is plotting a pogrom which will end all the other families. And Lila is the only one who can stop him.
The Black Blade Trilogy has Jennifer Estep writing Young Adult Urban Fantasy. Honestly as soon as YA is mentioned I get a little wary. When it's good, it's great, but it sadly often ends up as an angsty, self-absorbed soup. Thankfully this series is way up at the "great" end of the sliding scale. It's entertaining fun for older young adults and there are plenty of adults who will love these books too.
October 29, 2015
Dark Heart of magic is book two in the Black Blade trilogy & it turned out to be a pretty fun ride. The book is filled with action & character growth. We also see some of our favorite characters make some romantic progress & deal with some difficult truths. Jennifer Estep continues to make headway unfolding the story in the most interesting ways. I've high hopes for the conclusion Bright Blaze of Magic out April 2016 & reccomend the trilogy to YA book readers.
I rate this book a 4
I read the kindle version & listened to the audible version of this book. (Audible version was purchased.)
Disclaimer: I was lucky enough to get the Dark Heart of Magic (Black Blade, #2) by Jennifer Estep arc via netgalley
I rate this book a 4
I read the kindle version & listened to the audible version of this book. (Audible version was purchased.)
Disclaimer: I was lucky enough to get the Dark Heart of Magic (Black Blade, #2) by Jennifer Estep arc via netgalley
May 27, 2025
I enjoyed this second book in the Black Blade series. In this book, we find out a little more about Lila's family and an important connection her mom had. The Tournament of Blades is happening and every family wants to win. Death Draconi is the favorite person to win but we meet a new girl who has every reason to want to win this year. There is also the problem with the tree trolls. Something is going on with them. With a blend of action, magic, mystery, and a hint of romance this novel is a great continuation of this trilogy. I can't wait to read the next one.
October 12, 2015
4.5 stars
This was a great sequel, I enjoyed it even more than the first one. The ending was brilliant, even though i'm not a massive fan of cliff hangers and I'm now very excited to read the next book in the series.
In this installment the Families of Cloudburst Falls took part in a tournament in which contestants fight with their skills and magic. I love books with magical competitions so this one was right up my alley. It wasn't as deadly as the tri-wizard tournament but I enjoyed it all the same.
The tension between the Families was really amped up in this one too and I enjoyed getting a better insight into the Draconi Family. In the last book they were more of a mysterious big bad but they became much more real to me during this book and I learned to love and loath their various members.
Character stand outs have to incude Deah's mother and Oscar the pixie. Deah has really had a shitty time with her ruthless father and arsehole brother but her mother more than makes up for it. Despite being slightly scattered, she clearly adores Deah and I really loved that about her.
Oscar was just brilliant, he reminded me a lot of Jenks from the Hollows series without all the colourful language and I've really grown attached to his grumpy outbursts.
There were a few things that bugged me about this book that meant I couldn't give it 5 stars, despite how enjoyable it was. First of all, I guessed who was behind the monster attacks and why quite early on, the clues weren't subtle so I wasn't surprised when all was revealed.
Also, the dialogue was quite juvenile and it made me cringe. This was really noticeable in Lila's interactions with Blake. He talks like a a 12 year old with an attitude problem. No 17/18 year old would speak like that. Also calling someone a loser in every single interaction you have with them grows tiresome fast. It's like he's a domesticated bird with very limited vocabulary, it really bugged me.
Despite the irritation that was Blake, I really enjoyed this and I'm very excited for the next installment.
**A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley**
This was a great sequel, I enjoyed it even more than the first one. The ending was brilliant, even though i'm not a massive fan of cliff hangers and I'm now very excited to read the next book in the series.
In this installment the Families of Cloudburst Falls took part in a tournament in which contestants fight with their skills and magic. I love books with magical competitions so this one was right up my alley. It wasn't as deadly as the tri-wizard tournament but I enjoyed it all the same.
The tension between the Families was really amped up in this one too and I enjoyed getting a better insight into the Draconi Family. In the last book they were more of a mysterious big bad but they became much more real to me during this book and I learned to love and loath their various members.
Character stand outs have to incude Deah's mother and Oscar the pixie. Deah has really had a shitty time with her ruthless father and arsehole brother but her mother more than makes up for it. Despite being slightly scattered, she clearly adores Deah and I really loved that about her.
Oscar was just brilliant, he reminded me a lot of Jenks from the Hollows series without all the colourful language and I've really grown attached to his grumpy outbursts.
There were a few things that bugged me about this book that meant I couldn't give it 5 stars, despite how enjoyable it was. First of all, I guessed who was behind the monster attacks and why quite early on, the clues weren't subtle so I wasn't surprised when all was revealed.
Also, the dialogue was quite juvenile and it made me cringe. This was really noticeable in Lila's interactions with Blake. He talks like a a 12 year old with an attitude problem. No 17/18 year old would speak like that. Also calling someone a loser in every single interaction you have with them grows tiresome fast. It's like he's a domesticated bird with very limited vocabulary, it really bugged me.
Despite the irritation that was Blake, I really enjoyed this and I'm very excited for the next installment.
**A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley**
October 26, 2015
This review was originally posted at The Book Nympho
Jennifer Estep doing what she does best . . . writing strong and sassy heroines that have a taste for vengeance, justice and yummy food.
Dark Heart of Magic takes place a couple of weeks after Cold Burn of Magic and Lila finds herself part of the Sinclair family. Which is really weird for her since she has lived on the streets for the last 4 years with only one friend, Mo. Now she's living in a mansion with other people and pixies. There are rules to follow and people who care about her. But Lila tries her best to keep her distance since she plays on leaving when the year she agreed to stay is up.
But there's one person that Lila is having a really hard time keeping at arm's length and that Devon Sinclair. Every time she looks into his green, green eyes she has these feelings that she's not use to. Romance woes is not the front and center of Dark Heart of Magic.
After all it's an Urban Fantasy so there's action that keeps Lila busy. Like learning that she will be in the Tournament of Blades. The ToB is a yearly summer event the Families aka mobsters hold to entertain the tourists of Cloudburst Falls. It's a "friendly" competition with an obsolescence course followed by a day of one-on-one fights to crow a winner for the year. Lila being a theft likes to go unnoticed so being in the spotlight is another thing she's not use to.
With the building issues with the monsters in town and the cover of the third (and the final, I think) book, Bright Blaze of Magic, I can't wait to see how Lila figures it out and takes down Victor Draconi. I bet her "monster whispering" skills will come into play somehow. I mean look at the tentacles on that cover! Jennifer Estep weaves action, mystery, secrets and a touch of romance into the newest installment of the Black Blade series. Estep fans will enjoy Lila and the gang.
Jennifer Estep doing what she does best . . . writing strong and sassy heroines that have a taste for vengeance, justice and yummy food.
Dark Heart of Magic takes place a couple of weeks after Cold Burn of Magic and Lila finds herself part of the Sinclair family. Which is really weird for her since she has lived on the streets for the last 4 years with only one friend, Mo. Now she's living in a mansion with other people and pixies. There are rules to follow and people who care about her. But Lila tries her best to keep her distance since she plays on leaving when the year she agreed to stay is up.
But there's one person that Lila is having a really hard time keeping at arm's length and that Devon Sinclair. Every time she looks into his green, green eyes she has these feelings that she's not use to. Romance woes is not the front and center of Dark Heart of Magic.
After all it's an Urban Fantasy so there's action that keeps Lila busy. Like learning that she will be in the Tournament of Blades. The ToB is a yearly summer event the Families aka mobsters hold to entertain the tourists of Cloudburst Falls. It's a "friendly" competition with an obsolescence course followed by a day of one-on-one fights to crow a winner for the year. Lila being a theft likes to go unnoticed so being in the spotlight is another thing she's not use to.
With the building issues with the monsters in town and the cover of the third (and the final, I think) book, Bright Blaze of Magic, I can't wait to see how Lila figures it out and takes down Victor Draconi. I bet her "monster whispering" skills will come into play somehow. I mean look at the tentacles on that cover! Jennifer Estep weaves action, mystery, secrets and a touch of romance into the newest installment of the Black Blade series. Estep fans will enjoy Lila and the gang.
May 2, 2016
Ein schöner und gelungener Mittelteil :)
die Autorin:
Jennifer Estep ist Journalistin und New-York-Times-Bestsellerautorin. Sie schloss ihr Studium mit einem Bachelor in Englischer Literatur und Journalismus und einem Master in Professional Communications ab und lebt heute in Tennessee. Bei Piper erscheinen ihre Serien um die »Mythos Academy«, »Black Blade« sowie die Urban-Fantasy-Reihe »Elemental Assassin«.
ACHTUNG: Für alle, die den vorangegangenen Band noch nicht gelesen haben, enthält diese Rezi logischerweise Spoiler ;)
Falls ihr jedoch neugierig auf die Reihe seid, meine Rezension zu Band 1 findet ihr hier ebenfalls ;)
Klappentext:
Manchen Leuten fehlt einfach jeder Ehrgeiz. Devon Sinclair beispielsweise ist davon überzeugt, dass Lila das »Turnier der Klingen« für sich entscheiden kann – dabei sollte er als ihr Kontrahent lieber daran arbeiten, sie zu besiegen. Doch was der eine nicht hat, hat der andere zu viel: Mysteriöse »Unfälle« sorgen dafür, dass ein Teilnehmer nach dem anderen aus dem Wettkampf scheidet. Irgendjemand möchte gewinnen, um jeden Preis! Als wäre das nicht schon Grund genug zur Sorge, hat Schurke Victor Draconi bereits einen finsteren Plan geschmiedet, um Devon und Lilas Freunden zu schaden. Und dann ist da noch ein Mörder in der Stadt, der es auf die Monster von Cloudburst Falls abgesehen hat. Eins sei damit ein für alle Mal bewiesen: Manchmal sind Menschen die eigentlichen Monster …
Zitate:
„Zu still bedeutete, dass man nicht so allein war, wie man vielleicht glaubte.
Zu still bedeutete, dass jemand etwas im Schilde führte.
Zu still bedeutete nur zu oft den Tod.“ Seite 44
„Ich wurde um sieben Uhr morgens von einem fünfzehn Zentimeter großen Pixie tyrannisiert. Jepp, mein Leben als Mitglied einer Mafia-Familie war wirklich glamourös.“ Seite 80
Meinung:
Lilas Leben könnte eigentlich schön sein. Seit Mo und sie in den Schoss der Sinclair-Familie aufgenommen wurden, hat sich ihr Leben grundlegend verändert. Sie muss nicht mehr um die Häuser ziehen und Leute bestehlen, hat ein Dach über dem Kopf, Essen (und vor allem SPECK) so viel das Herz begehrt und eine Familie, die sich gegenseitig beschützt. Dennoch ist sie nicht zufrieden. Nicht nur, dass ihr die Umstellung schwer fällt, nein, auch die immerwährende Gefahr, die von den anderen Familien -allen voran die Draconis- ausgeht und ihre Rachegedanken halten sie davon ab, das alles zu genießen.
Und dann ist da ja auch noch Devon, der Wächter und somit das stellvertretende Oberhaupt der Familie, den sie zwar zurückgewiesen hat, aber der sich dennoch immer tiefer in ihr Herz gräbt. Doch auch das kann und darf sie nicht zulassen, zu schwer wiegt ihre Angst vor erneutem Verlust und zu tief sitzt ihr geschmiedeter Plan: Victor Draconi für den Mord an ihrer Mutter zu töten und Cloudburst Falls danach für immer zu verlassen.
Was würde sich da mehr anbieten, als beim jährlichen Turnier der Klingen teilzunehmen, das Siegesgeld in Höhe von 25000 $ einzustreichen und von diesem Geld nach getaner Tat ihre Flucht in Angriff zu nehmen?? Genau: Nichts ;)
Aber ob das so gut war? Denn ehe sie sich versieht, schwebt sie in großer Gefahr. Und nicht nur sie!! Es gehen seltsame Dinge in Cloudburst Falls -der magischsten Stadt Amerikas- vor sich. NOCH seltsamer, als beim Zusammenleben von Menschen, Magiern und Monstern sowieso schon ;)
Ich habe mich sehr auf das Wiedersehen mit Lila, ihrem großen Mundwerk und den anderen gefreut. Allen voran auf Oscar den Pixie, den ich in seinen Cowboystiefeln jedesmal vor mir sehe :D (ich will auch so einen!!!)
Aber auch Felix und Devon haben nichts von ihrem Charme eingebüßt, ganz im Gegenteil! Sie gefallen mir mittlerweile noch besser als vorher, da sie -jeder auf seine Art-, einfach nur liebenswert sind :) Der Zusammenhalt und die Freundschaft der drei, bereiten beim Lesen viel Freude.
Jennifer Estep beschreibt die Welt um unsere Monster, Menschen und Magier ein weiteres Mal sehr fantasievoll und detailliert, so dass ich sofort wieder in die Geschichte eintauchen und direkt losgenießen konnte. Sehr hilfreich sind hierbei auch kurze und perfekt ins Geschehen eingearbeitete Rückblicke, falls einem einzelne Details nicht mehr ganz so präsent sein sollten.
An sich empfand ich diesen Mittelband der Trilogie als etwas ruhiger als den Auftakt -dafür war er emotionaler und stellenweise nachdenklicher. Auch Lila macht ein paar schöne Wandlungen durch, die ihrem Charakter gut stehen, aber hier wird natürlich nicht zu viel verraten ;)
Leider bin ich auf "des Rätsels Lösung" schon relativ früh gekommen, andere Dinge jedoch kamen komplett unerwartet und versprechen einige spannende Wendungen und Unterhaltung, so dass das nicht ins Gewicht fiel und den Lesespaß nicht getrübt hat.
Für mich gibt es nur einen Kritikpunkt und der liegt in den teilweise vorkommenden Wiederholungen.
Bestimmte Themen wie: zu stille Orte, ihre unterdrückten Gefühle gegenüber Devon, ihre Diebesgelüste sowie die Trauer um ihre Mutter und die damit verbundenen Rachegedanken wurden für meinen Geschmack etwas oft wiederholt, manchmal beinahe wörtlich.
"Das dunkle Herz der Magie" ist für mich ein gelungener Mittelteil der Trilogie, mit schönen Entwicklungen, sowohl auf charakterlicher Ebene, als auch auf die Richtung bezogen, in die sich die Geschichte entwickelt. Ich für meinen Teil habe das Wiedersehen mit Cloudburst Falls sehr genossen und kann es kaum erwarten, den Abschluss der Reihe:
Black Blade #3 - Die helle Flamme der Magie, welcher am 04. Oktober 2016 erscheint, in Händen zu halten!!
die Autorin:
Jennifer Estep ist Journalistin und New-York-Times-Bestsellerautorin. Sie schloss ihr Studium mit einem Bachelor in Englischer Literatur und Journalismus und einem Master in Professional Communications ab und lebt heute in Tennessee. Bei Piper erscheinen ihre Serien um die »Mythos Academy«, »Black Blade« sowie die Urban-Fantasy-Reihe »Elemental Assassin«.
ACHTUNG: Für alle, die den vorangegangenen Band noch nicht gelesen haben, enthält diese Rezi logischerweise Spoiler ;)
Falls ihr jedoch neugierig auf die Reihe seid, meine Rezension zu Band 1 findet ihr hier ebenfalls ;)
Klappentext:
Manchen Leuten fehlt einfach jeder Ehrgeiz. Devon Sinclair beispielsweise ist davon überzeugt, dass Lila das »Turnier der Klingen« für sich entscheiden kann – dabei sollte er als ihr Kontrahent lieber daran arbeiten, sie zu besiegen. Doch was der eine nicht hat, hat der andere zu viel: Mysteriöse »Unfälle« sorgen dafür, dass ein Teilnehmer nach dem anderen aus dem Wettkampf scheidet. Irgendjemand möchte gewinnen, um jeden Preis! Als wäre das nicht schon Grund genug zur Sorge, hat Schurke Victor Draconi bereits einen finsteren Plan geschmiedet, um Devon und Lilas Freunden zu schaden. Und dann ist da noch ein Mörder in der Stadt, der es auf die Monster von Cloudburst Falls abgesehen hat. Eins sei damit ein für alle Mal bewiesen: Manchmal sind Menschen die eigentlichen Monster …
Zitate:
„Zu still bedeutete, dass man nicht so allein war, wie man vielleicht glaubte.
Zu still bedeutete, dass jemand etwas im Schilde führte.
Zu still bedeutete nur zu oft den Tod.“ Seite 44
„Ich wurde um sieben Uhr morgens von einem fünfzehn Zentimeter großen Pixie tyrannisiert. Jepp, mein Leben als Mitglied einer Mafia-Familie war wirklich glamourös.“ Seite 80
Meinung:
Lilas Leben könnte eigentlich schön sein. Seit Mo und sie in den Schoss der Sinclair-Familie aufgenommen wurden, hat sich ihr Leben grundlegend verändert. Sie muss nicht mehr um die Häuser ziehen und Leute bestehlen, hat ein Dach über dem Kopf, Essen (und vor allem SPECK) so viel das Herz begehrt und eine Familie, die sich gegenseitig beschützt. Dennoch ist sie nicht zufrieden. Nicht nur, dass ihr die Umstellung schwer fällt, nein, auch die immerwährende Gefahr, die von den anderen Familien -allen voran die Draconis- ausgeht und ihre Rachegedanken halten sie davon ab, das alles zu genießen.
Und dann ist da ja auch noch Devon, der Wächter und somit das stellvertretende Oberhaupt der Familie, den sie zwar zurückgewiesen hat, aber der sich dennoch immer tiefer in ihr Herz gräbt. Doch auch das kann und darf sie nicht zulassen, zu schwer wiegt ihre Angst vor erneutem Verlust und zu tief sitzt ihr geschmiedeter Plan: Victor Draconi für den Mord an ihrer Mutter zu töten und Cloudburst Falls danach für immer zu verlassen.
Was würde sich da mehr anbieten, als beim jährlichen Turnier der Klingen teilzunehmen, das Siegesgeld in Höhe von 25000 $ einzustreichen und von diesem Geld nach getaner Tat ihre Flucht in Angriff zu nehmen?? Genau: Nichts ;)
Aber ob das so gut war? Denn ehe sie sich versieht, schwebt sie in großer Gefahr. Und nicht nur sie!! Es gehen seltsame Dinge in Cloudburst Falls -der magischsten Stadt Amerikas- vor sich. NOCH seltsamer, als beim Zusammenleben von Menschen, Magiern und Monstern sowieso schon ;)
Ich habe mich sehr auf das Wiedersehen mit Lila, ihrem großen Mundwerk und den anderen gefreut. Allen voran auf Oscar den Pixie, den ich in seinen Cowboystiefeln jedesmal vor mir sehe :D (ich will auch so einen!!!)
Aber auch Felix und Devon haben nichts von ihrem Charme eingebüßt, ganz im Gegenteil! Sie gefallen mir mittlerweile noch besser als vorher, da sie -jeder auf seine Art-, einfach nur liebenswert sind :) Der Zusammenhalt und die Freundschaft der drei, bereiten beim Lesen viel Freude.
Jennifer Estep beschreibt die Welt um unsere Monster, Menschen und Magier ein weiteres Mal sehr fantasievoll und detailliert, so dass ich sofort wieder in die Geschichte eintauchen und direkt losgenießen konnte. Sehr hilfreich sind hierbei auch kurze und perfekt ins Geschehen eingearbeitete Rückblicke, falls einem einzelne Details nicht mehr ganz so präsent sein sollten.
An sich empfand ich diesen Mittelband der Trilogie als etwas ruhiger als den Auftakt -dafür war er emotionaler und stellenweise nachdenklicher. Auch Lila macht ein paar schöne Wandlungen durch, die ihrem Charakter gut stehen, aber hier wird natürlich nicht zu viel verraten ;)
Leider bin ich auf "des Rätsels Lösung" schon relativ früh gekommen, andere Dinge jedoch kamen komplett unerwartet und versprechen einige spannende Wendungen und Unterhaltung, so dass das nicht ins Gewicht fiel und den Lesespaß nicht getrübt hat.
Für mich gibt es nur einen Kritikpunkt und der liegt in den teilweise vorkommenden Wiederholungen.
Bestimmte Themen wie: zu stille Orte, ihre unterdrückten Gefühle gegenüber Devon, ihre Diebesgelüste sowie die Trauer um ihre Mutter und die damit verbundenen Rachegedanken wurden für meinen Geschmack etwas oft wiederholt, manchmal beinahe wörtlich.
"Das dunkle Herz der Magie" ist für mich ein gelungener Mittelteil der Trilogie, mit schönen Entwicklungen, sowohl auf charakterlicher Ebene, als auch auf die Richtung bezogen, in die sich die Geschichte entwickelt. Ich für meinen Teil habe das Wiedersehen mit Cloudburst Falls sehr genossen und kann es kaum erwarten, den Abschluss der Reihe:
Black Blade #3 - Die helle Flamme der Magie, welcher am 04. Oktober 2016 erscheint, in Händen zu halten!!
March 19, 2017
“Sometimes, humans were more monstrous than anything else.”
Wow, what a page turner! I thought the first book was really good. I love it when authors surprise me with an even better book!
Dark Heart of Magic had a perfect mixture of romance, the tournament, funny moments and of course, the myterious ones with a new villain. I really appreciate the fact that the romance wasn't the main point of this book. Actually, after 200 pages I was even asking myself if JE would write more about the romance :D Further, the suspense was so good! Okay, I have to admit that some things were pretty obvious, but nevermind.
I love the progress of the story and the characters. New characters are added bringing some very interesting news into the story ... right next starting the last book!
4.5 star
Wow, what a page turner! I thought the first book was really good. I love it when authors surprise me with an even better book!
Dark Heart of Magic had a perfect mixture of romance, the tournament, funny moments and of course, the myterious ones with a new villain. I really appreciate the fact that the romance wasn't the main point of this book. Actually, after 200 pages I was even asking myself if JE would write more about the romance :D Further, the suspense was so good! Okay, I have to admit that some things were pretty obvious, but nevermind.
I love the progress of the story and the characters. New characters are added bringing some very interesting news into the story ... right next starting the last book!
4.5 star
October 18, 2015
Lila is back, and has been selected to participate in the Tournament of Blades, where the best of best from each family compete for the honor of the best warrior among the families. Lovely, Lila hates to be in the spotlight, but it seems she can’t get out of this. Will everything be on the up and up or will Victor Draconi stack the deck in his favor? Accidents are happening, competitors are being hurt and investigations are being swept under the rug. Time for Lila to do what she does best; become a shadow in the night. She is determined to enter the lair of the Draconi mobster, digging for evidence that he has a sinister plot being hatched against the Sinclairs, one where he wins all the marbles, the powers and can begin his true reign of terror.
Unlikely alliances are formed as one scorned daughter dares to stand against her father in favor of justice. When the pretenses and social niceties are over, the ugly truth will be uncovered and the extent of the growing evil must be stopped, and that is just what Lila intends to do, but will she be waylaid by shocking discoveries? With Draconi gunning for her power and his far reaching fist, what Lila learns could make her become reckless when entering the lion’s den.
Dark Heart of Magic by Jennifer Estep is another block buster hit filled with action, danger, intrigue and a phenomenal cast of characters for this gifted author. From start to finish, Lila is still full of intelligence, a touch of insecurity, attitude and the need to protect the ones she cares about. And Devon? The man is a saint, rock solid in his support of Lila, the need to do the right thing and willing to risk everything for it.
Moments of humor, budding romance, quirky characters, dark evil and non-stop tension written through a master’s pen, Ms. Estep’s mind is a treasure chest of golden words, plots and characters, with Lila sitting firmly at the top!
I received an ARC edition from Kensington in exchange for my honest review.
Series: Black Blade - Book 2
Publication Date: October 27, 2015
Publisher: Kensington
ISBN-13: 9781617738272
Genre: YA Fantasy
Print Length: 368 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Unlikely alliances are formed as one scorned daughter dares to stand against her father in favor of justice. When the pretenses and social niceties are over, the ugly truth will be uncovered and the extent of the growing evil must be stopped, and that is just what Lila intends to do, but will she be waylaid by shocking discoveries? With Draconi gunning for her power and his far reaching fist, what Lila learns could make her become reckless when entering the lion’s den.
Dark Heart of Magic by Jennifer Estep is another block buster hit filled with action, danger, intrigue and a phenomenal cast of characters for this gifted author. From start to finish, Lila is still full of intelligence, a touch of insecurity, attitude and the need to protect the ones she cares about. And Devon? The man is a saint, rock solid in his support of Lila, the need to do the right thing and willing to risk everything for it.
Moments of humor, budding romance, quirky characters, dark evil and non-stop tension written through a master’s pen, Ms. Estep’s mind is a treasure chest of golden words, plots and characters, with Lila sitting firmly at the top!
I received an ARC edition from Kensington in exchange for my honest review.
Series: Black Blade - Book 2
Publication Date: October 27, 2015
Publisher: Kensington
ISBN-13: 9781617738272
Genre: YA Fantasy
Print Length: 368 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
June 14, 2016
https://martinabookaholic.wordpress.c...
Meine Gedanken zum Buch:
Wie immer ein gutes Buch aus der Feder von Estep, aber im Vergleich zu ihren anderen grandiosen Büchern, dieses Mal doch etwas durchschnittlicher. Was teilweise an der Handlung bzw. der Auflösung des Hauptproblems in diesem Teil lag.
Das Buch startet eigentlich ganz nett und witzig, aber auch ernst und mit einer Brise Romantik, obwohl nur Funken sprühen und nichts passiert. Daher alles vielversprechend und meine Freude wuchs mit jeder weiteren Seite. Was aber nur bis zur ca. der Hälfte des Buches anhielt, aber mehr dazu später.
Davor kommt nämlich noch dieses ultra wichtige Turnier, bei dem mehrere Mitglieder aus jeder (Mafia-) Familie antreten dürfen um einen super tollen (Geld) Preis zu gewinnen. Klarerweise wird Lila von Claudia (dem Boss des Sinclair Clans) auch ausgewählt, natürlich gibt es in ihrem Team/ Clan einen fiesen, gutaussehenden Typen, der Lila nicht ausstehen kann und sie immer wieder traktiert. Auch die Konstellation zu der Erzfeindin Deah, die sich langsam an Lila annähert, die sich sogar langsam zu so etwas wie Freundinnen entwickeln, ist wieder da.
Nebenbei werden Trolle getötet, eine dunkle Vorhersage wird Lila offenbart, die offensichtlicher gar nicht mehr ginge und immer wieder werfen sich Lila und Devon sehnsüchtige Blicke zu, obwohl NIE, fast nie etwas passiert. Nun ja, wie ihr seht war für mich die Handlung ab der Hälfte nicht mehr allzu berauschend, weil Estep einfach schon vorher zu viel verraten hat, zu viele Hints gab und damit schon lange klar war, in welche Richtung sich das alles bewegt, bzw. wer der Feind in diesem Teil ist, der hinter den Morden steckt – alles in allem doch leider sehr vorhersehbar. Das Estep es besser kann, weiß ich aus Erfahrung, daher denke ich, dass es vielleicht daran liegt, dass es ein Jugendbuch ist und sie es daher ‚einfacher‘ geschrieben hat, damit es auch wirklich jeder versteht? Keine Ahnung…
Die Charaktere waren mir meistens direkt wieder sympathisch. Auch Lila mit ihrem Sarkasmus und dem Galgenhumor. Auch wen sie manchmal zu tough, abgebrüht und unnahbar wirken wollte und gleichzeitig etwas auf die Tränendrüse gedrückt hat. Wie immer ist Lila ein Wunderwuzzi und schafft einfach alles, was sie sich vornimmt – sie kann wirklich ALLES und räumt immer jedes Hindernis aus dem Weg, wie ein kleiner Wunder Ninja. :D Hier fehlen mir nach wie vor ihre Ecken und Kanten. Dennoch mag ich Lila und ich lese auch gerne von ihr.
Und nun zu DEVON! <3 hach ja, Devon. Zu ihm gibt es nicht viel zu sagen außer *hach*schmacht*rette mich* Wie immer steht er vollkommen zu Lila, strahlt die Liebe zu ihr aus wie die Sonne die Wärme und man will ihn die ganze Zeit einfach nur drücken, oder sich auf ihn schmeißen, je nachdem. ^^ :D Dass er nicht nur ein guter Kerl ist, sondern auch noch heiß aussieht mit seinen schokoladenbraunen Haaren und blitzgrünen Augen, ist wohl auch nicht verkehrt *lol* Hier hätte ich mir mehr, mehr, MEHR Romanze zwischen den beiden gewünscht nach der langen Zeit, in der sie die Spannung immer höher trieben, während die Funken zwischen ihnen knisterten. Aber nein, am Ende gab es nur einen etwas kurzen, uninspirierten Kuss. *schmoll* Und was ich in diesem Zusammenhang auch etwas komisch fand, war die Bezeichnung „rumschieben“, die öfter verwendet wurde. Meint Estep damit einfach nur etwas rummachen oder wirklich miteinander schlafen? Was denkt ihr? :D Echt ein komischer Ausdruck, besonders da er bei den Jugendlichen im Buch so oft vorkam.
Das Ende war okay, aber auch nicht wirklich überraschend, da es wie schon gesagt doch sehr vorhersehbar war. Aber ich mochte die Entwicklung mit ihrer Tante und auch diese Sache mit ihrer Rivalin Deah. Auch wenn dieser Teil meiner Meinung nach etwas schwächer war als der erste, freue ich mich auf Band drei und werde bestimmt wieder mit Lila und Devon mitfiebern!
(Mehr dazu auf meinem Blog)
Meine Gedanken zum Buch:
Wie immer ein gutes Buch aus der Feder von Estep, aber im Vergleich zu ihren anderen grandiosen Büchern, dieses Mal doch etwas durchschnittlicher. Was teilweise an der Handlung bzw. der Auflösung des Hauptproblems in diesem Teil lag.
Das Buch startet eigentlich ganz nett und witzig, aber auch ernst und mit einer Brise Romantik, obwohl nur Funken sprühen und nichts passiert. Daher alles vielversprechend und meine Freude wuchs mit jeder weiteren Seite. Was aber nur bis zur ca. der Hälfte des Buches anhielt, aber mehr dazu später.
Davor kommt nämlich noch dieses ultra wichtige Turnier, bei dem mehrere Mitglieder aus jeder (Mafia-) Familie antreten dürfen um einen super tollen (Geld) Preis zu gewinnen. Klarerweise wird Lila von Claudia (dem Boss des Sinclair Clans) auch ausgewählt, natürlich gibt es in ihrem Team/ Clan einen fiesen, gutaussehenden Typen, der Lila nicht ausstehen kann und sie immer wieder traktiert. Auch die Konstellation zu der Erzfeindin Deah, die sich langsam an Lila annähert, die sich sogar langsam zu so etwas wie Freundinnen entwickeln, ist wieder da.
Nebenbei werden Trolle getötet, eine dunkle Vorhersage wird Lila offenbart, die offensichtlicher gar nicht mehr ginge und immer wieder werfen sich Lila und Devon sehnsüchtige Blicke zu, obwohl NIE, fast nie etwas passiert. Nun ja, wie ihr seht war für mich die Handlung ab der Hälfte nicht mehr allzu berauschend, weil Estep einfach schon vorher zu viel verraten hat, zu viele Hints gab und damit schon lange klar war, in welche Richtung sich das alles bewegt, bzw. wer der Feind in diesem Teil ist, der hinter den Morden steckt – alles in allem doch leider sehr vorhersehbar. Das Estep es besser kann, weiß ich aus Erfahrung, daher denke ich, dass es vielleicht daran liegt, dass es ein Jugendbuch ist und sie es daher ‚einfacher‘ geschrieben hat, damit es auch wirklich jeder versteht? Keine Ahnung…
Die Charaktere waren mir meistens direkt wieder sympathisch. Auch Lila mit ihrem Sarkasmus und dem Galgenhumor. Auch wen sie manchmal zu tough, abgebrüht und unnahbar wirken wollte und gleichzeitig etwas auf die Tränendrüse gedrückt hat. Wie immer ist Lila ein Wunderwuzzi und schafft einfach alles, was sie sich vornimmt – sie kann wirklich ALLES und räumt immer jedes Hindernis aus dem Weg, wie ein kleiner Wunder Ninja. :D Hier fehlen mir nach wie vor ihre Ecken und Kanten. Dennoch mag ich Lila und ich lese auch gerne von ihr.
Und nun zu DEVON! <3 hach ja, Devon. Zu ihm gibt es nicht viel zu sagen außer *hach*schmacht*rette mich* Wie immer steht er vollkommen zu Lila, strahlt die Liebe zu ihr aus wie die Sonne die Wärme und man will ihn die ganze Zeit einfach nur drücken, oder sich auf ihn schmeißen, je nachdem. ^^ :D Dass er nicht nur ein guter Kerl ist, sondern auch noch heiß aussieht mit seinen schokoladenbraunen Haaren und blitzgrünen Augen, ist wohl auch nicht verkehrt *lol* Hier hätte ich mir mehr, mehr, MEHR Romanze zwischen den beiden gewünscht nach der langen Zeit, in der sie die Spannung immer höher trieben, während die Funken zwischen ihnen knisterten. Aber nein, am Ende gab es nur einen etwas kurzen, uninspirierten Kuss. *schmoll* Und was ich in diesem Zusammenhang auch etwas komisch fand, war die Bezeichnung „rumschieben“, die öfter verwendet wurde. Meint Estep damit einfach nur etwas rummachen oder wirklich miteinander schlafen? Was denkt ihr? :D Echt ein komischer Ausdruck, besonders da er bei den Jugendlichen im Buch so oft vorkam.
Das Ende war okay, aber auch nicht wirklich überraschend, da es wie schon gesagt doch sehr vorhersehbar war. Aber ich mochte die Entwicklung mit ihrer Tante und auch diese Sache mit ihrer Rivalin Deah. Auch wenn dieser Teil meiner Meinung nach etwas schwächer war als der erste, freue ich mich auf Band drei und werde bestimmt wieder mit Lila und Devon mitfiebern!
(Mehr dazu auf meinem Blog)
October 23, 2015
Actual Rating 3.5
***This review has also been posted on The Social Potato
I cannot believe it’s only been 6(ish) months since Cold Burn of Magic came out. It feels like I’ve been waiting for Dark Heart of Magic forever. Jennifer Estep’s books are the best brain candy ever. Diving back into any of her worlds is like munching on your favorite chocolate. Her books are comforting, gooey, easy to chew and make you feel all warm inside (can you tell I am craving chocolate?) On top of that, they happen to be quick reads.
So was Dark Heart of Magic as good as Cold Burn of Magic? That’s a hard question. I prefer book 1 but Dark Heart of Magic was by no means a sequel that suffered from second book syndrome (SBS.) Just like in the first book, there is a mystery that will grab your attention and make you want to figure out what is happening. There is a main character that continues to be awesome (seriously, Lila rocks), a love interest that is swoony (but I still think he is no Logan) and great secondary characters. Also there are secrets. THE GOOD KIND THOUGH. Who doesn’t like to find out secrets about other people?
In my review for Cold Burn of Magic, I talked about how the world of this book was set aside from the one of Mythos Academy but I also mentioned parallels. The parallels became more evident in this book and I also starting seeing parallels to Estep’s adult series. Sometimes, I wish I wouldn’t notice things because once I started making all these connections, it disheartened me a little.
That and the fact that there wasn’t enough diversity were pretty much my only issues with the book.
Moving on… Lila continues to shine as a character (not surprising given how awesome Estep’s female leads tend to be.) The one issue some readers might have with her is her struggle to get into a relationship with Devon. I understand her hesitation though because it’s a decision she needs to make herself. She has been on her own for so long and it’s not like she’s just going to change overnight. She needs time. She also happens to be a clever young lady who can kick ass and as an ex thief, can sneak into places and get out of them without getting caught (and without requiring someone to rescue her!)
Devon on the other hand still hasn’t completely won me over. I like him, I DO, but I keep thinking of Logan and then I think of all the potential Devon has and I cannot help but want more. I think this could partially be because Devon is not sharing the spotlight with Lila. I am not sure I would want that to happen anyway but if there were more scenes with him in it, it would make me happier ;)
Does the ship sail in the book though? That is a question that you will have to find an answer to yourself. I will say though that even though Lila isn’t ready to be in a relationship yet, I love that Devon respects that instead of pushing her and telling her what he thinks she needs.
Things get very interesting in this book because we finally find out what Victor Draconi has up his sleeve and trust me when I say it isn’t pleasant. We also find out a bunch of family secrets and I am REALLY excited to see how those will play out in Bright Blaze of Magic.
Overall, this book was a really fun read and a great follow up to Cold Burn to Magic. I am excited to see what awaits us in the finale AND READY FOR IT TO BE HERE. Can Devon and Lila GET ON IT ALREADY?
Note that I received an advanced copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
***This review has also been posted on The Social Potato
I cannot believe it’s only been 6(ish) months since Cold Burn of Magic came out. It feels like I’ve been waiting for Dark Heart of Magic forever. Jennifer Estep’s books are the best brain candy ever. Diving back into any of her worlds is like munching on your favorite chocolate. Her books are comforting, gooey, easy to chew and make you feel all warm inside (can you tell I am craving chocolate?) On top of that, they happen to be quick reads.
So was Dark Heart of Magic as good as Cold Burn of Magic? That’s a hard question. I prefer book 1 but Dark Heart of Magic was by no means a sequel that suffered from second book syndrome (SBS.) Just like in the first book, there is a mystery that will grab your attention and make you want to figure out what is happening. There is a main character that continues to be awesome (seriously, Lila rocks), a love interest that is swoony (but I still think he is no Logan) and great secondary characters. Also there are secrets. THE GOOD KIND THOUGH. Who doesn’t like to find out secrets about other people?
In my review for Cold Burn of Magic, I talked about how the world of this book was set aside from the one of Mythos Academy but I also mentioned parallels. The parallels became more evident in this book and I also starting seeing parallels to Estep’s adult series. Sometimes, I wish I wouldn’t notice things because once I started making all these connections, it disheartened me a little.
That and the fact that there wasn’t enough diversity were pretty much my only issues with the book.
Moving on… Lila continues to shine as a character (not surprising given how awesome Estep’s female leads tend to be.) The one issue some readers might have with her is her struggle to get into a relationship with Devon. I understand her hesitation though because it’s a decision she needs to make herself. She has been on her own for so long and it’s not like she’s just going to change overnight. She needs time. She also happens to be a clever young lady who can kick ass and as an ex thief, can sneak into places and get out of them without getting caught (and without requiring someone to rescue her!)
Devon on the other hand still hasn’t completely won me over. I like him, I DO, but I keep thinking of Logan and then I think of all the potential Devon has and I cannot help but want more. I think this could partially be because Devon is not sharing the spotlight with Lila. I am not sure I would want that to happen anyway but if there were more scenes with him in it, it would make me happier ;)
Does the ship sail in the book though? That is a question that you will have to find an answer to yourself. I will say though that even though Lila isn’t ready to be in a relationship yet, I love that Devon respects that instead of pushing her and telling her what he thinks she needs.
Things get very interesting in this book because we finally find out what Victor Draconi has up his sleeve and trust me when I say it isn’t pleasant. We also find out a bunch of family secrets and I am REALLY excited to see how those will play out in Bright Blaze of Magic.
Overall, this book was a really fun read and a great follow up to Cold Burn to Magic. I am excited to see what awaits us in the finale AND READY FOR IT TO BE HERE. Can Devon and Lila GET ON IT ALREADY?
Note that I received an advanced copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
October 19, 2015
While Dark Heart of Magic got off to a slower start than its predecessor Estep once again impressed. Character growth, ARC development and a murder mystery surrounded by the Tournament of Blades made for an interesting tale. The world Estep has created is filled with mythical creatures and despite the danger, I would gladly pack my bags for a visit.
Cloudburst Falls is preparing for the Tournament of Blades, a competition between the families where they battle it out on the field. Lila Merriweather, thief extraordinaire and bodyguard to Devon Sinclair is settling into her new role and life at the Sinclair castle. The trolls in Cloudburst Falls are acting strange, the woods are too quiet and accidents are occurring during the game. Lila’s spidey scenes are telling her something is off. Estep creates an engaging mystery that quickly hooked me as she continues to flesh out the overall arc of the Black Blade series.
Lila is still plotting to seek her revenge against Victor Draconi for her mother’s murder and has been using her skills to spy on him. This aspect of the tale was suspenseful and Estep created the perfect villain with Victor Draconi. He is someone readers will love to hate and uncovering his evil plot will give you the shivers.
I appreciate seeing growth and development from the characters and was pleased with Lila. We see her being to lay down roots, acknowledge her own feels and grow not only in her magic but emotionally as well. This bacon loving little thief is a heroine you will want to root for.
We spend time with characters we have meet previously including Devon, Deah, Felix, the ever-obnoxious Blake. Mo continues to be hilarious and I enjoy his humor and antics. We spend some time with the leader of the Sinclairs and I am truly beginning to admire this woman. We meet a few new characters that further develop the current mystery and series. Lila learns more about her mother, ancestry and father. Estep reveals some unexpected connections along with a prophecy. She really has a gift for grabbing the reader and pulling them completely into the world she has created.
The current mystery was dark and gruesome. The synopsis is very vague but let me assure you it is intense and dark. Estep slowly revealed the storyline creating suspense and slowly increased the danger. I will tell you there is death and a nail-biting climatic scene you will not want to miss. The villain of this thread may surprise you. Estep did a good job with the red herrings and foreshadowing. The tale still remains young adult but leans towards the older end of this genre.
The romance is still present and we some development. While it remains in the background allowing the current mystery and overall arc to take center stage. I am perfectly happy with this arrangement, but also felt the romance added depth, gave our character's vulnerability and a second romantic thread gives us a forbidden romance that helped propel Dark Heart of Magic’s storyline.
Copy provided by publisher. This review was originally posted on Caffeinated Book Reviewer
Cloudburst Falls is preparing for the Tournament of Blades, a competition between the families where they battle it out on the field. Lila Merriweather, thief extraordinaire and bodyguard to Devon Sinclair is settling into her new role and life at the Sinclair castle. The trolls in Cloudburst Falls are acting strange, the woods are too quiet and accidents are occurring during the game. Lila’s spidey scenes are telling her something is off. Estep creates an engaging mystery that quickly hooked me as she continues to flesh out the overall arc of the Black Blade series.
Lila is still plotting to seek her revenge against Victor Draconi for her mother’s murder and has been using her skills to spy on him. This aspect of the tale was suspenseful and Estep created the perfect villain with Victor Draconi. He is someone readers will love to hate and uncovering his evil plot will give you the shivers.
I appreciate seeing growth and development from the characters and was pleased with Lila. We see her being to lay down roots, acknowledge her own feels and grow not only in her magic but emotionally as well. This bacon loving little thief is a heroine you will want to root for.
We spend time with characters we have meet previously including Devon, Deah, Felix, the ever-obnoxious Blake. Mo continues to be hilarious and I enjoy his humor and antics. We spend some time with the leader of the Sinclairs and I am truly beginning to admire this woman. We meet a few new characters that further develop the current mystery and series. Lila learns more about her mother, ancestry and father. Estep reveals some unexpected connections along with a prophecy. She really has a gift for grabbing the reader and pulling them completely into the world she has created.
The current mystery was dark and gruesome. The synopsis is very vague but let me assure you it is intense and dark. Estep slowly revealed the storyline creating suspense and slowly increased the danger. I will tell you there is death and a nail-biting climatic scene you will not want to miss. The villain of this thread may surprise you. Estep did a good job with the red herrings and foreshadowing. The tale still remains young adult but leans towards the older end of this genre.
The romance is still present and we some development. While it remains in the background allowing the current mystery and overall arc to take center stage. I am perfectly happy with this arrangement, but also felt the romance added depth, gave our character's vulnerability and a second romantic thread gives us a forbidden romance that helped propel Dark Heart of Magic’s storyline.
Copy provided by publisher. This review was originally posted on Caffeinated Book Reviewer
November 2, 2015
The head of the Sinclair family has chosen Lila to compete in the Tournament of Blades and there’s no escaping the spotlight or the danger in this thrilling book of the Black Blade series.
Expectation builds as dangerous plots, murders and Tournament excitement fill every page with intrigue and action, with the spine tingling tension building as the danger escalates and Lila continues to use her skills as a thief to discover Victor Draconi’s evil intentions and well that’s not to mention all the exhilarating action of a tournament where the competitors has to use their magic and their fighting skills to win. There is never a dull moment to be found in this story as the intriguing events draw the reader in and refuse to let go with the well written scenes and details capturing the imagination and making it easy for the reader to picture each and every scenes as it happens.
The strong, compelling characters continue to demand the reader’s attention in this fast paced, smooth flowing plot full of suspense, action and romance. Lila and Devon is still flirting with each other and their sizzling attraction continues to get hotter, Felix’s romance continues to be caught between a rock and a hard place with a girl from his past returning to add quite a bit of tension.
This fascinating world of magic and monsters just keeps getting better as more unexpected twists adds lots of exciting revelations and bit of chaotic emotional turmoil, and a dangerous adversary that no one saw coming which places Lila and Deah Draconi is a very deadly situation. There was no way I could put this book down once I started it because I just had to know what was going to happen next and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series. Note: This series is better read in sequence as the continuing plot builds on the previous book and the social dynamics between the characters are established.
- Eva
Expectation builds as dangerous plots, murders and Tournament excitement fill every page with intrigue and action, with the spine tingling tension building as the danger escalates and Lila continues to use her skills as a thief to discover Victor Draconi’s evil intentions and well that’s not to mention all the exhilarating action of a tournament where the competitors has to use their magic and their fighting skills to win. There is never a dull moment to be found in this story as the intriguing events draw the reader in and refuse to let go with the well written scenes and details capturing the imagination and making it easy for the reader to picture each and every scenes as it happens.
The strong, compelling characters continue to demand the reader’s attention in this fast paced, smooth flowing plot full of suspense, action and romance. Lila and Devon is still flirting with each other and their sizzling attraction continues to get hotter, Felix’s romance continues to be caught between a rock and a hard place with a girl from his past returning to add quite a bit of tension.
This fascinating world of magic and monsters just keeps getting better as more unexpected twists adds lots of exciting revelations and bit of chaotic emotional turmoil, and a dangerous adversary that no one saw coming which places Lila and Deah Draconi is a very deadly situation. There was no way I could put this book down once I started it because I just had to know what was going to happen next and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series. Note: This series is better read in sequence as the continuing plot builds on the previous book and the social dynamics between the characters are established.
- Eva
November 27, 2022
This is the second book in the Young Adult Black Blade series. I loved the first book and have already read it several times and this book jacks up the action and the mystery another notch. Very exciting, very mystery driven and yes we finally get some romance...granted it is at the end of the book, but there is hope!
In this book Lila has been asked to participate in an annual competition –a sword fight complete with the cheesy outfits she hates so much. To add to the stresses of being in the competition, Lila Devon and Felix find that something or someone is killing off the monsters AND some humans.
This competition is going to take all of Lila’s talents both hers and the ones that she can borrow to keep her and hers alive.
POSSIBLE SPOILER-----------------Warning----------------There is a lot of exciting mystery in this book that pertains to some of Lila’s ancestors (Aunt and Cousin) very shocking and this is going to make for some VERY interesting future novels.
This series is perfect for both young adults and those of us who may be a bit more mature. I loved it!
In this book Lila has been asked to participate in an annual competition –a sword fight complete with the cheesy outfits she hates so much. To add to the stresses of being in the competition, Lila Devon and Felix find that something or someone is killing off the monsters AND some humans.
This competition is going to take all of Lila’s talents both hers and the ones that she can borrow to keep her and hers alive.
POSSIBLE SPOILER-----------------Warning----------------There is a lot of exciting mystery in this book that pertains to some of Lila’s ancestors (Aunt and Cousin) very shocking and this is going to make for some VERY interesting future novels.
This series is perfect for both young adults and those of us who may be a bit more mature. I loved it!
February 7, 2017
Just as good as the first book, if not even better! Definitely will read the sequel.
November 28, 2017
4,5 Sterne.
Dieses Buch macht einfach Spaß, auch wenn man einige Wendungen kommen sieht. Es ist mitreißend und unterhaltsam geschrieben, die Welt ist toll und Lila ist einfach auch eine tolle Hautpfigur!
Dieses Buch macht einfach Spaß, auch wenn man einige Wendungen kommen sieht. Es ist mitreißend und unterhaltsam geschrieben, die Welt ist toll und Lila ist einfach auch eine tolle Hautpfigur!
August 27, 2019
Ich weiß nicht genau, woran es liegt, aber diese Reihe kann mich überhaupt nicht packen.
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