Everyone was born for a purpose. Protecting her was mine.
Everyone is born with a purpose in this life. I’ve always known that. As soon as a person takes their first breath, they are endowed with a meaning, a quest. It's what defines them, what drives them. For twenty-one years, I thought I knew what that was for me.
Then, everything changed. Now I know that purpose. Her. The woman I’m meant to live for and the one for whom I would lay down my life. And now, I would do anything to keep her safe.
King of Ash is the second adventure in the Blood Court series, which features a fantasy romance between one human girl and one strong, protective fae king.
Yes, it's another cliffhanger, but it's not so bad. There are some that end on the cusp of something massively important and almost seem like mid-sentence break. There are others that end at a break in the action, more like a chapter break. That's how this one ends, and when you're anticipating something like that, somehow it's more bearable.
The second installment of the Blood Court series is filled with epic battle scenes written with clarity, imbued with excitement, and just barely crossing the line into icky. I have a tendency to skim over parts that might be cringe-inducing, but found this book had very few of those elements. I was immersed, but not completely consumed by the action.
There more clever banter in this book, with even Stryder managing to land a few jabs. I liked his internal observation about an army of opponents: "These men wore different uniforms, with a plume on their helmets that at once signified importance but also served to make them look like complete buffoons. I hated plumes on helmets."
There's a growing awareness between Kip and Stryder about the mating bond, and there are hints that this bond gives them a greater power than each would have individually.
Kip is an inspiring hero, one who cares for her friends, is willing to face danger for them or for a greater cause, and who won't wait around for someone else to save her. When she was kidnapped, she decided it was up to her to find a way out. Her efforts to do so are valiant, but she injects humor into a very serious situation with comments like "When attempting to change my state of matter to toothpaste consistency and get out through the window didn't pan out, I went back to pacing the space." She is determined to find a way out, no matter how unlikely or how ridiculous the options might seem.
From the start, the reader wants to know more about Kip's origin story. Where did she come from? Who were her parents? How did Mac know who she was? Having witnessed some of her inherent power, I'm becoming even more anxious to know. Come on, book 3!!
Wow, what a start of the second book! Fighting, adrenaline, and sexy Stryder and Roane! Let me say, I am really digging the blossoming relationship between Roane and Harley. I love the way he knows exactly how to speak to her to get her to let her guard down.
In the second installment you really find yourself rooting more for Stryder and The Blood Court's cause. We get more background information on the war, we see the lengths to which The Summer Court are willing to go to get Kip to cooperate with them, and it's a real eye opener as a reader (and I think for Kip and Harley).
Kip and Stryder are fire together, and I can't wait for them to explore their relationship further. I love how she doesn't back down to him, even though everybody else does. BRING ON BOOK 3!!!
I am glad to say that I was lucky enough to receive an ARC copy of this book. King of Ash picks up exactly where King of the Fae leaves us and takes off into action. Kip, Stryder, Harley, and Roane make it through a portal into Fae territory and end up in a dangerous situation. The four of them must make it to the Blood Court but it will not be easy. As the relationship between Kip and Stryder heat up so do things with Harley and Roane. However, the book is still a slow burn, but it is jam packed with battles and messy situations. Just when Stryder thinks they are finally safe; the wizards show up demanding him to kill Kip, but she isn’t going down without a fight. Will Stryder kill Kip or will they team up against the wizards? We will have to wait and find out!
Oh boy, book two picks up directly where book one ends. Kip's journey into the Fae world is an interesting one, quite a doozy really. But she handles herself well, with Stryder to help, along with Harley. Kip as a character grows a lot in this book, she struggles with her heart and her mind. It's a battle for Stryder as well, as the pair struggle to deal with the realization of what their relationship is to each other. I did receive an ARC copy. Ava's books are some of my favorites, but she kills me with the cliffhangers. I can't wait for the third book, because I really want to know what happens next.
It's the title of the book. The Summer court Fae call Stryder that. He calls himself that. BUT IT'S NEVER EXPLAINED WHAT THAT MEANS. When she hears it, Kip can't tell if it's good or bad, and Stryder isn't clear either.
He is the King of the Blood Court. Nothing is ever mentioned about anything being burned. WHY THE ASHES??
That aside, the story isn't bad, but the editing is. Grammar, punctuation, and major typos were pretty glaring. Harley barely had any dialogue, which is odd since she was so central to the first book.
Ok this author has me gripped tight! This story just gets better and I didn't think it really could. Stryder is the King he knows what he was suppose to do to Kip but how can he cut out his own heart. And he figured if Kip was supposed to "save" that wicked queen just maybe she can crush her instead! And if watching Stryder and Kip wasn't enough you got Roane and Harley doing a little dance! This is the 2nd the series and I CAN NOT wait for the next book! Definitely recommend this series
I didn't know if this book could be better than the first, but it was! It was amazing! I recieved this book as an ARC and I'm so glad I did. This book is one hell of an adventure. It's thrilling, gripping, and exciting. Kip and Stryder's relationship is so dynamic and flowing, its impressive. I can't wait for the next book to come out because this adventure is just getting started.
This is the second book in the series and I enjoyed it better than the first. Kip finally know that she is the King's fated mate Their bond keeps growing and they will fight anyone who tries to break it. I can't wait to start reading the next book.
XXX! Adult content. Kip and Stryder have a ton of chemistry. Lots of battles and charming scenes of saving one another. Harley and Roane are still my favorite.
Love the car world can't wait to learn more about it. Very strong characters, and I'm dying to know what Lol has in store for us. Definitely reading the next book!
I have definitely enjoyed Kip and Stryder’s journey throughout the Fae kingdom as they travel to The Blood Court! And omg the amazing banter and comedy constantly easing the edge off of all the war drama 🎭 ⚔️ thank goodness for Kip and Harley’s amazing sarcasm.🤣😂
“Do you think they're going to be safe sleeping out there?” I looked over at Harley. She was busy getting herself ready, fluffing pillows and shaking out blankets on one of the two beds that barely fit into Valerie’s room.
“Stryder and Roane?” she suddenly stopped to look up at me. “Yeah. We're in here, nice and comfy, while they’re outside.You heard what Stryder said. We're far away from his court and it's dangerous out here. He already nearly died because of the poison on that goblin’s knife. I think that warrants a real place to sleep.”
Harley studied me curiously. “Minerva said the procedure she did on him took effect and he is out of danger. You know this isn’t the first time he’s been injured in a battle. Besides, it's not like they rolled out their sleeping bags in the front yard. They're sleeping in the lean-to behind the house. They’re fine, in fact, they probably like it.”
I huffed. “I’m sure. I just wish that they’d let them sleep inside.” She rolled her eyes. “It’s not like Stryder gave them a lot of choice," Harley pointed out.
She deepened her voice, mimicking Stryder. “‘We’re sleeping outside,’” she walked around the room, her chest puffed out. “I’m a manly man, nobody tells me what to do. I kill bad guys for breakfast and wisk women away on my steed.”
“May I suggest you invest in a large map of this place and put little red pins in all the places seething with icky monsters like that one?”
“There are no maps,” Stryder replied.
“Of course there aren’t. Because why would there be? We’re in the land of the fairies – Fae, sorry, Fae – why would we possibly need something as mundane as a helpful piece of paper to let us know where the hell we are?”
“I’m probably not going to like the answer you give me no matter what it is, but I’m going to ask anyway,” I said when we made it past the tree line and it was still eerily quiet around us. “Should I be worried that I’m not hearing or seeing anybody around here?”
“No. The inhabitants of the Woodland Realm are shy. They rarely come out to engage with travelers. Even if you encounter them, they’re usually uninterested in interacting. It’s just their way. Don’t let it offend you.”
“Why would it offend me?” I asked. “You seemed very concerned about it,” Stryder said.
“I was concerned because I thought this might be a War Pig situation and we were about to be retaliated against for every bacon cheeseburger that has ever been eaten, not because they didn’t rush out to welcome us.”
Harley rushed over and helped me up. "Thanks for saving my ass there," she said dryly.
“Oh, you know, just tackling giant Fae men with swords. My normal Tuesday," I said.
I have doubt that Mac was sent to look after and guide Kip, but why the heck didn’t he tell her everything involving her destiny, and help prepare her more for what’s coming?🤔
I wondered how much Mac knew. I’d met him so young, but he seemed like he had been around forever. I remembered what the men said when I was trapped in the prison cell.
Had Mac really known all along and was trying to guide me? So many things were clicking into place. The story of the two towers rang strongly in my mind. It was like Mac was subtly training me.
Through telling me that story, he instilled in me that if I was ever caught, I would end up there. He gave me a map for a land that had never been mapped with those stories, silly stories I thought were nothing more than entertainment.
Even after everything we'd been through, I couldn't escape the reality that I didn't understand him or his world yet. In so many ways I was on the outside, watching what was unfolding and still trying to get a grasp on it. There was an unavoidable possibility that I was still being manipulated and would soon be handed over to the wizards and sacrificed.
"King," the lead wizard said, bowing his head and putting his fist to his heart in the traditional gesture of respect for his king. "Greyfeld,” I acknowledged.
“What is she doing here?” he demanded angrily, raising one finger to point toward Kip. “She is here with me,” I said defiantly. “You were sent to destroy her.”
“Plans changed.”
The men came down from their horses and approached us. I refused to step back. “Did we not make the prophecy clear to you, Stryder?” Greyfeld asked in a low, rumbling tone. “Your prophecy was clear,” I told him. “Then this ends here. Kill her.”
Hmm Ive had a feeling from the beginning that those “wizards” are not at all what Stryder thinks they are, that they have a very sinister plan that’s not in Stryder and Kip’s favor.🤔😒
• Ok I actually liked this book better than the first! I’m so surprisingly hooked on this series 😂. Something about it is just so entertaining & I just wanna know how it all ends!This picked up right where book one left off. There is still a continuing of the slow burn romance factor but you’ll be too distracted with all the magic, battles, and action to care! The romance/tension is def building between the two main characters as well as a relationship with two of the side characters, everything is just so captivating to me! I’m thinking as the series continues it will probably get better and better as I read on!
I just can't get into this series. I don't feel the sexual tension between the two main characters and while there are interesting things about the story (mostly Mac) it's just not enough to make me want to continue reading. This book also could have used a dev edit as there were some logistical inconsistencies within a scene in several places among other things. It's a shame because I liked the idea of this story but instalove is already a hard sell for me so this is just not a story for me.
If I didn't have kindle unlimited I wouldn't be reading this series, I hate when authors do this to their books, writing short books with cliff hanger endings designed to make you purchase the next book at full price, because the first one is always 99 cents or free. The story itself isn't bad, there are some parts if it that irritates me, but not too much
I really like this series! It's well written, interesting, romantic and exciting !! Hot Far guys, human women in the Far world and a war that Lip is supposed to be the deciding factor !! Detailed writing of the Far world makes me wish to visibly see it, and the chemistry between Lip and Stryker is amazingly sensual !! Worth reading for sure !!
Every book of this series is a page Turner. I had to keep reading till i got to the end. Even tho I loved the end it was sad because this writer is so talented you become part of the story! Don't Miss out on this extraordinary tale!
I am enjoying this series, although I find them to be too short and a major cliffhanger to get you to purchase the next book. I am lucky that I am using the Kindle Lending Library to read these so book 3 will have to wait until November.