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Princes of the Blood #2
With Pride
When his sister falls ill, Kristof is ordered to assume a duty never meant for him: become the Duke of Stehlmore and marry a notorious Prince of the Blood. It is one of the oldest honors and duties undertaken by his family, but Kristof feels only resentment that he must leave behind all he knows to serve an arrogant half-demon.
His resentment must be set aside, however, when evil is found lurking far too close to the castle—an evil that has many pieces, controlled by someone they cannot find and who always seems one step ahead of them. Someone who seems to think that demons are little more than toys ...
His resentment must be set aside, however, when evil is found lurking far too close to the castle—an evil that has many pieces, controlled by someone they cannot find and who always seems one step ahead of them. Someone who seems to think that demons are little more than toys ...
254 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 15, 2014
21 people are currently reading
372 people want to read
About the author
Megan Derr
283 books2,936 followersMegan is a long time resident of queer romance and keeps herself busy reading and writing it. She is often accused of fluff and nonsense. When she’s not involved in writing, she likes to cook, harass her wife and cats, or watch movies. She loves to hear from readers and can be found all over the internet.
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facebook.com/meganaprilderr
meganaderr@gmail.com
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meganderr.com
patreon.com/meganderr
meganderr.blogspot.com
facebook.com/meganaprilderr
meganaderr@gmail.com
@meganaderr
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
October 21, 2016
Great world building, as usual with Derr.
I really like Tria Noor and the demon princes of Guldbransen. Kristof, Duke of Stehlmore and substitute spouse for Demon Prince Hakon is a paladin and dedicated to serve beyond all other concerns or desire. His engagement to Hakon starts off rocky and never really finds its legs. Their enmity is based on misunderstanding and lack of communication without good reason, probably my least favorite conflict device. Additionally, this story is broken into two sections, one from Kristof's point of view and action-oriented with the two clashing. The second part told from Hakon's viewpoints is both dependent of large sections of exposition via dream sequences and the pair are separated--this doesn't work for me in a romance. It makes the coming together at the end less believable when the two characters spend so much time apart.
So, I liked it and liked visiting the demon princes again, but this was not my favorite. Still, an entertaining read.
Bookie Nookie Erotic Lending Group loan.
I really like Tria Noor and the demon princes of Guldbransen. Kristof, Duke of Stehlmore and substitute spouse for Demon Prince Hakon is a paladin and dedicated to serve beyond all other concerns or desire. His engagement to Hakon starts off rocky and never really finds its legs. Their enmity is based on misunderstanding and lack of communication without good reason, probably my least favorite conflict device. Additionally, this story is broken into two sections, one from Kristof's point of view and action-oriented with the two clashing. The second part told from Hakon's viewpoints is both dependent of large sections of exposition via dream sequences and the pair are separated--this doesn't work for me in a romance. It makes the coming together at the end less believable when the two characters spend so much time apart.
So, I liked it and liked visiting the demon princes again, but this was not my favorite. Still, an entertaining read.
Bookie Nookie Erotic Lending Group loan.
April 12, 2014
The demons are back in town and this time they we get a enemies to lovers story!
Love this series!
I have to be honest, I am a wimp when it comes to anything remotely resembling horror. I had to sleep with the light on for a week after I saw The Exorcist, so the fact that I'm kind of obsessed with this series surprises even me. I really wouldn't characterize them as horror per say, but there are elements that are gruesome and give me the heebeegeebees which is close enough to horror in my book. I don't read horror so I've no clue how the creatures stack up against others in that genre but they are creee-py to me.
EEP!
*shudders*
With Pride can be read as a stand alone though some of the characters from Of Last Resort make appearances-Telmé, Korin, Alrin. This is a tighter story than the first, less epic in scale. It splits pretty evenly between adventure and romance. The relationship development between Kristof and Håkon is one of enemies to lovers and is one of my favorite themes. I liked that both characters are not what they seem at first glance. Ms. Derr again does an excellent job of giving the reader adequate time from both of their perspectives to flesh them out.
Kristof is seemingly full of pride but really insecure and lonely. Håkon is seemingly indifferent, maybe even callous but really masking an enormity of pain. How they misread each other and snipe at one another but are loathe to feel anything less than attraction for one another made With Pride a really good ride. Size difference between protagonists is also another hot button for me and that one got pounced on here.
Goddesses knew he wanted to climb the man, rut against him, see what it was like to be held close, held down, by all that mass and muscle.
The adventure keeps the suspense up and propels the story forward. There are also some great new secondary characters that added positively to the experience.
What was disappointing was the editing. My God are there a ton of silly mistakes. Extra words, missing words or 'that' instead of 'an' that kept pulling me out of the story. Annoying. I don't remember there being this many mistakes in Of Last Resort. Another thing that niggled was the Njål thing. I don't want to spoil but it didn't sit well relative to Kristof.
With Pride is another winner by Ms. Derr in my book. Highly recommend. It is very chaste though so for the hardcore smutters, you *might* be disappointed with the lack of sexy times.
I would like to thank LT3P and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
September 9, 2016
3.5 stars
Princes of the Blood series is rather unique since the books are ‘moving backwards’. Meaning that this is not a sequel of the first book, Of Last Resort, but instead it tells story about two men we already know as a couple: Kristof, a Paladin as well as the new Duke of Stehlmore, and Håkon, a Prince of Blood.
I still had similar issues with the world build, just like I mentioned in my own review for book 1. I thought Megan Derr’s idea was excellent. It was complex and imaginative. Having said that, I again thought it felt a bit blurry. I still couldn’t really grasp the differences of these branches. I did have my guess as the story moved along, but still, most of the time, I thought this world build stayed in the mind of the author and not smoothly translated into the mind of readers.
In addition, I thought the two parts were not well-balanced. In the second part, Kristof and Håkon were separated and the narration switched completely to Håkon (the first part was all from Kristof’s perspective). The good thing … we learned more about Håkon’s past and there was FINALLY a female character here, whose presence was quite important as she helped Håkon around. The bad thing? It disrupted the start of a closer relationship between Kristof and Håkon. Also, the final fight felt anti-climactic, which was also my problem with the first book.
Fortunately – I thought the romance was better this time around. Megan Derr seems to be at her best when she writes about characters who seem to dislike one another at first. Here, Håkon seemed to despise Kristof very much; he was rude to Kristof and definitely hated the idea of being engaged to the paladin. I enjoyed the slow change of the nature of their relationship when Håkon realized that Kristof was not as bad as he thought. Even if they ended up separated for the second-half of the book.
So overall … I thought it was slightly better than Of Last Resort. But it wasn’t one of my favorites of Ms. Derr.
The ARC is provided by the publisher in NetGalley for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.
Princes of the Blood series is rather unique since the books are ‘moving backwards’. Meaning that this is not a sequel of the first book, Of Last Resort, but instead it tells story about two men we already know as a couple: Kristof, a Paladin as well as the new Duke of Stehlmore, and Håkon, a Prince of Blood.
I still had similar issues with the world build, just like I mentioned in my own review for book 1. I thought Megan Derr’s idea was excellent. It was complex and imaginative. Having said that, I again thought it felt a bit blurry. I still couldn’t really grasp the differences of these branches. I did have my guess as the story moved along, but still, most of the time, I thought this world build stayed in the mind of the author and not smoothly translated into the mind of readers.
In addition, I thought the two parts were not well-balanced. In the second part, Kristof and Håkon were separated and the narration switched completely to Håkon (the first part was all from Kristof’s perspective). The good thing … we learned more about Håkon’s past and there was FINALLY a female character here, whose presence was quite important as she helped Håkon around. The bad thing? It disrupted the start of a closer relationship between Kristof and Håkon. Also, the final fight felt anti-climactic, which was also my problem with the first book.
Fortunately – I thought the romance was better this time around. Megan Derr seems to be at her best when she writes about characters who seem to dislike one another at first. Here, Håkon seemed to despise Kristof very much; he was rude to Kristof and definitely hated the idea of being engaged to the paladin. I enjoyed the slow change of the nature of their relationship when Håkon realized that Kristof was not as bad as he thought. Even if they ended up separated for the second-half of the book.
So overall … I thought it was slightly better than Of Last Resort. But it wasn’t one of my favorites of Ms. Derr.
The ARC is provided by the publisher in NetGalley for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.
April 4, 2014
Review originally posted: http://francesandlynne.wordpress.com/...
“Always he was second or third choice. Just once he wanted to be someone’s first choice. He wanted to be offered, accepted, with pride. Not from obligation or with resignation. He wanted to be a preference, not simply the least disappointing of limited options.”
Kristof from With Pride by Megan Derr
I can’t lie, I have been a fan of Megan Derr for many years, and she is one of my favorite authors. I was excited when she and two other authors I followed on LiveJournal began the Less Than Three Press. So when I saw that Derr had a new book listed on NetGalley, I knew I had to read it. Her work is some of my favorite, and is a bit of my guilty pleasure reading that I can rely on when I have had a bad day. With Pride is now among my favorites from her.
Here is a brief summary of the plot of With Pride. Kristof, a paladin (holy warrior) is sent to take one of his sibling’s places and marry a Prince of Blood (half-demon men who survive on the blood of pure humans). While he will do his duty and marry a Prince of Blood, Kristof is resentful of not having any choice in the matter, and especially of not knowing which Prince he will marry. Unfortunately for Kristof, Håkon (his betrothed) is the least welcoming of the Princes, and seems determined to provoke Kristof’s temper and disgust. However, before they can be un-happily wed, a demon attacks the castle, and the attack signals that there is a much larger attack planned. With their marriage plans on hold, Kristof and Håkon with a platoon of men set out to discover the mastermind behind the attacks. Having to rely on someone you don’t like and may have to marry is not something that comes easily to either of them. The trip may provide a way to the happier lives they both desire, if they don’t kill each other first.
I can’t lie, I loved With Pride! There are some parts that are a bit unpolished, but I loved the story and am happy it will live on my e-reader for when I have a bad day. I read the book in under a day, and just could not put it down. Some of the story elements (e.g. paladins, demons, and necromancers) and the world building reminded me of my favorite story by Derr, Black Magic. However, this was a truly unique story.
The best place to start is with the world building that Derr has done so well. The world building is even more impressive when you realize that this is the second book in the same world (I have not read that one yet, so my understanding is only based on this book). The bits and pieces about the world around the main characters, Kristof and Håkon, fall into place subtlety and in little chunks. I dislike when there are pages upon pages devoted to a surrounding, and Derr stays away from this. There were so many new and unique types of creatures all working together in the Legion (the ruling army of the world). There are paladins with holy magic, the Princes of Blood with their demonic powers, necromancers, piskies (I had to look this up as I thought initially it was a spelling error, but it is just a different spelling of pixies), dragoons who are able to shift their body parts to more draconian versions, and many others, more than I can list! I am excited to read more of this series to learn about these creatures and how most are gathered under one ruler.
The characters in the story were another stand out for me. While I enjoyed Håkon, it was Kristof that I related to and liked from the beginning. Kristof is everything you want from a paladin. He’s tall, handsome, and fills out his armor. But more than that, he is a good and courageous man, who sacrifices almost everything for others including his looks (he has many scars and is slightly disfigured), his choices in life, and even his potential future happiness. However, he doesn’t see this side of himself. Instead he focuses on his internal fear of demons, one that is justified by his previous encounters with them. There is also a longing to be seen for himself, and not to always be the one that everyone else leans on. He is just so human in those moments. He tries to make the best of his situation and reach out to his new fiancée. Kristof provides the perfect human foil to Håkon’s mostly demonic character. Their interactions are, at first, painful because of the dislike and animosity between them, but it is wonderful for the story. There are many great exchanges between them, but the exchange below is my favorite.
Kristof: “Since we have met you’ve been nothing but mocking and derisive. You despise me to the point you callously disregard facts and cause me pain to sate your own needs. It would not have killed you to show a little kindness. Not once have I denied you, Highness. All I asked was reassurance that you have a care for my pain when you feed.”
Håkon: “I didn’t mean—”
Kristof: “You didn’t care enough to mean anything. All you wanted was to satisfy your hunger and use me as a target for your anger. You’ve gotten what you wanted, Highness. Get out.”
One of Derr’s best abilities is to turn a character you dislike into someone you can not only sympathize with but then actually like. She has done this with Håkon. He is the very small, pretty, and vicious Prince of Blood, who is more demon than human at the beginning of the story. I did not like him until part way through the story, when we begin to see why he is the way he is, and when he starts to realize how cruel he has been. By the end of the story, I was rooting for Håkon and Kristof to end up together. One of the reasons he is to be married is to try and remind him to be human, and this is something he doesn’t want, but Kristof is hard to ignore. For example, Håkon thinks, “Damn it. He did not want to remember what it was like to be human. Not this much.” The second half of the story follows Håkon, and uncovers his painful history. It was great to watch his slow transformation into something a little more human. I also have to say I found it amusing that because he was so much smaller than Kristof, he either gets picked up or climbs Kristof when they have a private moment.
The other characters in the background are also interesting. The Princes of Blood were fascinating, and it was interesting to see how different these men were. I really enjoyed the moments where High Prince Telmé and his husband High Priest Korin are in the story. I am excited that they are the main characters of the next book. I would love to learn more about how they ended up together, as they are a very strong couple in this story. My favorite side character though was Erzébet, a kidapped village mother that helps Håkon to investigate the evil necromancer. She is just a normal woman, but she is strong and smart, and she does what needs to be done. There is strength and fragility in her, “All I want is to go home and never have to kill anyone again.”
One thing with this book is that it can be very dark at times. There are some rather gruesome ideas that show just how dangerous the world is. You get hints of this evil when you encounter the necromancer and how demons are “seeded” (basically planted to come and wreak havoc many years down the line). Yet for all the death and destruction, the love story works, and you are cheering for them!
My only issue with the book is that the second half of the plot didn’t really work. The first half was great; it was interesting and kept the reader engaged. The second half slowed down with many flashbacks, and because the point of view switched to Håkon while Kristoff and Håkon separate, you only really got to see Håkon. I probably could have completely ignored this if not for the fact that the final fight and the reveal of the evil mastermind fell flat for me at the last moment. There was such a great build up, and then it just sort of ended. Derr is capable of much more complex endings, or more delicate handling, so I was a bit disappointed.
However, that last plot point aside, I loved this book. Like I said earlier, I will be reading the rest of the series, and I know I will be re-reading this book. It will not be to everyone’s tastes (it does contain adult language and situations, just as heads up), but for me it falls in my guilty pleasure category.
Final Verdict: A great quick read, with an amazing new world, characters that will engage you, and a romance you can root for.
“Always he was second or third choice. Just once he wanted to be someone’s first choice. He wanted to be offered, accepted, with pride. Not from obligation or with resignation. He wanted to be a preference, not simply the least disappointing of limited options.”
Kristof from With Pride by Megan Derr
I can’t lie, I have been a fan of Megan Derr for many years, and she is one of my favorite authors. I was excited when she and two other authors I followed on LiveJournal began the Less Than Three Press. So when I saw that Derr had a new book listed on NetGalley, I knew I had to read it. Her work is some of my favorite, and is a bit of my guilty pleasure reading that I can rely on when I have had a bad day. With Pride is now among my favorites from her.
Here is a brief summary of the plot of With Pride. Kristof, a paladin (holy warrior) is sent to take one of his sibling’s places and marry a Prince of Blood (half-demon men who survive on the blood of pure humans). While he will do his duty and marry a Prince of Blood, Kristof is resentful of not having any choice in the matter, and especially of not knowing which Prince he will marry. Unfortunately for Kristof, Håkon (his betrothed) is the least welcoming of the Princes, and seems determined to provoke Kristof’s temper and disgust. However, before they can be un-happily wed, a demon attacks the castle, and the attack signals that there is a much larger attack planned. With their marriage plans on hold, Kristof and Håkon with a platoon of men set out to discover the mastermind behind the attacks. Having to rely on someone you don’t like and may have to marry is not something that comes easily to either of them. The trip may provide a way to the happier lives they both desire, if they don’t kill each other first.
I can’t lie, I loved With Pride! There are some parts that are a bit unpolished, but I loved the story and am happy it will live on my e-reader for when I have a bad day. I read the book in under a day, and just could not put it down. Some of the story elements (e.g. paladins, demons, and necromancers) and the world building reminded me of my favorite story by Derr, Black Magic. However, this was a truly unique story.
The best place to start is with the world building that Derr has done so well. The world building is even more impressive when you realize that this is the second book in the same world (I have not read that one yet, so my understanding is only based on this book). The bits and pieces about the world around the main characters, Kristof and Håkon, fall into place subtlety and in little chunks. I dislike when there are pages upon pages devoted to a surrounding, and Derr stays away from this. There were so many new and unique types of creatures all working together in the Legion (the ruling army of the world). There are paladins with holy magic, the Princes of Blood with their demonic powers, necromancers, piskies (I had to look this up as I thought initially it was a spelling error, but it is just a different spelling of pixies), dragoons who are able to shift their body parts to more draconian versions, and many others, more than I can list! I am excited to read more of this series to learn about these creatures and how most are gathered under one ruler.
The characters in the story were another stand out for me. While I enjoyed Håkon, it was Kristof that I related to and liked from the beginning. Kristof is everything you want from a paladin. He’s tall, handsome, and fills out his armor. But more than that, he is a good and courageous man, who sacrifices almost everything for others including his looks (he has many scars and is slightly disfigured), his choices in life, and even his potential future happiness. However, he doesn’t see this side of himself. Instead he focuses on his internal fear of demons, one that is justified by his previous encounters with them. There is also a longing to be seen for himself, and not to always be the one that everyone else leans on. He is just so human in those moments. He tries to make the best of his situation and reach out to his new fiancée. Kristof provides the perfect human foil to Håkon’s mostly demonic character. Their interactions are, at first, painful because of the dislike and animosity between them, but it is wonderful for the story. There are many great exchanges between them, but the exchange below is my favorite.
Kristof: “Since we have met you’ve been nothing but mocking and derisive. You despise me to the point you callously disregard facts and cause me pain to sate your own needs. It would not have killed you to show a little kindness. Not once have I denied you, Highness. All I asked was reassurance that you have a care for my pain when you feed.”
Håkon: “I didn’t mean—”
Kristof: “You didn’t care enough to mean anything. All you wanted was to satisfy your hunger and use me as a target for your anger. You’ve gotten what you wanted, Highness. Get out.”
One of Derr’s best abilities is to turn a character you dislike into someone you can not only sympathize with but then actually like. She has done this with Håkon. He is the very small, pretty, and vicious Prince of Blood, who is more demon than human at the beginning of the story. I did not like him until part way through the story, when we begin to see why he is the way he is, and when he starts to realize how cruel he has been. By the end of the story, I was rooting for Håkon and Kristof to end up together. One of the reasons he is to be married is to try and remind him to be human, and this is something he doesn’t want, but Kristof is hard to ignore. For example, Håkon thinks, “Damn it. He did not want to remember what it was like to be human. Not this much.” The second half of the story follows Håkon, and uncovers his painful history. It was great to watch his slow transformation into something a little more human. I also have to say I found it amusing that because he was so much smaller than Kristof, he either gets picked up or climbs Kristof when they have a private moment.
The other characters in the background are also interesting. The Princes of Blood were fascinating, and it was interesting to see how different these men were. I really enjoyed the moments where High Prince Telmé and his husband High Priest Korin are in the story. I am excited that they are the main characters of the next book. I would love to learn more about how they ended up together, as they are a very strong couple in this story. My favorite side character though was Erzébet, a kidapped village mother that helps Håkon to investigate the evil necromancer. She is just a normal woman, but she is strong and smart, and she does what needs to be done. There is strength and fragility in her, “All I want is to go home and never have to kill anyone again.”
One thing with this book is that it can be very dark at times. There are some rather gruesome ideas that show just how dangerous the world is. You get hints of this evil when you encounter the necromancer and how demons are “seeded” (basically planted to come and wreak havoc many years down the line). Yet for all the death and destruction, the love story works, and you are cheering for them!
My only issue with the book is that the second half of the plot didn’t really work. The first half was great; it was interesting and kept the reader engaged. The second half slowed down with many flashbacks, and because the point of view switched to Håkon while Kristoff and Håkon separate, you only really got to see Håkon. I probably could have completely ignored this if not for the fact that the final fight and the reveal of the evil mastermind fell flat for me at the last moment. There was such a great build up, and then it just sort of ended. Derr is capable of much more complex endings, or more delicate handling, so I was a bit disappointed.
However, that last plot point aside, I loved this book. Like I said earlier, I will be reading the rest of the series, and I know I will be re-reading this book. It will not be to everyone’s tastes (it does contain adult language and situations, just as heads up), but for me it falls in my guilty pleasure category.
Final Verdict: A great quick read, with an amazing new world, characters that will engage you, and a romance you can root for.
June 3, 2016
This is much better than book one and I am giving a solid 4.
Weird thing, tho, the books go back in time. If I knew I would have read #3 first. I felt lost reading "Of Last Resort" :(
Weird thing, tho, the books go back in time. If I knew I would have read #3 first. I felt lost reading "Of Last Resort" :(
May 4, 2016
If his brother Bene had not died of illness when Kristof was a boy, he would be Priest instead of a Paladin. If Éva had not fallen sick, he would not have been made Duke of Stehlmore. He had never really been meant to be anyone important, had been forced into vital roles because circumstances left no other options.
Always he was second or third choice. Just once he wanted to be someone’s first choice. He wanted to be offered, accepted, with pride. Not from obligation or with resignation. He wanted to be a preference, not simply the least disappointing of limited options.
Kristof never planned on being made husband to one of the Princes of the Blood. But when his sister takes ill Kristof is left with no choice. He is of pure blood, he is the Duke of Stehlmore, and the king has ordered him bound to the most infuriating, most hateful, most annoying pain in the ass in the entire Legion–if not the entire world. There is no way out of it. Even if the touch of the half-demon burns him like fire, and his bite is like the molten metal and sharp glass crashing through his. Kristof will do his duty. Even if he wants nothing more than to run and hide.
But there are scarier things than the threat of marriage…and certainly more deadly. Someone is raising demons, and seems intent on unleashing them on the people that Kristof is bound to protect. Unfortunately to protect them he will have to work his unwanted fiancé, and hope that they don’t kill each other before the demons, warlocks, and necromancers take their turn.
Look on the brightside, if they survive all that (and a pissed of squid) they might just have the pleasure of wedded bliss to look forward to.
Technically I think this book counts as a type of prequel to the first book in the series, Of Last Resort, seeing as it takes place before that book has even begun. So if you have yet to read book one, you shouldn’t have any problem reading this one. Several things that were hinted at in Of Last Resort happen in this book and it was really nice to see them play out. And I really loved to get a little more about the various members of the Legion.
Kristof is a Paladin, one of the holier soldiers in the Legion. He is also, unfortunately, one of those blessed with blood pure enough to feed the Princes of the Blood-–meaning he gets the dubious honor of marriage to a Prince. Kristof is not some cookie-cutter white-knight. And I like that. He has fears and doubts-–and sometimes he is not able to cover them up. I really liked that even in the midst of all his problems he forces himself to go on, to confront all the things that make him shake. He has no desire to be faced anymore demons, no desire to be bound to a half-demon (let alone be his meal-ticket) but he sees his duty and he does it. And the insight into the Paladins was really great–even if I kept having D&D flashbacks.
And I have no idea how Megan Derr did it again but the antagonism between Kristof and Håkon tugged on like all of my heartstrings. While this book wasn’t as angsty as the Of Last Resort, the characters here are done really well. You can feel their hate, their desire, their anger, and their longing, all in equal and devastating measure. I was totally tearing up. I don’t know why I was sprawled out on my bed leaking tears all over my Kindle, but there you go. Maybe I just really got Kristof. I understood what it was like to want once, just once, to be someone’s first choice. Not a last choice forced upon someone with tyrannical threats to their balls.
For most of the book I was pretty much on the feed-Håkon-to-the-squid side of thing. Even when everyone what all “he is having a bad day, month, year…” I can’t help but feel that dude was more than a little bit of a douche. But over the course of the book–and when we finally get things from his perspective-–there starts to be some understanding between us and Håkon. Yeah, what he was acting like was pretty horrible, but there is something there worth redemption, love, and pride. You just have to look deep, deeeep, down. Though his portion of the book had a few more ‘daydream’ sequences than I would have liked, it was fun, and it was good to see that the whole messed up relationship that he and Kristof have going on might actually work. If he doesn’t get shanked by a necromancer with one nasty-ass diet.
I really liked Erzsébet and her contribution to the lets-kill-evil-dudes-ass section of the book. I do love a good kick-ass heroine. And József, Kristof’s squire was a nice, if somewhat brief, addition. In fact I just really enjoyed the secondary characters here. Especially what we got to see of Telmé and Korin (who will be getting their own book in In Despair, the next book in the series).
This was a great book. I loved the characters, and the slow buildup (and blowups) between Kristof and Håkon were great. There was, of course, massive loss of life, some not so pretty meals on order, and a few nasties running around, but it only made the book more entertaining. I never knew who was going to bite it next, so I was never sure where the book was going. And there was a giant squid. I am always in favor of giant, ship-crushing, squids of nefarious purpose.
If I was to have one complaint it would be that by the time Kristof and Håkon finally got even remotely close to doing anything nakedly-horizontal, the book was coming to an end. I didn’t miss it all that much since I loved the tension these two had going, but still…it would have nice to have seen a little bit more bedroom action between the two. Oh well. I shall live to read smut on another day–here I’ll just have to settle for a lovely romance and some killer, well…killers.
Highly recommended for all lovers and fantasy and enemies that have no desire to fall in love…and do anyways.
4.5 stars
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February 20, 2016
First read July 2014
Re read Feb 2016Engaging fantasy story, and prequel to Of Last Resort, where we met the Paladin Kristoff and his husband, the Blood Prince Hakon. This is the story of the start of their relationship and seeks Kristoff unwillingly going to his marriage, not knowing which of the Princes he is to be the husband of. Hakon doesn't want a husband, he's probably the most rebellious of the Princes, and the one most in danger of having his Demon take over. This is a good enemies to lovers story as it involves a lot of interesting plot that is not centered around their relationship and a good solid happy ending.
Re read Feb 2016Engaging fantasy story, and prequel to Of Last Resort, where we met the Paladin Kristoff and his husband, the Blood Prince Hakon. This is the story of the start of their relationship and seeks Kristoff unwillingly going to his marriage, not knowing which of the Princes he is to be the husband of. Hakon doesn't want a husband, he's probably the most rebellious of the Princes, and the one most in danger of having his Demon take over. This is a good enemies to lovers story as it involves a lot of interesting plot that is not centered around their relationship and a good solid happy ending.
July 2, 2018
3.75 Stars
I didn't enjoy this one as much as the previous book in the series
In this one we take a step back in time and revisit an established couple and see how they got together, and while I liked both Kristof and Hakon as both individuals and a couple this story didn't grab me like the previous one did.
I think I was mainly confused as to Kristof's issues with demons and how it basically disappeared. I know he had the tea, but I feel like I missed something there or it really wasn't discussed enough.
I didn't enjoy this one as much as the previous book in the series
In this one we take a step back in time and revisit an established couple and see how they got together, and while I liked both Kristof and Hakon as both individuals and a couple this story didn't grab me like the previous one did.
I think I was mainly confused as to Kristof's issues with demons and how it basically disappeared. I know he had the tea, but I feel like I missed something there or it really wasn't discussed enough.
February 10, 2023
4.75 stars, there were some goofy logic fails in the plot, but this was very satisfying. The first half is from the paladin's point of view, and the second half is from the prince's, and that's a big part of why it works so well. But also, the author did a great job showing all the (many) misconceptions these two have about each other for entirely too long, for entirely reasonable reasons. That's the major reason it works so well.
Also I am really glad this world is fantasy, because ugh. But the characters are great. On to book 3.
Also I am really glad this world is fantasy, because ugh. But the characters are great. On to book 3.
April 15, 2014
This review can be found at The Blogger Girls review site.
4.5 stars
When family duty requires Kristof to not only be the Duke of Stehlmore but to marry one of the Princes of the Blood, Kristof hopes his life will at least have a little happiness. When he meets the bratty piskie prince, Håkon, and learns that’s his intended, his hope to have at least a friendship with his husband blows up in smoke when Håkon is openly hostile and insulting. Just after Kristof fights off a demon too close to home, he’s forced to go on an assignment with Håkon to find the one responsible for the sudden attack. While they hate each other, neither can deny their attraction and when their assignment turns deadly, they might just discover that what lay beneath all that hostility could be love.
I LOVED Kristof and Håkon together. Where Kristof is kind, gentle and a self-imposed coward, Håkon is snarky, bratty and just plain mean. He has a death wish and is more wild than sane. His marriage to Kristof is meant to tame Håkon or at least get him to settle down a little bit. Unfortunately, from the start Håkon is openly rude and insulting to Kristof, who has done nothing but try and be nice to the annoying man. I felt so bad for Kristof because he thinks himself a coward when in reality he just has a horrible allergy that makes him scared of the very things he’s meant to fight. Håkon doesn’t understand Kristof’s problem either so it drives a wedge between the two when Håkon doesn’t take Kristof at his word and causes him pain. One thing I did love about these two together were the physical differences. Where Kristof is the big Paladin who is tall, muscular and gorgeous; Håkon is small, slim and cute. It was adorable the way Håkon constantly complained about the overly tall Paladin who made Håkon ‘put a crick in his neck’ whenever they were too close together and talking. Just so cute!
While I adored this story, I would have preferred to read it before Of Last Resort because I think it would have given more background into some of the characters in the previous book. It’s not as coherent when it comes to describing the fantasy world as Of Last Resort was (at least from what I can remember) but, unfortunately, the world is so extensive and intricate that there is too much to remember and, with this book, it became almost confusing at times. Beyond that, the editing mistakes were very noticeable this time and I felt a little cheated that Kristof and Håkon had only a few scenes together where they were civil. I would have liked to see them more together to actually see the tides turning in their feelings. I also felt like the ending was very anti-climactic. Considering all that happened, I expected a bit more of a longer fight to resolve everything.
In the end, though, I won’t deny that I loved this book. Even with the world being so complex that it bordered on confusing, I really enjoyed it. I loved the intensity between Kristof and Håkon, the sexual tension and the hatred. It oozed from their pores and gave them a great connection and sexual tension. I’m looking forward to the next book although I hope we get one that is set after Of Last Resortand not before because I really want to revisit Raffé and ‘Cam’ again.
4.5 stars
When family duty requires Kristof to not only be the Duke of Stehlmore but to marry one of the Princes of the Blood, Kristof hopes his life will at least have a little happiness. When he meets the bratty piskie prince, Håkon, and learns that’s his intended, his hope to have at least a friendship with his husband blows up in smoke when Håkon is openly hostile and insulting. Just after Kristof fights off a demon too close to home, he’s forced to go on an assignment with Håkon to find the one responsible for the sudden attack. While they hate each other, neither can deny their attraction and when their assignment turns deadly, they might just discover that what lay beneath all that hostility could be love.
I LOVED Kristof and Håkon together. Where Kristof is kind, gentle and a self-imposed coward, Håkon is snarky, bratty and just plain mean. He has a death wish and is more wild than sane. His marriage to Kristof is meant to tame Håkon or at least get him to settle down a little bit. Unfortunately, from the start Håkon is openly rude and insulting to Kristof, who has done nothing but try and be nice to the annoying man. I felt so bad for Kristof because he thinks himself a coward when in reality he just has a horrible allergy that makes him scared of the very things he’s meant to fight. Håkon doesn’t understand Kristof’s problem either so it drives a wedge between the two when Håkon doesn’t take Kristof at his word and causes him pain. One thing I did love about these two together were the physical differences. Where Kristof is the big Paladin who is tall, muscular and gorgeous; Håkon is small, slim and cute. It was adorable the way Håkon constantly complained about the overly tall Paladin who made Håkon ‘put a crick in his neck’ whenever they were too close together and talking. Just so cute!
While I adored this story, I would have preferred to read it before Of Last Resort because I think it would have given more background into some of the characters in the previous book. It’s not as coherent when it comes to describing the fantasy world as Of Last Resort was (at least from what I can remember) but, unfortunately, the world is so extensive and intricate that there is too much to remember and, with this book, it became almost confusing at times. Beyond that, the editing mistakes were very noticeable this time and I felt a little cheated that Kristof and Håkon had only a few scenes together where they were civil. I would have liked to see them more together to actually see the tides turning in their feelings. I also felt like the ending was very anti-climactic. Considering all that happened, I expected a bit more of a longer fight to resolve everything.
In the end, though, I won’t deny that I loved this book. Even with the world being so complex that it bordered on confusing, I really enjoyed it. I loved the intensity between Kristof and Håkon, the sexual tension and the hatred. It oozed from their pores and gave them a great connection and sexual tension. I’m looking forward to the next book although I hope we get one that is set after Of Last Resortand not before because I really want to revisit Raffé and ‘Cam’ again.
August 5, 2014
4.0 Stars
This is Kristof's and Hakon's story and it precedes Book 1, chronologically. I enjoyed this installment in the Princes of the Blood series. As per usual, Megan Derr did a wonderful job weaving a suspenseful plot within the intriguing world she has built. Kristof was awesome; although Hakon was a prick, he redeemed himself by the end. I love this series and the characters but I kinda wish the stories appeared in chronological order. Regardless, this was a solid read.
Bottom line: I'm hooked! Onto book 3!
This is Kristof's and Hakon's story and it precedes Book 1, chronologically. I enjoyed this installment in the Princes of the Blood series. As per usual, Megan Derr did a wonderful job weaving a suspenseful plot within the intriguing world she has built. Kristof was awesome; although Hakon was a prick, he redeemed himself by the end. I love this series and the characters but I kinda wish the stories appeared in chronological order. Regardless, this was a solid read.
Bottom line: I'm hooked! Onto book 3!
July 8, 2021
I wasn't really motivated to read the second book. I still did, because I already had the ebook and it is rather short, it would be a waste not to read it. After reading it I can say that I liked it, 3.5 stars, though not one of my favourite works of Derr.
We don't get to see the characters fall in love, but we get to see them maturing, growing more confident and learning to communicate. In the end they form a strong bond and hope for more. I liked that aspect very much, as love doesn't always grow quickly.
The plot itself was interesting and quite bloody. The world building is fascinating, but also a problem because there is too much to know and too little that gets explained or experienced.
We don't get to see the characters fall in love, but we get to see them maturing, growing more confident and learning to communicate. In the end they form a strong bond and hope for more. I liked that aspect very much, as love doesn't always grow quickly.
The plot itself was interesting and quite bloody. The world building is fascinating, but also a problem because there is too much to know and too little that gets explained or experienced.
March 22, 2022
great story (as always with megan derr) but just not really what i was looking for. the romance is barely a sub-plot, an it's a slow burn right up until the 99% mark. in the beginning i enjoey that but after a while i found myself skipping paragraphs, just so i could get to the romance faster which never happened. it was more of an action-fantasy novel, there were a lot of things going on that i didn't fully understand and so many things thrown at the reader that we are just expected to know or find out ourselves. i really loved hakon as a character and would've loved to see him grow more or understand his change of character better.
November 1, 2014
If you’re here reading reviews, you may have seen the review I typed up for book one in this series, which was an exercise in contradiction; I both loved it and hated it and I practically spontaneously combusted from the mental friction created trying to reconcile all my feelings about it into one (ostensibly) coherent review. Fortunately, book two here doesn’t inspire quite that same level of emotion or ambivalence, and I was able to sit back and enjoy the story in a way that my preconceived notions prevented with book one.
Part of me wonders if typing this up is even worth the time; either you read Of Last Resort already – which would be the primary driver in deciding whether you’re going to continue the series – or you haven’t, in which case you’ll realize this isn't the first book and you'll amble over to the series beginning. Nevertheless, for those few undecided folks, here are my (spoiler-free, except in the most general ways) thoughts on this second volume.
The point of view switches (or, more accurately, the lack of point of view switches) that so baffled me in POTB1 are back. Probably partly because I was expecting it and partly because of differences in the story line, I didn’t find it quite as jarring this time around. Here, part one – roughly half the book – is from one character’s POV, and part two is from another’s. I could actually appreciate the time spent with Håkon in part two since he was portrayed as such a [redacted] in the beginning; we needed to hang out with him and see through his eyes to witness his humanity. However, it makes the ending of the book kind of a disappointment.
See, this is more of a prequel than a sequel; this book is the beginning of one of the relationships we were introduced to in POTB1. The problem is that in POTB1, a major plot event was described (in a “you need to know that this happened in past so you’re aware of this history of these two characters” sort of way), and in those initial history lessons, the reactions of the king and the princes of the blood were described, and the credibility of the character involved was called into question, and it was made to sound like a real dramatic climax involving a heroic rescue against all odds.
So what does Derr do? She doesn’t switch back to the character who’s trying to get everyone to believe him and mount a rescue mission when all this is going on. We got the bare bones in book one, so I suppose we didn’t NEED to see all the tension and derring-do to know what was going on, but come on. You don’t make something sound like a terrific story that maybe you’d like to hear in detail someday and then tell it from the POV of the person who has no idea what all went on behind the scenes. You just don’t. Which isn’t to say that the other side of the story wasn’t also thrilling in its own way, but good grief – had Derr just switched back and forth every chapter or two like normal people do so that the whole story alternates between the two characters, we could have had all of it.
So that bugged me. Another possible negative is how the romance arc, and the story in general, are rather more predictable than they were in book one. I say “story in general” because this is a prequel and we already heard parts of it (and we know who's still alive, etc.), and the romance in particular because the plot devices and tropes used here popular ones. I knew in the first couple pages who was going to be getting married to whom, what some of the problems would be, and how it’d turn out. I say “possible negative” since predictability certainly doesn’t bother everyone, but…there really were no surprises here.
I’d also characterize the romance as a bit abrupt. It’s hard to describe and stay free of spoilers, but...the feelings between the main characters changed or evolved perhaps unnaturally quickly. Derr did it as deftly as she could, I think, given the pacing, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t raise my eyebrow at the ending.
Like most of my reviews, I elaborate a lot on the ways I think the story fell short or could have been improved, but that shouldn’t be taken to mean I didn’t like what I read. And there’s plenty of greatness here. To continue with the comparisons, I was furious at the scope and pacing of POTB1. It had the scope of a five-volume epic, and the pacing had to be at warp speed to keep the story down to regular-novel size. The scope of this one is much more realistic. Derr doesn’t try to pack an entire trilogy of 700-page books into 250 pages – this book’s story is suited to its length, and moves along at a far more appropriate pace. That was a relief.
The writing itself, the use of language, remains as excellent as I've come to expect from this author. I may be disappointed at times in the choices she makes, but I will never be disappointed in her ability to string words together.
And maybe most importantly, aside from quibbles about technique and apt characterizations, I really liked this book. A lot. I liked the characters, I liked the magic, I loved the setting... It's exciting and immersive and I ate it right up. Perfect it was not, but if you're a fan of fantasy, or m/m romance, or just a really good tale, I suggest you give it a try. (After you finish book one, of course.)
Part of me wonders if typing this up is even worth the time; either you read Of Last Resort already – which would be the primary driver in deciding whether you’re going to continue the series – or you haven’t, in which case you’ll realize this isn't the first book and you'll amble over to the series beginning. Nevertheless, for those few undecided folks, here are my (spoiler-free, except in the most general ways) thoughts on this second volume.
The point of view switches (or, more accurately, the lack of point of view switches) that so baffled me in POTB1 are back. Probably partly because I was expecting it and partly because of differences in the story line, I didn’t find it quite as jarring this time around. Here, part one – roughly half the book – is from one character’s POV, and part two is from another’s. I could actually appreciate the time spent with Håkon in part two since he was portrayed as such a [redacted] in the beginning; we needed to hang out with him and see through his eyes to witness his humanity. However, it makes the ending of the book kind of a disappointment.
See, this is more of a prequel than a sequel; this book is the beginning of one of the relationships we were introduced to in POTB1. The problem is that in POTB1, a major plot event was described (in a “you need to know that this happened in past so you’re aware of this history of these two characters” sort of way), and in those initial history lessons, the reactions of the king and the princes of the blood were described, and the credibility of the character involved was called into question, and it was made to sound like a real dramatic climax involving a heroic rescue against all odds.
So what does Derr do? She doesn’t switch back to the character who’s trying to get everyone to believe him and mount a rescue mission when all this is going on. We got the bare bones in book one, so I suppose we didn’t NEED to see all the tension and derring-do to know what was going on, but come on. You don’t make something sound like a terrific story that maybe you’d like to hear in detail someday and then tell it from the POV of the person who has no idea what all went on behind the scenes. You just don’t. Which isn’t to say that the other side of the story wasn’t also thrilling in its own way, but good grief – had Derr just switched back and forth every chapter or two like normal people do so that the whole story alternates between the two characters, we could have had all of it.
So that bugged me. Another possible negative is how the romance arc, and the story in general, are rather more predictable than they were in book one. I say “story in general” because this is a prequel and we already heard parts of it (and we know who's still alive, etc.), and the romance in particular because the plot devices and tropes used here popular ones. I knew in the first couple pages who was going to be getting married to whom, what some of the problems would be, and how it’d turn out. I say “possible negative” since predictability certainly doesn’t bother everyone, but…there really were no surprises here.
I’d also characterize the romance as a bit abrupt. It’s hard to describe and stay free of spoilers, but...the feelings between the main characters changed or evolved perhaps unnaturally quickly. Derr did it as deftly as she could, I think, given the pacing, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t raise my eyebrow at the ending.
Like most of my reviews, I elaborate a lot on the ways I think the story fell short or could have been improved, but that shouldn’t be taken to mean I didn’t like what I read. And there’s plenty of greatness here. To continue with the comparisons, I was furious at the scope and pacing of POTB1. It had the scope of a five-volume epic, and the pacing had to be at warp speed to keep the story down to regular-novel size. The scope of this one is much more realistic. Derr doesn’t try to pack an entire trilogy of 700-page books into 250 pages – this book’s story is suited to its length, and moves along at a far more appropriate pace. That was a relief.
The writing itself, the use of language, remains as excellent as I've come to expect from this author. I may be disappointed at times in the choices she makes, but I will never be disappointed in her ability to string words together.
And maybe most importantly, aside from quibbles about technique and apt characterizations, I really liked this book. A lot. I liked the characters, I liked the magic, I loved the setting... It's exciting and immersive and I ate it right up. Perfect it was not, but if you're a fan of fantasy, or m/m romance, or just a really good tale, I suggest you give it a try. (After you finish book one, of course.)
December 15, 2018
It felt good revisiting this particular world! I enjoyed the read; however, I liked the first part of the book decidedly better then the second. The second part lacked more interactions between Hakon and Kristof - somehow I'd like to see their feelings develop when fighting side by side and not being apart. Too much dreams and visions as well. Also, the book feels a bit too short? Still, it was a fun read and I liked both the heroes, as well as the idea of the allergy.
October 8, 2023
Paranormal MM romance and adventure. Two noble warriors are ordered by the king to be married to each other, when both had other plans. Due to resentment and anger on both their parts, they start out hating each other. After a lot of blood and suffering, they begin to warm to each other.
Typos: A couple of sentence fragments, lead for led, lay for lie, ship wreck for shipwreck, and a few other minor errors.
Typos: A couple of sentence fragments, lead for led, lay for lie, ship wreck for shipwreck, and a few other minor errors.
August 14, 2019
With Pride features the story of Hakon. When I finished the first part of this series, I jumped to read this one because I was so enamoured by Hakon. This book did not disappoint me.
I loved the chemistry between the MCs.
I loved the chemistry between the MCs.
September 14, 2020
I loved the first book and this one was good ... but the development of the relationship was not detailed enough. it all went very fast and they had not enough page time together.
but it was a very good read nevertheless
but it was a very good read nevertheless
December 8, 2018
4.5 Stars
December 16, 2018
Schade, dass es immer blutiger wird, hätte mir ohne diesen ganzen Opfer-Krempel echt besser gefallen.
Das Pairing war interessant genug, dafür hätte das Buch nicht in Blut waten müssen ...
Das Pairing war interessant genug, dafür hätte das Buch nicht in Blut waten müssen ...
January 25, 2019
Kristof and Hakon's tale is dramatic, and there's a lot of trauma/whomping in this one.
I've been wondering if this series might not be better to read in reverse order--second, and then first....
I've been wondering if this series might not be better to read in reverse order--second, and then first....
dnf
July 21, 2019rating: dnf
I bought this book thinking it was a continuation of the previous story. Turns out this was a prequel of sorts. I started to read it but just couldn't get into it.
I bought this book thinking it was a continuation of the previous story. Turns out this was a prequel of sorts. I started to read it but just couldn't get into it.
December 24, 2022
This was an immensely pleasurable foray into one of my favorite tropes, enemies-to-lovers, done to angst, hot perfection. A total delight!
February 6, 2024
Less a star for the obvious typos.
I truly enjoy Ms. Derr's world-building and characters.
I truly enjoy Ms. Derr's world-building and characters.
February 18, 2024
My only complaint about this series is the strange order the story is told in each book. Book 2 and 3 are more of a flash back of secondary characters of the first book.
March 4, 2015
5 Hearts
Review written for MM Good Book Reviews
Click the link to take part in Megan Derr's With Pride Giveaway (Ends 22nd April 2014)
This story is part of a series and can be read in any order. Kristof was never meant to become the Duke of Stehlmore but when his sister is taken ill and his brother assumes her duties Kristof has no choice but to forget the life he had planned and accept his fate as the betrothed of a Prince of the Blood. Kristof has to set aside his fear and resentment when danger comes close to the palace and an evil lurking in the land begins to show its face, and when his betrothed goes missing Kristof is determined to find him even if he has to go against the King.
This story is a brilliant addition to the Prince of the Blood series where we get to know the story between two of the characters we met in Of Last Resort. Kristof is resentful of being torn away from the life he expected but he accepts his fate with gritted teeth and swears to do his duty to his country and family…. No matter how much it will hurt. Håkon acts like a brat and makes no exceptions for his betrothed; he makes assumptions about the bigger man and is quickly dissuaded when he spends more time and works with Kristof. But it might be too late when Håkon wakes up on an island with no way off and an evil that has seeped into the bedrock. This rollercoaster ride of a story has dangers and action and a relationship that looks doomed, but with a Prince of the Blood and a Paladin anything could happen.
So if you read Of Last Resort you will remember Kristof and Håkon as the besotted couple who adored each other, you will also remember when Alrin briefly explain his great friendship with both men, well I for one had wanted to learn more and we definitely find out the entire story now (and if you haven’t read Of Last Resort… what were you thinking!). Kristof is a great man but with one little problem when it comes to demons and it certainly messes things up for him when he is told to marry one of the half-demon Princes of the Blood. Håkon is used to larger men throwing their weight around so treats all large men with disdain, even his betrothed. Neither man is happy with what they have been told to do, and they both have things from their past that still affect them, but when it comes down to it they manage to conquer the past for a future together.
This is another exceptional high fantasy story from Megan Derr, immersing us in a fantastic world where danger is always just around the corner. The world building is wonderful and very descriptive, letting us sink into the story and fully enjoy the world we find ourselves in. We learn a lot about both men and their backgrounds so we understand why both men are the way they are and what drives them. Their relationship is shaky right from their first meeting and it is a hard battle for both of them to get to a place of understanding, both characters are wonderful in their own way. The excitement of the mystery and hunt for the wrongdoer is brilliantly written especially with the slight twist of it being linked to Håkon’s past… now that I never saw coming.
I have no choice but to recommend this to those who love high fantasy, demons, twisting storylines, action and danger, a doomed relationship finding a way forward and two men never giving up.
Review written for MM Good Book Reviews
Click the link to take part in Megan Derr's With Pride Giveaway (Ends 22nd April 2014)
This story is part of a series and can be read in any order. Kristof was never meant to become the Duke of Stehlmore but when his sister is taken ill and his brother assumes her duties Kristof has no choice but to forget the life he had planned and accept his fate as the betrothed of a Prince of the Blood. Kristof has to set aside his fear and resentment when danger comes close to the palace and an evil lurking in the land begins to show its face, and when his betrothed goes missing Kristof is determined to find him even if he has to go against the King.
This story is a brilliant addition to the Prince of the Blood series where we get to know the story between two of the characters we met in Of Last Resort. Kristof is resentful of being torn away from the life he expected but he accepts his fate with gritted teeth and swears to do his duty to his country and family…. No matter how much it will hurt. Håkon acts like a brat and makes no exceptions for his betrothed; he makes assumptions about the bigger man and is quickly dissuaded when he spends more time and works with Kristof. But it might be too late when Håkon wakes up on an island with no way off and an evil that has seeped into the bedrock. This rollercoaster ride of a story has dangers and action and a relationship that looks doomed, but with a Prince of the Blood and a Paladin anything could happen.
So if you read Of Last Resort you will remember Kristof and Håkon as the besotted couple who adored each other, you will also remember when Alrin briefly explain his great friendship with both men, well I for one had wanted to learn more and we definitely find out the entire story now (and if you haven’t read Of Last Resort… what were you thinking!). Kristof is a great man but with one little problem when it comes to demons and it certainly messes things up for him when he is told to marry one of the half-demon Princes of the Blood. Håkon is used to larger men throwing their weight around so treats all large men with disdain, even his betrothed. Neither man is happy with what they have been told to do, and they both have things from their past that still affect them, but when it comes down to it they manage to conquer the past for a future together.
This is another exceptional high fantasy story from Megan Derr, immersing us in a fantastic world where danger is always just around the corner. The world building is wonderful and very descriptive, letting us sink into the story and fully enjoy the world we find ourselves in. We learn a lot about both men and their backgrounds so we understand why both men are the way they are and what drives them. Their relationship is shaky right from their first meeting and it is a hard battle for both of them to get to a place of understanding, both characters are wonderful in their own way. The excitement of the mystery and hunt for the wrongdoer is brilliantly written especially with the slight twist of it being linked to Håkon’s past… now that I never saw coming.
I have no choice but to recommend this to those who love high fantasy, demons, twisting storylines, action and danger, a doomed relationship finding a way forward and two men never giving up.
April 16, 2014
Stehlmore Dukes have been marrying Princes of the Blood for generations. Princes are the only soldiers in the King's Legion that are required to marry. The bond between husbands is meant to help them remember their human side. When past memories bring only pain instead of pleasure, what are two reluctantly affianced warriors to do?
Kristof, son of the High Priestess of the Temple of the Sacred Heart and current Duke of Stehlmore, lived a life dictated by duty. Groomed from childhood be a Paladin warrior, his body is scarred from the many battles he's fought against darkness. His outward calm hides the fear that threatens to overwhelm him with every demonic encounter. The physical pain their presence causes is excruciating, but he refuses to show any sign of weakness.
Kristof had planned to marry and settle on his family lands, but his elder sister's unexpected illness has altered those plans in favor of a greater duty to fulfill. Instead of the relative peace of the Northern Reach, Kristof finds himself traveling to Castle Gulbrandson to wed a Prince of the Blood. Although he dreads the pending nuptials, Kristof is determined to fulfill the contract, and hopes that he will eventually be able to forge a friendship with his future husband.
Prince Håkon has no desire to marry the haughty Duke that his King arranged for him to marry. Haunted by the death of his twin brother, the Piskie-like warrior is more demon than human and makes little effort to veil the contempt he feels towards his future mate.
With their pending union off to a rocky start, Kristof and Håkon's wedding is postponed when a series of demon attacks reveal a dark plot that threatens to destroy the foundation of their temples and casts a shadow of suspicion within their own ranks. As they work together to unearth the sorcerer who's wielding dark magic, the unwilling couple discovers that first impressions can be deceiving. A fragile bond begins to develop as the secrets of their pasts are slowly revealed. Understanding leads to a grudging respect that ignites into sexual attraction and the unexpected potential for love.
Fate seems to be conspiring against them as the powers of darkness grow steadily stronger. Separated during battle, Håkon disappears and finds himself trapped behind a wall of magic. Kristof refuses to believe the man he was beginning to care for is gone. For the first time in his life, he deliberately defies duty in order to follow his heart.
WITH PRIDE is a fast-paced adventure with an intricately woven storyline and intense emotions. The delicate line between darkness and light that the characters walk is a hallmark of Megan Derr's writing style that fans will easily recognize. Fans of paranormal romance won't want to miss this title!
The second title in her Princes of the Blood series, WITH PRIDE actually takes place before the events in book one and can be read out of sequence.
OFFICIAL REVIEW written for The Romance Reviews.com
http://glbt.theromancereviews.com/vie...
Kristof, son of the High Priestess of the Temple of the Sacred Heart and current Duke of Stehlmore, lived a life dictated by duty. Groomed from childhood be a Paladin warrior, his body is scarred from the many battles he's fought against darkness. His outward calm hides the fear that threatens to overwhelm him with every demonic encounter. The physical pain their presence causes is excruciating, but he refuses to show any sign of weakness.
Kristof had planned to marry and settle on his family lands, but his elder sister's unexpected illness has altered those plans in favor of a greater duty to fulfill. Instead of the relative peace of the Northern Reach, Kristof finds himself traveling to Castle Gulbrandson to wed a Prince of the Blood. Although he dreads the pending nuptials, Kristof is determined to fulfill the contract, and hopes that he will eventually be able to forge a friendship with his future husband.
Prince Håkon has no desire to marry the haughty Duke that his King arranged for him to marry. Haunted by the death of his twin brother, the Piskie-like warrior is more demon than human and makes little effort to veil the contempt he feels towards his future mate.
With their pending union off to a rocky start, Kristof and Håkon's wedding is postponed when a series of demon attacks reveal a dark plot that threatens to destroy the foundation of their temples and casts a shadow of suspicion within their own ranks. As they work together to unearth the sorcerer who's wielding dark magic, the unwilling couple discovers that first impressions can be deceiving. A fragile bond begins to develop as the secrets of their pasts are slowly revealed. Understanding leads to a grudging respect that ignites into sexual attraction and the unexpected potential for love.
Fate seems to be conspiring against them as the powers of darkness grow steadily stronger. Separated during battle, Håkon disappears and finds himself trapped behind a wall of magic. Kristof refuses to believe the man he was beginning to care for is gone. For the first time in his life, he deliberately defies duty in order to follow his heart.
WITH PRIDE is a fast-paced adventure with an intricately woven storyline and intense emotions. The delicate line between darkness and light that the characters walk is a hallmark of Megan Derr's writing style that fans will easily recognize. Fans of paranormal romance won't want to miss this title!
The second title in her Princes of the Blood series, WITH PRIDE actually takes place before the events in book one and can be read out of sequence.
OFFICIAL REVIEW written for The Romance Reviews.com
http://glbt.theromancereviews.com/vie...
April 15, 2014
Reading Megan Derr‘s books is like watching a movie (and a very good one at that, if I may add). At least that’s how it is for me especially for her fantasy books. With Pride isn’t any different in that regard and I’m so happy I picked this up pretty early (this was actually my birthday read, LOL. It seemed to have become a habit for me to read Megan’s works during special occasions). The third installment though, won’t be released until July 2014. Darn, that’s still three months away. :D But that’s okay in the sense that the books can be read independent of each other.
So with the second book, we learn more about this world.
With Pride is actually the back story of Kristof, the Duke of Stehlmore, and Håkon, a Prince of the Blood – one of the couples mentioned in book one. It tells us how they met and fell for each other and more; and naturally, the events here occurred before that of the first book: Of Last Resort.
I love the characters. I love that Kristof tries to be strong in spite of his shortcomings. I love that Håkon was actually quite the opposite of the persona that he tries to project (that he wasn’t a callous person after all. But when you think about it, Kristof was misunderstood too. He easily came off as prideful and snobbish even when it wasn’t really the case). And I love that in spite of their weaknesses, that they try to serve to the best of their abilities.
With Pride has the usual ingredients of Megan’s stories that I really love: romance, fighting/bickering, fight scenes, the world building … etc. But there were lines here that were really a favorite of mine:
“Always he was second or third choice. Just once he wanted to be someone’s first choice. He wanted to be offered, accepted, with pride. Not from obligation or with resignation. He wanted to be a preference, not simply the least disappointing of limited options.”
and that last sentence of the book, especially the last two words. Darn. Megan, you really know how to bring tears to my eyes. :)
I wish it were longer. I know, I know. I confuse even myself. I complain it’s too long for my liking but then after reading it, I find out I crave for more. So yeah, I’d really, really love to read more lovey-dovey scenes between Håkon and Kristof. LOL. Maybe a separate short? :P Ah. I’m insatiable that way.
So with the second book, we learn more about this world.
With Pride is actually the back story of Kristof, the Duke of Stehlmore, and Håkon, a Prince of the Blood – one of the couples mentioned in book one. It tells us how they met and fell for each other and more; and naturally, the events here occurred before that of the first book: Of Last Resort.
I love the characters. I love that Kristof tries to be strong in spite of his shortcomings. I love that Håkon was actually quite the opposite of the persona that he tries to project (that he wasn’t a callous person after all. But when you think about it, Kristof was misunderstood too. He easily came off as prideful and snobbish even when it wasn’t really the case). And I love that in spite of their weaknesses, that they try to serve to the best of their abilities.
With Pride has the usual ingredients of Megan’s stories that I really love: romance, fighting/bickering, fight scenes, the world building … etc. But there were lines here that were really a favorite of mine:
“Always he was second or third choice. Just once he wanted to be someone’s first choice. He wanted to be offered, accepted, with pride. Not from obligation or with resignation. He wanted to be a preference, not simply the least disappointing of limited options.”
and that last sentence of the book, especially the last two words. Darn. Megan, you really know how to bring tears to my eyes. :)
I wish it were longer. I know, I know. I confuse even myself. I complain it’s too long for my liking but then after reading it, I find out I crave for more. So yeah, I’d really, really love to read more lovey-dovey scenes between Håkon and Kristof. LOL. Maybe a separate short? :P Ah. I’m insatiable that way.
June 17, 2014
To read my full review, please visit http://onsilverwingz.blogspot.com/201...
This is prequel to Of Last Resort and focuses on Hakon and Kristof. Kristof is forced to leave his homeland and marry a Prince of the Blood, Hakon. The wedding is stalled when it turns out he is allergic to demons and being near Hakon is painful for him. Attacks by demons have increased and the Princes discovered missing newborns that are sealed with demons. As they try to figure out the mystery and stop the demons, Hakon goes missing in action after a sea battle and pronounced dead.
Part 1 of the novel is about Kristof meeting Hakon and how their relationship improves. Kristof dislikes Hakon for being inconciderate and bratty but is still unwilling to marry him for the sake of duty. Hakon dislikes Kristof's arrogance and attitude towards the Princes of the Blood. However, he is also forced into this marriage. I don't think they have chemistry in this arranged marriage, but they can be the best of friends and they are starting to not hate each other by the end of the Part 1. The budding romance is well written and believable, but it doesn't progress further in Part 2.
I like this story less than Of Last Resort. There are more loose ends and the mystery is not as well planned. The mystery of missing babies being used to spawn demons turns into a mad priest eating fresh organs by killing the populace. There are too many ideas trying to merge into one that the story isn't cohesive and flowing.
Nonetheless, I enjoy this story and the adventure that Hakon goes on. This explains how Kristof and Hakon's relationship came to be in Of Last Resort. The world building is still amazing and the actions of the mad priest is chilling. I would definitely recommend this story for fans of the first book and of antagonistic marriage partners turned lovers.
*review copy received in exchange for an honest review*
This is prequel to Of Last Resort and focuses on Hakon and Kristof. Kristof is forced to leave his homeland and marry a Prince of the Blood, Hakon. The wedding is stalled when it turns out he is allergic to demons and being near Hakon is painful for him. Attacks by demons have increased and the Princes discovered missing newborns that are sealed with demons. As they try to figure out the mystery and stop the demons, Hakon goes missing in action after a sea battle and pronounced dead.
Part 1 of the novel is about Kristof meeting Hakon and how their relationship improves. Kristof dislikes Hakon for being inconciderate and bratty but is still unwilling to marry him for the sake of duty. Hakon dislikes Kristof's arrogance and attitude towards the Princes of the Blood. However, he is also forced into this marriage. I don't think they have chemistry in this arranged marriage, but they can be the best of friends and they are starting to not hate each other by the end of the Part 1. The budding romance is well written and believable, but it doesn't progress further in Part 2.
I like this story less than Of Last Resort. There are more loose ends and the mystery is not as well planned. The mystery of missing babies being used to spawn demons turns into a mad priest eating fresh organs by killing the populace. There are too many ideas trying to merge into one that the story isn't cohesive and flowing.
Nonetheless, I enjoy this story and the adventure that Hakon goes on. This explains how Kristof and Hakon's relationship came to be in Of Last Resort. The world building is still amazing and the actions of the mad priest is chilling. I would definitely recommend this story for fans of the first book and of antagonistic marriage partners turned lovers.
*review copy received in exchange for an honest review*
March 18, 2015
I really enjoyed this. Slightly more than Of Last Resort. I say slightly because even though I found Hakon infinitely more interesting than Raffe, and while I did like Kristof, Alrin is still the most awesome of them all (and who made an appearance in this book!).
For anyone who read the first book which had a fair bit of smut, this book has none. Just getting that out of the way. Yes, this has an m/m romance in it, but it's not the focus of the story. This is more like a fantasy novel that just happens to have an m/m pairing.
I liked Hakon and Kristof's hate-at-first sight. And while they never got down and dirty, they did have a couple of very sweet/hot kissing scenes. It was a shame the book ended before they got married though... I kind of want to re-read Of Last Resort as I remember Kristof being in that one a fair bit.
I don't know if I should warn people about the gore? There's a necromancer in this story and he's extremely vile. Reminded me a lot of Hannibal Lecter. You know, that scene where he opened that guy's skull and started picking pieces of his brain and cooking it in front of him? Yeah, that but add more blood.
Certain aspects of Hakon's backstory mirror Raffe's. They both had brothers who were supposed to undertake the Blooding instead of them, but due to (tragic) circumstances both brothers couldn't meet their obligations.
I would have given this 5 full stars except for the fact that it had editing issues in the form of repeated or missing words, stuff that usually happens when a writer decides to rephrase or use a different word while writing and then forgetting to remove the original, that kind of thing. Nothing major, but threw me off sometimes.
I'm looking forward to the next book in the series which I've already preordered.
For anyone who read the first book which had a fair bit of smut, this book has none. Just getting that out of the way. Yes, this has an m/m romance in it, but it's not the focus of the story. This is more like a fantasy novel that just happens to have an m/m pairing.
I liked Hakon and Kristof's hate-at-first sight. And while they never got down and dirty, they did have a couple of very sweet/hot kissing scenes. It was a shame the book ended before they got married though... I kind of want to re-read Of Last Resort as I remember Kristof being in that one a fair bit.
I don't know if I should warn people about the gore? There's a necromancer in this story and he's extremely vile. Reminded me a lot of Hannibal Lecter. You know, that scene where he opened that guy's skull and started picking pieces of his brain and cooking it in front of him? Yeah, that but add more blood.
Certain aspects of Hakon's backstory mirror Raffe's. They both had brothers who were supposed to undertake the Blooding instead of them, but due to (tragic) circumstances both brothers couldn't meet their obligations.
I would have given this 5 full stars except for the fact that it had editing issues in the form of repeated or missing words, stuff that usually happens when a writer decides to rephrase or use a different word while writing and then forgetting to remove the original, that kind of thing. Nothing major, but threw me off sometimes.
I'm looking forward to the next book in the series which I've already preordered.
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