I am a fantasy author living in Scotland, United Kingdom and spending my days juggling the demands of an elderly, spoiled cat, two giant dogs and a host of fictional characters.
As far as the cat is concerned, she’s in charge and should always come first. The older dog’s favourite method of getting my attention is a gentle nudge with his head. At least, he would say it’s gentle. And the younger dog's attention-getting method generally involves playing with the loudest squeaky toy he can find.
Um did I tear up when she had to ride out without Lothar? Ya damn right I did.
Also the book starts out with another blindsiding blow to Yvonne when she is suddenly and unceremoniously stripped of her Hunar title by a few of her fellow Hundred. Why? In her turmoil and disbelief Yvonne accepts this....at first.
However, with the discovery that even more 9 year old girls have been abducted, and the arrival of her old mentor's lover at her home claiming was foul play-Yvonne has to really dig deep to keep going. However, it seems that Yvonne can't rest with her pain for long and sets off to discover the truth.
Unfortunately the journey seems to shake everything Yvonne has ever believed in. However, thankfully she still has her family and loved one's in her corner to back her up with the difficult steps ahead...and her burgeoning relationship with Guise to contend with!["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>
I'm really enjoying this series. Interesting mythology, great characters, riveting arc. There's romance, but be aware that like most fantasy (not fantasy romance, obviously) it is very slow burn.
This book opens with a terrible betrayal, and my heart literally hurt for Yvonne. The betrayal left her floundering, but even floundering, she doesn't forget who she is: she is a person who helps people. With or without a stupid title. It is her care for others that draws her forward, and it's lovely even as there are several beats that made me cry.
I really love Guise too. His patience and support are beautiful. The two of them dance around each other a bit in this book, but on his part, it's because he has such care for her, he doesn't ever want to make her afraid or uncomfortable. On her part, she suffered horrific abuse as a child, and has never had a romantic relationship. She doesn't even have the first clue on how to process her feelings, and the good feelings are interspersed with debilitating panic attacks. She hasn't had those in many years, but that's because she has kept herself walled off. Cracking the door is bubbling all that up. But she never doubts Guise, never doubts she is safe with him.
For those wondering about safety: Yvonne was abducted into basically a children's brothel, when she was young. It is not on page, and most of it is just lightly alluded to when she is fighting down choking panic because someone grabbed her arm, or something. It isn't something that bothered me (and I'm pretty sensitive about stuff like that), but as always, YMMV.
Yvonne and her growing circle of allies continue on the quest for ‘the bad guy’ despite the fact she is sundered from the Hundred for much of the book. I like how she is continuing to grow in her relationship with Guise as well as the other Goblins, Wulfkin and Rangers.
This book was so not equal to the first in the series. Oh, the tale is still fascinating and the last half of the book was as good, but the first few chapters were hard to resolve.
I don't usually include spoilers in a review, but, be warned, SPOILERS AHEAD.
A contrived removal of the Badge of the Hunar from Yvonne by the self appointed "Leader of the 100", combined with two Hunar witnesses was contrary to what we learned of the Hunar in Book 1. Judged by rules never written or told, Yvonne is stripped of her Badge without the chance to object or tell her side of the situation. Yvonnes feeling of loss, sorrow, and betrayal are understandable; the feelings are eloquently written.
There is a second awkward transition into the death of Yvonne's mentor the year before.
Thankfully, from that point on the book returns with all the style and promise from book one. My personal opinion is that Ms Nelson's beta readers let her down and her editor simply accepted the prose as written. I'd gladly shoot the lot.
This series features a fascinating world build and I really admire the heroine. She's been dealt a rough hand but she's still managing to persevere. I also really adore the slow development in the relationship between the lead characters - makes absolute sense given the heroine's past.
I received this AUDIOBOOK for free; my opinions are my own. / Real Rating = 3.5 stars
NARRATION (copied from my review of book #1, since it still applies): She uses what sounds to me like a fairly neutral "Mid-Atlantic" accent (i.e. - not quite British). / There is some distinguishing of voices during dialog, but she hasn't given each character a completely distinct voice. / Male voices are, for the most part, a little gruffer. Her own voice is on the deeper end for a female, and she does make it a bit higher or lighter sounding for younger characters. / Speed is pretty slow, I had to bump it up to 1.5 to listen comfortably.
There is some good character growth. As is revealed in the book description, Yvonne has the foundation of her whole personal identity ripped out from under her at the beginning of the book. She then has to figure out who she is without that title.
We get a little bit more background on the MMC's culture. The relationship between the FMC and the MMC (although he barely qualifies for that designation) is recognized as existing, but mostly as a matter to consider rather than something to pursue at this time. Note: The FMC meets a former love interest of the MMC in a non-confrontational encounter.
I found the repetition of details to be more annoying in this book than the previous one. It almost seemed like the author would write some exposition several different ways and then, instead of picking one, just included them all (sometimes one after another in the same chapter).
Content: Although the initial human trafficking investigation was wrapped up in the previous book, it turns out that some of the disappearances were part of something different. This leads them to investigate the kidnapping of various 9 year old girls. They also encounter a group known for kidnapping woman for brides. / There is some language in this book, inc a couple of "D" words, but nothing stronger. / The side character mentioned as having had lovers in the previous book is now shown to have been in simultaneous open relationships with both a female & a male. / There is once again moderate violence. / There was still no sex.
This one hurt. It offered a devastating exploration of trauma, grief, and rediscovering purpose, all sandwiched inside a fascinating fantasy story. I loved it.
I really loved how her 'relationship' with Guise developed too. Just like the first book, this is still 100% chaste, UBER slow burn. And rightfully so!! This series has had super accurate representations of trauma, and if the FMC randomly fell for this dude, I would be pissed. I really loved their conversation at the end
But yeah I also loved the character development of the FMC. It was subtle but profound. And the plot was spectacular. So spectacular. The stakes really just keep getting higher and higher and I absolutely cannot wait to see what happens in the next book.
Put plainly - the number one issue I had with the first book (constant repetition of world lore) occurred just as frequently here. As well as a few editing mistakes that stood out brightly.
Those aside this was another engaging mystery with fewer plot threads winding together than the first book, but no less significant. The start of the book picks up immediately after the end of Book 1, making Yvonne's day go from confusing to painful very quickly.
Visits from several old friends occur, and a mystery about Sillman arises that... I'd really like answers about.
The action is amped up here a little, and I found I really enjoyed the banter between Guise and Yvonne as they fought together. Their styles complimented each other, but also they picked up on how the other wanted to run things. How they wanted go manipulate their opponents.
We learn more about Elinor, as well as Yvonne's history of forgetting important things that could REALLY HELP HER understand what the heck is going on.
Plus there's developments on her learning to put her past trauma away so she could live her life more fully. Not A LOT of developments, but a good enough amount for now.
I loved everything! I found nothing to dislike in this story. I highly recommend this series I've read the complete series and I want more!
The FMC is an awesome woman, the crap she has been through in her life and she's still out there fighting the great fight!
She has a goblin companion who is also a great character! I've never come across a human type goblin before. Usually they are ugly evil little creatures but not in this story. I don't want to spoil the story but you should get this series it's such a great story!
Vanessa Nelson there's just one thing I regret, is that you didn't add a map of all the places mentioned. It would of made it complete for me as I find it hard to imagine where all of these places are. In books that put maps in I'm always referring to them it helps me see it better in my mind. So if there's one thing I would change it would be to add a map! It's still one of the best stories I've ever read though! Thank you for such an enjoyable journey. I hoe you write more of coz I noticed it was left open as Yvonne still has another mission left to complete. I hope to read that asap!
Real, if fictional, persons populate this book. It is a stunning sequel to "The Hundred," the first in the series. The intricate plot is delightful, as are Yvonne's and her goblin fiancé's first tentative steps toward exploring a bond at least one of them thought was entered into only to get them both out of a sticky situation. I should explain that most romances published today make me twitch or just throw the book across the room in disgust (which is hard on one's Kindle). But watching one human commoner and one goblin lord take careful and intelligent steps toward getting to know one another is delightful, and often very funny (see the scene wherein Yvonne receives an invitation from her putative mother-in-law). Now in how many romances does that happen? Overall, though, this an adventure, the second involving Yvonne and Guise. They begin to seem the fantasy version of Lord Peter Wimsey and his Harriet Vane, complete with Peter's mother. That is no bad thing at all.
This is a review for all 5 books in the series as I read them pretty much in one sitting. This was the first book I read of this author who is new to me. Let me now just say that Vanessa Nelson has become a favourite auto buy for me! This series blew me away, the characters and the interactions between people are what make a book for me, even more so than the plot. And these characters stayed with me long after I put the books down. I anticipate that this will be one of those rare series that I return to read again. The world building was delightful and intriguing, Yvonne was powerful, but not all consuming and she was humble and believable. She went through betrayals, set backs and triumphs and I lived through it all with her. Honestly these books were amazing, go read if you love any sort of fantasy (although I think these were pitched with an easy world to understand so you could be new to the genre), light romance (not the over riding story emphasis, but what there was was clean and delightful) and heartfelt characters.
Talking about underappreciation. Our heroine, Yvonne, faces a similar fate to Arrow in the Taellaneth series. While Arrow is exiled, Yvonne is demoted. She feels powerless without the Hunar symbol on her shoulder, and for a moment, she loses her sense of direction.
However, even without the title, her help is still needed. Children are still being abducted, and there is new evidence suggesting that her mentor, Elinor, was murdered, and Yvonne must uncover the truth.
Another great continuation in the series, full of action and adventure. I enjoyed following Yvonne as she uncovered secrets, and I laughed when she ran away as she couldn’t handle the foreign feeling. Toughen up, Mristrian!
I am curious, though, what Guise sees in Yvonne that makes him so smitten and devoted to her, despite her lordly title. His mother is the freaking Goblin Queen!!! So, what will the Queen do about Yvonne? Will she accept her?
A slightly longer review will be available on my site as soon as I finish reading the series. 😉
What happens when the people you trust don’t trust you back?
Yvonne finds out when three of the Hundred ride up to her home, flinging accusations and stripping her of her affiliation with them. All over events she cannot yet recall. But, they use magic to strip her magic, leaving her bleeding and defenseless.
Or, is she? Her first inkling is the stirring of her tracking sense … hmm, still working. Then the voice of her teacher and mentor, reminding Yvonne that magic is inherent in those drawn to become Hunar; it is not conferred on them, like an office.
And then, there are the calls to remembrance and the dream cries of … the Firebird? And Guise calls her “beautiful”.
What a wonderful second book. Full of mystery, magic, adventure and a very intriguing and captivating story. Unique characters, a fierce and likable FMC and a powerful MMC. There is still no romance, but there are hints pointing towards that direction, as a slow relationship is building between the main characters. This series needs to be read in order. The only reason I didn’t give it 5 stars is that sometimes the descriptions of the surroundings are a bit too much and I also wished that the FMC would act more decisive at times. Unfortunately, she is still battling her insecurities due to her tragic past, but I find myself impatient waiting for her to come into her own.Highly Recommended 💕
This isn't my favorite series of Vanessa Nelson's, but I thought this book was better than the first one. The corny parts were way toned down, and there were actually issues going on within the Hundred that made it way less preachy.
It's interesting to see Yvonne navigate her relationship with Guise considering her abusive past. She's the epitome of a strong but vulnerable character. Obviously, this is going to be a super slow romance because it's Nelson.
As for negatives, it was weird that in the very beginning, we find out that more kids are missing, but the book isn't really about Yvonne finding them. It's about something else that seems less urgent.
The story keeps getting better and better! Such angst for Yvonne when she is sundered. The loss she felt was so real, a part of her, her life's work, was taken. But a magical gift cannot be cancelled by another, of course, and it takes a while to discover that. The assassins are wonderful, but even gold should not have taken them from their fervor with their god. It seems that they were blinded by it. And the next book deals with the goblin queen! Yay!
‘The Sundering’, Book 2 of ‘The Hundred’ is again, excellent. I discovered this author a short 3 weeks ago reading the ‘Ageless Mysteries’ series and have been enjoying ‘The Hundred’ as well. If you enjoy strong female characters, equally strong male counterparts, a small-small dash of romance, great adventure, and loyal friends, then this is definitely the author for you. I am excited there are a few more books by this author I haven’t read yet.
I love that Yvonne is true to herself no matter what craziness happens around her. No games, only honesty. This book was part mystery and part magic. I am facinated by the bond she has with Guise and I am looking forward to seeing their relationship progress over time. And of course, there are still villians, people to help, and more questions to be answered as series continues!
This book really defines what being Hunar is suppose to be about. Guise is still my favorite character mostly because the main character is damaged and has no clue about relationships. I love how Guise is slowly wearing her down, just be being there when she needs him. Renard, the wulfen kids. Love them all. Especially all the action and moments of dread. Can't wait to read more.....
Another great book in this series. This is a well written and fast paced action packed story. The world building is seamless and the characters are strong, relatable and engaging. I am really enjoying this series and can't wait to read the next book.Highly recommend
I really appreciate that the writing does not get in the way of the story. So often writing is such that the reader is acutely aware of the style or the peculiarity of the author. That is not the case here as the reader can instead become engrossed in the rhythm of the tale.
This series has quickly become a favorite for me. I got Book 1 as a freebie from The Fussy Librarian and liked it so much, I immediately ordered Book 2. I liked Book 2 even more and have Book 3 waiting on me now. I love the world building, the ongoing storylines, the characters, the humor and the bit of romance in between swordfights, concussion spells, and politics.
Love these books but strong recommendation for new cover artwork. They don't represent the characters at all (I mean Guise has grey skin after all). Also he looks dweeby next to Yvonne, not "tall, gorgeous and absolutely lethal" I have to quickly skip over it so the image doesn't stick in my head whenever I open the book.
I enjoyed the read. It wasn’t particularly fast paced, but it somehow kept me engaged the whole time. The romance is moving at a glacial pace which frustrates me because I love the romance parts of stories. I like a slow burn but this is ridiculously slow. I hope it ends up good!
I am thoroughly enjoying this series where Yvonne is called upon to use her magical gifts to fight crime and wrongdoing in a high fantasy world. Nelson makes the dynamic work really well and I’ve grown very fond of responsible, competent Yvonne. The pages flew by and I’m so very glad there is more to come in this gripping series. 9/10
I enjoyed this story enough to be persuaded to go onto another book on the series. The manuscript could be improved with the help of an editor to remove the frequent typos and some of the unnecessary repetition.
I don't know what it is about these books. They're so different from the typical fantasy book. I really like Elinor. She's so competent but recognizes her limitations. The romance is very understated but keeps me wanting more.
I liked the first book in the series more than this one. It started slowly but improved much as it progressed. Good character development and the story remains interesting with good resolutions moving forward.