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The Men of the Mark #1
The Lady of the Mark
Shaila will soon become the first woman to join a deeply guarded guild of warriors, The Men of the Mark. Together, they fight to end the civil war that’s left half their country to die of starvation and disease. But Shaila’s presence in the guild stirs a long-hidden corruption within their ranks, and she soon finds herself fighting for her life on two fronts. She’s determined to smite both evils but must do so while guarding a deep and dangerous her love for her Master and mentor, Drauses.
Master Drauses is one of the most notorious Men of the Mark in history. His comrades wish him to lead someday, but he doubts himself, especially after he violates the guild’s strict moral codes by falling in love with his new ward. When their enemies move to strike them down at their weakest moment, Drauses must choose to step up or step aside as he struggles to balance honor and heart in a world that lacks both.
Master Drauses is one of the most notorious Men of the Mark in history. His comrades wish him to lead someday, but he doubts himself, especially after he violates the guild’s strict moral codes by falling in love with his new ward. When their enemies move to strike them down at their weakest moment, Drauses must choose to step up or step aside as he struggles to balance honor and heart in a world that lacks both.
440 pages, Paperback
Published May 6, 2022
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502 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
May 21, 2022
If you like three musketeers or v for vendetta your should read this.
VIDEO REVIEW: https://youtu.be/E2iw0ctiGsg
VIDEO REVIEW: https://youtu.be/E2iw0ctiGsg
May 25, 2023
The Lady of the Mark had been lingering on my TBR for over a year and now I am just kicking myself for not picking it up sooner. This book is technically sold as fantasy romance, but I would argue that it’s really so much more than that. It’s got a riveting mystery, cutthroat political intrigue, an atmospheric Venetian-inspired city setting, intriguing steampunk elements and some of the BEST found family vibes. Honestly, what’s not to love?!
For 2 years, Shaila has been training as a ward under the most deadly Master of the Men of the Mark, but now it’s time for her to officially become the first Lady of the Mark. However, the bond between her and her Master has started to surpass the limits of what’s deemed acceptable and some of the members in the guild turn out to be a lot less honourable than they are supposed to be. Soon Shaila has to fight for her life on multiple fronts, because danger is lurking around every corner and no one can be trusted.
Now, this fantasy book might lack any true magic, but it somehow still ended up being one of the most entrancing reading experiences I have had in a while.
Shaila is an absolutely kick-ass female lead and I was gripped by her story from page one. She could so easily have fallen into the cold-hearted and tomboyish ‘not like other girls’ stereotype, and yet she totally didn’t. Yes, she is a true force to be reckoned with, but that doesn’t mean that she doesn’t have a more gentle and feminine side to her as well. I loved that she was able to hold on to that throughout the story, because I think it really added a lot of emotional depth to her character and allowed for some beautiful relationships to flourish.
And dang, does Hanson have a gift for writing realistic and believable relationships that will tug on your heartstrings in the best way possible.
I have to admit that I was a bit nervous about the forbidden/age-gap romance between Shaila and Drauses, but once I saw them together on page I was totally on board. I do think I could have enjoyed their relationship even more if there hadn't been a 2-year time jump at the start of the book, but it still ended up working for me in the end, so I really can’t complain too much.
All that said, the true highlight of the story was undoubtedly the found family dynamic within the guild for me. Shaila is surrounded by a cast of outstanding side characters and I loved that they all got their own time to shine. The friendships in this story are just to die for, which made some of the back stabbings and betrayals hurt all the more when they came to light.
Also, this story has extremely high stakes and the author will let you know it. Truly no one is safe, so you better prepare for some emotional damage along the way ;)
From page one, this story is just brimming with mystery, intrigue and suspense. The dangerous political machinations and riveting action scenes had me on the edge of my seat, which is why I binged this book like nobody’s business.
I am also always a big sucker for atmospheric Venetian-like city settings such as those in The Lies of Locke Lamora or The Mask of Mirrors, so I immediately felt at home in the city of Trista. And the cool steampunk world building elements were just the cherry on top of this absolute treat of a story!
Needless to say, I had a wonderful reading experience and now I can’t wait to return to this world in the future. This book works perfectly well as a standalone, but I can guarantee you that you will want to come back for more.
If you like the sound of a character-driven political fantasy with heartwarming found family vibes, thrilling fight scenes, webs of deadly schemes, cool steampunk inventions and, of course, a good dose of steamy romance, then The Lady of the Mark is the book for you.
For 2 years, Shaila has been training as a ward under the most deadly Master of the Men of the Mark, but now it’s time for her to officially become the first Lady of the Mark. However, the bond between her and her Master has started to surpass the limits of what’s deemed acceptable and some of the members in the guild turn out to be a lot less honourable than they are supposed to be. Soon Shaila has to fight for her life on multiple fronts, because danger is lurking around every corner and no one can be trusted.
Now, this fantasy book might lack any true magic, but it somehow still ended up being one of the most entrancing reading experiences I have had in a while.
Shaila is an absolutely kick-ass female lead and I was gripped by her story from page one. She could so easily have fallen into the cold-hearted and tomboyish ‘not like other girls’ stereotype, and yet she totally didn’t. Yes, she is a true force to be reckoned with, but that doesn’t mean that she doesn’t have a more gentle and feminine side to her as well. I loved that she was able to hold on to that throughout the story, because I think it really added a lot of emotional depth to her character and allowed for some beautiful relationships to flourish.
And dang, does Hanson have a gift for writing realistic and believable relationships that will tug on your heartstrings in the best way possible.
I have to admit that I was a bit nervous about the forbidden/age-gap romance between Shaila and Drauses, but once I saw them together on page I was totally on board. I do think I could have enjoyed their relationship even more if there hadn't been a 2-year time jump at the start of the book, but it still ended up working for me in the end, so I really can’t complain too much.
All that said, the true highlight of the story was undoubtedly the found family dynamic within the guild for me. Shaila is surrounded by a cast of outstanding side characters and I loved that they all got their own time to shine. The friendships in this story are just to die for, which made some of the back stabbings and betrayals hurt all the more when they came to light.
Also, this story has extremely high stakes and the author will let you know it. Truly no one is safe, so you better prepare for some emotional damage along the way ;)
From page one, this story is just brimming with mystery, intrigue and suspense. The dangerous political machinations and riveting action scenes had me on the edge of my seat, which is why I binged this book like nobody’s business.
I am also always a big sucker for atmospheric Venetian-like city settings such as those in The Lies of Locke Lamora or The Mask of Mirrors, so I immediately felt at home in the city of Trista. And the cool steampunk world building elements were just the cherry on top of this absolute treat of a story!
Needless to say, I had a wonderful reading experience and now I can’t wait to return to this world in the future. This book works perfectly well as a standalone, but I can guarantee you that you will want to come back for more.
If you like the sound of a character-driven political fantasy with heartwarming found family vibes, thrilling fight scenes, webs of deadly schemes, cool steampunk inventions and, of course, a good dose of steamy romance, then The Lady of the Mark is the book for you.
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July 30, 2022At last count, I had 262 unread physical books on my shelves. Reading pals, I tell you the truth right now that if the second book in this series was already published, TBR be darned, I'd be reading it right now. I would not have even paused to write this review.
First things first, I read this book because I'm on Bookborn's team for the first round of SPFBO 8. This means I was provided a free eBook. What you can't see is on my other screen, I've just completed my order for a physical copy. When you love a book this much, besides giving its story a place in your heart, it deserves its place on your shelf. Besides, I'll have to reread it once I get a release date for the next book. ;)
THE LADY OF THE MARK by Alex Hanson is the first installment of The Men of the Mark series. Our main character, Shaila, is the very first woman to join a guild of warriors know as The Men of the Mark. This guild fights to end the civil war that has separated the East from the West and heal the rift between the two. As you can imagine, Shaila's presence causes quite a disturbance in the balance of things and there are those who go to great lengths to oppose her.
Not only does Shaila have to be constantly on guard amongst the guild, she must also guard a very dangerous secret: the love she harbors for her mentor and trainer, Master Drauses. (The title Master is a rank in the hierarchy of the guild) What's worse - Drauses feels the same way for Shaila, which is a gross violation of the code of the guild.
So yes, there is a romance element weaved into this fantasy tale of schemes, political plots, murder and civil unrest - but it's just the right amount for those of us who don't read the romance genre. I jokingly call romance novels fantasy because let's be honest - that kind of 'relations' between two folks just...doesn't happen. LOL!
I was captured by the tale of Shaila from page 1 and I was in agony the few times I had to put this book down. In fact, the last 12% of the book, my Kindle gave me the low battery warning and I broke out in a cold sweat that it would die before I finished. I had 6% left when it gave me the *very* low battery warning which gave me heart palpitations, but fortunately I finished before it shut itself down. (Do me a favor and DO NOT tell Julta about the heart palpitations...he and Boon might decide to do another experiment...)
Throughout the tale, we stay very near the river Jespa. We're either with The Men of the Mark on one side of the river, or just on the other side at the current sovereign's residence, so not a whole lot of worldbuilding went on here. I honestly did not even notice much because I was so wrapped up in the conflicts, intrigue and action. In addition to our main characters of Shaila and Drauses, there is a handful of side characters that Alex Hanson put on the pages for me to love. Some I loved to hate, some I loved to be suspicious of, some I loved for their eccentricities. I cried on four different occasions due to events that transpired between the warring sides of the East and West. The author was not afraid to kill their darlings - one in particular I'm still in mourning over, so in my humble opinion, that is the mark of an author who knows how to write compelling characters.
Sidenote - there are a lot of gods mentioned that the characters worship - the author kindly included footnotes so that readers can easily see what the god stood for.
Readers who are fans of fantasy tales with strong characters who take names and kick butt will enjoy this story. Sure, there's a romance with some "sexy" times, but I promise they're short and no weird descriptions of...."things", lol. Fans of Three Musketeers styled stories, revenge tales, found family, and steampunk influences will enjoy this book.
First things first, I read this book because I'm on Bookborn's team for the first round of SPFBO 8. This means I was provided a free eBook. What you can't see is on my other screen, I've just completed my order for a physical copy. When you love a book this much, besides giving its story a place in your heart, it deserves its place on your shelf. Besides, I'll have to reread it once I get a release date for the next book. ;)
THE LADY OF THE MARK by Alex Hanson is the first installment of The Men of the Mark series. Our main character, Shaila, is the very first woman to join a guild of warriors know as The Men of the Mark. This guild fights to end the civil war that has separated the East from the West and heal the rift between the two. As you can imagine, Shaila's presence causes quite a disturbance in the balance of things and there are those who go to great lengths to oppose her.
Not only does Shaila have to be constantly on guard amongst the guild, she must also guard a very dangerous secret: the love she harbors for her mentor and trainer, Master Drauses. (The title Master is a rank in the hierarchy of the guild) What's worse - Drauses feels the same way for Shaila, which is a gross violation of the code of the guild.
So yes, there is a romance element weaved into this fantasy tale of schemes, political plots, murder and civil unrest - but it's just the right amount for those of us who don't read the romance genre. I jokingly call romance novels fantasy because let's be honest - that kind of 'relations' between two folks just...doesn't happen. LOL!
I was captured by the tale of Shaila from page 1 and I was in agony the few times I had to put this book down. In fact, the last 12% of the book, my Kindle gave me the low battery warning and I broke out in a cold sweat that it would die before I finished. I had 6% left when it gave me the *very* low battery warning which gave me heart palpitations, but fortunately I finished before it shut itself down. (Do me a favor and DO NOT tell Julta about the heart palpitations...he and Boon might decide to do another experiment...)
Throughout the tale, we stay very near the river Jespa. We're either with The Men of the Mark on one side of the river, or just on the other side at the current sovereign's residence, so not a whole lot of worldbuilding went on here. I honestly did not even notice much because I was so wrapped up in the conflicts, intrigue and action. In addition to our main characters of Shaila and Drauses, there is a handful of side characters that Alex Hanson put on the pages for me to love. Some I loved to hate, some I loved to be suspicious of, some I loved for their eccentricities. I cried on four different occasions due to events that transpired between the warring sides of the East and West. The author was not afraid to kill their darlings - one in particular I'm still in mourning over, so in my humble opinion, that is the mark of an author who knows how to write compelling characters.
Sidenote - there are a lot of gods mentioned that the characters worship - the author kindly included footnotes so that readers can easily see what the god stood for.
Readers who are fans of fantasy tales with strong characters who take names and kick butt will enjoy this story. Sure, there's a romance with some "sexy" times, but I promise they're short and no weird descriptions of...."things", lol. Fans of Three Musketeers styled stories, revenge tales, found family, and steampunk influences will enjoy this book.
March 14, 2022
3.5 STARS!!!
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐎𝐟 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩 𝐨𝐟 '𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤', 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐦 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚 𝐛𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬.
This is a combination of an adventure, political, and romance fantasy but I felt that the romance was more of a subplot than the main focus. Drauses is Shaila's 'Master' and trainer for The Men of the Mark. Whilst the training aspect isn't discussed, as there is a time jump, it is assumed that the two form a close bond...
'𝑃𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑚𝑠 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑏𝑒 𝑐𝑟𝑢𝑒𝑙 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑠 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑤𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑎 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦.'
Shaila's character is our classic female heroine who is strong-willed, independent, and willing to break all stereotypes! She's not afraid to get her hands dirty and do all of the jobs that are seen to be 'just for men'.
This book has the 'forbidden romance' trope and is also an 'age-gap' romance! The dynamic between Drauses and Shaila is much more focused on their teamwork and ability to have common thoughts and interests rather than being all 'lovey-dovey'. I'd say it has low-medium spice but the scenes aren't very long at all.
“𝐼𝑡 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑛𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑙𝑜𝑣𝑒 𝑎 𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑓𝑢𝑙 𝑤𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑛, 𝑦𝑜𝑢 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑖𝑔𝑛𝑜𝑟𝑒 ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑢𝑡𝑦. 𝑂𝑛𝑙𝑦 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑠𝑒𝑒 ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑒𝑠 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑠𝑒𝑒 ℎ𝑜𝑤 𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑓𝑢𝑙 𝑠ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑙𝑦 𝑖𝑠.”
Besides the development of Drauses and Shailas relationship, the main plotline focuses on political issues such as Amii, Drauses' young daughter, and the future Sovereign of the land. As well as this, The Men of the Mark are cracking from within as their leader is not adding up to be who they need...
What let me down a little bit was the lack of world-building/descriptions. In the beginning, there was a lot of history thrown at you and then it fizzled out. I'd love to have grander descriptions of the land/settings. (I've imagined the home of The Men of the Mark to be similar to that of Kaer Morhen from The Witcher).
This book is great if you love a political fantasy! I'm much more of a romance reader - but, just because it wasn't a perfect match for me, doesn't mean that it won't be for you!
The beginning of the book contains trigger warnings so be sure to read those!
Thank you to the author for gifting me an ARC in exchange for an honest review :)
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐎𝐟 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩 𝐨𝐟 '𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤', 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐦 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚 𝐛𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬.
This is a combination of an adventure, political, and romance fantasy but I felt that the romance was more of a subplot than the main focus. Drauses is Shaila's 'Master' and trainer for The Men of the Mark. Whilst the training aspect isn't discussed, as there is a time jump, it is assumed that the two form a close bond...
'𝑃𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑚𝑠 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑏𝑒 𝑐𝑟𝑢𝑒𝑙 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑠 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑤𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑎 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦.'
Shaila's character is our classic female heroine who is strong-willed, independent, and willing to break all stereotypes! She's not afraid to get her hands dirty and do all of the jobs that are seen to be 'just for men'.
This book has the 'forbidden romance' trope and is also an 'age-gap' romance! The dynamic between Drauses and Shaila is much more focused on their teamwork and ability to have common thoughts and interests rather than being all 'lovey-dovey'. I'd say it has low-medium spice but the scenes aren't very long at all.
“𝐼𝑡 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑛𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑙𝑜𝑣𝑒 𝑎 𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑓𝑢𝑙 𝑤𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑛, 𝑦𝑜𝑢 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑖𝑔𝑛𝑜𝑟𝑒 ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑢𝑡𝑦. 𝑂𝑛𝑙𝑦 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑠𝑒𝑒 ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑒𝑠 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑠𝑒𝑒 ℎ𝑜𝑤 𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑓𝑢𝑙 𝑠ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑙𝑦 𝑖𝑠.”
Besides the development of Drauses and Shailas relationship, the main plotline focuses on political issues such as Amii, Drauses' young daughter, and the future Sovereign of the land. As well as this, The Men of the Mark are cracking from within as their leader is not adding up to be who they need...
What let me down a little bit was the lack of world-building/descriptions. In the beginning, there was a lot of history thrown at you and then it fizzled out. I'd love to have grander descriptions of the land/settings. (I've imagined the home of The Men of the Mark to be similar to that of Kaer Morhen from The Witcher).
This book is great if you love a political fantasy! I'm much more of a romance reader - but, just because it wasn't a perfect match for me, doesn't mean that it won't be for you!
The beginning of the book contains trigger warnings so be sure to read those!
Thank you to the author for gifting me an ARC in exchange for an honest review :)
March 17, 2022
Lady
Lady of the Mark has become one of my favorite fantasy romance novels. The suspense, intrigue and romance had me reading until the wee hours of the morning. This book was a great escape from reality and I loved every minute of it. Now I wonder whether Aro and Amii get their own story? I would love more of Shaila and Drauses and want to see what kind of parents they could be. I wonder if the author knows that if he continues with good world-building, this can become a saga, instead of a series. There is so much he can create within this particular world.
Lady of the Mark has become one of my favorite fantasy romance novels. The suspense, intrigue and romance had me reading until the wee hours of the morning. This book was a great escape from reality and I loved every minute of it. Now I wonder whether Aro and Amii get their own story? I would love more of Shaila and Drauses and want to see what kind of parents they could be. I wonder if the author knows that if he continues with good world-building, this can become a saga, instead of a series. There is so much he can create within this particular world.
April 17, 2022
I could not put it down. I did not want to put it down. lol I couldn’t stop reading!
Amazing. Exactly what I needed to get out of my reading slump. The kind of fantasy romance that I love to read.
There were a couple of things that could have been expanded on or shown more but it doesn’t take away from my rating.
And how gorgeous is the cover?! Simply gorgeous. Definitely want to buy a physical copy.
If you love fantasy romance with bad ass hero and heroine, read this book! Now!
Amazing. Exactly what I needed to get out of my reading slump. The kind of fantasy romance that I love to read.
There were a couple of things that could have been expanded on or shown more but it doesn’t take away from my rating.
And how gorgeous is the cover?! Simply gorgeous. Definitely want to buy a physical copy.
If you love fantasy romance with bad ass hero and heroine, read this book! Now!
February 20, 2023
I very much wanted to enjoy this story.
The characters were great, though the romance between the two main characters seemed to appear from nowhere.
The main issue I had with the book was the plot.
The Men of the Mark were formed after the ruler of the city went to war in order to divide the city. What ruler deliberately sets out to shrink their territory? Going so far as to pull down bridges that cross the river dividing the city and building walls on the victorious side of the river. Does this side of the city no longer need access to fresh water or fish? Also, why would the general populace not complain? Not only did these actions negatively impact the financial state of both sides of the city, but surely families were ripped apart?
Secondly, the Men of the Mark was supposedly a secret organisation committed to reuniting the two sides of the city. Yet the vacancy rate of an apartment building went down due to the fact that a Man of the Mark was staying in the building, so how secretly did the organisation guard their locations if the whole neighbourhood were aware where they lived?
Also, how did the Men of the Mark support themselves financially? None of them appeared to have side hustles as tradesmen. Did they act as assassins for hire? The organisation also did not seem to carry out any activities (except for the climax of the story) other than training new members and relocating their headquarters each time it was discovered. How did they plan to reunite the two sides of the city? It seems difficult to believe that people were happy to dedicate and risk their lives to a secret organisation that appeared to have no purpose, and was unlikely to pay its members wages.
Lastly, the organisation was formed when an army admitted they had lost the war to keep the city united and the legitimate ruler was too well protected in his castle to be reached and deposed. So the Men of the Mark waited 100 years and then overthrew the legal ruler by storming the same castle, but this time without an army, and were successful. This just didn’t work for me.
I will refrain from commenting on the fact that internal plumbing and electronic surveillance devices appear to be technology that has been invented within the same decade.
I really wanted to enjoy this book, but there were just too many issues for me to enjoy it.
The characters were great, though the romance between the two main characters seemed to appear from nowhere.
The main issue I had with the book was the plot.
The Men of the Mark were formed after the ruler of the city went to war in order to divide the city. What ruler deliberately sets out to shrink their territory? Going so far as to pull down bridges that cross the river dividing the city and building walls on the victorious side of the river. Does this side of the city no longer need access to fresh water or fish? Also, why would the general populace not complain? Not only did these actions negatively impact the financial state of both sides of the city, but surely families were ripped apart?
Secondly, the Men of the Mark was supposedly a secret organisation committed to reuniting the two sides of the city. Yet the vacancy rate of an apartment building went down due to the fact that a Man of the Mark was staying in the building, so how secretly did the organisation guard their locations if the whole neighbourhood were aware where they lived?
Also, how did the Men of the Mark support themselves financially? None of them appeared to have side hustles as tradesmen. Did they act as assassins for hire? The organisation also did not seem to carry out any activities (except for the climax of the story) other than training new members and relocating their headquarters each time it was discovered. How did they plan to reunite the two sides of the city? It seems difficult to believe that people were happy to dedicate and risk their lives to a secret organisation that appeared to have no purpose, and was unlikely to pay its members wages.
Lastly, the organisation was formed when an army admitted they had lost the war to keep the city united and the legitimate ruler was too well protected in his castle to be reached and deposed. So the Men of the Mark waited 100 years and then overthrew the legal ruler by storming the same castle, but this time without an army, and were successful. This just didn’t work for me.
I will refrain from commenting on the fact that internal plumbing and electronic surveillance devices appear to be technology that has been invented within the same decade.
I really wanted to enjoy this book, but there were just too many issues for me to enjoy it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 12, 2024
Huge disclaimer: Yes it took me a year to read but I read maybe 85% of it within one sitting because it is so GOOD. It was definitely a case of 'I don't want the book to end so I won't finish it'.
I saw a TikTok of this book and was like 'oooh yes age gap romance, assassins, badass lady' and downloaded a free sample to my kindle. I LOVED IT. So I bought the paperback.
Quick aside: even though this is self published, the physical quality of the book is just as professional as any trad published book! It's very well laid out and the cover is stunning! Very very nice! And affordable! Highly recommend!
The plot is twisty and turny and while it doesn't hold your hand and walk you through everything, there are resources in the back to help supplement. I loved how the plot was never straightforward. I felt so on edge at every turn! I also enjoy how book 2 is neatly set up while giving our stars of book 1 their HEA.
And speaking of our stars of book 1... I LOVE THEM SO MUCH. I adored how they are so flawed but doing their f*ckin best. I love that they learn and grow and compromise and felt so human. I love love love their romance too. It's so sweet and steamy and the mutual pining is *chefs kiss*. I don't typically read a lot of spice but this has a perfect amount for me. Enough to definitely be spicy but not enough to be considered distracting from the actual story.
As for the writing, I was so impressed. It's incredibly well written. The emotions were done just as much justice as the badass fight scenes. And fight scenes there are aplenty. I found that I could easily follow along with the action and I got lost a few times but in those chaotic messy scenes where even the characters are lost. It was just really well done.
There's only one thing I didn't care for but that's entirely personal preference.
Overall, if you like badass ladies, action assassins, an age gap romance well done, and want to support an indie author; this is the one for you! I already purchased book 2 and hopefully that won't take another year to get through.
I saw a TikTok of this book and was like 'oooh yes age gap romance, assassins, badass lady' and downloaded a free sample to my kindle. I LOVED IT. So I bought the paperback.
Quick aside: even though this is self published, the physical quality of the book is just as professional as any trad published book! It's very well laid out and the cover is stunning! Very very nice! And affordable! Highly recommend!
The plot is twisty and turny and while it doesn't hold your hand and walk you through everything, there are resources in the back to help supplement. I loved how the plot was never straightforward. I felt so on edge at every turn! I also enjoy how book 2 is neatly set up while giving our stars of book 1 their HEA.
And speaking of our stars of book 1... I LOVE THEM SO MUCH. I adored how they are so flawed but doing their f*ckin best. I love that they learn and grow and compromise and felt so human. I love love love their romance too. It's so sweet and steamy and the mutual pining is *chefs kiss*. I don't typically read a lot of spice but this has a perfect amount for me. Enough to definitely be spicy but not enough to be considered distracting from the actual story.
As for the writing, I was so impressed. It's incredibly well written. The emotions were done just as much justice as the badass fight scenes. And fight scenes there are aplenty. I found that I could easily follow along with the action and I got lost a few times but in those chaotic messy scenes where even the characters are lost. It was just really well done.
There's only one thing I didn't care for but that's entirely personal preference.
Overall, if you like badass ladies, action assassins, an age gap romance well done, and want to support an indie author; this is the one for you! I already purchased book 2 and hopefully that won't take another year to get through.
March 24, 2022
Lady of the Mark had me on the edge of my seat several times!
At first, I had difficulty adjusting to the characters and some of the new words, but I soon became accustomed to them. Shaila's story is so intriguing, and she is such a strong character! It is impossible not to love her from the first page. She surprised me at every turn, and after going through so much, I expected her to become bitter. But as the story progressed, she proved to be quite the opposite. She showed both her bad and good sides.
There are no fast-paced sections in this book, so you can follow each character's story and explore their backgrounds. You may even begin to despise some and love others once you get to know them. As I was always engaged in the novel, I wasn't able to tell how long each chapter was, so they were neither too short nor too long. The writer did a great job of creating this new world! Oh, hail the power of fantasy writers!
Now, to my favorite characters! Amii and Miika! I gotta say Aro is only not my favorite character because he was unpredictable. I didn't know whether I could trust him. Nevertheless, Miika became one of my favorites the moment he showed up. My general admiration for villains means I was reading until my eyes tired when Miika showed up with his mischievous smile. His attitude and his master gave off the vibe of an unhealthy relationship, and then I immediately fell in love with him (Obviously he was a nice guy!)
Now, Amii! She will certainly always hold my heart dearly. Her kind and loving words just made me want to hug her! It is funny how I have never even seen her but I can totally see this beautiful, smart, young girl! Even the thought of her just makes me happy. I have no words to describe how she affected me so much, but it makes sense as her character also won the love of other characters in the book.
Some awesome quotes:
“And let him slit your throat?” She rounded on Drauses. “Stab first, ask questions later, that’s Drauses’ way.” - Amii to Drauses
“We’re only men, capable… of mistakes. Wit…witless wonders.” - Miika to Shaila
At first, I had difficulty adjusting to the characters and some of the new words, but I soon became accustomed to them. Shaila's story is so intriguing, and she is such a strong character! It is impossible not to love her from the first page. She surprised me at every turn, and after going through so much, I expected her to become bitter. But as the story progressed, she proved to be quite the opposite. She showed both her bad and good sides.
There are no fast-paced sections in this book, so you can follow each character's story and explore their backgrounds. You may even begin to despise some and love others once you get to know them. As I was always engaged in the novel, I wasn't able to tell how long each chapter was, so they were neither too short nor too long. The writer did a great job of creating this new world! Oh, hail the power of fantasy writers!
Now, to my favorite characters! Amii and Miika! I gotta say Aro is only not my favorite character because he was unpredictable. I didn't know whether I could trust him. Nevertheless, Miika became one of my favorites the moment he showed up. My general admiration for villains means I was reading until my eyes tired when Miika showed up with his mischievous smile. His attitude and his master gave off the vibe of an unhealthy relationship, and then I immediately fell in love with him (Obviously he was a nice guy!)
Now, Amii! She will certainly always hold my heart dearly. Her kind and loving words just made me want to hug her! It is funny how I have never even seen her but I can totally see this beautiful, smart, young girl! Even the thought of her just makes me happy. I have no words to describe how she affected me so much, but it makes sense as her character also won the love of other characters in the book.
Some awesome quotes:
“And let him slit your throat?” She rounded on Drauses. “Stab first, ask questions later, that’s Drauses’ way.” - Amii to Drauses
“We’re only men, capable… of mistakes. Wit…witless wonders.” - Miika to Shaila
January 29, 2023
This was so great ㅠㅅㅠ.
Loved the Three Musketeers vibes, loved the characters and the way the guild works, loved the romance and the action was SO good I can't-
Now I'll be living in a state of constant dysphoria until Heart of Jesparia comes out in paperback, I'm looking forward to diving more into this world.
My only complaint is that the world building isn't as fleshed out as I'd like it to be, cause I'm a big fan of getting enormous amounts of information (I know that this puts people off but I frikin love exposition when it's incorporated smoothly) and I didn't get enough here. I'm ashamed to admit it but even with the map I thought that the West-East thing meant that the whole continent was split in two by a wall, not just a city.. 🙈🤡. Plus there's a thing that bugged me but that's only because my brain is a little shit: when the gods were mentioned in speech or thought by the characters before I was familiar with which god stands for what, I kept comparing this book to the Gentlemen Bastards. In those books, everytime a god is mentioned their name is accompanied by a small title that describes their qualities e.g. Aza Guilla, the Lady of the Long Silence (aka godess of death). That is a unique trait to these books and I understand that, but I still felt like Lady of the Mark lacked a bit of "flavour" in the world building.
Julta my love, the literal world building rests on your hands now.
Loved the Three Musketeers vibes, loved the characters and the way the guild works, loved the romance and the action was SO good I can't-
Now I'll be living in a state of constant dysphoria until Heart of Jesparia comes out in paperback, I'm looking forward to diving more into this world.
My only complaint is that the world building isn't as fleshed out as I'd like it to be, cause I'm a big fan of getting enormous amounts of information (I know that this puts people off but I frikin love exposition when it's incorporated smoothly) and I didn't get enough here. I'm ashamed to admit it but even with the map I thought that the West-East thing meant that the whole continent was split in two by a wall, not just a city.. 🙈🤡. Plus there's a thing that bugged me but that's only because my brain is a little shit: when the gods were mentioned in speech or thought by the characters before I was familiar with which god stands for what, I kept comparing this book to the Gentlemen Bastards. In those books, everytime a god is mentioned their name is accompanied by a small title that describes their qualities e.g. Aza Guilla, the Lady of the Long Silence (aka godess of death). That is a unique trait to these books and I understand that, but I still felt like Lady of the Mark lacked a bit of "flavour" in the world building.
Julta my love, the literal world building rests on your hands now.
April 16, 2023
In a fantasy city where the East and West are divided by not only a river, Shaila waits for young girls with no way out to brave the turbulent waters in pursuit of a chance at a new life. She fishes them out and saves them from ruination because she's the current mistress of the country's sovereign, Rovik. But the evil man has many enemies, and when the Men of the Mark attack one night, Shaila is swept up in the fighting and ends up joining with Drauses, one of the senior and most deadly members of the Mark. He agrees to train her to be the first Lady of the Mark, a chance for her to truly make a difference.
Two years later, Shaila is presented as Drauses' ward, but they've become so much more to each other. Bound by loyalty and affection, the pair embark on a mission to save Drauses' daughter, Amii, who will one day become sovereign, from Rovik's influence.
Teaming with drama, tragedy, loss, and triumph, this indie fantasy is a fast-paced, character driven story that leaves you wondering who'll survive the fight to save Trista. Shaila was a badass, but she could also be soft and rational, sometimes more so than the men. The diverse relationships added complex layers to the story and made the characters feel real as opposed to cut-outs, even the side characters.
The romance was steamy! Be warned if you're reading at work, like I was :)
The ending set up the next book very well! By then, I was fully invested in the story and look forward to seeing how it progresses.
Two years later, Shaila is presented as Drauses' ward, but they've become so much more to each other. Bound by loyalty and affection, the pair embark on a mission to save Drauses' daughter, Amii, who will one day become sovereign, from Rovik's influence.
Teaming with drama, tragedy, loss, and triumph, this indie fantasy is a fast-paced, character driven story that leaves you wondering who'll survive the fight to save Trista. Shaila was a badass, but she could also be soft and rational, sometimes more so than the men. The diverse relationships added complex layers to the story and made the characters feel real as opposed to cut-outs, even the side characters.
The romance was steamy! Be warned if you're reading at work, like I was :)
The ending set up the next book very well! By then, I was fully invested in the story and look forward to seeing how it progresses.
January 22, 2023
4.5 stars, rounded up
I LOVED this book! It was an adventure from start to finish. The characters were well-developed and captivating. It was like watching a movie as all of their motivations unfolded and they plotted and schemed. Julta was my favorite character in the book, and he and all the others didn't feel too much like side characters; they felt like an ensemble.
I can't stress enough how wonderful it was to read a book with so many male friendships, in addition to most of the men not harboring romantic feelings for Shaila. They banded together for common causes and there was such a great sense of camaraderie.
The steampunk aspects added to the overall enjoyment of this book. I looked forward to every new invention introduced, and loved how excited Julta got about each invention.
The only thing that keeps this from being 5 stars (before rounding) is that since we had a time jump early on, we didn't get to see their relationship develop. I wish we'd gotten a glimpse of Shaila's training and she and Drauses getting to know each other.
This was a fast-paced, action-packed, FUN story, and I can't wait to continue the series.
I LOVED this book! It was an adventure from start to finish. The characters were well-developed and captivating. It was like watching a movie as all of their motivations unfolded and they plotted and schemed. Julta was my favorite character in the book, and he and all the others didn't feel too much like side characters; they felt like an ensemble.
I can't stress enough how wonderful it was to read a book with so many male friendships, in addition to most of the men not harboring romantic feelings for Shaila. They banded together for common causes and there was such a great sense of camaraderie.
The steampunk aspects added to the overall enjoyment of this book. I looked forward to every new invention introduced, and loved how excited Julta got about each invention.
The only thing that keeps this from being 5 stars (before rounding) is that since we had a time jump early on, we didn't get to see their relationship develop. I wish we'd gotten a glimpse of Shaila's training and she and Drauses getting to know each other.
This was a fast-paced, action-packed, FUN story, and I can't wait to continue the series.
May 20, 2022
A captivating and enthralling peek into the world of Fantasy Romance
As a first-time reader of Fantasy Romance I am so glad I decided to choose something different to read. It was the extraordinary book cover that first caught my eye and piqued my curiosity and desire to read The Lady of the Mark. From the onset I was hooked. The author has done a masterful job of creating not only an amazing story but a descriptive clear vision of each character, which in turn, for me, made them pop off the page and come alive in my imagination as real people and not just words. All the twists and turns are so cleverly orchestrated and complex but at the same time so easy to read which is truly a talent as with so many elements at play there was no flipping back to see who is who or what is what. I fell in love with all the goodies, and wanted to irradicate all the baddies!! I guess you could say I am now into Fantasy Romance in a big way and it’s all thanks to The Lady of the Mark!!!
As a first-time reader of Fantasy Romance I am so glad I decided to choose something different to read. It was the extraordinary book cover that first caught my eye and piqued my curiosity and desire to read The Lady of the Mark. From the onset I was hooked. The author has done a masterful job of creating not only an amazing story but a descriptive clear vision of each character, which in turn, for me, made them pop off the page and come alive in my imagination as real people and not just words. All the twists and turns are so cleverly orchestrated and complex but at the same time so easy to read which is truly a talent as with so many elements at play there was no flipping back to see who is who or what is what. I fell in love with all the goodies, and wanted to irradicate all the baddies!! I guess you could say I am now into Fantasy Romance in a big way and it’s all thanks to The Lady of the Mark!!!
June 2, 2022
So many emotions!
This book is incredibly written, it was hard to put down. First I just want to say the the female lead, Shaila, is one of the best characters I have ever read. She is strong and resilient, she goes through so much in her life and I applaud the author for writing a woman with that kind of determination. The story is so unique and thrilling, there is action and death. There is this unbelievable bond between the two main characters that is built over time and when things finally turn their way I was overjoyed. This book will give you every emotion, the good and the bad. I highly recommend, the writing is brilliant and the story is epic!
This book is incredibly written, it was hard to put down. First I just want to say the the female lead, Shaila, is one of the best characters I have ever read. She is strong and resilient, she goes through so much in her life and I applaud the author for writing a woman with that kind of determination. The story is so unique and thrilling, there is action and death. There is this unbelievable bond between the two main characters that is built over time and when things finally turn their way I was overjoyed. This book will give you every emotion, the good and the bad. I highly recommend, the writing is brilliant and the story is epic!
June 9, 2022
This is a solid 3.75 stars.
We've got a guild of warriors, political wars, backstabbing, and an age-gap/forbidden romance (more as a subplot)
The book was fast paced, and action packed but It did start to feel a little repetitive in that here we go again sense of an attack.
*Spoiler begins* I was also slightly let down by the revelation of who had turned against them.. the whole time I kept going back and forth with who I thought it might be, and when it was revealed.. it was kind of a lackluster non pivotal character. *Spoiler ends*
All in all though, a great read.
TW: Death, gore, kidnapping, bodily mutilation, 18+
We've got a guild of warriors, political wars, backstabbing, and an age-gap/forbidden romance (more as a subplot)
The book was fast paced, and action packed but It did start to feel a little repetitive in that here we go again sense of an attack.
*Spoiler begins* I was also slightly let down by the revelation of who had turned against them.. the whole time I kept going back and forth with who I thought it might be, and when it was revealed.. it was kind of a lackluster non pivotal character. *Spoiler ends*
All in all though, a great read.
TW: Death, gore, kidnapping, bodily mutilation, 18+
August 20, 2022
I found myself feeling all sorts of things while reading this book. Mostly, the 5th star is missing because I felt some things could’ve been expanded upon (the steamy scenes could’ve been steamier, the bolts Shaila used should’ve been utilized better - or at least, used from her perspective in more detail). I do now need to read the next book, so this book has done it’s job in instilling a love for and an interest in it’s characters. So much happens to them!
(Spoiler-ish content below)*******
I kept thinking I knew who the spy was. The actual spy was a bit of a let down but still a surprise! I’d have liked them to have been more of an integral part of the story.
(Spoiler-ish content below)*******
I kept thinking I knew who the spy was. The actual spy was a bit of a let down but still a surprise! I’d have liked them to have been more of an integral part of the story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 8, 2023
It was hard to put this book down because of how beautifully written it is. I didn't stop turning pages till the wee hours of the morning because of the suspense, mystery, and romance. I love Alex's portrayal of what a lady looks like with such persistence; Shaila, the main character, is tough and powerful and has experienced a lot in her life. I loved this book so much; it was a great escape from everyday life. I thought this was an excellent novel all around.As a whole, I thought this was a pretty well-written work.
July 28, 2022
This was a very interesting story, though it has some glaring plot holes that include the overall set up of the society, so it was difficult to buy into totally. But, I really enjoyed several of the characters and the ways their relationships work. Not really an age gap person, so I just pretended it didn't exist and that the main character was a lot older than it is told she is, which was easy because of how she is characterized. The invented weapons were very cool.
March 22, 2022
I loved this book! The writing style was smooth and the story flowed. The plot held my interest and I often found myself completely caught up in the story, eager to find what happened next. It was a fantastic read!
June 15, 2022
Loved this story. Excited to see it continued.
Loved how the female leads where strong without it being over done in your face.
Appreciated the villains.
Liked seeing different characters stories within the overall story.
I cried so hard at parts. Worth it.
10/10 recommend!
Loved how the female leads where strong without it being over done in your face.
Appreciated the villains.
Liked seeing different characters stories within the overall story.
I cried so hard at parts. Worth it.
10/10 recommend!
May 14, 2022
Intresting
Liked the way the book flowed and the story unfolded. Characters are very well described that I can basically envision them and what is happening with each of them.
Liked the way the book flowed and the story unfolded. Characters are very well described that I can basically envision them and what is happening with each of them.
June 25, 2022
For the most part, this was a very solid debut. I could tell this book was very heavily inspired by the game, Dishonored, which honestly only added to the enjoyment of it.
Some things to note: the plot seemed all over the place to me. As soon as I latched onto a specific element and was like, "yep, here's our main conflict," it suddenly gets resolved, and something else gets introduced. It felt very much like plot point after plot point were just thrown together without being fleshed out completely (or spanning between multiple books). The romance as well felt kinda forced, and I didn't really sense any chemistry between the two main characters.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and will pick up the second one when it gets released.
Some things to note: the plot seemed all over the place to me. As soon as I latched onto a specific element and was like, "yep, here's our main conflict," it suddenly gets resolved, and something else gets introduced. It felt very much like plot point after plot point were just thrown together without being fleshed out completely (or spanning between multiple books). The romance as well felt kinda forced, and I didn't really sense any chemistry between the two main characters.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and will pick up the second one when it gets released.
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