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Akora #6
Fountain of Fire
The legendary island nation of Akora endows its descendants with rare gifts. Now one compassionate young woman must discover her own extraordinary power--and her heart’s desire--by facing the greatest challenge of her life....
Fountain of Fire
Daughter of a renowned Akoran warrior and an English-born beauty, Clio is content with her lot as a pretty, warmhearted girl among a family of compelling and exquisitely attractive people. Yet it is precisely her immensely soothing nature that is to bring her unexpected power--and passion. For a distressed young Queen Victoria has requested that Clio become her lady-in-waiting. During a time of political unrest, it is a position of inherent danger. But Clio is determined to be of service....Charged with safeguarding the queen from a suspected assassination plot, William, earl of Holyhood, is delighted to have the company of Clio. Not only is her sweetness a balm to the soul, but she is also, curiously, an Akoran princess. Long fascinated by the tantalizing island, William soon finds his interest superseded by an enchantment with Clio herself. Surprised by their deep mutual attraction, the couple have only to agree on how best to protect the queen--and themselves--from those who would steal their futures. But it is a task more easily said than done, and one that may hold the fate of an empire--and a blossoming love--in the balance.
Fountain of Fire
Daughter of a renowned Akoran warrior and an English-born beauty, Clio is content with her lot as a pretty, warmhearted girl among a family of compelling and exquisitely attractive people. Yet it is precisely her immensely soothing nature that is to bring her unexpected power--and passion. For a distressed young Queen Victoria has requested that Clio become her lady-in-waiting. During a time of political unrest, it is a position of inherent danger. But Clio is determined to be of service....Charged with safeguarding the queen from a suspected assassination plot, William, earl of Holyhood, is delighted to have the company of Clio. Not only is her sweetness a balm to the soul, but she is also, curiously, an Akoran princess. Long fascinated by the tantalizing island, William soon finds his interest superseded by an enchantment with Clio herself. Surprised by their deep mutual attraction, the couple have only to agree on how best to protect the queen--and themselves--from those who would steal their futures. But it is a task more easily said than done, and one that may hold the fate of an empire--and a blossoming love--in the balance.
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
10 people are currently reading
176 people want to read
About the author
Josie Litton
72 books379 followersJosie Litton is the author of several NY Times and USA Today bestselling romances.
Married and living in Connecticut, she is the parent of two grown children. Becoming an empty nester has left her plenty of time to write, think about writing, plan what to write next, and read. When she isn’t doing that, she’s cooking, gardening, and traveling.
Married and living in Connecticut, she is the parent of two grown children. Becoming an empty nester has left her plenty of time to write, think about writing, plan what to write next, and read. When she isn’t doing that, she’s cooking, gardening, and traveling.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
March 21, 2018
It pains me to say it, but Litton's last Akoran book was a dud. Stop at Persephone and Gareth's book...that was a high note and my favorite of the series.
This one had too much going on and the heroine did some really stupid things. The hero is a spy but can't tell anyone and the heroine throws herself into danger because she "has a right to" even though she has no self-defense ability or experience.
It started off strong but quickly fizzled for me. I only got 50% of the way through it.
This one had too much going on and the heroine did some really stupid things. The hero is a spy but can't tell anyone and the heroine throws herself into danger because she "has a right to" even though she has no self-defense ability or experience.
It started off strong but quickly fizzled for me. I only got 50% of the way through it.
March 16, 2019
Not my favorite Josie Litton novel... the characters were a bit boring. Actually the whole plot was boring until about three quarters into the book then it became a three star fiction. But I just felt like it dragged on and on. Maybe it’s time for a break from the series (for me) and I can come back to the series when it will seem fresh and new.
October 13, 2011
I read the firs 3 Akora books and the prequel series before I picked up this...by that time I was addicted to Miss Litton's writing...unfortunately this as disappointing. I didn't fall in love with the characters and the setting seemed to have lost its shine. I never finished it but it's still sitting on my desk. I'm not sure but people who enjoy regency romances might like this more than I did. The Akora series never fit that mould for me though.
August 30, 2018
I found this book a bit boring, nothing exciting would happen so I skipped a lot of pages. Boring
February 12, 2021
I've read book one and two, because that's all my library has of this series. I gave them both two stars, so I wasn't expecting much from this. I definitely prefer her other series.
I loved the mention of the Pillars of Hercules; I saw that on tv earlier this year. I know she made up Akora, but I was trying to figure out where it might be located. The Pillars of Hercules were at the Straits of Gibraltar, which is bordered by Africa, Europe, Spain and Morocco.
Considering the dress of the warriors, bare-chested and wearing kilts, just wondering where she intended it to be.
Cyra and Wolf became legends, the Stolen Bride, a woman of extraordinary beauty, how the Vikings let themselves get captured to get past the castles defenses.
I hated knowing they were long gone and not alive anymore. Depressing thought.
We later find her visions took place 1,000 years in the past. I had no idea Wolf and Cymbra's book took place that long ago!
For these being in the legendary, mystical Akora, all these books seem to take place in boring England and feel like any other romance book. Which ones actually take place on Akora??
Also, I think when an author does a new series, she should let old characters and places go. This series takes place at Hawkforte and Holyhood, just like her viking series does. Which was confusing when I first read this series.
The troll-like servant was in here and the lady who turns into a raven was mentioned. I thought they had magic, so I expected Bolkum to do something magical in the end, but he didn't.
Despite starting with visions of the past, and meeting the hero, it was a boring start. Their conversations and interactions weren't interesting, nor the storyline. It definitely didn't capture my attention.
He compared her to a blonde he spoke to who was clearly air headed, and when Clio shows she has a mind, he said it was a shame.
The author spelled titles out, which I thought was odd. 'Mister Badger' instead of Mr. Badger.
'Missus Smallworthe.'
It's completely unrealistic that a princess would be a would-be archaeologist. She didn't act like a princess in the slightest. And idk how she even was one because her parents died and she was adopted. Seriously, how is that possible? Unless she was a princess before?..But now that I think on it, those were her real parents, so what was she talking about losing her parents for?
She was even part detective, wanting to search the crime scene. A princess would never do that.
They explain it away that royalty was known for being queer no matter where they're from. Yeah. Right.
She knows of horses because her mom's family breeds horses. Very convenient.
She had experience from Akora for whatever situation she was in. Archery, horses, intimacy, self-defense, even caves and stalagmites. She's also driven chariots on akora.
The unreality of it took away from the story.
There was no chemistry between the characters, they didn't even seem attracted to each other. Despite him saying she was beautiful and commenting on her figure, and her finding him attractive. You need more than that to create chemistry.
I like the historical knowledge, how If you were traveling to foreign parts you'd have letters of introduction and credit with you.
They were immediately on a first name basis even though they only knew each other as kids. This is also explained away because on Akora they don't use titles. I just couldn't take the blatant disregard for rules in this book.
Akora is a land of passion and sensuality and she was taught in the art of pleasing men. That's quite..different. Also doesn't seem fitting for a princess.
No one treated her like a princess.
I didn't like Will saying "I've never kissed a princess." As if he was just doing it for the novelty.
'The woman could kiss, he had to give her that.'
I found it very hypocritical Will wondered what her experience was. What about every woman in every romance book ever written, where the guy is always experienced? Do they wonder at the guys experience?
And then wanting to make love with her. That is not what you do to a princess. I just didn't get this at all.
I love that Clio had been kissed by several men and had enjoyed it. In romance books, the women either have no experience or what little experience they did have they didn't enjoy. So this was a very welcome change. If the men can enjoy being with other women, then why can't the heroine enjoy being with other men?
Will had to be the best at ax-throwing. Clio had to be the best at archery, even beating Hope, Charity, and Faith, ridiculous names, when she said she hadn't practiced in years, and these women have been practicing. I was actually surprised she came in third, having been beaten by two men, and didn't win the whole thing.
The humor was weak in here. I could tell some things were meant to be funny but they weren't.
I didn't like that Will was presented as the possible murderer, and seemed suspicious, and untrustworthy. It was actually a little creepy at times.
Will was a cardboard cutout. He had no personality, no charming, likable qualities.
There were some repetitive phrases used throughout the whole book:
'Like as not' and 'for all that.'
There was confusing back and forth conversations with herself:
'The yellow dress...it was pretty and she could put it on quickly. No need to fuss with her hair, just a quick brushing and -
Stop! Who was this temptress urging her to do what reason dismissed as foolish?
Forget reason; there would be plenty of time for that when she was old and gray. In the meantime, live! For once in her life, forget about focusing on every single little detail and see the big, luscious, oh-so-seductive treat just waiting for her to-
Whether or not she was in danger of falling in love with a man who was a murderer was not a little detail!
Did she have no faith at all in her own judgment? She knew he wasn't a murderer. And if he had killed that man, like as not he had a very good reason.
She knew no such thing and if he had killed that man, she had to know why.
Ask him. Go downstairs and ask him.'
Wow, that kind of made my head spin.
She made a distinction between murdering and killing as if there is one. She had every reason not to trust Will but did anyway, and even desired him! It was stupid to trust someone that could have been a murderer.
There's a dead man in the woods and Will has a torn shirt and bruise on his jaw and she says it doesn't mean it was evidence of a struggle. That's exactly what it means!
The cave scene was so familiar I felt as if I'd read it before. Or it's really similar to something I have read. The woman is outside and she distracts the men who are threatening him and saves the hero.
Instead of just saying the events of the day, she kept distinguishing the night also as if we don't know the day covers both. 'The tumultuous events of the day--and night--has finally caught up with her.' We've got it. We don't need to be told.
I didn't like how they were distantly related. I don't understand authors
The word love is thrown out after they've kissed once. I just can't. I can't stand instalove. It's just not believable and really annoying.
Her aunt and uncle were Kassandra and Royce Hawkforte. Those names were familiar. Also Alex and Joanna Hawkforte. I wondered in which book I had heard them before.
When she said she didn't know him, she contradicted herself and said it wasn't true. She knew his courage, honor and passion. Even though they've kissed once. She knew his dedication to his duty and country and his care of his grandma, even though she's only known him for a couple days. And has only just learned he works for his country before she took a nap that she just woke up from.
She suspects he knows as much about her as she does him, and I don't see how he could. The crazy timespan is explained away by the events they've been in. Even though they've only been in each other's company a few times.
'He was 30 years old, a man who had known his share of women and perhaps a few extra. He liked women, genuinely enjoyed them, but he had always looked on the fair sex as an excellent source of relaxation and release, nothing more.'
I always love comments like that. Clio is somehow special and I can't tell exactly why, because they don't really know each other.
Despite saying she deserved silk, satin, candles and romance and not a rock ledge in a dark cave that's exactly what he does. How/why is he ruining a princess? With no thought whatsoever that she's royalty and that this is a big no-no.
'Only a faint remnant of reason, and the certain knowledge that there would be a morning after, prevented him from ripping off the buttons that secured his trousers. No man wanted to face the world with his...Enough. Freeing his erection brought a flicker of relief, but that vanished in a heartbeat.'
What in the world with what?! I actually didn't know what was happening there. The back and forth thoughts, contradicting yourself, and sudden mind changes were confusing.
'In a cave close by the sea, she had seized a moment of love and glory that came to few lives.'
That is not love. That is lust.
Everyone spoke the same in here. Lady Constance always said 'dear William.' 'Dear husband.' She never spoke his name without saying 'dear' before it. Even Melbourne was saying dear, too.
Clio's mom says her husband was determined they marry.
'Perhaps it was a family tradition, men determined on matrimony.' Not a good thing when you're talking about your dad and the hero of the story. They shouldn't be in the same family.
It jarringly and confusedly changed POV in the same paragraphs.
Despite her being at Holyhood for only a few days with Will, her parents somehow find out and start matchmaking even though they haven't seen Will since he was a kid. This made no sense.
The dialogue wasn't good in here. Clio wasn't a conversationalist. Her deliberate lackluster conversations with Sir Morgan were similar to her conversations with Lady Constance and Will. I found the dialogue inane.
Everyone always said what was that? When they couldn't hear so all the characters sound the same.
'Turning her over, he made swift work of unlacing her corset.
For a scant moment, she contemplated how he had gained such expertise, then dismissed the thought. There was no reason for her to begrudge that which she benefited from so thoroughly.'
That's the problem with romance authors. They're so focused on experience they don't think about what comes with it. Diseases. And there's nothing romantic about that. You certainly don't benefit from diseases.
I was hoping Sir Morgan was innocent cause I started to like him when they went to see the train, and how excited he was about them. He didn't seem like a bad guy at all. Him as a bad character didn't feel fully fleshed out. Or the plot against the Queen.
Nor did it make sense that he'd shoot the Queen at a house full of guards right in front of Clio, a princess, who he'd also have to kill.
I just felt bad for him when he said he works like every gentleman does, to advance himself. His father and grandfather made their living from their manor, but it's not possible to do that anymore, because everything was changing. It reminded me of Cold-Hearted Rake, which took place around the same time with all the industrial progress and changes England was going through.
Bolkum mentions a storyteller he used to know, Dragon, brother to Wolf and friend of Hawk. He said he'd tell her his stories sometime, which wasn't included in the book. I would have liked to hear them. Like I said, if you haven't read her viking series, you'd be so confused by all this. The author could have at least explained fully who they were.
She says Will had the body of a warrior and looked like he'd wield a sword and I didn't have that impression at all of him.
It was cool how her cousin David was called the Shield of England. They mentioned matchmaking for David, that he needed someone. Yet with this being the last book, that was another loose end. Along with her brother Andreas.
This was way too sappy and inconsistent with Will's character: "as you are my love, wife, the completion of myself, all I have ever dreamed of and more than I knew could be."
I loved this: 'sleep took them, there on the petal-strewn bed, as the ship rocked softly in the cove beneath Holyhood, from where, so many years before, a stolen bride had been taken and so much had begun.'
There's a book at Hawkforte written by Fawn, about the history of the place. I'm assuming Fawn was Wolf and Cymbra's child who wrote a book about them.
This felt unfinished. Like there was so much more that needed wrapping up.
The plot against Victoria wasn't exactly settled. We don't know how it ended with Hanover. If the threat from Melbourne that David was delivering will work. Or if her cousin David will find someone to love.
This just didn't seem like the ending of a series with so many loose ends.
This was just a weak book and probably the worst I've read by Litton.
I couldn't wait to get to the end and am glad to finally be done.
Being that it highlighted Wolf and Cymbra it would have been nice to see more of them. If you haven't read her Viking series you wouldn't know what in the world was going on. That felt unfinished too. Also her big gift wasn't much of one. She only had a few visions total, and idk what the point of showing their history from a thousand years ago had to do with the plot against the Queen. I doubt the author could tell you either. I think she just wanted to revisit her other characters.
I found Clio to be too good at everything. Despite being a princess, she knew how to boil water and sew his wound closed. She said she wasn't a good cook like her cousin Amelia was, but she seemed adept at household stuff anyway. I find too-perfect characters to be annoying.
I expected her gift to be a lot cooler, like the gifts of some of the previous women have been. I think I'm thinking of her Viking series, though.
She very handily sees the exact culprit hand Sir Morgan a letter and that's how they crack the case.
It was all so lackluster, convenient, handy, and very basic. I found the bad guys to be very third rate, without depth.
Not a good book. It wasn't horrible, but considering how boring it was throughout the entire thing, with the most excitement being the carriage chase through town, and the garden scene at the end, this just wasn't exciting in any way. It could almost be 1.5 stars.
I loved the mention of the Pillars of Hercules; I saw that on tv earlier this year. I know she made up Akora, but I was trying to figure out where it might be located. The Pillars of Hercules were at the Straits of Gibraltar, which is bordered by Africa, Europe, Spain and Morocco.
Considering the dress of the warriors, bare-chested and wearing kilts, just wondering where she intended it to be.
Cyra and Wolf became legends, the Stolen Bride, a woman of extraordinary beauty, how the Vikings let themselves get captured to get past the castles defenses.
I hated knowing they were long gone and not alive anymore. Depressing thought.
We later find her visions took place 1,000 years in the past. I had no idea Wolf and Cymbra's book took place that long ago!
For these being in the legendary, mystical Akora, all these books seem to take place in boring England and feel like any other romance book. Which ones actually take place on Akora??
Also, I think when an author does a new series, she should let old characters and places go. This series takes place at Hawkforte and Holyhood, just like her viking series does. Which was confusing when I first read this series.
The troll-like servant was in here and the lady who turns into a raven was mentioned. I thought they had magic, so I expected Bolkum to do something magical in the end, but he didn't.
Despite starting with visions of the past, and meeting the hero, it was a boring start. Their conversations and interactions weren't interesting, nor the storyline. It definitely didn't capture my attention.
He compared her to a blonde he spoke to who was clearly air headed, and when Clio shows she has a mind, he said it was a shame.
The author spelled titles out, which I thought was odd. 'Mister Badger' instead of Mr. Badger.
'Missus Smallworthe.'
It's completely unrealistic that a princess would be a would-be archaeologist. She didn't act like a princess in the slightest. And idk how she even was one because her parents died and she was adopted. Seriously, how is that possible? Unless she was a princess before?..But now that I think on it, those were her real parents, so what was she talking about losing her parents for?
She was even part detective, wanting to search the crime scene. A princess would never do that.
They explain it away that royalty was known for being queer no matter where they're from. Yeah. Right.
She knows of horses because her mom's family breeds horses. Very convenient.
She had experience from Akora for whatever situation she was in. Archery, horses, intimacy, self-defense, even caves and stalagmites. She's also driven chariots on akora.
The unreality of it took away from the story.
There was no chemistry between the characters, they didn't even seem attracted to each other. Despite him saying she was beautiful and commenting on her figure, and her finding him attractive. You need more than that to create chemistry.
I like the historical knowledge, how If you were traveling to foreign parts you'd have letters of introduction and credit with you.
They were immediately on a first name basis even though they only knew each other as kids. This is also explained away because on Akora they don't use titles. I just couldn't take the blatant disregard for rules in this book.
Akora is a land of passion and sensuality and she was taught in the art of pleasing men. That's quite..different. Also doesn't seem fitting for a princess.
No one treated her like a princess.
I didn't like Will saying "I've never kissed a princess." As if he was just doing it for the novelty.
'The woman could kiss, he had to give her that.'
I found it very hypocritical Will wondered what her experience was. What about every woman in every romance book ever written, where the guy is always experienced? Do they wonder at the guys experience?
And then wanting to make love with her. That is not what you do to a princess. I just didn't get this at all.
I love that Clio had been kissed by several men and had enjoyed it. In romance books, the women either have no experience or what little experience they did have they didn't enjoy. So this was a very welcome change. If the men can enjoy being with other women, then why can't the heroine enjoy being with other men?
Will had to be the best at ax-throwing. Clio had to be the best at archery, even beating Hope, Charity, and Faith, ridiculous names, when she said she hadn't practiced in years, and these women have been practicing. I was actually surprised she came in third, having been beaten by two men, and didn't win the whole thing.
The humor was weak in here. I could tell some things were meant to be funny but they weren't.
I didn't like that Will was presented as the possible murderer, and seemed suspicious, and untrustworthy. It was actually a little creepy at times.
Will was a cardboard cutout. He had no personality, no charming, likable qualities.
There were some repetitive phrases used throughout the whole book:
'Like as not' and 'for all that.'
There was confusing back and forth conversations with herself:
'The yellow dress...it was pretty and she could put it on quickly. No need to fuss with her hair, just a quick brushing and -
Stop! Who was this temptress urging her to do what reason dismissed as foolish?
Forget reason; there would be plenty of time for that when she was old and gray. In the meantime, live! For once in her life, forget about focusing on every single little detail and see the big, luscious, oh-so-seductive treat just waiting for her to-
Whether or not she was in danger of falling in love with a man who was a murderer was not a little detail!
Did she have no faith at all in her own judgment? She knew he wasn't a murderer. And if he had killed that man, like as not he had a very good reason.
She knew no such thing and if he had killed that man, she had to know why.
Ask him. Go downstairs and ask him.'
Wow, that kind of made my head spin.
She made a distinction between murdering and killing as if there is one. She had every reason not to trust Will but did anyway, and even desired him! It was stupid to trust someone that could have been a murderer.
There's a dead man in the woods and Will has a torn shirt and bruise on his jaw and she says it doesn't mean it was evidence of a struggle. That's exactly what it means!
The cave scene was so familiar I felt as if I'd read it before. Or it's really similar to something I have read. The woman is outside and she distracts the men who are threatening him and saves the hero.
Instead of just saying the events of the day, she kept distinguishing the night also as if we don't know the day covers both. 'The tumultuous events of the day--and night--has finally caught up with her.' We've got it. We don't need to be told.
I didn't like how they were distantly related. I don't understand authors
The word love is thrown out after they've kissed once. I just can't. I can't stand instalove. It's just not believable and really annoying.
Her aunt and uncle were Kassandra and Royce Hawkforte. Those names were familiar. Also Alex and Joanna Hawkforte. I wondered in which book I had heard them before.
When she said she didn't know him, she contradicted herself and said it wasn't true. She knew his courage, honor and passion. Even though they've kissed once. She knew his dedication to his duty and country and his care of his grandma, even though she's only known him for a couple days. And has only just learned he works for his country before she took a nap that she just woke up from.
She suspects he knows as much about her as she does him, and I don't see how he could. The crazy timespan is explained away by the events they've been in. Even though they've only been in each other's company a few times.
'He was 30 years old, a man who had known his share of women and perhaps a few extra. He liked women, genuinely enjoyed them, but he had always looked on the fair sex as an excellent source of relaxation and release, nothing more.'
I always love comments like that. Clio is somehow special and I can't tell exactly why, because they don't really know each other.
Despite saying she deserved silk, satin, candles and romance and not a rock ledge in a dark cave that's exactly what he does. How/why is he ruining a princess? With no thought whatsoever that she's royalty and that this is a big no-no.
'Only a faint remnant of reason, and the certain knowledge that there would be a morning after, prevented him from ripping off the buttons that secured his trousers. No man wanted to face the world with his...Enough. Freeing his erection brought a flicker of relief, but that vanished in a heartbeat.'
What in the world with what?! I actually didn't know what was happening there. The back and forth thoughts, contradicting yourself, and sudden mind changes were confusing.
'In a cave close by the sea, she had seized a moment of love and glory that came to few lives.'
That is not love. That is lust.
Everyone spoke the same in here. Lady Constance always said 'dear William.' 'Dear husband.' She never spoke his name without saying 'dear' before it. Even Melbourne was saying dear, too.
Clio's mom says her husband was determined they marry.
'Perhaps it was a family tradition, men determined on matrimony.' Not a good thing when you're talking about your dad and the hero of the story. They shouldn't be in the same family.
It jarringly and confusedly changed POV in the same paragraphs.
Despite her being at Holyhood for only a few days with Will, her parents somehow find out and start matchmaking even though they haven't seen Will since he was a kid. This made no sense.
The dialogue wasn't good in here. Clio wasn't a conversationalist. Her deliberate lackluster conversations with Sir Morgan were similar to her conversations with Lady Constance and Will. I found the dialogue inane.
Everyone always said what was that? When they couldn't hear so all the characters sound the same.
'Turning her over, he made swift work of unlacing her corset.
For a scant moment, she contemplated how he had gained such expertise, then dismissed the thought. There was no reason for her to begrudge that which she benefited from so thoroughly.'
That's the problem with romance authors. They're so focused on experience they don't think about what comes with it. Diseases. And there's nothing romantic about that. You certainly don't benefit from diseases.
I was hoping Sir Morgan was innocent cause I started to like him when they went to see the train, and how excited he was about them. He didn't seem like a bad guy at all. Him as a bad character didn't feel fully fleshed out. Or the plot against the Queen.
Nor did it make sense that he'd shoot the Queen at a house full of guards right in front of Clio, a princess, who he'd also have to kill.
I just felt bad for him when he said he works like every gentleman does, to advance himself. His father and grandfather made their living from their manor, but it's not possible to do that anymore, because everything was changing. It reminded me of Cold-Hearted Rake, which took place around the same time with all the industrial progress and changes England was going through.
Bolkum mentions a storyteller he used to know, Dragon, brother to Wolf and friend of Hawk. He said he'd tell her his stories sometime, which wasn't included in the book. I would have liked to hear them. Like I said, if you haven't read her viking series, you'd be so confused by all this. The author could have at least explained fully who they were.
She says Will had the body of a warrior and looked like he'd wield a sword and I didn't have that impression at all of him.
It was cool how her cousin David was called the Shield of England. They mentioned matchmaking for David, that he needed someone. Yet with this being the last book, that was another loose end. Along with her brother Andreas.
This was way too sappy and inconsistent with Will's character: "as you are my love, wife, the completion of myself, all I have ever dreamed of and more than I knew could be."
I loved this: 'sleep took them, there on the petal-strewn bed, as the ship rocked softly in the cove beneath Holyhood, from where, so many years before, a stolen bride had been taken and so much had begun.'
There's a book at Hawkforte written by Fawn, about the history of the place. I'm assuming Fawn was Wolf and Cymbra's child who wrote a book about them.
This felt unfinished. Like there was so much more that needed wrapping up.
The plot against Victoria wasn't exactly settled. We don't know how it ended with Hanover. If the threat from Melbourne that David was delivering will work. Or if her cousin David will find someone to love.
This just didn't seem like the ending of a series with so many loose ends.
This was just a weak book and probably the worst I've read by Litton.
I couldn't wait to get to the end and am glad to finally be done.
Being that it highlighted Wolf and Cymbra it would have been nice to see more of them. If you haven't read her Viking series you wouldn't know what in the world was going on. That felt unfinished too. Also her big gift wasn't much of one. She only had a few visions total, and idk what the point of showing their history from a thousand years ago had to do with the plot against the Queen. I doubt the author could tell you either. I think she just wanted to revisit her other characters.
I found Clio to be too good at everything. Despite being a princess, she knew how to boil water and sew his wound closed. She said she wasn't a good cook like her cousin Amelia was, but she seemed adept at household stuff anyway. I find too-perfect characters to be annoying.
I expected her gift to be a lot cooler, like the gifts of some of the previous women have been. I think I'm thinking of her Viking series, though.
She very handily sees the exact culprit hand Sir Morgan a letter and that's how they crack the case.
It was all so lackluster, convenient, handy, and very basic. I found the bad guys to be very third rate, without depth.
Not a good book. It wasn't horrible, but considering how boring it was throughout the entire thing, with the most excitement being the carriage chase through town, and the garden scene at the end, this just wasn't exciting in any way. It could almost be 1.5 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 14, 2022
I put of reading this one for a couple months, it didn’t actually take me a month to read it. I just read a few pages in September and the remainder in October.
I really didn’t want to read this one because it meant my time with the people of Akora would come to and end for now. So reading it was bittersweet.
Clio was just as sassy, strong-willed, and steadfast as all the Akora ladies (and Gavin) I’ve got to know over the course of these six books, that have taken me almost 20 years to read. Really I read one in High school (which was 2006) and the rest over the last year and a half. Having put months between each one to make it last longer, that’s how much I long the quaint but strong people in these stories.
The character development and even the love story that goes along with these books did not disappoint in this one as well. I like in the last three books they were each their own story, not really connecting. The first trilogy unfolded the stories framework of what makes our favorite families of Hawkforte and Akora (mainly
the Atreides family). Where the second trilogy shows us how their family expanded and elaborated more on their families history.
However, while the story in this one wasnt terrible it wasn’t as adventurous and breathtaking as all of the other five books. I loved Clio and Wills story of coming together but the main story behind theirs, I felt they weren’t given as much as the others, and for that I gave it a 4 star rating. Other than that, still worth reading for all the beautiful character story and the people we had read about before showing up in fun ways.
I really didn’t want to read this one because it meant my time with the people of Akora would come to and end for now. So reading it was bittersweet.
Clio was just as sassy, strong-willed, and steadfast as all the Akora ladies (and Gavin) I’ve got to know over the course of these six books, that have taken me almost 20 years to read. Really I read one in High school (which was 2006) and the rest over the last year and a half. Having put months between each one to make it last longer, that’s how much I long the quaint but strong people in these stories.
The character development and even the love story that goes along with these books did not disappoint in this one as well. I like in the last three books they were each their own story, not really connecting. The first trilogy unfolded the stories framework of what makes our favorite families of Hawkforte and Akora (mainly
the Atreides family). Where the second trilogy shows us how their family expanded and elaborated more on their families history.
However, while the story in this one wasnt terrible it wasn’t as adventurous and breathtaking as all of the other five books. I loved Clio and Wills story of coming together but the main story behind theirs, I felt they weren’t given as much as the others, and for that I gave it a 4 star rating. Other than that, still worth reading for all the beautiful character story and the people we had read about before showing up in fun ways.
August 28, 2019
Third book in the third trilogy. Princess Clio of Akora - twin to Andreas - daughter of Brianna and Atreus - the Vanax of Akora - is into archeaology. On a trip to England with her parents, she goes to Holyrood (formerly part of Hawkforte - home of girl in 1st series) with the grandmother of William, Earl of Hollister. Will and David Hawkforte (cousin) are good friends and co-workers for the government - undercover. They're trying to expose someone trying to kill the new Queen Victoria. Clio inadvertently gets involved by being at Holyrood when Will arrives and a body is found. The two are majorly attracted, but Clio needs someone with an open mind and willingness to treat her as an equal partner. This is strange to Will, but he comes around, they discover who's behind the plot, Clio discovers her supernatural "gift" and they marry. The one occurs simultaneously with the 2nd F of Secrets. Another well written book with a little sex in it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 22, 2019
The previous book was so good that I couldn't wait to read this one. This was a big let down. While I did like Clio, the plot didn't grab my attention.
November 23, 2023
Original rating: 5 stars
Re-read rating: 3 stars
I won't get into it like I have with all the other books in this series. The same issues I have with them, I have here... insta love, meandering pov and wow does everything happen so fast with no finesse in this one. On one page we're fighting for our literal lives the next page we're about to fall asleep? Make it make sense Susan. The last two chapters were extremely boring that I skimmed. I appreciate how well my tastes have evolved as a reader for sure. But I still love the world building that Litton has done here with Akora in these past 6 books. Looking at them for what they are, and the time they were written, I can see why they were some of my favorites at the time. I can still look back fondly but proudly say I've moved on.
Re-read rating: 3 stars
I won't get into it like I have with all the other books in this series. The same issues I have with them, I have here... insta love, meandering pov and wow does everything happen so fast with no finesse in this one. On one page we're fighting for our literal lives the next page we're about to fall asleep? Make it make sense Susan. The last two chapters were extremely boring that I skimmed. I appreciate how well my tastes have evolved as a reader for sure. But I still love the world building that Litton has done here with Akora in these past 6 books. Looking at them for what they are, and the time they were written, I can see why they were some of my favorites at the time. I can still look back fondly but proudly say I've moved on.
May 27, 2016
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April 17, 2017
I got this book from the Bag of Books dropped off to us by my mother-in-law. Although most of the books were romance novels, thrillers, and parts of series (most of which I would generally never read), I can't let a Bag of Books go unread. I'd read the other books in this series and, like the others, this was well-paced and interesting. However, I read this over a year ago now, and I remember little of the plot or characters. I believe it began with a kidnapping and continued with some kind of love story...maybe forbidden love? Eh, it was a generic, although well-written, romance novel. Four out of five Whatevers. Recommended if you've read the others, if romance is your genre, or if you need a quick fill-in between other reads.
March 5, 2016
All of Josie Litton Akoran's series worth reading over and over again.
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