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Fallen Embers
A feisty attorney and her young nephew are transported to an alternate feudal Alaska ruled by a class of decadent mages who have enslaved the shapechanging indigenous peoples. Before she can find her way home Kiera must learn more about the local systems of magic and her own ability to summon fire. On whose side should she fight? Whom can she trust -- Marco, the young mage she saves, or fierce and handsome Laszlo, the slave captain of ruling Lord Vayu's army? Kiera's path leads her deeper into Alaska, to joy and to heartbreak. Choosing to follow her heart may cost her everything.
384 pages, Paperback
First published August 12, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 2, 2010
3.5 stars
Favorite Quote: "Fury consumed her, comforted her, caressed her.
The fire was her heart and it was burning. She wanted to strike out, ease her fear...but she couldn't seem to remember anything but the rage."
A violent attack leaves a young attorney and her nephew in an alternate time ruled by a class of decadent mages who have enslaved the shape changing indigenous peoples. As war looms, Kiera must learn to survive in this new world. Whom can she trust -- Marco, the young mage she saves, or fierce and handsome Laszlo, the slave captain of Lord Vayu's army? Kiera's harrowing journey leads her to joy and to heartbreak. Choosing the wrong side may cost her everything.
When Keira and her nephew are attacked by a dog, they awake in an alternative version of Alaska. As she struggles to gain her bearings, she comes across three children being attacked by soldiers. When she attempts to save the children she gets her first taste of the magic
that suddenly flows through her body. She commands fire. As she holds back the soldiers from the children, she meets the gorgeous Captain Laszlo. Captain of his Lord's army, he invites her and the children to travel with the Army. While traveling with the Army Kiera learns more about the world she has arrived in and fears for hers and Alex's safety.
It is a feudal time where man is king, slavery is permitted, and women are chattel.
When she arrives at her destination she finds herself detained by deception, promises, and love when she once more saves a child's life. Kiera chafes at the luxury she sees in the opulent world of the ruling class she sees being obtained on the backs of the enslaved shape shifters.
Cruelty and decadence rules this empire and it's inhabitants.
As Kiera tries to cope with magic, parenting, and love she also unwillingly enters the political arena through a series of small but socially conscientious acts.
Rebellion soon sweeps through land and Kiera is swept along with it along with her lover, Captain Laszlo and Marco, the royal child she saved But betrayal is a fine edged sword and soon Kiera is unable to distinguish between those who will help her and those who want her dead.
Read the rest of my review at Smexy Books.
Favorite Quote: "Fury consumed her, comforted her, caressed her.
The fire was her heart and it was burning. She wanted to strike out, ease her fear...but she couldn't seem to remember anything but the rage."
A violent attack leaves a young attorney and her nephew in an alternate time ruled by a class of decadent mages who have enslaved the shape changing indigenous peoples. As war looms, Kiera must learn to survive in this new world. Whom can she trust -- Marco, the young mage she saves, or fierce and handsome Laszlo, the slave captain of Lord Vayu's army? Kiera's harrowing journey leads her to joy and to heartbreak. Choosing the wrong side may cost her everything.
When Keira and her nephew are attacked by a dog, they awake in an alternative version of Alaska. As she struggles to gain her bearings, she comes across three children being attacked by soldiers. When she attempts to save the children she gets her first taste of the magic
that suddenly flows through her body. She commands fire. As she holds back the soldiers from the children, she meets the gorgeous Captain Laszlo. Captain of his Lord's army, he invites her and the children to travel with the Army. While traveling with the Army Kiera learns more about the world she has arrived in and fears for hers and Alex's safety.
It is a feudal time where man is king, slavery is permitted, and women are chattel.
When she arrives at her destination she finds herself detained by deception, promises, and love when she once more saves a child's life. Kiera chafes at the luxury she sees in the opulent world of the ruling class she sees being obtained on the backs of the enslaved shape shifters.
Cruelty and decadence rules this empire and it's inhabitants.
As Kiera tries to cope with magic, parenting, and love she also unwillingly enters the political arena through a series of small but socially conscientious acts.
Rebellion soon sweeps through land and Kiera is swept along with it along with her lover, Captain Laszlo and Marco, the royal child she saved But betrayal is a fine edged sword and soon Kiera is unable to distinguish between those who will help her and those who want her dead.
Read the rest of my review at Smexy Books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 4, 2011
Fortunately, the story line improved because I was almost ready to give up after the first couple of chapters. The whole tattoo thing at the beginning was strange and never fully explained. The tattoo thing was the reason why everything happened and so it should have been explained more.
I do not consider myself a prude when it comes to sex in a novel, but I really hate when gratuitous sex is included. Why would the main character just sleep with the captain on the army? It made no sense. There was also a lot of descriptions of her ample breasts and the dresses that barely covered them. Spare me.
Characters did not stay true to themselves and details about them kept changing. She was transported into a medieval Alaska, but characters soon stopped acting like medieval people who have acted. Yes, it is a fantasy. But, if you claim that they are medieval, they need to think and act like medieval people. Her size also seemed to change often. Sometimes it was implied that she was quite overweight and at other times, especially, when she was high kicking someone, I was in disbelief that she could do that being so overweight. I am all for not judging someone that is overweight as I put myself in that category. I am all for agreeing that overweight people can still be in shape (ie me), but doing the kicks and jumps and fighting sequences that she engaged in seemed like the reader needed to suspend disbelief.
I do not consider myself a prude when it comes to sex in a novel, but I really hate when gratuitous sex is included. Why would the main character just sleep with the captain on the army? It made no sense. There was also a lot of descriptions of her ample breasts and the dresses that barely covered them. Spare me.
Characters did not stay true to themselves and details about them kept changing. She was transported into a medieval Alaska, but characters soon stopped acting like medieval people who have acted. Yes, it is a fantasy. But, if you claim that they are medieval, they need to think and act like medieval people. Her size also seemed to change often. Sometimes it was implied that she was quite overweight and at other times, especially, when she was high kicking someone, I was in disbelief that she could do that being so overweight. I am all for not judging someone that is overweight as I put myself in that category. I am all for agreeing that overweight people can still be in shape (ie me), but doing the kicks and jumps and fighting sequences that she engaged in seemed like the reader needed to suspend disbelief.
November 8, 2010
In her debut novel, Lauri J. Owen has created an enthralling world of magic and shapeshifters. The remarkable tale, set in Alaska, starts off with introducing us to Kiera, a plus-sized woman with a tenacious personality, and her young orphan nephew, Alex. After an incident with a mysterious curse and a wild dog, Kiera and Alex are transported to a feudal version of Alaska where the noble class of mages has enslaved a population of shapeshifters. Naturally, Kiera is horrified and becomes involved in the slave rebellion. It helps that she has discovered her own magical affinity. She soon finds herself caught in a struggle between Laszlo, the slave captain of the local army, and Marco, a young mage. It quickly becomes apparent that there is no straight good and evil, but everyone is clouded with grey in this world.
What I truly enjoyed about this book was the realism to all of the characters. Nobody is perfect and the flaws in the characters are what make them interesting. Also, the detailed and well-thought descriptions of the magic in this feudal world were brilliant. I’m looking forward to where Lauri plans to take us next in this wonderful world.
What I truly enjoyed about this book was the realism to all of the characters. Nobody is perfect and the flaws in the characters are what make them interesting. Also, the detailed and well-thought descriptions of the magic in this feudal world were brilliant. I’m looking forward to where Lauri plans to take us next in this wonderful world.
March 29, 2011
I've really never read anything like this book before. Brutally attacked, Kiera and her nephew are transported to another reality, another Alaska, where Feudal lords--Mages--have enslaved the native population--Shapeshifters--and forced them to fight their wars.
At first, Kiera is so unsure of what to do with herself you wonder how she is going to get herself and her young nephew anywhere--let alone survive in the strange world she finds herself in. But, as the author seamlessly weaves several story lines into one narrative, we see that Kiera is a multi-faceted woman who can handle almost anything with a dose of charm and a lot of backbone.
It doesn't hurt that Lazserus is a really, really hot, mysterious Alpha male who makes you wish he would cuddle up with you on cold nights even if he may or may not have betrayed our heroine. I loved this book so much that i could not put it down. House work be damned! They are the kind of characters who stick with you and you wish you could read the whole series instantly.
I think Owen is a major talent and I look forward to more from her.
At first, Kiera is so unsure of what to do with herself you wonder how she is going to get herself and her young nephew anywhere--let alone survive in the strange world she finds herself in. But, as the author seamlessly weaves several story lines into one narrative, we see that Kiera is a multi-faceted woman who can handle almost anything with a dose of charm and a lot of backbone.
It doesn't hurt that Lazserus is a really, really hot, mysterious Alpha male who makes you wish he would cuddle up with you on cold nights even if he may or may not have betrayed our heroine. I loved this book so much that i could not put it down. House work be damned! They are the kind of characters who stick with you and you wish you could read the whole series instantly.
I think Owen is a major talent and I look forward to more from her.
July 30, 2011
Lauri Owen has crafted a magnificent tale of romance and political intrigue, tightly interwoven through
the visions of grandeur and depravity that are her alternate Alaska. From the first page one is gripped
by the story as one follows Kiera and Alex, living out a pretty ordinary existence in present day Alaska,
through their shocking initiation into the realm of magic, where they must survive or be destroyed. The
pages of this book turn of their own accord as one devours the images that flow from them, eager to
seek out the mysteries that lie hidden within and, of course, to follow the ultimate conclusion of the
romance that is the river of hope wending its way through the book.
the visions of grandeur and depravity that are her alternate Alaska. From the first page one is gripped
by the story as one follows Kiera and Alex, living out a pretty ordinary existence in present day Alaska,
through their shocking initiation into the realm of magic, where they must survive or be destroyed. The
pages of this book turn of their own accord as one devours the images that flow from them, eager to
seek out the mysteries that lie hidden within and, of course, to follow the ultimate conclusion of the
romance that is the river of hope wending its way through the book.
January 22, 2012
This is a wonderful debut novel by Lauri Owen. Characters are so richly written that this book would be a great study in characterization for any classroom. What I like best is that the main characters are quirky, far from perfect and feel very real. So much time is spent building the characters and the setting that you can't wait to see what happens in the next novel.
Perfect for students who love fantasy, with a bit of romance to keep the non-fantasy fans enthralled.
Perfect for students who love fantasy, with a bit of romance to keep the non-fantasy fans enthralled.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews