Prince of Fire by Linda Winstead Jones

Despite the prophesies, Keelia, Queen of the Anwyn, would never let a wild Caradon, a man who can shape-shift into a mountain cat, touch her. But when one kidnaps her, mistaking her for the caster of a spell on his people. Keelia realizes she has never been more wrong: Her Caradon captor is the very same lover as in her torrid, recurring dream.

No man alive, Caradon or not, can resist a sensuous Anwyn queen. When Joryn, the Queen’s kidnapper realizes his mistake, the two must work together to undo the wicked spell. Neither can deny the crackling chemistry between them nor can the deny the ever-looming Prophecy of the Firstborn: She will betray love in the name of victory…

Thoughts

The second book in the Children of Sun series, Prince of Fire is the story of Keelia, the daughter of Juliet and Ryn & is the Red Queen that was prophesized about in The Moon Witch. This prophecy states that this Red Queen will take a Caradon lover and unite the Anwyn & Caradon. Joryn is a Caradon who, like Keelia, has special gifts and talents and has the ability to shapeshift. The Caradon is the sworn enemy of the Anwyn.

There is something evil infecting the Caradon and Joryn believes it to be the curse of the Anwyn queen. He therefore kidnaps her, holding her prisioner in order to stop the course. Keelia, is of course innocent and knowing the prophecy, convinces Joryn that they must fight this evil together. They form an uneasy truce and together set out to confront and stop the Isen Demon.

Prince of Fire is a solid addition to this series. The plot and the characters are combined perfectly to make this story flow smoothly from one page to the next. The passion & chemistry between Keelia and Joryn is so well written it made me laugh, cry, and root for them when you weren't sure if they would make it. Old plots are revisited, new ones introduced and seeing the familiar characters returning from previous novels in the series make Prince of Fire a book not to be missed.

Prince of Ice by Stobie Piel

The peace of Amrodel has come to an end. The power of the Arch Mage had grown strong enough to reach the woodlands even from where he lay undead in the mountains, and he’d wasted no time in immobilizing the kingdom’s defenders. Only one hope remained: a girl, the would-be sorceress Cahira. Her archery was nonpareil, but she had never been able to focus her magic.

Upon her shoulders lay the fate of her people.
Long ago it had been prophesied that “only one of pure light could withstand the darkness.” Cahira’s task was to find that man and give him the Dragonfly sword. But how? Not the man foretold. She had seen him as a youngster, been captivated by his fine blond curls and devilish grin… but Aren was one of her people’s ancestral enemies, a brutish Norskman. He was their leader! All Cahira loved lay in the balance, and she and her friends were being sent into the cold north to find a barbaric rogue. North to danger, north to salvation, north to find the Prince of Ice…

My Thoughts

Darkness has settled over the land of Amordel, and the Arch Mage, who had been temporarily defeated in the past, once again seeks to take over the world. With all the mages under a spell and in a deep sleep, it us up to Cahira, daughter of the late King of Amrodel, to find the Warrior of the Light so that he may use the Dragonfly sword and defeat the evil Mage. She is joined on her Quest by her non-magical friends and they journey into the land of their enemy, Norskland, to search for the Warrior of Light.

Aren, son of Arkyn, is Chief of the Norsk and is the warrior needed to wield the sword. Aren is a non-magical being and after much convincing, he and a few of his men are persuaded to join the quest and they begin their journey to the catacombs of the Arch Mage for the final confrontation. On their journey, tempers flare as those loyal to one or the other try to dominate the group and loyalty is questioned.

I’m not sure how I feel about this book. On one hand, I loved it. The triumph of good over evil, the tale of timeless love, a sexy, strong, sensitive hero and a quirky, strong and empowering heroine is always a good read. There were also several strong supporting characters, including the wise old sage, Felix, a talking bat. The ending was unique, completely unexpected and very satisfying.

What I didn’t like about this book is the character development, especially the development of our hero and heroine. We know that both Cahira and Aren have special abilities, but we do not see these abilities progress. In the beginning, we know that Cahira is a mage, but that her ki - her magical ability- is erratic and unpredictable. Over the course of the book, I was expecting her to ‘come into her own’, to gain control of her power. This did not happen. And then there is Aren. While he is not a mage, he does have mage-like abilities and not once do we see these abilities discovered. I found it very frustrating.

Another thing I disliked was the character Shaen. Annoying, predictable and boring, I found myself skipping over her scenes as they bored me senseless.

Over all, not a bad book but one I am unlikely to recommend. If you must read it, I suggest borrowing it from the library or finding one cheap at a used bookstore.

Prince of Magic by Linda Winstead Jones

The firstborn children of the Fyne witches have finally come into their own, each with a special gift . . .

Independent Ariana Kane Varden, daughter of the Sun Witch, has never let family duty from reaching her dreams. She learned the practice of her gift, the power to heal others, at her mother's knee. And now she is the palace healer, tending to her emperor . . .
The last prophesy of magician Sian Chamblyn's late grandfather points to Ariana as the one to save Columbyana from a growing evil. Sian has hightailed it from lands afar to deliver the message. While he prepares her for the fight of her life, Sian intends to remain undistracted by his sensuously beautiful protégée. But in the heat of battle—and passion—diligence might be his downfall . . .

My Thoughts

Prince of Magic is the first book in the Children of the Sun trilogy, the follow-up to the sensational trilogy, Sisters of the Sun.

In the land of Columbyana, darkness is spreading and an unspeakable evil threatens the land. Sian Chamblyn, a great wizard and grandson of a powerful magician, journeys to the Emperor to relay his grandfather’s final prophecy – The Prophecy of the Firstborn. The prophecy states that the first born children of three fine women will fight and save Columbyana from this evil – an evil that has taken control of the Emperor’s son, Prince Ciro. Sian is expecting a seasoned warrior to lead the fight and is surprised and shocked to discover that the leader is a woman named Ariana.

Ariana is the first-born daughter of the Sun Witch, Sophie. She has been the healer of Emperor Arik, using what she can to keep the ailing emperor alive. Neither Sian nor Ariana believe she has what it takes to lead the army but they accept fate and work together to train for the battle that is yet to come. They are drawn to each other from the beginning, and slowly begin to believe in each other and fall in love. But Sian holds a secret that could destroy their romance before it even begins.

After reading the Sisters of the Sun trilogy, I quickly ran out and bought this one. Once again, I was taken to a land of magic, mystery and passion. The land of Columbyana did not seem like a fictional land as the author paints a descriptive picture and you are transported there. Prince of Magic was emotional, passionate, action-packed and magical. This written story line provides closure to Ariana's segue and sets the stage for the next Fyne witch to continue the war against evil.

If you are a fan of the fantasy genre, you will not be disappointed. I strongly recommend it.

The Star Witch by Linda Winstead Jones

Some say the Circle of Bacwyr is a myth – and practical Isadora, a young, widowed attendant to the Empress, numbers among them. But for Captain Lucan Hern, the powerful Circle is as real as the daggers he hides under his clothing. The warrior was raised solely to find – and capture – the elusive Star of Bacwyr. But his teachers never told him exactly what it was. They only made one thing clear: Stay away from witches…

Sounds easy enough. Then Lucan meets Isadora, a decidedly different kind of beauty. She is oblivious to his attraction while he is equally oblivious to the fact that she’s a witch. And he believes her ring is the Star he’s been searching for.

Isadora has slept in a cold bed these long years – but the arrival of this gorgeous creature sets her body afire. And after a lifetime of searching for the Star, Lucan all but forgets it, waiting for Isadora to give herself to him freely, when he will take her beyond her wildest dreams…

My Thoughts

The Star Witch is the third and final book in the Fyne Sisters trilogy (see The Moon Witch and The Sun Witch) and is the story of Isadora, the eldest sister. A curse from a wizard on an ancestor of the sister’s has robbed this family of love for three hundred years. It has personally touched Isadora as she lost her husband Willym, as the curse said she would. As a result, she has vowed to never love again.

When we last saw Isadora, she was taken to Emperor Sebestyen and imprisoned. Liane, his former concubine who is now his wife, makes Isadora her personal witch. Isadora, who has teetered on the line between good and dark magic, gratefully accepts the offer and hopes to rectify the mistakes she has made in the past.

Lucan is at the palace for two reasons: first to decide if his brother should be able to marry his pregnant mistress and secondly, to regain the Star of Bacwyr which he believes to be the ring that Isadora wears. Because of this, he requests that Isadora become his concubine while he is at the palace hoping to have an opportunity to steal the ring, and Sebestyen, seeing an opportunity to spy on Lucan, forces Isadora to comply. From the moment she looks upon Lucan her body responds to the sensual creature that he is while she does her best to fight it. What starts out as a simple mission for Lucan soon turns in to much more as he cannot get the prisoner out of his mind; his desire for her is that strong.

Rebels led by the other two Fyne witches are coming to attack the Emperor, who sends Isadora to a hell where no one has ever returned. Isadora sees this as the chance to finally lift the curse even if it takes her death to do so while Lucan risks his life to rescue the woman he loves.

While our hero and heroine is most certainly Lucan and Isadora, the subplot of Sebestyen and Liane pretty much steals the show. Since the first book, we have been following the twisted relationship of these two and no matter how twisted and evil these two are, you can’t help but wish them a happy ending. Even though Sebestyen was a horrible character I found myself wishing that there had been some way to save him from himself and redeem him.

All the many threads are woven together in the trilogy are addressed and all questions answered in this masterful conclusion of the Sisters trilogy. A fantastic ending to an outstanding series and if you are a fan of any romance that is mixed with fantasy, this is a series you definitely must read. Next up is her Children of the Sun trilogy, the stories of the firstborn children of the Fyne sister’s. If it’s anything like this trilogy, it is one not to be missed.

The Moon Witch by Linda Winstead Jones

Blessed – and cursed – with the ability to see the past and future of anyone she touches, middle sister Juliet yearns to use her gift upon herself, if only to understand the terrifying nightmares that plague her. But her fears mean nothing when she is kidnapped by the Emperor’s men.

All his life, Ryn has dreamed of a woman with flame red hair and haunting beauty. He draws extraordinary strength and senses from the wolf-beast within him and after years of hunting, he has found his life mate. Defeating Juliet’s captors, Ryn whisks her away to his home, where his wild desire leads him to defy an ancient prophecy – and only Juliet’s untapped powers can stave off the dark forces that threaten to destroy them both.

My Thoughts

The second book in the Fyne Sister Trilogy, The Moon Witch, is the story of Juliet Fyne, the middle sister who has the gift of sight. The story begins shortly after Sophie and Kane leave Fyne Mountain to rescue their daughter, Adriana.

Imperial troops invade Fyne mountain, kidnapping Juliet and Isadora, burning their home and taking the sisters to the Emperor. Along the way, Juliet is once again kidnapped by Ryn, who is one of the legendary Anywn, a mystical race of human shapeshifters who become wolves with the rise of each new moon. Very few Anwyn females are born so the males must find their mates outside of the city and find them by scent. Ryn is certain that Juliet is his soulmate, destined to be with him forever.

As they travel closer to Ryn’s home, desires long dormant begin to surface and she discovers many secrets about herself and Ryn. When Juliet discovers the truth about her parentage and her roll in fulfilling the prophecy of the Anwyn, she blossoms and grows from the unimpressive middle sister into a powerful witch and leader. The prophecy of the Anwyn adds a different view to the story and provides an interesting twist.

The story also follows Isadora, the eldest sister into the Emperor’s city where she is held prisioner with her fate resting in the hands of Liane, the Emperor’s former concubine who is now his wife. We also see more of the relationship between Sebestyen & Liane and once again, Ms. Jones shows us the ‘human’ side of a tyrant. There are points in the book where we revisit Sophie & Kane who have joined the camp of Sebestyen’s half brother who is the leader of the rebels.

The Moon Witch is an outstanding book, with many complex plots that will keep you enthralled for hours. You are whisked away from one segment to another and your imagination is engaged by vivid scenes that place you in the middle of the action. The book leaves many questions, with many plots hanging which will make a reader quite eager to get their hands of the third and final instalment of this trilogy, Isadora’s story, The Star Witch.

Ghost Hunter by Jayne Castle

Where deadly energy ghosts lurk in the ruins of an ancient alien civilization. Where dust bunnies prove to be loyal pets. And where a ghost hunter will discover that a woman's heart is the most dangerous adversary of all . . .

Local Guild boss and powerful ghost-hunter Cooper Boone is everything botanist Elly St. Clair could ask for - the handsome, strong, and silent type. Maybe too silent. For when Guild secrets threaten her career at the college, Elly has to call off their marriage - and leave small-town life behind...But starting over in the thriving metropolis of Cadence City isn't easy, especially when one of Elly's new friends disappears in the eerie catacombs beneath the streets.

Cooper turns up just in time to help Elly investigate. And as the mystery deepens and dangerous ghost myths and legends come to light, Cooper makes it clear he intends to stick around - and this time he's holding nothing back . . .

My Thoughts
Ghost hunter takes place on Harmony, a planet colonized by humans when a curtain, or wormhole, opened up between the planets enabling people to travel back and forth between the two planets. Everything was great until that curtain suddenly closed, the settlers were left stranded and had to learn how to survive all over again. Two hundred years later, most of the citizens have developed certain psychic powers. Most of these abilities center around the ruins of settlements there were abandoned by an earlier culture on the planet. Under these cities are massive catacombs with large masses of energy, which are called ‘ghosts’. It is these ghost that ghost hunters hunt, using their physic abilities to diffuse this energy to keep archaeologists and others safe.

Elly St. Clair is a botanist from a Guild family. Her ancestors were Guild founders, her father is a powerful Guild leader and her brothers are following in his footsteps. She can "read" plants, a talent her family has hidden. Elly recently became engaged to Cooper Boone, the new Guild boss in Aurora Springs. Cooper is from a family of academics; he's psychically powerful and can hunt blue ghosts, a very rare ability. Elly believes that Cooper wants to marry her only so he can advance his career. She breaks their engagement and moves to Cadence City, opening St. Clair's Herbal Emporium, and gets on with her life. Six months later Cooper comes to see her and hopes she's ready to come back to him.

Elly enlists Cooper’s help to find a friend who has gone missing in the catacombs. They then become embroiled in a scheme to discover who hurt Elly's friend when she stumbled into a drug-making operation, while clues of a mysterious and mystique legend keep cropping up, etc.

What I really liked about this book was Rose, the dust bunny and Cooper Boone. He was enigmatic and sexy, sincere, interesting and patient with Ellie. The man was HOT and the love scenes were smokin’. Elly, on the other hand, was irritating, boring, and childish and came across as nothing more then a spoiled brat. She throws tantrums several times in the story one example being the fit in her fiancée’s office where she throws a pitcher of orange juice on the hero for saying something she doesn't like. It was completely over the top and did nothing to endear me to the heroine at all.

Overall it was an okay read that kept me entertained. While intriguing me enough to read the next instalment in the Harmony series, I have no intention of reading the previous two novels.

The Sun Witch by Linda Winstead Jones

A curse put on their family long ago makes true love unattainable for the Fyne women. Sophie’s two elder sisters, both skilled witches, have accepted this and have vowed a lifetime of chastity. But young Sophie has yet to find her own power. With more luscious curves then her sisters, Sophie wonders if the fire coursing through her body might be an indication of her true strength. She dreams of a green-eyed stranger and when she finally does meet the man of her dreams, she knows her power: Nature has gifted her with fertility.

Although groggy from war wounds, Kane could have sworn that an angel came to him, healed him and made love to him. Now, after a year of searching for the girl who may or may not have been a dream, Kane is stunned to find Sophie – with his child at her breast. But when a scorned suitor captures their infant daughter, they must call on all their strength, both earthly and supernatural to fight the curse that promises to end their happiness.

My Thoughts

In Columbyana, on the mountain of Orianan live the three Fyne sisters – witches cursed by a wizard who was rejected by one of their ancestors. Like the Fyne women before them any man they love will die a tragic death by the age of 30. While the two eldest sisters, Isadora and Juliet are content to live a solitary life without love, Sophie, the youngest sister yearns for more. She desires to know love, the act of love and wishes for a baby. She dreams of a green-eyed stranger and then one day he appears. She invites him to be her lover and before she leaves his sleeping body she lays her hands on him, wishing him healed and wishing him luck – not knowing what untapped powers she possessed.

Kane Varden is a broken man. As a soldier in the rebel army he witnesses the death of his brother during an ambush and is left for dead. He thought he was destined to die when he saw an angel appear before him, soothing him, loving him. When he awakes, he moves on thinking only that he has dreamed. As the months go by, his luck changes and he does well but he can never forget his “angel” even though he forgets his tormented past. He returns to the pool on the mountain only to see his “angel” nursing a child – his child who is named Adriana. He proposes marriage but Sophie declines, telling him of the curse. Isadora, the eldest sisters, lifts the spell that Sophie accidentally put on Kane and he once again remembers everything.

At this point, a rejected suitor of Sophie kidnaps Adriana and flees to the city, hoping to persuade the Emperor and Sophie’s father to pressure her into marriage with him. Sophie and Kane join forces and travel to the city in pursuit. As their journey continues, feelings blossom and Sophie is unsure that she is unable to refrain from loving Kane.

This book kicked ass. Sorry to be so crude but I can’t help myself. I adore everything about this book: good vs. evil, humour, romance, passion and intrigue. It was wonderful seeing Sophie grow from an innocent, naïve girl to a strong, passionate woman coming into her magical powers. The first part of the book is a somewhat slow but speeds up about a quarter of the way in.

The book is filled with delightful secondary characters and villains, the other Fyne sisters, and the evil Emperor. The subplot is the secondary romance between Emperor Sebastyen and his concubine, Liane. It is woven seamlessly into the story and although dark and sometimes disturbing, their story almost outdoes Sophie and Kane. Although they are the villains, you can’t help but love them just a little bit.

If you are looking for a fun and entertaining fantasy romance, I strongly recommend The Sun Witch. However, this is the first book in a series so in order to get the conclusion (what happens with the curse) you have to read all three.