Going under cover in an attempt to expose weakness if not kill an evil duke who murders his people for magical power, the hero finds himself the caption of the guard much by surprise. He knows the mark of his cheek and the almost pure white of his eyes betray him as a magic user, so the duke must have a sinister reason for promoting him but he doesn't complain as it helps his mission. It's there that he meets the widow of the previous duke who's life has become that of a servant in the house she used to rule. Her life and the lives of her ladies in waiting are constantly threatened and she longs for the dukes death more than anything. Despite the hero's loos and cold exterior, she instantly knows he's a good man and it isn't long before the two become lovers. The hero's life isn't his own and he is a servant to the Lady and knows he must soon move on. But he's drawn to the quiet yet sexual woman and does everything he can to protect her. When he's kidnapped by the Duke, the heroine goes to his friends for help and with the help of the hero's pet gargoyle, they save him but in doing so, they severely in danger the heroine's life. I really liked this book for most of it and then it sort of fell flat. I like the romance to be a build up and a hot burning when they do finally come together. Though it clear they like each other, it'd didn't feel passionate. Other than the sex scenes which were very nice and well done, their romance was a little blah. Also, two of the hero's friends have already found wives despite their lifestyle and their vows, so why did is seem completely out of the realm of possibility to find his own? ( )

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: The time has come for the Warriors of the Mist to take down Duke Kierthan once and for all in this thrilling but flawed conclusion to Alexis Morgan’s Warriors of the Mist series.

Opening Sentence: It had been three days since Kane first rode through the arched gates of Agathia, capital of the kingdom with the same name.

The Review:

The time is drawing near for the Warriors of the Mist to make good on their agreement to bring down the evil Duke Kierthan. At the moment though, they find themselves separated, with Averel and Kane in Agathia to try and ferret out the Duke’s weakness, and Gideon, Murdoch, and Duncan at home building an army. Kane’s plan is to gain a position as a guard in hopes that he’ll be able to find out something that will help them in their fight against the Duke. His plan works better than he intended, as he ends up meeting the Duke personally and becoming captain of the guard. He also didn’t plan on meeting Theda, the Duke’s widowed sister-in-law. There is an instant attraction, but neither of them can risk the Duke finding out about their feelings for each other. They also don’t realize the Duke has plans for Kane, ones that don’t involve him living a long and happy life. Will the Duke succeed, or will the Warriors be able to follow through on their promise to take care of his evil once and for all?

I feel like I’m saying this a lot lately, but this book was a hard one for me to rate. If I was judging it solely on the basis of the overall plot involving the Warriors and their fight against the Duke, I would definitely give it 4 stars. As someone who hasn’t read the first two books, there was plenty of information given so that I never felt lost, and I was easily able to jump right in on the action. The pace was fast, and I had a hard time putting the book down. However, if I was judging the book based on the romance plot, it would get a much lower rating.

It wasn’t a matter of me not connecting to the characters. I liked both Theda and Kane and enjoyed the parts of the book that involved them trying to take down the Duke, but whenever things turned to romance, it left me cold. I think it was a matter of telling versus showing. We’re told there’s an attraction, and then all of a sudden there’s a kiss, and then they’re making love, and then they’re in love. We’re not really shown anything that makes those actions or feelings seem realistic. Thankfully, the book seemed to focus more on the overall plot rather than the romance arc, so it didn’t end up being that big of a deal, but it’s definitely worth mentioning.

Overall, I enjoyed my time spent in Agathia, despite my dislike of the romance. The world building was done very well, and it made me want to go back and see how it all started. Fans of the series should be very pleased with how it wraps up!

Notable Scene:

Finally, he looked away. “You should know that I cannot stay here in the city for much longer. I have other commitments that have first claim on me.”

His truth deserved hers in return. “And I have but a short time before Ifre will force me to marry one of his cronies. I’m not asking for anything you cannot give me, Kane, but only a few hours in the moonlight.”

She was glad that the anger in Kane’s pale eyes wasn’t directed toward her. His hand sought out hers, cradling it with such aching care. “That man is a monster.”

Then why did Kane serve him? She wouldn’t ask the question when she might not like the answer. “So we have an agreement? A stolen hour here and there will surely cause no harm.”

“I will meet you here in two nights’ time if that’s your wish. Now we should return. I will watch from the shadows to make sure you reach the door safely.”

As much as she hated to admit it, he was right. But as she stood, he stepped in front of her, settling the reassuring weight of his hands on her shoulders.

“There is one more thing, my lady.”

His cold anger had changed into something else, something hot and hungry. “What would that be, Kane?”

“This.”

Then his stern mouth claimed hers with a fierce heat that burned and sizzled in the damp chill of the night air.

FTC Advisory: Penguin/Signet provided me with a copy of Honor’s Price. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. ( )

Book 3 and ... the last???? of the series??? This is Kane's story, although all loose ends are neatly tied, but I was really hoping for more to follow. Oh well. Honor's price does not disappoint. Kane struggles with his "family inheritance" and himself while trying to find a way to defeat the darkness. Of course they have the added pressure of running out of time and feeling bereft without their friends. Yet Kane finds love and, perhaps? redemption.

Great end to the series, if it is the end.

Our Review, by LITERAL ADDICTION's Pack Alpha - Chelle:
*Copy gifted in exchange for an honest review

Another wonderful installment in the Warriors of the Mist series and an ending perfect for all of those HEA seekers.

5 Warriors, pledged to the Lord and Lady of the River to fight for those in need. They have been battling the Duke of Agathia for some time as he takes over the land and suffuses it with his dark blood magic. Split apart, two try to fight from within, while the others protect the one who called them from without.

Kane was born with dark mage blood but he has never nurtured his 'gift'. His grandfather gave him the mage mark while he was still in the womb, and this, along with his stellar warrior skills allow him to be drafted into the Duke's inner guard. I loved his character. He's chivalrous, has some pretty serious inner demons that he battles, but is loyal and steadfast in his honorable quest, as well. When he finds lady Theda, it's wonderful to see his walls fall and his heart open.

Theda is a great heroine. She's been through hell and back, and yet she keeps fighting. Not so much for herself, but for those she loves. She's determined, smart, strong and willful, and she's not afraid to go after what she wants. In this case, what she ends up wanting is Kane, and their romance grows sweetly at first and then burns with a fire hard to ignore.

I've really enjoyed this series since book #1, and seeing everything come full circle was utterly enjoyable. I think this is the last book of the series, but Alexis did some things with some 'extra' characters that I can see turning into some novellas or a spin off possibly in the future.

I would highly recommend the WARRIORS OF THE MIST series, and while the books can be read easily as stand-alones, I would suggest reading them in order, especially with the extra surprises in Honor's Price that answer some questions and link all of the characters from all 3 books together beautifully.

If you're looking for a sweet historical fantasy romance with captivating characters, a robust story arc, and enough action and intrigue to keep you wanting more, pick these up. :) ( )