Dour. Dutiful. Dogged.
Personal tragedy drove Callum McRae to join the Order of Saint Casimir fifteen years ago; now he’s in charge of a hold he hasn’t lived in for years. Supplies are scarce, he has no knack for dealing with people, and the Gols are at the gates. To make matters worse, he’s also battling an attraction so powerful and forbidden that it imperils his very soul… soul…
Canny. Cheerful. Charming.
Joss Bristow seems bright and cheerful, but she’s hiding a well of sorrow that fuels her music. She’s also prone to leaping before she looks, exactly how she ends up besieged at Burnt Amber. Though she wanted to get to know Callum better, she never imagined that falling for him could cost her life.
He’s the dark of night, and she’s the sun that shines just for him. Two wounded souls have never needed each other more, but between his holy vows and the devastation of war, the odds are stacked against them…
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I loved this 5th addition to the wonderful Ars Numina series. Bear shifter, Callum, scares everyone away with his gruff exterior. He doesn’t have the patience, time, or empathy for others, but he’s now forced to be the leader of Burnt Amber after his uncle’s death. Having spent the past 15 years living a solitary austere life as a monk, he doesn’t know how to be around people. And he definitely doesn’t know how to be around the enchanting singer, Joss. Joss, a bobcat shifter, impulsively volunteers to entertain the under siege Burnt Amber enclave in order to get closer to Callum. For her, it’s love at first sight. Callum, who fled to the monastery following tragedy, tries to cling to the life that saved him, but he longs for Joss, who brings color and light to his life.
I loved the push and pull of Callum and Joss. I understood why Callum resisted for so long and adored how Joss loved Callum’s rough uncivilized exterior. She completed him in a way that he never knew was possible, likewise Joss, who was always dismissed as frivolous, found someone who saw her as more, an essential asset.
‘The War Priest’ is the fifth installment in Ann Aguirre’s ‘Ars Numina’ series. We finally get Joss and Callum’s story.
In an attempt to escape from and atone for tragic events from his past, Callum McRae, turned to the Order of Saint Casimir, becoming a monk. The attack at Ash Valley killed Beren, Callum’s Uncle, forcing Callum to become leader of the Burnt Amber clan. A role he never asked for.
Joss Bristol, a lynx shifter from Ash Valley, finds herself trapped at Burnt Amber during a siege by the Gols. She had volunteered to sing for the troops in an effort to lift morale. But her offer was not completely altruistic. Joss hoped to become closer to Callum, a man she felt drawn to. Joss is no stranger to loss, her father died during the attack at Ash Valley.
The battle against Tyco continues. Will Callum be able hold off the Golgoth troops outside the compound? As his friendship with Joss grows to something deeper will he be able to uphold his vows of chastity made to the Order? The friendship the grows between the two characters and the way Joss is able to smooth out Callum’s rough edges made me root so hard for them to come together.
This is not a stand alone book. Aguirre has developed such a rich storyline that has weaved its way through every book in this series. The reader already has a familiarity to the world and it’s struggles. Although this is a deep dive into Joss and Callum’s story this is not the first introduction to the characters. This interwoven storyline makes me feel like I am meeting up with old friends. I will be sad with the conclusion of the sixth and final book of the series. I highly recommend ‘The War Priest’ and eagerly anticipate the next installment, ‘The Jaguar Knight’.
Grumpy, celibate war priest Callum is challenged by his new role leading his people and by cat shifter Joss Bristow. There is emotional angst and angsty sexual longing early in the book as Callum’s faith and commitment to his order are challenged by Joss.
This is a fantastic book in a wonderful series that has phenomenal world building.
I recently spoke to a friend of mine who told me that she does not read PNR because she had no patience for the details of world-building and hated complicated, unpronounceable names. Sometimes it is true, but good PNR stories are worth the investment.
Ann Aguirre creates a complicated world with a large cast of characters in this Ars Numina series. Luckily, she also provides a little primer at the beginning of the book to remind us of the previous story lines. Yes, the context is a little complex, but it is a nod to the author’s storytelling abilities that the narrative draws the reader right in and keeps the pages turning.
It’s all about the bears. I love a good bear story. Bears are quickly becoming my favorite form of shifter. Bears are strong, fierce, and protective. They are also cuddly and playful. Having said that, when are first introduced to our hero, Callum McRae, he is more austere, having spend the last few years in a religious order. He is a reluctant leader who, lacking some of the usual social skills, struggles to relate to his clan members. Joss, the songbird of the Ash Valley felines, is the perfect match for the stoic bear. Her light offsets his dark, but their pairing epitomizes a strong partnership needed to lead the Burnt Amber bears.
The War Priest was great. I think it’s my favourite of the series. It’s action packed, a bit gory, forbidden and sexy. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved the hero and heroine, Callum and Joss and their journey. They are the opposite of each other yet fit so well together. They’re the perfect complement to the other. I loved it and can’t wait to read the final book in the series.
Copy provided by author
My new favorite in this series! the hero and heroine were both really appealing. His struggle with his conflicting duties to his people and to his vows as a monk gave a great deal of depth to the story.
Copy of the book provided by the author.