Her hands shackled. An assassin hunting the man she loves. Will she save him in time?Elementalist Rielle needs to get to the man she loves before the assassin pursuing him finds her mark. There’s only one problem: she’s chained aboard a slave ship bound for a foreign land.And her new life is harsh, with her movements watched, food scarce, and safety even scarcer. Immortals ravage Emaurria, and a … Immortals ravage Emaurria, and a distant relation sparks the fires of rebellion against the new king while shrewd royals angle for an advantageous marriage. Powerful foreign nobles whisper promises in Rielle’s ear—and lies with fatal consequences–but with more than her life at stake, whom can she trust? And while Jon faces personal demons, wars, widespread hunger, unrest, and politics, the assassin lurks in his periphery, a knife in the dark.
With her death looming at every turn and an unforgiving barren desert between her and Jon, can Rielle save him before it’s too late, or will the brutal sands claim her life… and everything she loves?
If you like the romance of A Court of Thorns and Roses*, the dark intrigue of the Black Jewels series, the epic adventure of* Game of Thrones*, and a heroine who never gives up, you’ll love this romantic epic fantasy series.*
Pick up By Dark Deeds and dive into a medieval world sensual and dark, full of magic and greed, love and blades, where factions vie for influence and there are no easy choices….
(Note: This is an adult fantasy novel, and as such, there are adult situations depicted, including adult language, violence, romance, depression, alcohol and/or drug use, etc. This is the second book in a projected six-book series, so although this book’s story is complete, it is not a standalone novel.)
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I seriously can’t understand why this series isn’t in mainstream bookstores and libraries. I feel it is just as good if not better than many of the books I’ve read there.
Oh! The feels! For most of the book, I wanted to either shake someone or hug them. The things that Rielle had to go through and the destruction of Jon over her disappearance made me want to scream and cry and hope no one was watching me listen to this book. Not to mention Brennan’s about face.
Amanda Leigh Cobb has narrated another masterful performance. This was one of those books that made me want to hurry up and find out what happens, while purposefully delaying, just so I can stay in the world Miranda Honfleur created just a little bit longer.
All of the characters are soooo flawed. Good and bad. Every. Single. One of them. I was so close to yelling at Jon. Yelling at Rielle. Yelling at the both of them. Together. Lots of yelling. Olivia was my savior. She was the only one who had a brain in her head and even her, poor girl, couldn’t catch a break.
Leigh, on the other hand, came out smelling like roses compared to the shitstorm he unleashed on the world.
I loved that the book was so long. A lot of people complained about the elves being boring but I loved that there were good “fantasy” creatures that came back as well as the bad. If we can have knights and princesses, why not dragons and giants? Or mermaids and elves? It reminds us that not only one little piece of the world was affected, but the whole thing.
I can’t wait for the next installment. Thank you, Miranda Honfleur, for the audiobook arc in exchange for my unbiased review.
I’m of the opinion that the second book of a series should be the “darker and edgier” installment, and man oh man, does Honfleur also apparently think that.
This book was NUTS, and in all the best ways. Everything we thought knew about Rielle and company, their pasts, presents, and futures–all of it–was ripped away. She dangled hope and happiness, answers and understanding, and then snatched it from our fingers. Honfleur is GOOD. She’s so, so friggin’ good at this.
Her complex emotional tapestries remain my favorite aspect of her writing. All of the characters undergo intense emotional beatings and come out changed, and not always for the better. Jon is a different man. Rielle is at her lowest. Brennan…well, Brennan is still a dick, but a different kind a dick.
I’m utterly enthralled, and I can’t wait to move on to Court of Shadows (Blade and Rose, #3).
What a great series
What a great story. I hate that it has to take a pause because the next part is not ready. I can hardly wait.
Personally I was slightly annoyed with the block in this section of the series that had every one having sex. It got old fast. I did like that we got to start hearing from more characters points of view, giving you more of the wider story.
Fantastic continuation of the Blade and Rose series. Highly immersive and well developed world, characters, and story. The narrator does an amazing job of bringing the story to life with plenty of emotion and unique voices for the characters. I lost track of time when listening to this amazing listen! I recommend this for fans of Robin McKinley and Sherwood Smith. I received a free review copy of this audiobook at my request and I have voluntarily left this review.
Dark Deeds is a well written, emotion filled story. I can still feel the slight rush of adrenaline after finishing this second segment of Rielle, Jon, Brennan and Olivia’s tale. I’ve grown attached to each character in one way or another and feel for them, especially Rielle. My heart just broke for her. There were many twists and turns and unexpected developments in their story. By the end of the book I had so many questions. I can’t wait to see where the next part of journey will take them and if my questions will be answered. (4.5)
Book 2 continues the story from Blade & Rose (Blade and Rose, #1), but is full of intense pain, endless suffering, many deaths, wholesale destruction, tragedy and deep sorrow. Each of the major characters suffers in their own way. Old habits and beliefs crumble in the face of cruel and uncaring reality. The hidden instigator of the regicide is discovered. A new threat to Jon is unleashed. This book was difficult to read because of the overwhelmingly depressing feeling that radiated from the story: sadness, loss, hopelessness, grief and other negative emotions. The few happy moments were shattered in the next moment. I hope Book 3 will find a more positive development. This book is a little too depressing for my taste; I like happier adventures and happy endings.
Captured by Shadow and held captive by Captain Sincuore, Rielle must somehow escape to prevent Shadow from assassinating Jon. Shadow has sworn vengeance on Rielle for the death of her husband by killing Jon and delivering Rielle to be a slave. Brennan, who will become a werewolf without Rielle’s blood, is tasked with rescuing her while heartbroken Jon rules Emaurria. Olivia is tasked with finding the person behind the massacre of her beloved James and the entire Emaurrian royalty. Suffering, grief and sadness lie ahead for everyone.
Well I must say this is not where I thought the author was going after the first book. I’m not prone to like sequels but Miranda outdid herself with this one. I loved the desert setting wondering how the power house Rielle was going to get herself out of this one. And Jon omg what was he thinking!?!?!?! I never trusted Brennen but girlfriend wha….? I can’t stop reading this series it is sooo good do yourself a favor and get them, read them.
This book picks up where the first one in the series left off and is just as good. You can see the characters growing and feel for them when they have to make the best of bad situations and pick the least bad of several bad choices. It is darker than the first one, but kind of has to be due to where the characters find themselves. I can’t wait to see where they go from here.
Wow… the torture…but I had to keep reading. I love the world Miranda has created. The characters, the action, the passion, the story… it all pulls you in and you can’t put it down! I can’t wait for the hea for the characters ark the end of the series!
OMG this one is even better than the first!! To see all of the troubles they went to, the anger-suffering that Rielle had to undergone, the way that the characters grew and shaped their destiny!!! There where times in which I wanted to throw the book at the wall but then remember I was reading in my kindle… You will love them, hate them and love them all over again (ps, Brennan is still my favorite
Rielle is bound to a pirate ship, sailing far away to the desert to be sold as at a slave market. Life becomes harder that any war she has ever fought. She is watched constantly. Food becomes scare. Trust and safety are distant memories. She will do anything she needs to in order to survive. Even at her worst moments she has faith, she knows Jon will move heaven and earth to find her. She just has to be alive when he gets there.
Unfortunately Jon can’t come. He can’t leave his kingdom unprotected. Especially if he becomes earthbound. But there is someone else who can go. Maybe someone with an even stronger connection thus better chance at a successful mission.
My third read from author Miranda Honfleur. Tolkienesque fantasy with a larger dash of romance than its predecessor. Not a HEA romance but some real romance with its challenges. 700+ pages of fantasy. Well-written, outstanding character developed in great detail with an unseen surprise thrown in near the end of this first book. No spoilers from me, this is a must-read for fantasy lovers! I can’t wait for the next book in the series, Court of Shadows!