Max’s arrival into Cali’s world has sparked both hope and controversy for their society as a whole. Change is inevitable. For Cali, Max’s unexpected appearance is a blessing, as she is finally free to be herself; a knight, a woman … a lover. Her easy-going, slightly cynical façade hides a scarred woman who yearns to be accepted. But when Cali meets a sexy, intriguing stranger for a single night … night of passion, she never could have predicted the consequences. For her mysterious stranger hides a dark secret and could be the key to solving one of society’s most shameful mysteries.
Once one of the most noble and famous members of warden society, Dex’s fall from grace decades ago has left its mark on the once proud warrior. Years of torture and self-imposed exile have left him with no friends, no family, and a menacing predator haunting his every step. One night of spontaneous desire with the woman of his dreams leads to his possible redemption … but also to his possible death. Will old loyalties and new hopes be enough to save him? Or is his soul lost forever?
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2nd read ; 2020
1st read : 2017
I just LOVE LOVE this series! I’m so glad that I was a little late in discovering it because that means that now I can just read all the books of the series in one go. I can’t remember the last time that I did that!
For centuries, the chades were considered the enemy of the wardens and the paladins but now with Max’s arrival everything is changing. One of those things is the thought that Chades would be bad. What if Chades were just sick?! If this is true that would mean that their society have been wrong about them for many centuries. That their society failed in helping the wardens that became Chades. And this is something that most of their society find hard to accept. Even Max’s own order is having trouble with this new way of thinking.
Cali is now part of Max’s order. After leaving her ‘old’ order, Cali never thought she would ever be part of a new one again. But Max isn’t like anyone she ever met before and their order isn’t like any order she has ever met before. Their order is more than an order, it’s family. Although Cali is a paladin and therefor a warrior, it’s only now that she’s respected for that. In her ‘old’ order she was used in other ways and that left some (invisible) scars on her. That’s why Cali doesn’t do relationships but she does have one night stands from time to time.
The last time wasn’t so long ago. Cali never expected to meet the hot and mysterious stranger again and certainly not in so strange circumstances. But she does and now she doesn’t know how to react or what to do with him.
Dex was once a proud air warden but that was many, many years ago. Now he lives hiding and ashamed from their society. After all those lonely years he never thought that he would have a chance to become part of the warden/paladin society again but that’s just what Max has planned for him. Max is a stubborn and strongminded woman and she’s determined to bring him back from his exile and to prove to everyone that she’s right.
But what Max is trying to do is very dangerous because one wrong step could get them all killed. And then you have the chemistry between Cali and Dex. A chemistry that is wrong but feels so good. Can Dex and Cali really have a future together or was it never meant to be?
I find the ‘Elemental Paladins’ series very refreshing and wonderful. Each book in this series is a continue of the previous book. It’s like you’re reading one big story. Every book has also his own little surprises. In this book ‘Chade’ Dex was the big surprise and I just fell in love with him, just like all the other characters in this series. The story is told from both POV’s. Although both, Dex and Cali, are warriors that doesn’t mean that they can’t be gentle or empathic. I really liked both character.
The ‘Elemental PaIadins’ series is a fun series and I can’t wait to read more of it.
Love her work
Another 5 star book in this wonderful series. I’m already impatient for the next book!!
I loved the first two books in the series and was so excited to win this copy and continue this fabulous world. I love Montana’s easy writing style, her Aussie sarcasm thrown in and the hilarious banter between the characters. I admired this character ‘Dex’ he’d suffered enough as a Chade after a long life of being a champion and I was hoping that Max could fix him. The story line hooked me from the beginning and took me on their journey with them. I’m really looking forward to the next one and seeing Dex and Cali mentioned with their little “Hitch”.
This series is a must read, preferably in order.