What if you came to the greatest crossroads of your life…and chose wrong?Inga is jubilant over Russia’s victory in Kazan. Until both Ivan and the Tsarina fall deathly ill, and tragedy strikes. Ivan slides into madness, and Inga has a front row seat to the blood and terror he inflicts. She yearns for peace, and for Taras, but clings to the familiarity of the Kremlin as well.As Taras seeks answers, … as well.
As Taras seeks answers, he compromises with his honor in ways he could never have imagined. He knows when he leaves court, it will be forever. This is his only chance to solve a soul-crushing mystery. But doing so may destroy him.
As the Kremlin darkens, everything races to a head. Inga must choose between familiar chains and terrifying freedom. Between security…and love.
Find out what Inga chooses in the second installment of K.L. Conger’s epic historical romance trilogy.
“[Tales] of love and madness..”
“You really shouldn’t miss this one.”
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This is book 2 in the series and I enjoyed this story as much as the first book. The visuals created with her story telling were excellent. It was easy to imagine all the splendor, the war or the ordinary daily life which went on. It kept my attention throughout. The characters were interesting and complex and story detail was awesome! I definitely would recommend this book to all historical romance fans!
I received a free audiobook from StoryOrigin and am voluntarily leaving my honest review.
This series is fantastic! I love the history, the characters, the real events. I love that it follows a few central characters, makes it easy to follow and really get to know them. So many emotions. I would not say this book is a romance. While there are a couple romances, that really does seem to be the least part of the story. The real life events and dealing with daily life during horrid times is far more interesting to me. Fabulous historical fiction! I received a free copy for review.
This book continues the story that began in Citadels of Fire. I have found these to be very intense books. The author has managed to keep very relatable human characteristics in the main characters while not holding back on the pure evil some humans carry within their souls. Ivan the Terrible and the people that supported him are presented in these books and counterbalanced by people that don’t agree with the evil perpetrated by Ivan. The terror and destruction during this period of history had to have been immense. I appreciate the way this author has incorporated her love of Russian history into a story compelling enough for me to not only listen to, but truly enjoy.
Another Wow! The second book in this epic love story is awesome. I admit it is a bit gory, and I cried more than once feeling the pain of the characters. You could feel the emotions in the narrator’s voice. The story is well written and for that time in history mostly accurate. The wanton disregard for human life is horrible. I would advise if you have a weak stomach you don’t listen to or read this book. It is very, very graphic.
I received a copy of this audiobook from Story Origin for free for an honest review.
Great story and very well written. I was intrigued from the beginning to the end. Loved it. Can’t wait for the next installment.
I’ll start this review by saying THIS BOOK IS NOT FOR EVERYONE. Bastions of Blood is filled with terror, torture, and sadism. Unfortunately these events truly took place under Russian Tsar Ivan the Terrible’s reign. If you can stomach the Gore and cruelty Bastions of Blood is a great book. Some of the decisions made by the characters we cannot fathom today. I think the author did an excellent job of showing what life was like. I look forward to seeing what happens in the final book.
Actually fairly decent audio book. I probably would rate a 5-star if I actually read it rather than listened to it. Goo characterization, good story line and good cohesiveness. just little weak in descriptives.
I read Bastions of Blood. I was given a free copy of this audiobook at my request in exchange for an honest review. I wanted to see what happened in book 2. It is very dark and it took me a few days to finish the audiobook. I will read book 3 to see what happens but I cannot recommend this book because of the abuses to minor children, factual or not.
A Servant and a Aristocrat relation and how it can not ever come to fruitation in Russia. I like learning about other cultures and though this is getting quite bloody I continued on to find out how it progresses. This is during the Reign of Ivan the Terrible and how things happen during his reign.
It took me longer to write this review than normal. This hauntingly intense masterpiece before us. Anyone who knows their history (which I didn’t) could guess at what is within these pages. Gut wrenching. Horror. Agony. Images I wish I could sear from my memory. True depravity at dizzying heights. Conger outdid herself battling the torrid realities that lay in our past as humanity. A sobering and sickening installment in this trilogy. I am in awe at how she handled this tragedy in our past and brings it to new life. The forgotten shall be remembered once more.
OMG…this second book! It made me cringed and yelled (inside my head of course) throughout the whole book. There were so many intense moment that it was hard to stop listening. As much as I like how much Inga and Taras’ relationship progressed, I was also angered at how it kind of stalled. I was angry at Inga for her decision and at Yavar (not sure of the spelling) for influencing that decision. Also, damn Taras and his English honor!!! He had me pulling my hair out at some points throughout the book. Please be aware that there are some very graphic description and not meant for the faint of heart. If you can get through those parts, the story is really really good. Can’t wait to get to the last book. Need to know the final outcome.
I was in total AWE while reading this book! It is fantastically written! But with it comes blood and horror. I could never understand how the people of this time period could have survived, but having read these words by Ms Conger in this book, I feel I can now imagine how. I truly felt as if I were there living through the eyes of her characters in this book. However, this is not yet the end. We saw a satisfying end to a few evil demons which I rejoiced in. But Ivan has yet to be stopped. And the good guys have yet to triumph. Being the glutton for punishment that I am, I will read the next book in this series due to the need to see this through. I know that Ivan will end but I need to find out how Conger’s characters survive. If you are not afraid of reading about blood and gore and bodies and carcasses and pieces of bodies piling up, reading about how they were tortured before they died, then I can highly recommend reading this book.
This is a write about events that happened in real, but it is in fiction. The events are realistic and the characters real.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This story is based on true events. This is my review for book one and the reason why I was unable to read book two. I got about a quarter of the way through and had to stop reading. Not that it was not interesting, it’s just that some of the topics were too heavy and serious for me to read. It describes the fear of just existing. The stark and dark discrepancy between the working class and the ruling class. There is palace intrigue, murder, beatings, rape and other painful topics. For example, the beatings to a six-year-old and not just the strap but kicking and punching, the rape of a girl under 14. This is just too dark for me. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.