He’ll mark her flesh. She’ll claim his heart.Always the dutiful daughter, Lady Joselyn is weeks away from marrying a rival lord in order to secure the future of her father’s house. However, she suddenly finds herself in the clutches of an ancient beast she’s only ever heard of in legends. More terrifying than that is the beast’s master, a wild man who insists Joselyn is his bride by right, and … Joselyn is his bride by right, and plans to seal his claim in blood.
Wyvern-rider, Hollen, has finally captured the woman of his dreams, though he quickly learns waiting for her was less than half the battle. His new bride wants nothing to do with him and Hollen knows he only has one chance to change her mind. To win her over, he’ll do whatever he must, even if it means keeping secrets.
Their wills pitted against each other, Joselyn will go to any lengths to free herself from this savage and fulfill her marital contract. Her father’s life depends upon it. But even as she plots her escape, Joselyn begins to wonder if one can also be bound by a duty to their own heart.
Author’s Note: This is not a shifter romance. The Dokiri men are savage enough in their manly forms. That being said, this book features subdued sexual content. Enjoy the heat but don’t expect to get singed.
Trigger warning: This novel plays on the trope of abduction. While Dokiri men won’t let anything keep them from the woman they love, even that woman herself, all sexual acts in this book are consensual.
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The Dokiri men are swoonable: honorable Vikings meet the book version of Khal Drogo. And they ride wyverns!
The main character characters were fun for me. Hollen and Joselyn both were stubborn and prideful with a strong sense of duty that pushed them apart more than together, at least on one end of the romance. I liked the conviction of their characters without giving them an easy way out. The heroine does take time to grow, but I loved the realism with it because pride is a very hard thing to beat. 🙂
The female friendships were awesome. And the strong family bonds, amazing. It was wonderful to have women supporting each other and siblings who mostly get along.
The villain lived up to his name and it was great! I also enjoyed finally getting to see a veligiri (the evil beneath the mountain) that we were told of in Sven the Collector. 🙂
It was definitely a fun and intense journey to go on with them. I can’t wait for the next series installment!
Great start to a series full of loyal brothers!
This is a medieval fantasy with strong willed characters that will have you captivated and eager to turn those pages. The storytelling is some of the best I’ve ever read! A dutiful daughter meets a wild barbarian that is determined to make her his. The push and the pull between them is delightfully delicious and will leave you smiling gleefully.
Hollen is strong and fierce and no doubt he’s brave. He’s got brawn and brains and is the total Mr. McHotty, so what’s Joselyn’s hold up? Well, she is very proper and has been raised to be a lady. She’s pledged to another who happens to be a monster among men. She’s terrified to marry and terrified to refuse. Her house will suffer if she doesn’t do her duty.
The Dokiri Warriors all must seek out a bride. In order to do so, they must leave their mountain home and find a worthy female to fly away with. She doesn’t have a choice but to submit. Or does she!? And the longer she stays will she really want to leave?
This series is hawt! It’s refreshingly brilliant and spicy while still leaving plenty to your imagination. The covers are all drool worthy! The only issue I really have with this unputdownable series, is that it’s all fictitious and there is no Dokiri waiting to whisk me away. That’s fairly disappointing. But… I comfort myself that there are many more books yet to read to this series! So… don’t wait! Meet your perfect warrior right now! You’ll totally thank me. And you’ll discover an author that you adore.
OMG, I love this book so hard, everything about this book is absolutely stunning from the fantastic storytelling to the characters to the fantastic narration down to the cover. I am fascinated and in awe by this world that Denali Day has created.
This story of Hollen, the Soulless consumed me and just let me get lost in this slow-burn enemy-to-lovers fantasy novel that is suspenseful, gripping, filled with adventure, romance and some subtle spice. It revolves around the Dokiri folk that live in the mountains with wyvern riding men who kidnap their brides from the lowlands and claim them as their own while following certain rules and rituals. You have your spirited, stubborn but kind heroine Joselyn who is fighting hard to get back to her people due to the loyalty and duty she thinks she is bound to and you have your swoon-worthy gently Viking-like Hero Hollen who tries everything to convince her of a better life with him.
I believe this book captivated me from the first to the last minute because this story has a lot of depth. The scenes, the dialogue, the characters, the story, and the whole build-up are brilliant, descriptive, and visual.
This book had me go through so many emotions and I think I am still in the aftermath of getting my feelings sorted but this just shows how amazing the writing is and how well the story is narrated. These are the best kind of emotions when a book and a voice can take all the feelings from me.
Talking about the narration, Shane East slays this audio voicing all these different characters that made me chuckle, shudder, weep and have me feel all kinds of emotions. He just is amazing in telling this story and gives every character a different tone and demeanour. He can creep you out and make you cry one minute and then make you laugh and swoon the next. Outstanding Sir!
This is just one of these books you cannot put down. It is a pretty long one and though this audio already is 19,5 hrs long, it didn’t feel like it and I just did not want this to end.
Hollen started with a bang and cannot wait for his brother´s stories to capture my heart as well.
This review is about the audiobook adaptation of this great book.
Sometimes I forget just how wonderful it is to read (hear in this case I suppose) a really great fantasy. The world building of someone’s imagination and the characters they created like nothing we have in our daily life. Kingdoms, monsters, barbarians and nobles. Customs totally outlandish to us. I love it when a story comes alive in my mind, where my imagination grasps the story and I can feel it, see it. Great world building.
This is a love story that is so much like an epic fantasy fans of either genre will be totally satisfied. Basically a nobles woman is stolen by a warrior, taken to a land so alien she tries to fit it’s reality into her perspective of life. After all how could a “barbarian” be more honorable than the civilized land she came from? Mind bender of a story. It’s wonderful.
Narration is by Shane East. His voice is amazing for this book. His accent is absolutely perfect for the overall feel and setting of the story.
This was an ARC audiobook from #NetGalley and #Podiumaudio . My review and opinions are my own.
Loved this slow burn, enemies to lovers fantasy romance. The heat level was perfect–not too much, not too little. Highly recommend if you’re a fan of these tropes.
What a wonderful first novel by Denali Day. She is the real deal – extremely talented at world building and crafting complex characters. Hollen will absolutely steal your heart – what a swoon-worthy hero! As someone who loves the molten desert sun, I would move to a frozen wasteland for that man.
My only call-out is there are elements of torture/pain, which could be triggering to some readers. Go in prepared for that!
Book: Hollen the Soulless (Denali Day)
Rating: 5
Summary:
Khal Drogo meets the Vikings.
Romance meets epic fantasy.
Lady Joselyn meets Hollen the Soulless.
Favourite character: Hollen. SERIOUS Rhys heat levels added with flavours from Khal Drogo and Bjorn Ironside. Holy smokes and sweet wyverns! GIVE ME MORE!!
To whom: To lovers of Maas, Armentrout, ToG, the Vikings, and fantasy. This was everything and more, easily one of my favourite reads this year!! Loved every page – and now having such a hangover.
Additional notes:
Trigger warning: abduction
Absolutely brilliantly written book where you realise that sometimes something that is infinitely bad, can turn out to be something infinitely good. Nothing happens without consent.
Still, no abducting others, people. Bad Hollen.
Denali Day: Sell me all the books you’ve got.
When you’re talking about a romance novel that has abduction as the main plot point for how the couple meets, you tend to think that it’s going to be very dark and have a lot of abuse. That is not the case here. This is a very sweet and romantic love story of how two people can grow together. How they meet is not terribly conventional but the love that grows between them is believable. I also enjoy that, while the story is very sensual, it isn’t obscene. I also appreciate that Hollen’s story is nothing like his father’s, Sven the Collector. I loved that tale as well. I predict that this will be a very consistent series and I will enjoy every page.
If I could I would rate this book 10 stars! Hollen the Souless is an amazing, well written, well developed, full of action, and smoldering fantasy. Hollen is the Salig or leader of his clan of Dokiri, wyvern riding warriors who protect the world from evil creatures. Since the Dokiri cannot father females, they go out and “find” their mates. Joselyn Helena Elise Fury is the daughter, obligated to duty to an unloving father who uses her to benefit himself. On the way to her arranged marriage to the Butcher of Brance, a moniker earned by his cruelty to others, Hollen sees Joselyn and takes her. Joselyn is an entitled, self-centered, callous woman, but she has an undying loyalty to her father and her people. Hollen is a selfless, compassionate, honorable leader who wants nothing more than to settle into a life with his Saliga who he loves, have sons, and protect and guide his people like his parents. I loved the change that took place in Joselyn throughout the book. The realization about her life, her father, her world, shook her to her soul. The book has action, twists, heart wrenching scenes, and passion, slow burning passion. I’m so glad we have 4 more brothers who will no doubt get their own stories. Denali Day has a winner with this series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Wow! This is a fantastic read! A surprisingly ‘clean’ read that I enjoyed, which is not the norm for me. The world building is exceptional, and the characters are well written. Sure there were times, ok, a lot of times I just wanted her to fall off the cliff. Seriously – she just became obnoxious lol, BUT as you read further and further you gain a much better understanding of her psyche and why she is the way she is.
Hollen is everything you want in an alpha male. He is swoonworthy, loyal, determined, proud, patient- lord is the man patient, and the perfect match for Joselyn. I cannot wait to see what’s in store for the rest of the brothers!
Hollen the Soulless is a masterful first-in-series that transports you to a world of snowcapped mountains and swoonworthy barbarians. The snappy dialogue and real-to-life characters will win you over as Hollen romances his kidnapped bride.
Joselyn is a strong heroine who prizes duty and family. Hollen is chieftain of his clan of warriors who protect her lands, even though she and her people have no clue of their existence. Their path to love is full of conflict and reward as they learn each other and their true selves.
If you’re looking for a romance with all the action, all the chemistry, and a consuming fantasy world, this is for you! Heed the warnings, though, and stay away if you don’t want to read about kidnapped brides and their warrior husbands.
The start of a new series called Dokiri Brides a well-written story that kept me turning pages. I want to read the next book. This is Lady Joselyn of house Fury and Wyvern-rider, Hollen the Soulless’ story there is suspense, drama, danger, torture, villains and romance. A must read story. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The writing and editing of this fantasy romance was excellent in the ARC version of the manuscript, with no typos and a lyrical sentence structure and writing style that reminded me of symphonic music or an epic poem. The world building was excellent, with the attitudes and beliefs of the protagonists entirely consistent with a vaguely medieval, patriarchal culture, and vividly described fantasy beasts and monsters. The characterization was excellent, with both protagonists being complex individuals with strengths and weaknesses. I liked the length of this fantasy romance! It was long enough to really develop these characters and this world, unlike a lot of self published romance novels. My typical preference is for sci-fi and fantasy romance on the sizzling side, but I still thoroughly enjoyed this novel, even though there were no on page sexy times. The development of the romantic relationship was natural and organic, though I would have liked a little bit more explosive chemistry between the hero and heroine. That is more of a challenge to write in a clean romance, however, so it is understandable. The plot and pacing was very exciting, making me turn pages rapidly. There was a fair amount of angst on the part of the heroine, which was fully justified by her history and trauma. There were also really high stakes which maintained the tension throughout. I need to include a content warning here for maiming, which was somewhat difficult for me to read. The novel used the Our Tribe Needs Women trope used commonly in sci-fi, fantasy, and paranormal romances. It also used the Kidnapped Bride trope. The world building, plot, and pacing were all five stars. The characterization was also five stars. The development of the romantic relationship was four stars. Therefore I rounded up and gave this romance a combined rating of five stars. This novel ends on a Happy Ever After ending instead of a cliffhanger, so that is a big plus. I recommend this fantasy romance to both romance readers and fantasy readers, because I feel like it has strong cross-genre appeal. I eagerly anticipate reading the next novel in this series when it releases, though I will wait on buying a keeper copy until I find out if the next novel in the series is as good as the first.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I love fantasy romance, even though I don’t read it as often as I would like to. I like it even more if the book is long, because the world-building takes time and I don’t want the author to rush through the story. This book focuses on Hollen the Soulless and Lady Joselyn. Hollen is Dokiri and their tradition is to take captive and claim their brides. Of course you can imagine how the ladies would feel about this practice. So I was more than ready for Joselyn to resist and not be very happy about the situation where she was kidnapped by Hollen. Even though she wanted to continue to hate and resist him, which in my opinion she did a great job, the wall around her heart went down brick by brick. Hollen is a very honorable and strong leader of his clan, and he was also very patient with Joselyn. The interaction between Joselyn and other members of the clan was great, I especially loved the special bond she had with Hollen’s youngest brother.
I have to admit the pace of the story felt a bit slow at times, but I was invested in the relationship of the characters. I really feel like I know what takes place in this clan and have knowledge of their traditions. I was connected to the characters and looked forward to seeing how it would develop. I am intrigued by Hollen’s brothers and I’m really happy they are getting their own stories next. There was great banter in this book, I also enjoyed the slow-burn romance, and it had some action-packed scenes. I would’ve loved for the intimate scenes to be more explicit, but at the end it didn’t bother me as much. Hollen the Soulles is in my opinion a great first book in the Dokiri Brides series, but if you like a little bit of a background then I would recommend you to read Sven the Collector first (it is free for newsletter subscribers!), because it focuses on how Hollen’s parents met. It will give you a feel for what to expect in this book.
I received an e-ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. Review can also be found on *Milky Way of Books*
Hollen the Soulless, is the son of Sven the Collector, whom you can meet and read his story in the prequel novella. What kept my interest, in this case, was the strong and beautiful Jocelyn who tried to escape many times despite her misguided loyalty to her father and also how patient with her Hollen was. I know that the whole “abduct your bride and she will love you” thing his people have is not a way to choose a wife, but I found that Hollen respected her and admired her strength. The adventure was also amazing and also the wyverns! Who needs horses when you have dragons!
4 3/4 “My Only.” Stars!
I absolutely loved this story! I was captivated from the very start. Hollen. Hollen, Hollen, Hollen. He had me at wyvern rider to be honest. This man was my ideal fantasy conqueror male! A complete savage and a complete sweetheart all at the same time. There was not one moment in this book I didn’t root for him and long for his ultimate happiness. He was loyal, caring, fierce, protective, gentle, generous. All the things!! Newest book boyfriend for sure. Joselyn was really a great female lead and even though she frustrated me to no end, I absolutely knew where she was coming from. She was so loyal. And absolutely determined to prove herself. Honestly, I liked her so much too. I wanted her to find ultimate happiness as well. She deserved to be cherished.
Hollen and Josely have a battle royal of wills. Their story was full of angst and longing and so very intense at times. This was a wonderful beginning to a series and a fantastic author debut. I am all in for it all that is to come from the Dokiri. I cannot wait for the next book! Highly recommended!
“You shall dance with my people upon the shoulders of the mountain. As for riding, you shall glide above the earth on obsidian wings. You are Joselyn Helena Elise Fury, Saliga of Bedmeg, and I shall treasure you above all others.” Hollen the Soulless
Happy reading!
This story is set in a medieval fantasy world and I found the storyline here very imaginative.
So Joselyn of house Fury is on the way to marry Lord Viridian to save her family-line from destruction.
The union is not a love match rather her future spouse is blackmailing her father and this marriage will save him.
Her future husband is also rumoured to be a complete monster.
Nether the less Joselyn will do her duty and marry.
Upon the road and heading towards her bleak future Joselyn is taken captive by a fearsome beast.
She is plucked from her mount by a Wyvern and flown high into the clouds.
Terrified she finds herself delivered into the hands of Hollen the soulless a chieftain of the Bedmeg clan of the Dokiri.
He has chosen Joselyn as his bride and intends to take her back to his mountain as his bonded wife.
Naturally, his captured prize is initially very resistant fighting him at every turn.
It’s just Jocelyn’s reasonings that I found a bit suspect and I’ll explain the whys later.
So Joselyn; well I found her to be very close-minded indeed.
She came across as arrogant and extremely prejudiced and judgemental especially against what she perceived as savages.
She also was extremely condescending with such a sense of superiority that it was difficult to warm to her, I’d even go as far as to say I didn’t like her at all.
The way she blamed others for her own shortcomings and how she constantly manipulated the facts and situation for her own personal benefit shocking.
She was also somewhat of a prude and very much about outward appearances.
mostly I think as a result of her upbringing and constantly trying to please her father who definitely didn’t deserve any consideration on her part.
In turn Hollen I adored almost immediately.
He was everything I love in a hero a real sweetie and just so likeable to boot.
He had so much patience and honour.
I liked him a whole lot and I am just thankful for his presence In this.
I felt for him every time he faced Jocelyn’s constant rejections and judgements and despite there initial unique beginning, I didn’t feel he deserved her harsh treatment.
He just wanted her love and affection and I felt that he was way to easy and accommodating with her.
She definitely needed a much firmer hand than what was delivered.
What he should have done is put her over his knee and showed her just who was the boss while putting a stop to her little princess dramatics before they took root.
I just couldn’t believe the way she treated him and that he actually let her get away with it he so didn’t deserve her venom.
He was practically a saint in regards to Joselyn and Just when I thought she couldn’t and wouldn’t sink any further with her petulant childish behaviour she would do something else to annoy me.
She was frankly incredibly immature and self-involved, It was all about me with Joselyn.
I also didn’t understand why she was so fixated on escaping Hollen.
Her father was hardly a loving parent and she didn’t owe him any loyalty at all.
Really she should have been thanking Hollen for rescuing her from her previous dire fate rather than fighting him at every turn.
I got the impression that it actually became more of a pride thing and she just couldn’t admit she was wrong sheer bloody stubbornness on her part.
This one was also very slow burn and I was initially worried about the chemistry mainly down to Jocelyn herself, I just struggled to believe in her feelings.
Hollen’s yes he wore his heart on his sleeve but Jocelyn’s herself not so much.
Also for reference, this one is quite a clean romance there’s not much build up just some kissing scenes at over 50% and then one fade to black scene.
This isn’t an actual criticism just an observation.
I myself would definitely have enjoyed this more if A, this had more sexy times included and B, I hadn’t taken such an intense dislike to Joselyn herself.
She does eventually redeem herself but frankly, it was too little too late in my opinion.
But that aside this was fabulously written that I can’t fault it on.
The descriptions and settings were incredibly imaginative and the world-building here excellent.
This one was also really unique.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of Hollen The Soulless (Dokiri Brides #1).
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
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I have to start out by saying that I LOVED this book. If you are looking for a lot of action and guns and stuff like that, this is not your cup of tea, but if you are looking for a story that will capture your imagination and get you involved with the main characters then, this one is for you. I fell in love with Hollen. Too bad there aren’t a lot of men like him around. Joycelyn is a typical haughty noble until she learns over time that there is more to life than being the dutiful daughter. Love will conquer challenges and this book is fantastic! I would highly recommend it.
This has been one of the most powerful books of fantasy romance I have read in a long time, and it deals with the love story wrought between Lady Joselyn Fury, and Hollen the Soulless savage. A love story which started off when Jocelyn was kidnapped by Hollen and flown on the back of his wyvern over the forest to the top of the mountains where the Dokiri lived. Jocelyn was a woman who had never known love or even respect from her family, but who lived only to do her duty towards her father and their estate. She had been marked by Hollen with the tanshi mark used on a chosen mate, and that was what Jocelyn had been kidnapped for. She was to be his chosen bride, but all she felt for Hollen was fear, hatred and rage. Once they arrived at Bedmeg, she found out that he was the Salig, their leader and she was to become their Saliga, but Hollen had not been prepared for the hard time she would give him for a long time as she fought to escape her mountain home. She assumed many things about Hollen and his people namely that they knew nothing about honour but as the days went by Jocelyn realised how wrong she had been in all her assumptions. There was so much she learnt through the devotion and kindness shown towards her by the people of Bedmeg but most of all by her savage. This love story tore my heart to bits and made me cry more than once whist reading, it is a heart wrenching story but it is also one of true love, loyalty, courage and family, things Jocelyn sorely needed in her very empty life. This thrilling series gripped me when I read the prequel and now that I have read book 1, I cannot wait to read the next book and I can sincerely say that I have discovered the writings of an author who is going to top my favourite author list!