For centuries, the Drakoryan lords have taken sacrificial maidens. As a village widow, I thought myself safe from their attentions. I was wrong.
I am Thera the Healer, and I blame the Drakoryans for the death of my husband and father. They were killed before our dragon lord rulers resettled us in the Drakoryan Valley ahead of war with the ShadowFell.Now they seek to recruit village men into … ShadowFell.
Now they seek to recruit village men into their army to fight the enemy. But I seek to convince my people that the enemy is not some black dragon we have never seen, but the one who keeps us.
Now the Drakoryans are accusing me of sedition, and seek to neutralize my influence in a manner I will not accept. They seek to wed me to five Drakoryan lords tasked with keeping order in my village.
They won’t get what they want without a fight.
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This is now my favorite story in the series. The story starts out with a bang and just keeps going strong. I just adored Thera. She was not a virgin. She was the village healer and a widow. Her angered burned righteously and strong. This author is very good at writing a really good romance, but also weaving intrigue, suspense, mystery and action into the story.
The story has many levels and twists and turns which always makes for a good read. I cannot stress enough how good this whole series by author Ava Sinclair is and how you should start reading it asap.
Drakoryan Brides, Book 4. The ShadowFell have arrived…and nothing will ever be the same again!
Widow, healer extraordinaire…and the biggest troublemaker around! Thera’s devoted to her people. But she doesn’t trust the Drakoryans an inch. It was bad enough when the Drakoryans showed up to resettle the villagers. Their explanation? Black dragons far worse than the Drakoryans, hell bent on destroying the villages and stealing their maidens. Likely story! The Drakoryans have been stealing village maidens for centuries! The villagers’ harvest burned to a crisp by the ShadowFell? They’ve only the Drakoryans’ word for that. Haven’t the Drakoryan always burned fields to punish villagers? Food rationing? Just how much is being send to the villagers and how much is being kept by the Drakoryans? Thera sees no difference between the alleged ShadowFell and the Drakoryans. Blaming the Drakoryans for her husband’s death is only the icing on the cake. She’s soon the heart of the rebellion. When the Lords of Castle Kri’byl are stationed in the village to assist the villagers, their reception is beyond chilly. As Thera foments upheaval against the Drakoryans, little does she know what she’s setting in motion or the outcome of her actions! As Erdorin, Gyrvig, Jaero, and the twins, Tyri and Yrko, do their best to convince the villagers the ShadowFell are real, they soon realize Thera is the pivot point. This is war. All the Drakoryans know it. This isn’t the first time the ShadowFell have attacked. But they’ve evolved. Their tactics are no longer the same. The ShadowFell’s end game may be evident, but just how they plan to accomplish that remains a mystery. Time is running out. And the villagers are needed to help in battle. The Drakoryans can’t possibly defeat the ShadowFell alone. As time runs out, the lords of House Kri’byl know two things. Thera is their mate. It can’t be but it’s true. One War Bride’s already been allowed. The witches of the Wyrd and King Vukurcis would never allow a second. And Thera’s devotion to her deceased husband all but cements the impossibility of any such idea. But things are never as they seem. The Drakoryans and ShadowFell aren’t the only ones keeping secrets. When the ultimate betrayal comes to light, it will either unite or divide, not just the villagers but the Drakoryans as well. Is there any way this will end well for anyone? Can there be any common ground? It all comes down to Thera. Does she have the ability to see what’s right in front of her? Can she forgive? In the end, only one thing is certain. If Thera can’t pull herself from the past, accept the present, and move into the future, the entire Drakoryan Empire, rulers and ruled alike, is doomed!
I absolutely adored this book! Again, we get a completely new set of characters that turns our understanding of the Drakoryan Empire upside down. There are new challenges never encountered before. Thera isn’t a maiden. She’s been married before. She hates the Drakoryans, wants them gone. She believes nothing they say, and, for her, the ShadowFell don’t exist. Her devotion to the memory of a husband who may not have been what she thought is yet another complication. Erdorin, Gyrvig, Jaero, Tyri, and Yrko are quite possibly the most unique and surprising Drakoryans encountered to date. Each brother has his own special talents and weaknesses. But they also know the stakes. And they’re willing to take on everyone and everything, up to and including the king himself, to accomplish what they know has to be done. Add in the behind-the-scenes machinations among the Drakoryans, the ShadowFell, and the villagers, and you have chaos that would make Machiavelli proud! Ava Sinclair again proves her mastery of this genre with the complex plot. beautifully created characters, nonstop suspense, and completely unpredictable ending. Not once did I have a clue what was coming next. Tradition is tossed aside. The future of the entire Drakoryan Empire rests on that very fact. The supporting characters are so full and rich that they are every bit as important as the main characters. The witches of the Wyrd, Ezador, King Vukurcis, the Lords of Fra’hir and Za’vol, Olin the Wise, Sybil, Bran, Relig, and most especially Ceril, play incredibly important roles. The depth they add make this story enthralling. This series gets better with every book. Rebel Bride is the best so far! Congratulations, Ms. Sinclair, on another five-star winner!
A final note. Be an informed reader! This is an ADULT book. It contains explicit language and sexual scenes. If you don’t enjoy this genre, this may not be the book for you. There are book synopses and reviews available on Goodreads and Amazon. Use these resources. DON’T LEAVE A NEGATIVE REVIEW WHEN YOU KNOW YOU WON’T ENJOY THE BOOK. It’s not fair to the author. She works hard to provide a quality work product. If you know you’ll object to a book’s subject matter before you buy it, you’re doing yourself and the author an extreme disservice.
Thanks for reading my review and happy reading
Book 4 in the Drakoryan Brides series, and the war with Shadowfell is hotting up!!
Thera is the youngest of the village Healers and hates the Drakoryans blaming them for the death of her husband. The Drakoryan Lords have come to the village to help protect it as they expect Shadowfell to send its dragons at any time to plunder the village. The Lords are actively seeking help from the villages to get them to defend themselves, but Thera is stirring up trouble saying the Drakoryans are lying about the black dragons of Shadowfell and the war. The Oracle says she is causing unrest in the village and must bond with the 5 Lords of Kri’byl, but she is not a virgin bride as she had a husband, so this bonding process is different from from the others.
This was a good addition to the series, fast paced with lots going on in the war against Shadowfell. This one is written from multiple POV’s which gives great insight into the characters and adds depth to the story. I’m looking forward to the next book to see how this is all going to play out!! Well worth the read this series.
The next one in the series of dragon lords and their human mate. The enemy threatens and the unlikely bride becomes a mate. Lots of suspense, action and steam. The ending is not so happily ever after but the story remains intriguing from beginning till the end. Beware of somewhat of a cliffhanger ending.