The Stormbringer

The Stormbringer
Isabel Cooper
http://shop.sourcebooks.com/author/index.php?option=com_egdauthors&view=author&aid=A2185
Release date 12/29/2020
Publisher Sourcebooks Casablanca

The Witcher goes fiercely feminist in this gripping paranormal romance from noted author Isabel Cooper.
Raised to be weapons against the darkness, Sentinels spend their lives fighting the monsters that prey upon humanity. Their hands will shape the world, and their swords will seal its fate.
A warrior lost to time…
Pursuing her latest quarry deep into the wilderness, Sentinel Darya finds herself in an ancient city that should no longer exist. There she comes upon a handsome warrior in ancient clothing, held in a deathlike sleep—Amris, hero of the last great battle against the Traitor God. His discovery, and the weakening wards about the city, can only mean one thing: the Traitor is gathering his armies again, and the storms are returning.
Amris has been trapped in dreamless sleep since the final battle raged centuries ago. Now he is awake…and so, it seems, is humanity’s greatest threat. Determined to save the world from being swallowed by the oncoming storm, Amris and the fiercely beautiful Darya must learn to trust each other—and the powerful bond that’s formed between them—as they fight their way through a land swarming with monsters in a last desperate bid to get word back to their allies before it’s too late…

Will they be able to hold back the dark forces in league against them …

This was my first read by the author and even if it was noted as a first in a series, the beginning confused me a lot.
Yet, over the pages, this unknown world to me is slowly explained. It is quite complex and different, a real fantasy land bordering horror with the creatures born and altered by the forces ruling it.
I can not fault the author’s talent, her vivid description of fights, it was like being part of them. Nor her many characters rendered flesh and blood by her words.
Part of what bothered me was as Amris had been asleep/dead for the world for over a century, so he never mourned the loss of his lover, so entering a new relationship so soon after been awaken and upon learning the death of his paramour, it was too fast a move for me.
Even more peculiar when said departed lover is haunting the sword of his new love interest.
I do not know in fact if it was a threesome or a love triangle.
Darya is the one holding back with reason, she is the holder of the sword with Gendar’s spirit, Amris’ late lover. She is a strong woman, taking matter in hand, not afraid to go for what she wants but she too has her limits.
I liked Gendar, he is fun and moving, older too as he lived a full life before his next step.

And while I labored to enter this book, it has great elements for lovers of epic tales and fantasy worlds.
3.5 rounded up to 4 stars .

: one detailed onscreen lovemaking scene.

I have been granted an advance copy by the publisher Sourcebooks Casablanca, here is my true and unbiased opinion.

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