A mage apprentice and her master… against three hundred mercenaries sieging a town. Seventeen-year-old mage apprentice Rielle accompanies her master, Leigh, on a mission to save a viscount from a town under mercenary control. But mercenaries aren’t the only newcomers to town. When the mission goes awry, Rielle must choose whether to follow her orders or her conscience.“Winter Wren” is a … conscience.
“Winter Wren” is a sword-and-sorcery short story, a prequel to the romantic epic-fantasy series Blade and Rose. Buy it now and see how Rielle and Jon first met…more
Rielle is smart, talented, and knows her own mind. Her master in the elemental arts, Leigh, has to keep reminding her that some lives matter more than others. Those with power, influence, social standing—saving their lives means influencing the society they live in. Saving the life of a peasant or soldier pales in comparison.
But Rielle disagrees. She risks both her life and her master’s ire to protect the brave paladins who safeguard a village besieged. Her master’s mission is to save the viscount, the one who matters. But the shrine is on fire, burning to the ground with its hostages still inside. Both hostages and paladins will die if she does nothing.
If Rielle disobeys her master, her chances at becoming an adept will be crushed. But if she lets all the innocents die, she might not be able to live with herself. Meanwhile, the village is burning…
Winter Wren is a well-written short story that should appeal to fans of A Court of Thorns and Roses.
Winter Wren works as an introductory short story. We meet seventeen year old mage apprentice Rielle who is accompanying her master on a mission to save an important Viscount from a village under the control of mercenaries. The question of save one in order to save many is an internal conflict that presents itself for Rielle within the rather short read.
Having already started the first full-length book in the series, Blade & Rose, I can assure you that Winter Wren sets up quite nicely characters and situations that we’ll continue to see in the main arc of the series. I’m surprised by how much in Blade and Rose seems to hinge on things that occur in Winter Wren, but I feel like Miranda Honfleur makes these decisions very well in that they enhance what’s to come, but if you don’t read Winter Wren you won’t be lost whatsoever.
I really enjoyed the narrator as well. I thought she did a great job with the different voices (both male and female). I hope she continues narrating the series.
Overall, this is a great, short, could read on a lunch break-type read. Perfect enticement to what already feels like a promising series.
Miranda Honfleur’s Winter Wren is a quick (just under and hour) little bite into her Blade and Rose series. Listening to Amanda Leigh Cobb narrate was just as fulfilling as the story was. This novella gives us the story about Reille’s first encounter with Jon when she healed him as well as insight into her beliefs about people’s worth. This was truly a fun addition to the story. It’s listed as a prequel, but listening to it after book one, adds something to the overall story, in my opinion.
A fantastic introduction to the Blade and Rose series. I loved how strong the heroine, Rielle, is, and I can’t wait to jump right into the series. (I suspect there is some key background information presented in this short story.)
I enjoyed the tale that Miranda Honflaur has woven, and I’m looking forward to seeing where she takes these characters.
Amanda Leigh Cobb did a nice job with the narration. No complaints here!
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and I have voluntarily left this review.
Winter Wren was a good introduction into The Blade & Rose series. The action was great! I can’t wait to read Blade & Rose. The narration was good. It drew you in and made you more interested in the story and equally interested in reading or listening to the remaining books or audiobooks in the series.
Winter Wren (Blade and Rose, #0.5) by Miranda Honfleur — Rielle is an apprentice mage out to prove her understanding of the principal “Save one, save many.” While her master and secret boyfriend sticks to the plan to save a viscount in the walled city, Rielle throws her powers into saving the townspeople from burning alive and protecting the paladin guards trying to protect them from an invading group of mercenaries. If this is a sample of the kind of woman and mage Rielle intends to become, the rest of her series should be pretty spectacular! Happy Reading!
Winter Wren (Blade and Rose #0.5) was a good read by Miranda Honfleur. This short story is a prequel to the romantic epic-fantasy series Blade & Rose. In this story you see seventeen year old mage apprentice Rielle accompanying her master, Leigh, trying to save a viscount from a town under control. The mission goes awry and Rielle must choose whether to follow orders or her conscience. I enjoyed reading this book and cant wait to read more by the author.
A bit too short for me to really know what I think of this world and the author. But Rielle seems like a great character!
I listened to Blade & Rose first and loved it but there where a few things I wanted to know more about. This book gives more insight into Rielle and Jon’s first meeting as well as the relationship between Rielle and Leigh. You don’t have to listen to Blood & Rose first to enjoy this book though. This short story introduces Rielle on a battlefield where she shows not only courage and valor but also passion and desire to protect the innocent. She such a strong and wonderful character. I look forward to continuing her journey. (4.5)
Short and exciting story!
More than ready to read/listen more! Very imaginative and full of action!
Rielle and Leigh are sent by the Emaurrian Tower to save a Viscount in the castle town of Signy from Crag mercenaries gone rogue, led by Gilles. The battle against the mercenaries is joined by paladins of the Order of Terra. Rielle heals a fatally injured paladin. Although both Rielle and Leigh are fighting the mercenaries, there is hostility between them due to their different philosophies and previous relationship. The battle is won thanks to the magic of Rielle and Leigh, but not without many deaths. If you liked this world and the characters, go ahead and read Blade & Rose (Blade and Rose, #1). I did, and enjoyed it, despite it being quite long (or maybe because it was long enough to fully develop characters and the universe), and part 1 of a very long trilogy.
Great story! Very well written. I had no idea that this was the author’s first series. Her character development and world building are excellent and diverse. I am so looking forward to the rest of this series! I received the audiobook and am leaving a voluntary review based on that format. The narrator was excellent and I will definitely be looking for more of her work in the future.
An excellent prequel story to the “Blade and Rose” series! A fast-paced story, full of action, intrigue and romance that hooked me right from the start. I read the book and then re-read it while listening to the audiobook, which was a true delight. The narrator did a wonderful job bringing to life Miranda’s story. I can’t wait to see what comes next!
Writing prequel novellas and short stories is an art, and Winter Wren absolutely nails it. It drew me into the world and Rielle’s internal struggle immediately without getting carried away with exposition or ending on a cliffhanger. I wouldn’t have expected such a strong emotional arc from a story under 50 pages, but Winter Wren does a great job setting up stakes for the choices Rielle makes and then paying them off quickly but impactfully. I’m always a sucker for a good fantasy romance, and the way Winter Wren ties the romantic elements and external conflict together got me invested in seeing how Rielle’s journey continues in the novels.
A great intro to the world. Looking forward to the full series! I loved Rielle’s passion for doing the right thing even when faced with consequences.