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The Blades of the Rose #4
Stranger
He protects the world’s magic—with his science. But even the best scientists can fall prey to the right chemistry…
Looking For Trouble
Gemma Murphy has a nose for a story—even if the boys in Chicago’s newsrooms would rather focus on her chest. So when she runs into a handsome man of mystery discussing how to save the world from fancy-pants Brit conspirators, she’s sensing a scoop. Especially when he mentions there’s magic involved. Of course, getting him on the record would be easier if he hadn’t caught her eavesdropping.
Lighting His Fuse
Catullus Graves knows what it’s like to be shut out: his ancestors were slaves. And he’s a genius inventor with appropriately eccentric habits, so even people who love him find him a little odd. But after meeting a certain redheaded scribbler, he’s thinking of other types of science. Inconvenient, given that he needs to focus on preventing the end of the world as we know it. But with Gemma’s insatiable curiosity sparking Catullus’ inventive impulses, they might set off something explosive anyway.
Looking For Trouble
Gemma Murphy has a nose for a story—even if the boys in Chicago’s newsrooms would rather focus on her chest. So when she runs into a handsome man of mystery discussing how to save the world from fancy-pants Brit conspirators, she’s sensing a scoop. Especially when he mentions there’s magic involved. Of course, getting him on the record would be easier if he hadn’t caught her eavesdropping.
Lighting His Fuse
Catullus Graves knows what it’s like to be shut out: his ancestors were slaves. And he’s a genius inventor with appropriately eccentric habits, so even people who love him find him a little odd. But after meeting a certain redheaded scribbler, he’s thinking of other types of science. Inconvenient, given that he needs to focus on preventing the end of the world as we know it. But with Gemma’s insatiable curiosity sparking Catullus’ inventive impulses, they might set off something explosive anyway.
463 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
About the author
Zoe Archer
35 books656 followersZoë Archer is a RITA award-nominated romance author whose stories are about smart, capable heroines and the heroes who love them. She is the author of the acclaimed Blades of the Rose series, as well as the Hellraiser, and Nemesis Unlimited series, among others. She also writes Regency-set romances as Eva Leigh. Visit her on the Web at http://www.zoearcherbooks.com/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
January 5, 2011
There is a heroine in this novel. Her name is Gemma. That is all I'm going to say about her. Not that she's not a nice person, but really, who really cares about her when Cattulus Graves is around? I mean really?
I don't get it when my on-line book buddies start talking about how much they love this hero or that hero. I think they need to get a freakin life. Once I hit my later teens I was never one to go gaga over movie stars, music stars or the like, maybe because I knew it was all a façade. If I was going to be in love, I wanted to know the real person. So I was above that groupie mentality. When I see the ladies on line talking about books boyfriends, I roll my eyes and move on, especially when I read the book and discover that the hero that they're going gaga over acts like a total bonehead.
Then I met Cattulus Graves. Even though he's been around since the first book, my love was a gradual thing. My admiration grew in the second book, my love grew in the third, and he became my soul mate in STRANGER.
It was like Zoe Archer went inside my head, pulled out my ideal man and wrote about him just for me.
A handsome black man with an above average intelligent who has a passion for what he does and everyone looks to him for guidance except me because he knows that I am the only woman who sees and accepts him as he is and he knows that he can lean on me when the pressures of trying to lead the world wears on him. While he is a geek and intelligent he can still kick butt and defend me and others with skill that far surpasses anyone, yet he all does it with a sense of class and style. He dresses to the nines and doesn't mind that I don't but all he can think about is all the things that he's going to get me if we manage to win the battle and save the world.
BTW. STRANGER has a plot and it's very good, but I must admit that I was in too much of Cattulus high to pay attention. But don't let my fascination deter you. This is a great book, but I was in too much of Cattulus high (as you can tell he totally delievered - LOL). But if you really want me to talk about the plot here you go. They save the world and live happily ever after. Now all I have to get is remove Gemma from the picture and put myself
I don't get it when my on-line book buddies start talking about how much they love this hero or that hero. I think they need to get a freakin life. Once I hit my later teens I was never one to go gaga over movie stars, music stars or the like, maybe because I knew it was all a façade. If I was going to be in love, I wanted to know the real person. So I was above that groupie mentality. When I see the ladies on line talking about books boyfriends, I roll my eyes and move on, especially when I read the book and discover that the hero that they're going gaga over acts like a total bonehead.
Then I met Cattulus Graves. Even though he's been around since the first book, my love was a gradual thing. My admiration grew in the second book, my love grew in the third, and he became my soul mate in STRANGER.
It was like Zoe Archer went inside my head, pulled out my ideal man and wrote about him just for me.
A handsome black man with an above average intelligent who has a passion for what he does and everyone looks to him for guidance except me because he knows that I am the only woman who sees and accepts him as he is and he knows that he can lean on me when the pressures of trying to lead the world wears on him. While he is a geek and intelligent he can still kick butt and defend me and others with skill that far surpasses anyone, yet he all does it with a sense of class and style. He dresses to the nines and doesn't mind that I don't but all he can think about is all the things that he's going to get me if we manage to win the battle and save the world.
BTW. STRANGER has a plot and it's very good, but I must admit that I was in too much of Cattulus high to pay attention. But don't let my fascination deter you. This is a great book, but I was in too much of Cattulus high (as you can tell he totally delievered - LOL). But if you really want me to talk about the plot here you go. They save the world and live happily ever after. Now all I have to get is remove Gemma from the picture and put myself
March 19, 2011
*sigh* It's always so sad to say goodbye to a series. But it's also wonderful at the same time. Seeing everything tie together and resolve itself is great. This book was no exception. We got to see all the previously mentioned characters draw together to fight the ultimate battle against the Heirs. It was really nice getting to see the previous heroes and heroines and reaffirm that they are happy together.
Catullus is the one constant character through all the books in this series. He is a brilliant, particular man that caught my interest from the very first meet. I've been really looking forward to his book and am glad that I finally got to get a closer look at his personality. I only wish that I had gotten to see more of the person he was described as being (dedicated inventor with a hard time staying interested in people before his mind wandered back to an invention) instead of just being told about it. He really seemed stunningly normal here when you look at his actions and ignore what we're told about him.
I don't know what changed between the first two books and the last two books, but something did. The first two books were excellent, but the last two books were increasingly less interesting for me. I actually had to take a couple week break in the middle of this one in the hopes that absence would make the heart grow fonder. Luckily it did, so it ended up being average instead of a complete disappointment.
One thing that has really bothered me is the way the supernatural part developed. I absolutely loved it in the first two books, but then the third book confused me by branching out into shapeshifters. And then this one completely blew me out of the water by including the mythical Arthur and the Fae. It just got too weird for me.
It's not my series, so obviously the author can do what she wants, but as the reader I got a certain impression of what this series would be like in terms of magic from the first two books and I had a hard time adjusting when that changed. I don't know why some magic was believable for me and some wasn't, but I really had a hard time enjoying the direction this book took.
Added to my lack of interest in the plot this time around, I really had a hard time caring about Catullus and Gemma once they got together. I don't require a tempestuous relationship by any means, but they were both a little too sweet and pleasant to keep my attention. One of my friends used the term Disney-esque to describe part of the relationship in the last book, and that seems apt here too. They were just too sweet and too good and too accepting of each other for me to care at all. I didn't dislike them, but I didn't find them interesting at all.
The author's skill with detail and plotting was still there, but without a story I cared about it was really hard for me to work my way through this book. I enjoyed seeing the Heirs finally confronted on a large scale and loved seeing previous characters that I enjoyed, but I was rather disappointed on the whole. I also was incredibly irritated by the convenient way
Although I didn't enjoy this book much I still plan to try this author's future work. She is definitely an author I plan to keep track of.
Catullus is the one constant character through all the books in this series. He is a brilliant, particular man that caught my interest from the very first meet. I've been really looking forward to his book and am glad that I finally got to get a closer look at his personality. I only wish that I had gotten to see more of the person he was described as being (dedicated inventor with a hard time staying interested in people before his mind wandered back to an invention) instead of just being told about it. He really seemed stunningly normal here when you look at his actions and ignore what we're told about him.
I don't know what changed between the first two books and the last two books, but something did. The first two books were excellent, but the last two books were increasingly less interesting for me. I actually had to take a couple week break in the middle of this one in the hopes that absence would make the heart grow fonder. Luckily it did, so it ended up being average instead of a complete disappointment.
One thing that has really bothered me is the way the supernatural part developed. I absolutely loved it in the first two books, but then the third book confused me by branching out into shapeshifters. And then this one completely blew me out of the water by including the mythical Arthur and the Fae. It just got too weird for me.
It's not my series, so obviously the author can do what she wants, but as the reader I got a certain impression of what this series would be like in terms of magic from the first two books and I had a hard time adjusting when that changed. I don't know why some magic was believable for me and some wasn't, but I really had a hard time enjoying the direction this book took.
Added to my lack of interest in the plot this time around, I really had a hard time caring about Catullus and Gemma once they got together. I don't require a tempestuous relationship by any means, but they were both a little too sweet and pleasant to keep my attention. One of my friends used the term Disney-esque to describe part of the relationship in the last book, and that seems apt here too. They were just too sweet and too good and too accepting of each other for me to care at all. I didn't dislike them, but I didn't find them interesting at all.
The author's skill with detail and plotting was still there, but without a story I cared about it was really hard for me to work my way through this book. I enjoyed seeing the Heirs finally confronted on a large scale and loved seeing previous characters that I enjoyed, but I was rather disappointed on the whole. I also was incredibly irritated by the convenient way
Although I didn't enjoy this book much I still plan to try this author's future work. She is definitely an author I plan to keep track of.
January 2, 2011
This one was a little disappointing to me after the fabulous three books before it. Having said that, there were some things I really, really liked about it, and I appreciate that the last in a series is sometimes very difficult to write.
Some things I really liked about this one:
- The hero and heroine are both great, really great. All the heroes and heroines in this series have been excellent, and these two are no different. Neither of them is one-dimensional, and the hero, in particular, is more complex than most of the other heroes in the series. He's a scientist, an inventor and an introvert. He's not used to blowing his own trumpet, and I get the impression that he feels a bit "past-it" at 41. The heroine is a journalist from Chicago, of Italian/Irish ancestry and used to fighting for what she wants.
- I liked the progression of the hero and heroine's relationship from total lust to deep love. It just seems so real, and although it happens quickly it feels right
- I loved the way the story leapt straight on from the previous book seamlessly.
- I loved the length. Although the pace dropped off in the middle for me, the length allows the story to be given justice and the writing to really flow.
Some things I didn't like so much:
- The magic bit in the middle just didn't work well for me. There were too many pixies etc, and it made me think of bad set moments from The Wizard of Oz with Judy Garland (NOT my favorite movie..). I would have preferred for something much darker, more unnerving and more scary. It felt a bit like a wasted opportunity.
- The involvement of the Heirs was minimal. I would have preferred something more - all the previous books in the series were stamped heavily with the Heirs as really nasty villains, and it felt, in this one, that the whole story was missing that element a bit. It was all a bit on the nice side.
- Although the heroine's career was touched on, I felt that the author could have taken this a bit further. It is a fascinating theme - the first woman in a tough career in a tough city.
So, in all, not the best of these series, but still very enjoyable.
3.5 stars, but I bumped it up because Catullus is so great.
Some things I really liked about this one:
- The hero and heroine are both great, really great. All the heroes and heroines in this series have been excellent, and these two are no different. Neither of them is one-dimensional, and the hero, in particular, is more complex than most of the other heroes in the series. He's a scientist, an inventor and an introvert. He's not used to blowing his own trumpet, and I get the impression that he feels a bit "past-it" at 41. The heroine is a journalist from Chicago, of Italian/Irish ancestry and used to fighting for what she wants.
- I liked the progression of the hero and heroine's relationship from total lust to deep love. It just seems so real, and although it happens quickly it feels right
- I loved the way the story leapt straight on from the previous book seamlessly.
- I loved the length. Although the pace dropped off in the middle for me, the length allows the story to be given justice and the writing to really flow.
Some things I didn't like so much:
- The magic bit in the middle just didn't work well for me. There were too many pixies etc, and it made me think of bad set moments from The Wizard of Oz with Judy Garland (NOT my favorite movie..). I would have preferred for something much darker, more unnerving and more scary. It felt a bit like a wasted opportunity.
- The involvement of the Heirs was minimal. I would have preferred something more - all the previous books in the series were stamped heavily with the Heirs as really nasty villains, and it felt, in this one, that the whole story was missing that element a bit. It was all a bit on the nice side.
- Although the heroine's career was touched on, I felt that the author could have taken this a bit further. It is a fascinating theme - the first woman in a tough career in a tough city.
So, in all, not the best of these series, but still very enjoyable.
3.5 stars, but I bumped it up because Catullus is so great.
July 14, 2017
Trigger warnings: racism, violence, misogynistic bullshit
Is this series ridiculous? Definitely. Is it also a crapton of fun? YES.
There are two main things that I love about this series:
1. It features protagonists of colour
2. It's set in fun locations around the world
I mean, the magic and the way mythology comes into the story is super fucking fun too. But those are the two main things that stand out to me.
So I was a liiiiiiiittle disappointed when this one turned out to be set predominantly in England, but considering the male love interest is a black man who's an inventor and highly respected by his peers, I managed to overcome my disappointment.
This is probably my favourite of the series. The relationship between Gemma and Catullus is adorable. Catullus is an awkward little squish and I love him. I loved that the protagonists from the earlier books in the series come back for the big final battle. Etcetera.
I had one big fuck off sized gripe with this book, and that was that King Arthur - who turns up in the course of the story - is referred to throughout as "Your Highness". DEAR AMERICA: HIGHNESS = PRINCE/PRINCESS. MAJESTY = KING/QUEEN. IT'S NOT THAT FUCKING HARD JESUS CHRIST WHY DON'T AUTHORS OR EDITORS UNDERSTAND THIS OH MY GOOOOOOOOOOOOD.
Anyway. This was a lot of fun and a very satisfying end to the series. But if I have to read one more book where a king or queen is referred to as "your highness"? I'mma fucking cut someone.
Is this series ridiculous? Definitely. Is it also a crapton of fun? YES.
There are two main things that I love about this series:
1. It features protagonists of colour
2. It's set in fun locations around the world
I mean, the magic and the way mythology comes into the story is super fucking fun too. But those are the two main things that stand out to me.
So I was a liiiiiiiittle disappointed when this one turned out to be set predominantly in England, but considering the male love interest is a black man who's an inventor and highly respected by his peers, I managed to overcome my disappointment.
This is probably my favourite of the series. The relationship between Gemma and Catullus is adorable. Catullus is an awkward little squish and I love him. I loved that the protagonists from the earlier books in the series come back for the big final battle. Etcetera.
I had one big fuck off sized gripe with this book, and that was that King Arthur - who turns up in the course of the story - is referred to throughout as "Your Highness". DEAR AMERICA: HIGHNESS = PRINCE/PRINCESS. MAJESTY = KING/QUEEN. IT'S NOT THAT FUCKING HARD JESUS CHRIST WHY DON'T AUTHORS OR EDITORS UNDERSTAND THIS OH MY GOOOOOOOOOOOOD.
Anyway. This was a lot of fun and a very satisfying end to the series. But if I have to read one more book where a king or queen is referred to as "your highness"? I'mma fucking cut someone.
December 14, 2010
Overall I thought it was enjoyable but I did start to struggle at around the halfway mark. I'd give it a 3.5 to 4 stars. I really missed the balance of reality vs. paranormal that the other books had. This one was pure over-the-top fantasy world like Alice in Wonderland or something along the lines of an acid trip, (i.e.,16-feet tall imaginary historical characters coming to life.) Nothing felt real about this story, so it wasn't what I was expecting or hoping. Also, didn't really love the relationship between Catullus and Gemma. A bit too syrupy sweet. And for three books now we hear all about his great inventions skill, so you would think we would see a lot of that in his book. But not much. A battle scene early in the book implies his ingenuity but we don't see much else. Still, the series rocked as a whole and I am a solid fan of Zoe Archer.
November 17, 2018
Really? Really?!
The first 3 books of this series were fun adventures with some adult-time thrown in for good measure.
3/4 of this book had 2 of the horniest adults constantly ogling each other despite being in constant life-threatening situations.
I realize I started this series because I belonged to a book club called “Vaginal Fantasy” but this was so much chaos plus smushy gushy gooey eyes that I had to force my way to the end (and only bc I’d read 3 books up to this point!).
Bleuph. Double bleuph.
If I could go back in time I would smack Warrior out of my naive little hands. There is much better smut-adventure out there.
I could go into way more detail about how this book wasted my LIFE but I’m going to move on.
The first 3 books of this series were fun adventures with some adult-time thrown in for good measure.
3/4 of this book had 2 of the horniest adults constantly ogling each other despite being in constant life-threatening situations.
I realize I started this series because I belonged to a book club called “Vaginal Fantasy” but this was so much chaos plus smushy gushy gooey eyes that I had to force my way to the end (and only bc I’d read 3 books up to this point!).
Bleuph. Double bleuph.
If I could go back in time I would smack Warrior out of my naive little hands. There is much better smut-adventure out there.
I could go into way more detail about how this book wasted my LIFE but I’m going to move on.
January 14, 2015
Although this one is the same insta-love and continual lust preoccupation of the other three volumes, I enjoyed both the two lead characters so much that I didn't mind... Until they got to fairyland where I completely and utterly lost patience with them. Ok, imagine this: the world is going to be destroyed as you know it, unless you save it swiftly. Do you hang out with you new lover, kissing, speaking words of love, etc etc, or do you get off your ass and save the world already? Sadly the author's answer is too much of the former.
January 19, 2016
While I loved how Catalus and Gemma's romance really flourished and grew with this book, the book dragged in places. But since this book was the last in the series it stood to reason it was going to be bigger. I was surprised at what magic the Heirs brought forth, but in the end ZA managed to make it work for me. It was a good wrap up to the story and that series.
March 11, 2011
A fabulous end to a marvelous series!! I have been waiting for Catullus Graves' story since the first book...he is such a great character. We've seen his brilliance in the other books, but we really get to know and understand the man in this one. Yes, he's brilliant, but he's also a little shy and feels foolish talking to women. Enter Gemma, intrepid woman reporter in a time where women were supposed to write recipes and fashion columns. Catullus and Gemma met in the last book, and we immediately felt their connection. Their romance was quite lovely in contrast with the ugly battles they were fighting. It was sweet and just felt right...Archer has a knack for making me believe two people are meant to be together.
The battles were awesome, including some extraordinary time spent in Otherworld searching for Merlin. A lot of stuff about King Arthur in this book as well. It's crazy the sheer scope of all the different types of supernatural creatures and mythology Archer pulls together so seamlessly. I enjoyed seeing all the couples together for the final battle, and the epilogue was pretty fantastically sappy! Just right for me!
I loved this series and am so sad it's over, but I feel well satisfied by the ending!
The battles were awesome, including some extraordinary time spent in Otherworld searching for Merlin. A lot of stuff about King Arthur in this book as well. It's crazy the sheer scope of all the different types of supernatural creatures and mythology Archer pulls together so seamlessly. I enjoyed seeing all the couples together for the final battle, and the epilogue was pretty fantastically sappy! Just right for me!
I loved this series and am so sad it's over, but I feel well satisfied by the ending!
September 8, 2015
I have been intrigued about Catullus since he was introduced. Happy he got his own story. Gemma was introduced in Rebel and I thought she was just as awesome as he was. I liked that we saw couples from the other books all make appearances in this one.
There are multiple roadblocks blocks to saving England (and the rest of the world). My compliant was there were so many. One gets figured out and overcome to be promptly replaced by another (and again, again). I admit to enjoying it, at first, but it gets old quickly and made the book drag a little for me.
There are multiple roadblocks blocks to saving England (and the rest of the world). My compliant was there were so many. One gets figured out and overcome to be promptly replaced by another (and again, again). I admit to enjoying it, at first, but it gets old quickly and made the book drag a little for me.
January 14, 2011
I have been looking forward to reading this book, but at the same time I have been dreading it because it’s the last in the series for now. At least, I hope only for now… ‘The Blades of the Rose’ series by Zoe Archer is a fun series filled with adventure and wit. And Stranger, book four in the series, is no exception.
Stranger takes place pretty much immediately after Rebel ends. Catullus, Astrid, Lesperance (and Gemma in the shadows) are on a ship crossing the Atlantic on their way back to England to stop the crazy Heirs of Albion from controlling the world’s magical Sources. The Heirs are very close to their goal of England dominating the world. Catullus, Astrid and Lesperance are members of The Blades of the Rose, an organization created to fight for and protect these magical Sources. Gemma is a reporter. We met her in the previous book. She and Catullus felt an instant connection when they first met. But on top of that, Gemma sensed a story. So she decided to follow the trio to England. Very brave of her – especially considering she is not only a reporter, but also a woman. Oh, and it’s 1875.
Catullus Graves is the only character that appears in every book. He is the resident genius of the group and his inventions save their hide on many occasions. He’s the steady one. The one you know will keep his brain cells even when faced with the direst of situations. Catullus is very much an intellectual. His mind never rests and he rarely sleeps. He even claims to only be able to be captivated by a woman for a very short time before he starts thinking of a new invention or his latest project. So it was wonderful watching him be a little distracted by Gemma and watching his mind and his heart do a little dance. I especially liked seeing Catullus in Otherworld, a place where logic doesn’t exist. It put Catullus right off his game. To see him strain with not being able to make sense of his surroundings and not being able to work through issues using simple logic… But he dealt with it like a champ. It really put a nice spin on his character – and helped me like him even more. It made him more personable and real.
And I can’t believe how much he made me blush! Oh Catullus! Just goes to show you that even the nerdish types can be naughty naughty.
I loved Gemma for him. She is strong willed and smart. She instinctively knows what he needs. Catullus carries the weight of the world on his shoulders and I really like how she reminds him that he’s not alone. That he has people around him who are willing to help, her included. Once again, Zoe made a great match.
A little side note about the women in this entire series: I love them! They are all independent and totally kick ass! They are not all fighters or soldiers, but they are fighters in their own ways. That is always something I worry about in historically based novels. The women can sometimes be a little weak. And a strong woman can be seen as a hindrance by the men. But not in these books. Smart and strong women are adored. In fact, those are qualities that the men in this series admire. Which goes to show you that these Blades of the Rose men are really ahead of their time. They treat the women of their organization as equals. Equals. Now there’s a concept in 1875.
Being an action adventure book, Stranger has many scenes that will make your blood pump faster. And these action scenes are very well written. You can really picture these fights and chases vividly. I enjoyed them. And what was equally fun was seeing all the characters from the first three books reunite for the big fight. Even some of the secondary characters from the other books came back in Stranger. It was like seeing old friends again and made me smile.
This series is different from anything I have read before. Fun stories with likable characters you want to see succeed. Stranger finishes this particular story arc wonderfully. If you have yet to try this series, DO IT! You’ll be glad you did.
Stranger takes place pretty much immediately after Rebel ends. Catullus, Astrid, Lesperance (and Gemma in the shadows) are on a ship crossing the Atlantic on their way back to England to stop the crazy Heirs of Albion from controlling the world’s magical Sources. The Heirs are very close to their goal of England dominating the world. Catullus, Astrid and Lesperance are members of The Blades of the Rose, an organization created to fight for and protect these magical Sources. Gemma is a reporter. We met her in the previous book. She and Catullus felt an instant connection when they first met. But on top of that, Gemma sensed a story. So she decided to follow the trio to England. Very brave of her – especially considering she is not only a reporter, but also a woman. Oh, and it’s 1875.
Catullus Graves is the only character that appears in every book. He is the resident genius of the group and his inventions save their hide on many occasions. He’s the steady one. The one you know will keep his brain cells even when faced with the direst of situations. Catullus is very much an intellectual. His mind never rests and he rarely sleeps. He even claims to only be able to be captivated by a woman for a very short time before he starts thinking of a new invention or his latest project. So it was wonderful watching him be a little distracted by Gemma and watching his mind and his heart do a little dance. I especially liked seeing Catullus in Otherworld, a place where logic doesn’t exist. It put Catullus right off his game. To see him strain with not being able to make sense of his surroundings and not being able to work through issues using simple logic… But he dealt with it like a champ. It really put a nice spin on his character – and helped me like him even more. It made him more personable and real.
And I can’t believe how much he made me blush! Oh Catullus! Just goes to show you that even the nerdish types can be naughty naughty.
I loved Gemma for him. She is strong willed and smart. She instinctively knows what he needs. Catullus carries the weight of the world on his shoulders and I really like how she reminds him that he’s not alone. That he has people around him who are willing to help, her included. Once again, Zoe made a great match.
A little side note about the women in this entire series: I love them! They are all independent and totally kick ass! They are not all fighters or soldiers, but they are fighters in their own ways. That is always something I worry about in historically based novels. The women can sometimes be a little weak. And a strong woman can be seen as a hindrance by the men. But not in these books. Smart and strong women are adored. In fact, those are qualities that the men in this series admire. Which goes to show you that these Blades of the Rose men are really ahead of their time. They treat the women of their organization as equals. Equals. Now there’s a concept in 1875.
Being an action adventure book, Stranger has many scenes that will make your blood pump faster. And these action scenes are very well written. You can really picture these fights and chases vividly. I enjoyed them. And what was equally fun was seeing all the characters from the first three books reunite for the big fight. Even some of the secondary characters from the other books came back in Stranger. It was like seeing old friends again and made me smile.
This series is different from anything I have read before. Fun stories with likable characters you want to see succeed. Stranger finishes this particular story arc wonderfully. If you have yet to try this series, DO IT! You’ll be glad you did.
February 8, 2023
Coming from a long line of Blades, the hero has seen and experienced it all. That is until he meets the heroine. As a reporter, the heroine is driven with the need to know and when she catches wind of a secret organization looking for the destruction of the world, she follows the beautiful black man to England. When she's discovered, the hero is adamant about the dangers with being associated with the Blades and can't stomach the idea of her vibrant life being snuffed out. But the heroine's feisty red hair matches her tenacity and she proves herself to be an asset in the battle the hero faces. At first it is about the story, but real soon the heroine knows that she can't sit by and allow evil doers destroy the world, not when she can help stop them. And the time frame is very short. Once the Blades catch wind that the enemy has already summoned Arthur and is marching on London, it's up to the hero to stop them.
I freaking loved this story. The hero is a genius. He loves the challenge of solving problems and lives in his own head for most of the time. As such, he's lived a lonely existence. His experiments and his go go nonstop brain makes it hard for him to understand women let alone allow them to get close. When he meets the heroine, he is instant bewitched by not only her beauty but her brains as well. She's very intelligent with a thirst for knowledge that matches his own. But more than that, she understands him. He sees her as the perfect mirror to himself, someone whom he can easily rely on and trust more than anyone he's ever trusted before. But he's a nervous wreck when it comes to the flirtatious banter between men and women and more often than not ends up making a fool of himself. The heroine comes a country that is famous for its mistreatments of black people but she's never shared her countryman's views. From the second she meets him she knows that there is no one in the world like the hero. He radiates power and intelligence and has an abundance of charisma that makes him so attractive. Can't blame the girl, the hero is certainly a very special hero even with his many oddities and quirks. He had the ability to give comfort to those around him. He was always cool and calm under pressure and would always have a plan or an idea to solve their problems. And when he faltered, the heroine was there to inspire him. They made the perfect team because they both shared a desire for adventure and their courage pushed them deep into the world of magic and danger. But the knowledge that the other was always there standing right at their side made for a deep connection that resonated throughout the story. I loved the hero, starting out as a nervous adolescent in the face of the heroine's blatant flirtations and gradually becoming more at ease with teasing her. I did think this book could have been a tad bit shorter as it spans almost 450 pages but I can say that I was never bored and the lovely characters always kept me hooked.
I freaking loved this story. The hero is a genius. He loves the challenge of solving problems and lives in his own head for most of the time. As such, he's lived a lonely existence. His experiments and his go go nonstop brain makes it hard for him to understand women let alone allow them to get close. When he meets the heroine, he is instant bewitched by not only her beauty but her brains as well. She's very intelligent with a thirst for knowledge that matches his own. But more than that, she understands him. He sees her as the perfect mirror to himself, someone whom he can easily rely on and trust more than anyone he's ever trusted before. But he's a nervous wreck when it comes to the flirtatious banter between men and women and more often than not ends up making a fool of himself. The heroine comes a country that is famous for its mistreatments of black people but she's never shared her countryman's views. From the second she meets him she knows that there is no one in the world like the hero. He radiates power and intelligence and has an abundance of charisma that makes him so attractive. Can't blame the girl, the hero is certainly a very special hero even with his many oddities and quirks. He had the ability to give comfort to those around him. He was always cool and calm under pressure and would always have a plan or an idea to solve their problems. And when he faltered, the heroine was there to inspire him. They made the perfect team because they both shared a desire for adventure and their courage pushed them deep into the world of magic and danger. But the knowledge that the other was always there standing right at their side made for a deep connection that resonated throughout the story. I loved the hero, starting out as a nervous adolescent in the face of the heroine's blatant flirtations and gradually becoming more at ease with teasing her. I did think this book could have been a tad bit shorter as it spans almost 450 pages but I can say that I was never bored and the lovely characters always kept me hooked.
December 2, 2010
Gemma Murphy has been following Catullus Graves and his friends for some time now. After first seeing him in the Northwest Territory of Canada, she now finds herself on a boat, to England. A reporter, she loves to investigate, and she knows Catullus and his crew have many secrets.
Catullus is a member of The Blades of the Rose, a secret organization that protects Sources, those items that hold magical power throughout the world from the evil Heirs of Albion. The Heirs now have the primal source, and have plans to use it for world domination. The Blades are hot on their trail, and are willing to sacrifice whatever it takes to stop them.
The first time Catullus set eyes on the red haired, freckled beauty in Canada, it stirs him. A genius inventor, Catullus has a very scientific approach when it comes to romance, which means he isn’t quite the ladies man. Soon Catullus becomes aware that Gemma is following them, and when the Heirs spot her with the Blades, her life becomes endangered. She wants to prove to the Blades she is a competent fighter, and she wants to break down Catullus’s serious ways, and show him just how wicked romance can be.
Stranger is the fourth book in Zoe Archer’s The Blades of the Rose series and held much anticipation for me to discover Catullus whom we meet in great detail in book three, Rebel. Catullus is reserved, a bit shy and awkward when it comes to women. He loves fine waistcoats and is extremely smart. His match, Gemma is just the kind of woman who can break him out of his mold. She has spunk and spirit, yet she is very kind and from the start understands who this man is. Although Catullus is black, she never once sees his skin color as a deterrent. I absolutely adored their romance. The uncertainty Catullus has in the bedroom is very endearing, and once he gains confidence – watch out.
The adventure in this one weaves in the King Arthur legend, as the Blades rush to prevent the Heirs from using the primal source. I didn’t love the adventure as much as the previous books. Besides an evil form of King Arthur being resurrected, for some time Catullus and Gemma find themselves in Otherworld, an alternate fairy world. It just didn’t grab me like the other books did. I did thoroughly enjoy the banter between Catullus and other blade members Bennet Day and Nathan Lesperance and their spouses. The pages where all of them are working together are some of my favorite. And of course the pages with the hot smex in a tree house.
After finishing this series, four books in four months, I can say they have been a joy to read. With the mixture of historical, paranormal and adventure, Zoe Archer brings something different to these books. I really hope we get more Blades in the future, and Catullus has just made his way onto my boyfriend list.
Rating: B-
Catullus is a member of The Blades of the Rose, a secret organization that protects Sources, those items that hold magical power throughout the world from the evil Heirs of Albion. The Heirs now have the primal source, and have plans to use it for world domination. The Blades are hot on their trail, and are willing to sacrifice whatever it takes to stop them.
The first time Catullus set eyes on the red haired, freckled beauty in Canada, it stirs him. A genius inventor, Catullus has a very scientific approach when it comes to romance, which means he isn’t quite the ladies man. Soon Catullus becomes aware that Gemma is following them, and when the Heirs spot her with the Blades, her life becomes endangered. She wants to prove to the Blades she is a competent fighter, and she wants to break down Catullus’s serious ways, and show him just how wicked romance can be.
Stranger is the fourth book in Zoe Archer’s The Blades of the Rose series and held much anticipation for me to discover Catullus whom we meet in great detail in book three, Rebel. Catullus is reserved, a bit shy and awkward when it comes to women. He loves fine waistcoats and is extremely smart. His match, Gemma is just the kind of woman who can break him out of his mold. She has spunk and spirit, yet she is very kind and from the start understands who this man is. Although Catullus is black, she never once sees his skin color as a deterrent. I absolutely adored their romance. The uncertainty Catullus has in the bedroom is very endearing, and once he gains confidence – watch out.
The adventure in this one weaves in the King Arthur legend, as the Blades rush to prevent the Heirs from using the primal source. I didn’t love the adventure as much as the previous books. Besides an evil form of King Arthur being resurrected, for some time Catullus and Gemma find themselves in Otherworld, an alternate fairy world. It just didn’t grab me like the other books did. I did thoroughly enjoy the banter between Catullus and other blade members Bennet Day and Nathan Lesperance and their spouses. The pages where all of them are working together are some of my favorite. And of course the pages with the hot smex in a tree house.
After finishing this series, four books in four months, I can say they have been a joy to read. With the mixture of historical, paranormal and adventure, Zoe Archer brings something different to these books. I really hope we get more Blades in the future, and Catullus has just made his way onto my boyfriend list.
Rating: B-
December 12, 2010
This conclusion to the 4-book series of "the Blades" was different than the previous three in many respects. The others all got 5 stars from me, this one I can only give 4... because it just didn't have the "it" that I freaked on with the other books. I wonder, because it was the 'conclusion' of this series (though it could have future installments without a doubt) if it could have possibly lived up to my every outragous hope.
Ways it's different from books 1-3:
1. There was not the amazing "location" and cultural aspect as previous novels, and I missed it. They were all over the place and nowhere in particular all the time. Much was in England, but they were literally running the whole time... and I never got the same sense of place.
2. Our hero can make AMAZING things... yet in his own novel his genius is barely seen, he's never given the chance to cut loose making his inventions, we never get really inside his head and process. :( I felt like I didn't get the same connection to the main characters this time around.
3. Too much "out there" magic. In previous novels what I loved so much was the edge of reality, how the magic skated close to what is known/real in this world. In this one, with mythical kings and fairy worlds and sooooo much magic and myth... it was way over the top. It pulled me out of the story vs engaging me more.
4. CAN NOT be read out of order. The others had elements running through them but felt very much stand alone. This felt more like "book 3, part 2"
So in other words, it didn't meet my VERY INSANELY HIGH expectations... but when going back and re-reading passages I still think it was a very strong offering, and a book (and series) I highly recommend. Zoe Archer is an amazing writing talent, and this by far my favorite series of 2010.
Ways it's different from books 1-3:
1. There was not the amazing "location" and cultural aspect as previous novels, and I missed it. They were all over the place and nowhere in particular all the time. Much was in England, but they were literally running the whole time... and I never got the same sense of place.
2. Our hero can make AMAZING things... yet in his own novel his genius is barely seen, he's never given the chance to cut loose making his inventions, we never get really inside his head and process. :( I felt like I didn't get the same connection to the main characters this time around.
3. Too much "out there" magic. In previous novels what I loved so much was the edge of reality, how the magic skated close to what is known/real in this world. In this one, with mythical kings and fairy worlds and sooooo much magic and myth... it was way over the top. It pulled me out of the story vs engaging me more.
4. CAN NOT be read out of order. The others had elements running through them but felt very much stand alone. This felt more like "book 3, part 2"
So in other words, it didn't meet my VERY INSANELY HIGH expectations... but when going back and re-reading passages I still think it was a very strong offering, and a book (and series) I highly recommend. Zoe Archer is an amazing writing talent, and this by far my favorite series of 2010.
December 28, 2010
4.5 stars. Awesome read in a can't-miss series. You *must* read Rebel to enjoy this book--this is the only book in the series that really depends on the others, especially in the opening chapter. Which is okay, because Gemma is introduced in Rebel, and it is nice to see a longer story arc for her and Graves. However, Archer does totally leap into it in Chapter One, so you might want to have Rebel handy :) Archer doesn't disappoint with breakneck action, a lot more magic than the other four books, high stakes, and another awesome take-no-prisoners heroine. Speaking of, I'm wondering if anyone else kept wondering more about "Richard?" Gemma mentions an ex-fiancée of a different name early on--and it kept bugging me as to whether she had two different ex-fiancées, a naming typo, and who exactly Richard was--former editor at the paper maybe? Also, I felt that Gemma had a bit too much "experience" for the 1870s--even in this steampunk variation with magic running amok. It wouldn't have worked for either the storyline or the character to have her be a virgin or a widow, but she's a bit cavalier about having had multiple lovers. Unless this alternate world has access to way better birth control than what the majority of single women in the late 1800s would have had access to, I just don't think that Gemma would have risked the career that she had everything invested in by having a series of affairs. Also, it never seems to cross Graves's mind that she might be a virgin, and I think the uber-proper Cattalus would have had that assumption (but been happy to be disproved!). However, all that said, it's a mark of how addictive this series is and how fully-fleshed these characters are that I obsess over an incredibly minor plot point like this! This is an awesome culmination to the Blades of the Roses quartet, and I really hope it is not the last Blades book!
December 1, 2010
Stranger, the fourth book in Zoe Archer's excellent Blades of the Rose, brings the series to a close and provides a final bow for all the past pairs.
Stranger didn't manage to displace Rebel as my favorite of the series, but it was still good. The hero Catalus Graves, genius inventor is quite reserved, so his romance is not as fiery as some of the other Blade's romances. And the book has a different feel from the rest of the series, since the leads quest to stop a magical takeover of epic consequences takes them not to some exotic earthly locale but to the otherworldly land of Faerie. But I was charmed by Catalus and I loved Catalus' heroine, her determination and inquisitiveness - and willingness to take the lead in moving their romance forward - was quite appealing. I guess that my biggest nit with Stranger was that there weren't enough of Catalus' fabulous inventions sprinkle throughout the story - we've been seeing his gizmos save the day throughout the rest of the series I was expecting to be dazzled by his ingenuity and instead it was magic and not inventions which was the key to the Blades a victory over their enemies.
Still Stranger is not to be missed and if you are at all interested in historical-ish adventure romances with a touch of magic and are lucky enough to own an e-reader all four books are available as a bundle The Blades of the Rose Bundle: Warrior, Scoundrel, Rebel, & Stranger.
Stranger didn't manage to displace Rebel as my favorite of the series, but it was still good. The hero Catalus Graves, genius inventor is quite reserved, so his romance is not as fiery as some of the other Blade's romances. And the book has a different feel from the rest of the series, since the leads quest to stop a magical takeover of epic consequences takes them not to some exotic earthly locale but to the otherworldly land of Faerie. But I was charmed by Catalus and I loved Catalus' heroine, her determination and inquisitiveness - and willingness to take the lead in moving their romance forward - was quite appealing. I guess that my biggest nit with Stranger was that there weren't enough of Catalus' fabulous inventions sprinkle throughout the story - we've been seeing his gizmos save the day throughout the rest of the series I was expecting to be dazzled by his ingenuity and instead it was magic and not inventions which was the key to the Blades a victory over their enemies.
Still Stranger is not to be missed and if you are at all interested in historical-ish adventure romances with a touch of magic and are lucky enough to own an e-reader all four books are available as a bundle The Blades of the Rose Bundle: Warrior, Scoundrel, Rebel, & Stranger.
April 24, 2012
This book suffered a little from end-of-series-itis-- lots and lots of wrapping up long-dangling plot ends, making sure the couples from previous books had their prominent cameos, etc. And while Catullus has probably been my favorite Blade throughout, his storybook couple squooshiness was a little over-the-top, for me. I almost wish he'd had his own proper book and the wrap-up with ALL of them was saved for a joint "concluding" title, but it is what it is. (And., that said, the final showdown battle in the library was AMAZING.) Also need to remember to go back and read SCOUNDREL now, because somehow I thought I'd read that one and missed it.
November 28, 2010
Dear Zebra, I can haz moar Blades of the Rose books? Pretty plz! Because, DA-YUM are they awesome and different and fun and emotionally satisfying and fantabulous… I needz moar soonest!
June 13, 2017
I loved this book! If you haven't read The Blades of the Rose series, do yourself a favor and get them. All 4 books are outstanding!
January 10, 2011
Disclaimer: I have not read the other books in this series, and I picked this up thinking it was a fantasy/romance novel and not the romance/fantasy/steampunk novel it is. If I was grading this on a strictly romance book criteria, I suppose I would give 2-3 stars.
I use to read romance novels. I even re-read Outlander a couple years ago and liked them. I enjoy the work of Jacqueline Carey. I don't mind sex in a novel at all. But as I got older, I read less and less romance novels. I find my patience waning when I read them, unless they are like Carey's work and a good mixature of fantasy and romance.
I was hoping this book would be somewhat like Carey's work (no, not the S&M of the earlier works), but it isn't.
As a straight romance book, I suppose it might not be too bad. The heroine, Gemma, is overall a good character. She isn't stupid, but she isn't perfect either. It is true that she is somewhat unusal because she is a female reporter who travels during a time when female reporters were rare. She also isn't the only strong female in the book. I wouldn't comment on the relationship between the two women who share the most screen time because I haven't read the previous book, and it is very likely that Astrid is being kept in character. The sex scenes are good. The sexual tension is there.
As a fantasy novel, this book does not work. As anything other than a sexusal encounter novel, this book does not work.
The first reason, as any long time fantasy reader will point out, is that the magic system in the novel does not work. it does not seem to be well thought out and just seems to be a muck of powers Archer thought would be cool. the one exception to this is the powers that Gemma has which actually tie into her being a reporter.
The second reason is that the bad guys, the fancy pant Brits, don't seem that dangerous and the world doesn't seem to be in danger at all. I never thought that anything remotely bad was gpoing to happen. Like all romance novels, the bad guys are just an excuse to get the good guys in bed. This would be okay in a straight romance book, but doesn't work in the fantasy novel it is also trying to be. They don't seem dangerous at all. Even Disney villans seem more dangerous, and I'm not talking about the wicked witch from Snow White; I'm talking about the gang from Robin Hood.
What the bad guys are trying to do is really stupid and doesn't make sense in terms of what they'll long term goal is outside of a strict military idea; it irgnores a realm of legend and character.
While Gemma is a good character, there are also problems with her character. At times, she does not act like a reporter. she also has some of the sterotypes of romance heroines - small waist, big bust (honey, I lovew Dolly Parton but her look ain't natural), Gemma doesn't know how beautiful she is, her true love is the best partner she's ever had (but in all fairness, at least she has experience), she dresses modestly but her clothes are so threadbare that they could be see though. My biggest problem was the line about how she didn't really make money, yet apparently can afford transcontiental and transaltantic transportation. She also seems to accept too much on faith. The good guys are the good guys because she thinks one of them is sexy.
In other words, everything in the novel seems to be ane excuse fdor the characters to have sex. I don't even buy that they are in love. I buy that they'll in lust, but not the love that Archer keeps telling the reader that every single couple in the book feels (which apparently is why they are the good guys).
And I think, in all fairness, that is the problem. Say what you will about Jacqueline Carey's writing style, but her world buildling is good. When she presents a couple in love; you believe that they are truly in love. It is an equal mixature of fantasy and romance, both well thought out. This doesn't seem to be the case here.
I use to read romance novels. I even re-read Outlander a couple years ago and liked them. I enjoy the work of Jacqueline Carey. I don't mind sex in a novel at all. But as I got older, I read less and less romance novels. I find my patience waning when I read them, unless they are like Carey's work and a good mixature of fantasy and romance.
I was hoping this book would be somewhat like Carey's work (no, not the S&M of the earlier works), but it isn't.
As a straight romance book, I suppose it might not be too bad. The heroine, Gemma, is overall a good character. She isn't stupid, but she isn't perfect either. It is true that she is somewhat unusal because she is a female reporter who travels during a time when female reporters were rare. She also isn't the only strong female in the book. I wouldn't comment on the relationship between the two women who share the most screen time because I haven't read the previous book, and it is very likely that Astrid is being kept in character. The sex scenes are good. The sexual tension is there.
As a fantasy novel, this book does not work. As anything other than a sexusal encounter novel, this book does not work.
The first reason, as any long time fantasy reader will point out, is that the magic system in the novel does not work. it does not seem to be well thought out and just seems to be a muck of powers Archer thought would be cool. the one exception to this is the powers that Gemma has which actually tie into her being a reporter.
The second reason is that the bad guys, the fancy pant Brits, don't seem that dangerous and the world doesn't seem to be in danger at all. I never thought that anything remotely bad was gpoing to happen. Like all romance novels, the bad guys are just an excuse to get the good guys in bed. This would be okay in a straight romance book, but doesn't work in the fantasy novel it is also trying to be. They don't seem dangerous at all. Even Disney villans seem more dangerous, and I'm not talking about the wicked witch from Snow White; I'm talking about the gang from Robin Hood.
What the bad guys are trying to do is really stupid and doesn't make sense in terms of what they'll long term goal is outside of a strict military idea; it irgnores a realm of legend and character.
While Gemma is a good character, there are also problems with her character. At times, she does not act like a reporter. she also has some of the sterotypes of romance heroines - small waist, big bust (honey, I lovew Dolly Parton but her look ain't natural), Gemma doesn't know how beautiful she is, her true love is the best partner she's ever had (but in all fairness, at least she has experience), she dresses modestly but her clothes are so threadbare that they could be see though. My biggest problem was the line about how she didn't really make money, yet apparently can afford transcontiental and transaltantic transportation. She also seems to accept too much on faith. The good guys are the good guys because she thinks one of them is sexy.
In other words, everything in the novel seems to be ane excuse fdor the characters to have sex. I don't even buy that they are in love. I buy that they'll in lust, but not the love that Archer keeps telling the reader that every single couple in the book feels (which apparently is why they are the good guys).
And I think, in all fairness, that is the problem. Say what you will about Jacqueline Carey's writing style, but her world buildling is good. When she presents a couple in love; you believe that they are truly in love. It is an equal mixature of fantasy and romance, both well thought out. This doesn't seem to be the case here.
January 9, 2011
Stranger is the fourth and concluding book in Zoë Archer's Blades of the Rose series, and as such, is not the best book in the series to start with. The other three books, Warrior, Scoundrel and Rebel can all be read independently of each other and in every which order, but to fully get the story in this one, one should at least have read Rebel first.
Catullus Graves is the genius inventor of gadgets (think Q in Bond) for the Blades of the Rose, a group of adventurers from all over the world dedicated to keeping the magic in the world from the knowledge of people in general, and safe from the ruthless Heirs of Albion, an organization of men determined to claim as much of the world's magic for themselves, so they can further the greatness and dominance of Britain, conquering and oppressing. Catullus has reached the age of forty-one without meeting any woman who can distract him from his calling of science and inventions, living a solitary existence, happy to provide his fellow Blades with inventions to help them on their quests and adventures around the world. Until he meets Gemma Murphy, a determined and ambitious female reporter from Chicago, who having heard Catullus and his two companions (also Blades) talk about mysterious and exciting dangers at a trading post in Canada, follow them to London, sensing a story that could ensure her journalistic career.
Catullus and his companions, Nathan and Astrid (the main couple of Rebel) can't allow Gemma to write about the struggle between the Blades and the Heirs, but as they arrive in England, and quickly have to flee for their lives from the murderous Heirs, they have no choice but to take her along with them either. The attraction between Catullus and Gemma is quickly very obvious, but Catullus is unsure of whether she's just using her ample feminine charms to get a story, or if she actually likes him. In his experience, women find his distracted nature and complete inability to say the right thing off putting. Gemma, on the other hand, finds it intriguing that Catullus never objects to her being a driven female journalist, just to her writing the truth about his friends and their quest to keep magic safe. Her former fiancee tried to get her to give up her calling, and change her to conform more to a traditional female ideal.
Nathan, Astrid, Catullus and Gemma have to try to make it to the Blades' headquarters in Southampton to warn them that the Heirs, now in control of the Primal Source, the most powerful magical artifact in the world are about to activate it, and when they do, can achieve all their dreams and wishes for world domination. When the first sign of their dreams of dominance magically manifest as a famous figure of British mythology, they have to find the means to stop him, before magic tears up the countryside, and the Heirs fully control the source and take over the world. The Blades from all over the world will have to battle the Heirs once and for all.
Several of the review sites I follow have raved about Zoë Archer and her novels that combine romance and adventure. The three previous books got a little bit samey, following pretty much the same template - a couple of different, but both strong-willed characters meet and fall madly in love while on the quest for magical artifact, while escaping the obstacles put in their path by the dastardly Heirs. Artifact recovered, big battle against the Heirs at the end. This book follows the same template, but as it's on a bigger scale, and the quest isn't really to find one magical artifact, but more the means to stop the entire world being taken over, and it's obvious that the battle at the end will be the big, decisive one, I didn't mind so much.
Quite a few reviewers complained that the book was a let down for them because Catullus, who appears as a supporting character in the other books and whose marvelous inventions frequently help save the day, doesn't actually do that much actual inventing in the book. Since I was forewarned not to expect this, I didn't mind, and he and Gemma make a good couple. Also, the battle at the end features a huge dragon rampaging in London, what's not to like about that?
Catullus Graves is the genius inventor of gadgets (think Q in Bond) for the Blades of the Rose, a group of adventurers from all over the world dedicated to keeping the magic in the world from the knowledge of people in general, and safe from the ruthless Heirs of Albion, an organization of men determined to claim as much of the world's magic for themselves, so they can further the greatness and dominance of Britain, conquering and oppressing. Catullus has reached the age of forty-one without meeting any woman who can distract him from his calling of science and inventions, living a solitary existence, happy to provide his fellow Blades with inventions to help them on their quests and adventures around the world. Until he meets Gemma Murphy, a determined and ambitious female reporter from Chicago, who having heard Catullus and his two companions (also Blades) talk about mysterious and exciting dangers at a trading post in Canada, follow them to London, sensing a story that could ensure her journalistic career.
Catullus and his companions, Nathan and Astrid (the main couple of Rebel) can't allow Gemma to write about the struggle between the Blades and the Heirs, but as they arrive in England, and quickly have to flee for their lives from the murderous Heirs, they have no choice but to take her along with them either. The attraction between Catullus and Gemma is quickly very obvious, but Catullus is unsure of whether she's just using her ample feminine charms to get a story, or if she actually likes him. In his experience, women find his distracted nature and complete inability to say the right thing off putting. Gemma, on the other hand, finds it intriguing that Catullus never objects to her being a driven female journalist, just to her writing the truth about his friends and their quest to keep magic safe. Her former fiancee tried to get her to give up her calling, and change her to conform more to a traditional female ideal.
Nathan, Astrid, Catullus and Gemma have to try to make it to the Blades' headquarters in Southampton to warn them that the Heirs, now in control of the Primal Source, the most powerful magical artifact in the world are about to activate it, and when they do, can achieve all their dreams and wishes for world domination. When the first sign of their dreams of dominance magically manifest as a famous figure of British mythology, they have to find the means to stop him, before magic tears up the countryside, and the Heirs fully control the source and take over the world. The Blades from all over the world will have to battle the Heirs once and for all.
Several of the review sites I follow have raved about Zoë Archer and her novels that combine romance and adventure. The three previous books got a little bit samey, following pretty much the same template - a couple of different, but both strong-willed characters meet and fall madly in love while on the quest for magical artifact, while escaping the obstacles put in their path by the dastardly Heirs. Artifact recovered, big battle against the Heirs at the end. This book follows the same template, but as it's on a bigger scale, and the quest isn't really to find one magical artifact, but more the means to stop the entire world being taken over, and it's obvious that the battle at the end will be the big, decisive one, I didn't mind so much.
Quite a few reviewers complained that the book was a let down for them because Catullus, who appears as a supporting character in the other books and whose marvelous inventions frequently help save the day, doesn't actually do that much actual inventing in the book. Since I was forewarned not to expect this, I didn't mind, and he and Gemma make a good couple. Also, the battle at the end features a huge dragon rampaging in London, what's not to like about that?
May 18, 2019
Yes! The perfect ending this series deserved.
Fist off what an amazing couple. The heroine is very persistent and brings something to the table and the hero is just diverse and amazing. Mom loves how they grow of each other. She also liked the the hero was bumbling. It made him all the more human and endearing.
One of the sad thing mom wishes there was more of in romance was, in a romance series where the hero, yes it usually the heroes, are suppose to have some close connection, would all meet up; or maybe even share in the finally. It does not have to be in every series and their are plenty of series where is would not make sense, but there are also some it would, yet authors don’t seem to take advantage of that. It would make an amazing pay off and make you want to read all the books.
It was a fun read and getting to read the epilogue, oh you will not regret reading the series.
Fist off what an amazing couple. The heroine is very persistent and brings something to the table and the hero is just diverse and amazing. Mom loves how they grow of each other. She also liked the the hero was bumbling. It made him all the more human and endearing.
One of the sad thing mom wishes there was more of in romance was, in a romance series where the hero, yes it usually the heroes, are suppose to have some close connection, would all meet up; or maybe even share in the finally. It does not have to be in every series and their are plenty of series where is would not make sense, but there are also some it would, yet authors don’t seem to take advantage of that. It would make an amazing pay off and make you want to read all the books.
It was a fun read and getting to read the epilogue, oh you will not regret reading the series.
October 5, 2011
My review is posted on Joyfully Reviewed: http://www.joyfullyreviewed.com/new-r...
Reporter Gemma Murphy is often considered an anomaly: she’s a woman who wants to write about more than traditional “female” topics. Gemma has to work twice as hard as a man to get a good story, so she never lets the prospect of one pass her by. So when she’s on the edges of the Canadian wilderness and overhears an elegant Brit talking about magic, saving the world, and danger, how can she pass the story up? But the Brit and his companions are no fools and Gemma’s soon caught spying on them. But discovery is only the beginning of her adventure, for the man she’s spying on is no other than Catullus Graves.
Catullus Graves knows what it’s like to be considered strange. His ancestors were slaves, but for the past few generations the Graves family has been a part of the Blades of the Rose, a group of men and women intent on protecting the world’s magic from those who would seek to harness it for themselves. Catullus himself is even more eccentric than the rest of his family; he’s a genius inventor with a taste for fashion and a shyness around women.
Bold, brilliant Gemma Murphy tempts Catullus in ways he’s never before experienced, but he can’t afford to be distracted by the beautiful reporter. The Heirs of Albion – a cult of British supremacists who want to use magical Sources to take over the world in the name of England – have unlocked the most powerful Source of all. The fate of the world hangs in the balance as good battles evil. And two strangers with a powerful attraction might just be the ones who tip the scales.
The dynamic Blades of the Rose series reaches its climax in Stranger. Zoë Archer has built up Catullus all throughout the series, so I was eager to see everyone’s favorite genius fall in love. Happily, Gemma is his match in every respect while being quite different from Catullus in many ways. It was easy for me to become invested in their romance and I was thrilled to discover that – with all that goes on in terms of action in Stranger – Ms. Archer keeps the focus of the story centered on Catullus and Gemma.
Stranger is the fourth book in the Blades of the Rose series and it should definitely not be read as a standalone. The skirmishes against the Heirs of Albion in Warrior, Scoundrel, and Rebel are nothing compared to what happens in Stranger; everything comes together in this book. The action/adventure of Stranger kept me eagerly turning the pages, and though I don’t want to spoil what happens, I will say that the one thing that bothered me about Stranger was the shift in genres mid-story. The entire Blades of the Rose series has been paranormal, but Stranger switches awkwardly from paranormal to fantasy and back again. Still, even with this minor complaint, Stranger gave me everything I needed as a fan of the Blades of the Rose series: a satisfying romance, danger, action, and a chance to revisit all my favorite Blades of the Rose characters.
Reporter Gemma Murphy is often considered an anomaly: she’s a woman who wants to write about more than traditional “female” topics. Gemma has to work twice as hard as a man to get a good story, so she never lets the prospect of one pass her by. So when she’s on the edges of the Canadian wilderness and overhears an elegant Brit talking about magic, saving the world, and danger, how can she pass the story up? But the Brit and his companions are no fools and Gemma’s soon caught spying on them. But discovery is only the beginning of her adventure, for the man she’s spying on is no other than Catullus Graves.
Catullus Graves knows what it’s like to be considered strange. His ancestors were slaves, but for the past few generations the Graves family has been a part of the Blades of the Rose, a group of men and women intent on protecting the world’s magic from those who would seek to harness it for themselves. Catullus himself is even more eccentric than the rest of his family; he’s a genius inventor with a taste for fashion and a shyness around women.
Bold, brilliant Gemma Murphy tempts Catullus in ways he’s never before experienced, but he can’t afford to be distracted by the beautiful reporter. The Heirs of Albion – a cult of British supremacists who want to use magical Sources to take over the world in the name of England – have unlocked the most powerful Source of all. The fate of the world hangs in the balance as good battles evil. And two strangers with a powerful attraction might just be the ones who tip the scales.
The dynamic Blades of the Rose series reaches its climax in Stranger. Zoë Archer has built up Catullus all throughout the series, so I was eager to see everyone’s favorite genius fall in love. Happily, Gemma is his match in every respect while being quite different from Catullus in many ways. It was easy for me to become invested in their romance and I was thrilled to discover that – with all that goes on in terms of action in Stranger – Ms. Archer keeps the focus of the story centered on Catullus and Gemma.
Stranger is the fourth book in the Blades of the Rose series and it should definitely not be read as a standalone. The skirmishes against the Heirs of Albion in Warrior, Scoundrel, and Rebel are nothing compared to what happens in Stranger; everything comes together in this book. The action/adventure of Stranger kept me eagerly turning the pages, and though I don’t want to spoil what happens, I will say that the one thing that bothered me about Stranger was the shift in genres mid-story. The entire Blades of the Rose series has been paranormal, but Stranger switches awkwardly from paranormal to fantasy and back again. Still, even with this minor complaint, Stranger gave me everything I needed as a fan of the Blades of the Rose series: a satisfying romance, danger, action, and a chance to revisit all my favorite Blades of the Rose characters.
February 1, 2011
Stranger, Book 4 of Zoe Archer's "Blades of the Rose" series, is hands down my favorite of the lot--in no small part due to the awesomeness of its hero, Catullus Graves. I was afraid he wouldn't live up to the buildup he got in previous books, but I was happy to discover I was wrong. Sure, he's a romance novel hero and therefore in many ways is a very typical one: i.e., he's hot, he's a competent fighter, and such. But what really sells him for me is his intellect; scientifically inclined heroes for the major, major win! And like many a nerd in real life, Cat's got his issues talking to women, so I found him quite endearing as he established his relationship with our heroine, reporter Gemma Murphy.
I liked Gemma just about as much as I did Cat, since she was adept at finding the right things to say to draw him out of his reclusive shell. They actually talk quite a bit during the course of the plot, and because of this, they come across to me beautifully as genuinely liking each other as people, above and beyond the obligatory percolation of each other's hormones. In other words: my favorite kind of chemistry!
Plus, partial I am to tales involving Celtic mythos, I have to give this book props for having Cat and Gemma have to venture into Faerie. There's some nicely creepy stuff there, and that whole sequence would have fit well in any fantasy novel. Not quite as awesome for me was this book's choice of "monster", but on the other hand, you can hand-wave that if you remember that the "monster" is supposed to be more the "villains' perception of what he should be" rather than a straightforward lifting of his mythos. (Which is all I'll say about that, lest I delve into spoilers.)
While I'm sure this is not the last of the Blades books, this does neatly tie off the story arc begun in the earlier ones. Thus this is not a good place to start if you want to check out the series. There's followup here with the lead characters from Book 3, as they're still critical to resolve the ongoing crisis with the Heirs of Albion, and we do see a bit more of the leads from Books 1 and 2 as well, making this much more of an ensemble cast affair than the previous installments. I found that apt, given that this was the Big Final Crisis of the arc. The villains overall were still kind of flat for me, but perhaps due to this being the end of the arc, the main villain at least felt like he had a bit more to bring to the table. All in all, fun stuff. Four stars.
I liked Gemma just about as much as I did Cat, since she was adept at finding the right things to say to draw him out of his reclusive shell. They actually talk quite a bit during the course of the plot, and because of this, they come across to me beautifully as genuinely liking each other as people, above and beyond the obligatory percolation of each other's hormones. In other words: my favorite kind of chemistry!
Plus, partial I am to tales involving Celtic mythos, I have to give this book props for having Cat and Gemma have to venture into Faerie. There's some nicely creepy stuff there, and that whole sequence would have fit well in any fantasy novel. Not quite as awesome for me was this book's choice of "monster", but on the other hand, you can hand-wave that if you remember that the "monster" is supposed to be more the "villains' perception of what he should be" rather than a straightforward lifting of his mythos. (Which is all I'll say about that, lest I delve into spoilers.)
While I'm sure this is not the last of the Blades books, this does neatly tie off the story arc begun in the earlier ones. Thus this is not a good place to start if you want to check out the series. There's followup here with the lead characters from Book 3, as they're still critical to resolve the ongoing crisis with the Heirs of Albion, and we do see a bit more of the leads from Books 1 and 2 as well, making this much more of an ensemble cast affair than the previous installments. I found that apt, given that this was the Big Final Crisis of the arc. The villains overall were still kind of flat for me, but perhaps due to this being the end of the arc, the main villain at least felt like he had a bit more to bring to the table. All in all, fun stuff. Four stars.
December 27, 2011
Catullus Graves is the primary inventor for the Blades of the Rose, a society responsible for the protection of the world's magic. While on a mission in Canada, he encounters a beautiful American reporter, Gemma. Gemma senses that Catullus and the other members of his party are up to something extraordinary and, desperate for their story, she follows them back to England. Soon she's caught up in the Blade's quest to stop the villainous Heirs of Albion from using the Primal Source of magic to enslave all of the world's magic. Along the way, Gemma and Catullus face vicious fairies, enormous monsters, and even King Arthur himself.
Positive Comments:
As usual with Zoe Archer's books, there's a ton of action and adventure. The mythology feeds the action, and is so imaginative and varied that the reader is never sure what to expect.
I loved Graves in the previous books when he was a secondary or background character. Now, as a hero, he measures up pretty well. I was surprised when he was revealed to be awkward with women, but in some ways it was charming. He's clever, original, and very sexy. I didn't connect strongly with Gemma, but I did find her likable. She's charming, smart, and readily accepting of Catullus and all of his eccentricities. They were a bit of an oddball couple for me, but I found their romance fairly enjoyable.
I really liked seeing all of the Blades, especially the couples from the previous books, come together to fight and save the day.
Critical Comments:
The conflicts in this novel are almost entirely external. There's nothing wrong with that, especially in an adventure based novel. But the effect, for whatever reason, is that I connected with the characters only on a shallow level. It's not the kind of novel where you really feel the characters' pain, or rejoice in their happy ending.
Similarly, the character development feels shallow. Catullus and Gemma have a goal, they accomplish it, and then they end up together. There's no big shift in paradigm for either character. I bring this up as a flaw because given the social positions that they occupy (Gemma as a working woman, Catullus as a black man), there could have been a lot of deep character development.
Overall, this is a good book, but it isn't fantastic. I do recommend the Blades of the Rose as an entertaining historical fantasy series. 3 stars.
Positive Comments:
As usual with Zoe Archer's books, there's a ton of action and adventure. The mythology feeds the action, and is so imaginative and varied that the reader is never sure what to expect.
I loved Graves in the previous books when he was a secondary or background character. Now, as a hero, he measures up pretty well. I was surprised when he was revealed to be awkward with women, but in some ways it was charming. He's clever, original, and very sexy. I didn't connect strongly with Gemma, but I did find her likable. She's charming, smart, and readily accepting of Catullus and all of his eccentricities. They were a bit of an oddball couple for me, but I found their romance fairly enjoyable.
I really liked seeing all of the Blades, especially the couples from the previous books, come together to fight and save the day.
Critical Comments:
The conflicts in this novel are almost entirely external. There's nothing wrong with that, especially in an adventure based novel. But the effect, for whatever reason, is that I connected with the characters only on a shallow level. It's not the kind of novel where you really feel the characters' pain, or rejoice in their happy ending.
Similarly, the character development feels shallow. Catullus and Gemma have a goal, they accomplish it, and then they end up together. There's no big shift in paradigm for either character. I bring this up as a flaw because given the social positions that they occupy (Gemma as a working woman, Catullus as a black man), there could have been a lot of deep character development.
Overall, this is a good book, but it isn't fantastic. I do recommend the Blades of the Rose as an entertaining historical fantasy series. 3 stars.
August 4, 2012
This is the first of this author's book that I've read, but I really enjoyed it. A very creative take on both "fairy-land" and combining paranormal romance with well-done historical aspects.
When British inventor Catallus Graves and American reporter Gemma Murphy cross paths at a remote Canadian trading post, Gemma smells a story and doesn't plan to let Graves out of her sight till she scopes out every last detail.
Her pursuit takes her on an oceanliner bound for Britain following Graves and his two mysterious companions, all of whom seem to be more than they appear.
Of course, Gemma has some surprises up her sleeve as well, with the magic she's inherited from her ancestors.
As Gemma gets closer to Graves, she discovers that Catallus and his companions are warriors in an ancient battle against those who would use magic to enslave the rest of the world to Britain and those few men who believe they and only they should rule the entire world.
Gemma and Catallus naturally are attracted to one another, and quickly Gemma becomes part of the fight to avoid world-domination - fight which will eventually require them taking a trip to faery to beg the assistance of Merlin . . . yes, THAT Merlin.
The plot is very exciting and cleverly conceived with lots of engaging secondary characters in addition to Gemma and Catallus. The romance part is pretty typical and predictable, but the story is what makes the book worth reading. I really enjoyed it, and will definitely check out some of the other books in this series to find out the back stories of the other pairs of lovers who make up part of this book.
When British inventor Catallus Graves and American reporter Gemma Murphy cross paths at a remote Canadian trading post, Gemma smells a story and doesn't plan to let Graves out of her sight till she scopes out every last detail.
Her pursuit takes her on an oceanliner bound for Britain following Graves and his two mysterious companions, all of whom seem to be more than they appear.
Of course, Gemma has some surprises up her sleeve as well, with the magic she's inherited from her ancestors.
As Gemma gets closer to Graves, she discovers that Catallus and his companions are warriors in an ancient battle against those who would use magic to enslave the rest of the world to Britain and those few men who believe they and only they should rule the entire world.
Gemma and Catallus naturally are attracted to one another, and quickly Gemma becomes part of the fight to avoid world-domination - fight which will eventually require them taking a trip to faery to beg the assistance of Merlin . . . yes, THAT Merlin.
The plot is very exciting and cleverly conceived with lots of engaging secondary characters in addition to Gemma and Catallus. The romance part is pretty typical and predictable, but the story is what makes the book worth reading. I really enjoyed it, and will definitely check out some of the other books in this series to find out the back stories of the other pairs of lovers who make up part of this book.
June 14, 2013
I've had this book in my to-read pile for two years, and I was aware that it was part of a series and that might make it a harder read. For the most part, I didn't have trouble following along--not until the end--but the problem I did have was the formulaic nature of the plot. The lead characters had no depth, and no history beyond the many sexual partners they have both had. Their families and backgrounds are barely mentioned. The main plot is all about the romance, and the fate of the world is secondary. It has something of a steampunk light vibe to it, taking place in the 1870s with magic and new technological elements to the world, but doesn't really delve into that, either.
I know, silly of me to expect more from a romance. It's not that the writing is bad. I just wanted... more to Gemma and Catallus. I also wanted more to the villains, the Heirs, who are extremely one-dimensional. They want to make England the world's superpower but it's never clear why. They are also all wealthy fops, which is just weird. There's more than one instance where the heroes cry out the equivalent of "Those men are well dressed! It's the Heirs! Run!"
Catallus is black and English, descended from slaves. Again, this is something that didn't feel adequately explored.
The novel felt very long considering how few plots were braided into the book. The ending in particular dragged on, and became confusing at the point where all the previous protagonists of the series dropped in for cameos. There's also a cliche arch-villain moment that left me thinking, "Why didn't he just do that at the beginning of the book?"
I know, silly of me to expect more from a romance. It's not that the writing is bad. I just wanted... more to Gemma and Catallus. I also wanted more to the villains, the Heirs, who are extremely one-dimensional. They want to make England the world's superpower but it's never clear why. They are also all wealthy fops, which is just weird. There's more than one instance where the heroes cry out the equivalent of "Those men are well dressed! It's the Heirs! Run!"
Catallus is black and English, descended from slaves. Again, this is something that didn't feel adequately explored.
The novel felt very long considering how few plots were braided into the book. The ending in particular dragged on, and became confusing at the point where all the previous protagonists of the series dropped in for cameos. There's also a cliche arch-villain moment that left me thinking, "Why didn't he just do that at the beginning of the book?"
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 22, 2017
Wavered between 3 & 4 stars. Went with 3. This is the 4rth & final book in The Blades Of The Rose series.
Catullas' tale. He's fallen for the voluptuous Gemma, of snoopy reporter fame. Gemma has some tricks up her sleeve though. She's also the possessor of magic of her own. She can unlock any door. She finds since the Heirs have the primal source, she can also make people talk to her & tell her things.
I was looking forward to Cat's story. I thought he was an interesting hero, as well as a handsome, well built one. I wasn't too happy with Gemma. For a Victorian era woman, she got around. A lot. We're supposed to be ok with that, since we're modern readers, but I thought it was kind of slutty myself.
Once Arthur (yeah, THAT Arthur) is awakened, Cat & Gemma make a quest to Otherworld to find Merlin. So, the fate of our world & Otherworld depends on them finding Merlin & getting his help. Every 50 feet they're kissing & behaving like this is a day in the country, not a serious mission. They stop to screw in a random cottage - who does that? They're in dangerous fairyland for God's sake! They finally get to Merlin & he sends them on ANOTHER dangerous quest. More kissing & lollygagging. By the time they get back to our world, Arthur is already in London. Nice job guys.
The ending is exciting & all loose ends get tied up. I would read a modern day version of this series, if ZA ever writes one.
Catullas' tale. He's fallen for the voluptuous Gemma, of snoopy reporter fame. Gemma has some tricks up her sleeve though. She's also the possessor of magic of her own. She can unlock any door. She finds since the Heirs have the primal source, she can also make people talk to her & tell her things.
I was looking forward to Cat's story. I thought he was an interesting hero, as well as a handsome, well built one. I wasn't too happy with Gemma. For a Victorian era woman, she got around. A lot. We're supposed to be ok with that, since we're modern readers, but I thought it was kind of slutty myself.
Once Arthur (yeah, THAT Arthur) is awakened, Cat & Gemma make a quest to Otherworld to find Merlin. So, the fate of our world & Otherworld depends on them finding Merlin & getting his help. Every 50 feet they're kissing & behaving like this is a day in the country, not a serious mission. They stop to screw in a random cottage - who does that? They're in dangerous fairyland for God's sake! They finally get to Merlin & he sends them on ANOTHER dangerous quest. More kissing & lollygagging. By the time they get back to our world, Arthur is already in London. Nice job guys.
The ending is exciting & all loose ends get tied up. I would read a modern day version of this series, if ZA ever writes one.
December 6, 2013
Blades of the Rose 4
The Heirs of Albion have the Primal Source in their control. Despite knowing little about it, they are prepared to use it to gain their ultimate objective, a world controlled by Great Britain. The Blades of the Rose are converging on England, including Catullus Graves, Astrid Bramfield and Nathan Lesperance. Following them is American reporter Gemma Murphy, a woman whose interest in Catullus is more than just a story.
Gemma’s talent is certainly helpful for someone in her line of work. I like all of Archer’s characters, especially her female characters, but I believe Gemma may be my favorite of all. She is so earnest and feisty, a woman not easily influenced by others. It all hits the fan in this story, bringing the Blades into one of the most important confrontations of the series. It is a wild ride, continuing from where Rebel left off. The use of a black hero who is probably always the smartest man in the room was a delightful idea. Add his shyness around women, especially Gemma, and you have a man to die for.
This series, bought in a bundle due to the intriguing covers as well as the synopsis for each, was more than I had hoped for. Adventure, romance, the paranormal, magic, strong women, strong men who accept them as they are. Yep, Zoe Archer is on my must read ALL her books list! 4.5 out of 5.
The Heirs of Albion have the Primal Source in their control. Despite knowing little about it, they are prepared to use it to gain their ultimate objective, a world controlled by Great Britain. The Blades of the Rose are converging on England, including Catullus Graves, Astrid Bramfield and Nathan Lesperance. Following them is American reporter Gemma Murphy, a woman whose interest in Catullus is more than just a story.
Gemma’s talent is certainly helpful for someone in her line of work. I like all of Archer’s characters, especially her female characters, but I believe Gemma may be my favorite of all. She is so earnest and feisty, a woman not easily influenced by others. It all hits the fan in this story, bringing the Blades into one of the most important confrontations of the series. It is a wild ride, continuing from where Rebel left off. The use of a black hero who is probably always the smartest man in the room was a delightful idea. Add his shyness around women, especially Gemma, and you have a man to die for.
This series, bought in a bundle due to the intriguing covers as well as the synopsis for each, was more than I had hoped for. Adventure, romance, the paranormal, magic, strong women, strong men who accept them as they are. Yep, Zoe Archer is on my must read ALL her books list! 4.5 out of 5.
July 29, 2012
First off, while I'm not particularly caring about the color of the skin of anyone in this book (or real life), it seemed a bit anachronistic there, not to mention that I doubt many white Americans would have been unprejudiced. At least it was addressed. Still seemed odd. That out of the way...
The series is apparently wrapped up, and what a bumpy ride. The first one, while good, was dry, the second was v. enjoyable by contrast (Day is v. entertaining), the third had a h that I never really warmed up to, and this one was a bit.. Ok, this one was v. odd. How can you possibly worry a whole lot about a mixed race couple in a time period they would likely be run out on a rail when faced with a 12' King Arthur, and visiting the Never-Never?(didn't see Harry though. Oh well.) I think at that point, I stopped fretting about the risky relationship and just went with it. Whatever. Mad Merlin stuck in a tree, Queen Mab indulging the mortals because they entertained her... Only lacked Legolas or.. well, you get the idea.
So in the end, good won over evile, the H got the girl, and the h from the previous book gave birth to a wolf pup and a bear cub. Uh... ok.
The series is apparently wrapped up, and what a bumpy ride. The first one, while good, was dry, the second was v. enjoyable by contrast (Day is v. entertaining), the third had a h that I never really warmed up to, and this one was a bit.. Ok, this one was v. odd. How can you possibly worry a whole lot about a mixed race couple in a time period they would likely be run out on a rail when faced with a 12' King Arthur, and visiting the Never-Never?(didn't see Harry though. Oh well.) I think at that point, I stopped fretting about the risky relationship and just went with it. Whatever. Mad Merlin stuck in a tree, Queen Mab indulging the mortals because they entertained her... Only lacked Legolas or.. well, you get the idea.
So in the end, good won over evile, the H got the girl, and the h from the previous book gave birth to a wolf pup and a bear cub. Uh... ok.
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