Early Review: Queen of Swords by Katee Roberts

Hi guys, a new review for you all today! Queen of Swords by Katee Robert is book 2 in the Sanctify Series...Meet Ophelia and Boone.

Title: Queen of Swords
Author: Katee Robert
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Release Date: 12th June 2012
Series: Sanctify, Book 2
Source: I received a e copy of this book from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Blurb from NetGalley:
When the cards tell Ophelia Leoni she’s supposed to marry the Prince of Hansarda, the gunrunner grits her teeth and boards the starship that comes for her. It doesn’t matter if the ship’s commander is the gorgeous stranger she just spent a wild, drunken night with. As a Diviner, she’s painfully aware the cards don’t lie. Ever.
Boone O’Keirna knows Ophelia is trouble the second he sees the way she moves. Not about to let the deadly little hellcat marry his sadistic half-brother, Boone pretends to be the Prince’s emissary and kidnaps Ophelia. Too bad they can’t be in the same room without him wanting to throw her out an airlock–or into bed.
Even as they fight each other–and their explosive attraction–Ophelia and Boone sense something is wrong. Too much is going their way. Soon, they realize while the cards may never lie, the truth is sometimes hidden between them…and the future king of Hansarda is not one to take defeat lying down.

Review:

First Line - 'Ophelia couldn’t find her underwear. They had to have been around there somewhere. She’d been wearing them last night, after all, but she was hard pressed to find that small piece of silk amongst the other clothing scattered about the room.'

I like this opening, Ophelia seems like a fun person - though she isn't quite as promiscuous as she sounded to me initially. Though the guy she is in the process of sneaking away from is the very man who will change her life forever. Who knew a drunken one night stand could cause so many problems for a girl? Ophelia does eventually find her underwear but from there her day goes from bad to worse. Ophelia returns home to find that the prince of Hansarda wants her for his bride, not only that but her mother practically pushes her out the door when the emissary arrives to take her to her future husband. Only the emissary is an imposter, a man desperate to keep her from her future husband and Boone will do anything to keep Ophelia from his sadistic half brother - the prince of Hansarda. 

Boone (aka the one night stand guy and imposter) wakes to find Ophelia gone - he'd only meant to follow her to find out why his half brother (and heir to the throne) wanted Ophelia so badly but he couldn't resist her fire and fell for her instead. Now he has the urge to protect this little hellcat, though I did laugh when Boone's ego was severely dented because Ophelia didn't remember him from the night before...and again when she proves she's no meek woman to be kidnapped without a fight, man she kicks ass.

This wasn’t supposed to be a battle. This was just one woman. Before he could talk himself out of it, Boone slapped the palm lock and strode through the door. The only warning he received was an exhale, almost perfectly silent. He dove to the floor, the box flying from his hand as he rolled. A knife embedded itself in the floor where his head had been. A very large knife. Where in the seven hells had she hidden that?
He kicked but Ophelia was ready for him, diving over his outstretched legs in a ridiculously graceful move. She punched him in the ribs and then she was on top of him, straddling his chest and holding her knife dangerously close to his left eye. “Don’t move.”

Queen of Swords is more a Science Fiction/ Romance but thankfully the Sci-Fi isn't too hardcore, as I've said before I can't handle hardcore Sci-Fi. I liked the world that Katee Robert has created, full of different species like Ophelia - who is known as a Diviner, one who has their Goddess whispering in her ear. Diviners are able to read the past, present and future of anyone they come across and become stronger once they become mothers. The Diviners had been hunted to the brink of extinction by a radical hate group known as Sanctify. They detest anything human and Ophelia's 'punishment' should she ever be caught involves dismemberment and burning alive. The obvious genocide committed by Sanctify is handled supremely by Katee Roberts and I hope they radical group are brought to justice for the crimes against humanity they are guilty of. Thankfully the tortures aren't over described...just the thought is enough to make me shiver. Strangely Ophelia's mother is a Diviner but her father is a former Sanctify member...I am extremely curious as to how these two got together *makes mental note to read their book*.

Boone and Ophelia are great characters...Boone has the coiled strength that would have you backing him if he ever challenged his brother for the throne but he is also haunted by nightmares of a trauma that happened when he was young. A horrific incident that left him scarred at the hands of his brother. He is loyal to a fault and will protect those he loves with his life. Just the kind of character I love *smiles with happiness*. Ophelia is a smart, strong woman who will not be told what to do. The only things that have influence over her is her Goddess and sometimes her mother. No man will ever rule over her. Despite her intelligence there was one thing I understood and saw well before she did, every time Ophelia thought her stomach problems were from food poisoning I wanted to hit her over the head...but other than that she is a very likeable character. I personally love Jenny - she's a female version of Boone, its no wonder that her and Ophelia get along like a house on fire...though God help Boone if those two ever team up against him...he hasn't got a chance.

I really enjoyed Queen of Swords as a whole. I loved Katee Robert's writing style, the way she mixes the humour with the dark and scarred past of both Boone and the Diviner race as a whole is brilliant. If done wrong the humour can come across as inappropriate but this is the perfect mix to show that there is still a glimmer of light in the darkness of the Sanctify regime. I think fans of Sherrilyn Kenyon's The League Series will enjoy Queen of Swords and I will definitely be on the lookout for more from this author!

My Rating 4/5 

Review: Born of Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Hey all, time for one of my all time favourite books. Born of Night is the first book in the League series and is written by the amazing Sherrilyn Kenyon (also the author of the epic Dark Hunter Series).

Title: Born of Night

Author: Sherrilyn Kenyon

Publisher: Piatkus Books

Release Date: October 2008
Series: The League, book  1
Source: My personal copy

From Sherrilyn Kenyon's Website:

Command Assassin Nykyrian Quikiades was born and trained to slaughter. Refusing to be a pawn, he turned his back on the League and has been hunted by them ever since. Though many have tried, none can kill him. Now his assignment is to protect Kiara Zamir, a woman whose father’s political alliance has made her a target. She wants nothing to do with politics, yet she is forced to submit to protection or die.
And as her world becomes even deadlier, Kiara must entrust her life to the same kind of beast who once killed her mother and left her for dead. Old enemies and new threaten them both and the only way they can survive is to overcome their suspicions and learn to trust in the very ones who threaten them most– each other.

Review:

Ok, so this is a little different to the things I have reviewed before, not exactly paranormal romance...more like fantasy or science fiction mixed with romance (not entirely sure). But this is still a great book. Basically Nykyrian is an ex League assassin and he is a rare one, i.e. there has never been an ex League assassin before him, you join the League and you die as they command. You can never leave. It's just the first indication of how dangerous Nykyrian is, an entire fleet of assassins have been unable to bring him down. He is a ruthless killing machine, his half human half Andarion DNA combining to bring forth the most brutally efficient killer there has ever been...his alter ego Nemesis. He has no fear, no weakness...no heart, until fate brings him closer to a fragile dancer who may be the only one who can save him from himself.
Kiara is the daughter of a politician, who now has a price on her head. Due to her father's political dealings a rival has decided he needs to be punished with the assassination of his daughter....a little extreme I know but that's the world they live in, where contracted assassinations are legal, as long as they are okayed by the League. Now Kiara has a chioice to make...accept Nykyrian's protection and walk side by side with most dangerous man in the universe or be killed brutally and slowly to make a point...
These two are so different but they may be the key to healing each others traumatic pasts, that is  if they'll let each other close enough.

I am a big fan of Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunter series (read my review of book 1- Night Pleasures), so when I came across Born of Night I had to give it a read. I am so glad I did! there are no words to describe how much I enjoy reading this, I never get tired of Nykyrian and Kiara's world and I love all the characters in it. Syn, Jayne, Darling, Caillen, Hauk, and of course Nykyrian and Kiara themselves are just amazingly well written. I want to be part of their group! The chemistry between the characters as a whole is fabulous, and one of the best parts. From Syn the Doctor with a complicated past, to Jayne the ex bank robber - a skill courtesy of her father. Not forgetting Hauk the 7ft tall Andarion whose brutal, warring race have been known to find human flesh a delicacy and of course Darling, the noble who works as an assassin on the side, and resident explosive expert. The camaraderie is astounding and you can tell that they are a family and would die for one another....though the amount of insults and knife throwing may indicate otherwise haha.
Kiara may not be physically strong unlike the others but her strength of spirit means she earns her own place within the group and as she unearths pieces of Nykyrian's traumatic past she starts to see the man behind the armoured exterior. Their relationship is quite rocky with twists and turns, Kiara has to adapt every time Nykyrian reveals some part of his history. But a strong bond begins to form, however it isn't always enough to protect Kiara from those who seek to harm her, or those who wish Nykyrian harm and can get to him through his only weakness...Kiara.


I absolutely adore this book, I laughed, cried and became frustrated with these characters...but in a good way. It truly is a fabulous read and I and so glad to have given it the chance. I have always liked the tormented hero's and boy is Nykyrian a good one. A fabulous addition to my collection and well worth a read.


My Rating: 5/5