Tuesday 25 January 2011

Review: Warrior - Zoe Archer

The Blades of The Rose, book 1

Genre: Historical Paranormal Romance
Pages: 354
Published: 2010

To most people, the realm of magic is the stuff of nursery rhymes and dusty libraries. But for Capt. Gabriel Huntley, it's become quite real and quite dangerous...

The vicious attack Capt. Gabriel Huntley witnesses in a dark alley sparks a chain of events that will take him to the ends of the Earth and beyond—where what is real and what is imagined become terribly confused. And frankly, Huntley couldn't be more pleased. Intrigue, danger, and a beautiful woman in distress—just what he needs. Raised thousands of miles from England, Thalia Burgess is no typical Victorian lady. A good thing, because a proper lady would have no hope of recovering the priceless magical artifact Thalia is after. Huntley's assistance might come in handy, though she has to keep him in the dark. But this distractingly handsome soldier isn't easy to deceive.

Plot:
There is magic in the world, but people do not know. A select few protect these objects against the bad guys who wants to spread the British rule over the entire world. In comes Gabriel Huntley who delivers a message to Mongolia, and then accompanies Thalia Burgess on a wild hunt.

My thoughts:
The book did have it all, the premise, good thrilling writing, a kick-ass heroine, an alpha hero, it took place in Mongolia (I have sure never read a book taking place there), there was magic, and romance. Still I had too easy putting the book down. Why? I do not know. The book was ok, but it didn't manage to keep my attention that long.

I did like Thalia, raised in Mongolia and now weak 19th century female. She could handle a bow and dressed like the people living there. Huntley was a former army man with a deep sense of duty, and together they made a nice couple.

There was action, bad guys chasing them, The Hammer of Thor (which was really cool), learning about the magical sources in the world, and just riding through Mongolia. There was romance when these two found each other.

But something just did not click. Do not get me wrong, I still rate the book good since I liked all the other things. But I struggled with the reading. I can usually read for hours, now I took breaks every 10 minutes.

Recommendation and final thoughts:
So even if it did not capture me I would still recommend it since it interesting, and I liked the historical and paranormal mix. Perhaps it was not the right time to read it.

Cover:
So I did some googling, yes the zipper was invented 20 years before, but then forgotten, and re-invented 20 years after this book taking place. So he could not have zipper on that jacket...yes that was what I was doing instead of reading.

Reason for reading:
I heard it was good. I do not regret reading it since it was still good..but



31 comments:

  1. B,

    I've had my eye on this series for some time now and I appreciate your honest review.

    I may wait and get this one from paperbackswap.

    M

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  2. I get when characters dont click it kinda messing things up. Even if the rest of the story is awesome. I would give this a shot based on everything else

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  3. Sounds interesting. Might pick this one up if I see it on the shelf. Great, honest review.

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  4. Ah, it's a genre I like, but if it can't keep my attention is it worth it? I may still give it a chance if I happen on to it.

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  5. Oooo Blodeuedd, I'm likin' you're new blog look. Verrrry nice!

    And damn! Couldn't stay with this one, huh? I've been dying to get to this series. It just looks like so much fun but I really can't stand when a book doesn't hold my interest. It eventually becomes a chore to finish it. Ahh well, I'm still dying for this one.

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  6. I always appreciate your candid reviews!

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  7. It happens - a book has it all but you can't connect with it, not really - it is lacking some internal magic. Well better luck next time.

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  8. I've been hesitant with getting this book. Don't know why. I'm sorry it didn't click. I hate when that happens. You want to know but just feel fatigued or something. Thanks for the review!

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  9. Michelle
    Sometimes books just do not click :( Such a shame cos it was still good, I am very conflicted about this one

    Inked
    People do like this one, and the rest even better, so you should give it a go :)

    Linda
    Gotta tell it as I read it :)
    I hope you like it if you see it

    Carol
    I think you would enjoy, I can't say what made my attention falter...but it was still good

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  10. VFG
    It looks classy and cool :) I do like my new look

    It was a chore, all I could think of was that I mean to finish it today, if I hadn't struggled through it it would have taken a week or so

    DC
    I am glad you do :)

    Ana
    Such a shame, I have read so many books lately that I have not wanted to put down, one was even not as good, the story and writing..still that one held my attention. Very strange

    Melissa
    It happens, the strange thing is how good it still was, but that clicking part was missing

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  11. LOL! If you get distracted enough to check details like that during the book, it's not drawing you in!

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  12. pity you didnt enjoy so much... I bought this series recently, dont know when I'll read it though =/

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  13. LOL, you researching the zipper instead of reading! :D

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  14. Thalia was my favorite heroine from the series but Scoundrel was my favorite book.

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  15. Mongolia is an interesting setting. Too bad the book was lacking.
    lol about googling the zipper fact.

    p.s. I like the blog updates :) very nice!

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  16. Not sure if this is one I would pick up or not, but I always appreciate your honesty when you write about the ones that you just weren't crazy about.

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  17. hmm the cover doesn't do it for me (shallow I know) and while the premise sounds good if it didnt keep your attention not sure it'd keep mine :)

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  18. LOL the zipper! You're funny. I liked book 2 the mostest. It's too bad you didn't click with this book, but I'm still glad that there are parts of it you did enjoy. :)

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  19. LOL. I had the exact same feeling when I finished Warrior. I read the next book only because I had it and ended up loving it. The series grows on you despite yourself.

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  20. Chris
    Lol, nope it sure is not doing that. I did enjoy the zipper history more. I still feel that is so weird since the book was good, oh that click

    Larissa
    Perhaps you will love it! And if you don't then just read book 2 if that one is supposedly better

    Janna
    Yes I am that weird ;)

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  21. Karen
    I did like Thalia, a cool heroine of her time. She was certainly not a frail thing

    Naida
    Thanks, I love my new look :D
    Hihi aye the history of the zipper.
    Anyway, Mongolia, I did enjoy that bit

    Staci
    I guess I just need those books that I do not wanna put down, or even those that I enjoy but still can put down. But this one..well it made me wanna put it down

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  22. Teddy
    No, but he is so hunky and Indiana Jones like ;)

    Julie
    I did enjoy reading it, but the whole not clicking made it really hard keeping my attention on what I was reading

    Lynette
    Really? Huh, nice to know :) Though I still fear not clicking again and there are so many more books I wanna try out there...hopefully it will fall into my hands

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  23. LOL - you crack me up with your zipper note
    OK, i do have this in my tbr pile and got it to check out the steampunk element to it. the other two in the series look just as interesting but now i wonder

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  24. Velvet
    Fear not, others have enjoyed this one, and the rest even more. But I just do not know...

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  25. sorry this one didn't live up!! i've been curious about this series, i'm glad to see your pov on it!

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  26. Carrie
    Everyone one can't love a book, I do get highly suspicious then, so it was perhaps could I didn't fall for it

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  27. Great review.

    I love your point about the zipper ;) Good eye!

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  28. Hi B!

    I've had my eye on this series and I'll probably still give it a try at some point... when that point will be, I have no idea..lol...too many books already. But I've been reading a lot more with the bad weather (I don't have to leave the house to ebook shop!) and then being to sick to want to do anything else. Thanks the Gods I'm feeling better!!!

    Excellent review! But it's still calling me... lol.. trying not to listen. And I like the cover... odd but true! LOL about the zipper, the publisher should have you as a researcher!!

    Dottie :)

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  29. JuJu
    Lol, thanks, I guess I got distracted

    Dottie
    I sure read a lot while ill..and then I just continued like that ;)
    But I am so glad to hear that you are finally feeling better! Stay healthy now :)
    You can always try it out and see, peeps to like the book

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  30. I so enjoy the fact that you researched the history of the zipper. You'd think someone else (art department) would have researched too...

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  31. Mishel
    Lol, well since there is magic in the world, perhaps the zipper was invented before it was here ;)

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