Thursday 14 April 2011

Review: Warprize - Elizabeth Vaughan

Series: Chronicles of the Warlands, book 1
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Pages: 296
Publisher: Penguin, April 5th 2011 (re-print)

Xylara is the Daughter of the Warrior King, Xyron. With her father dead and her incompetent half-brother on the throne, the kingdom is in danger of falling to the warring Firelanders.

Before she was old enough for a marriage-of-alliance, Xylara was trained as a healer. She can't usurp her brother or negotiate a peace—but she can heal the brave ones injured in battle. But not only her countrymen are wounded, and Xylara's conscience won't let Firelander warriors die when she can do something to save them. She learns their language and their customs and tries to make them as comfortable as possible, despite their prisoner-of-war status. She never expects that these deeds, done in good faith, would lead to the handsome and mysterious Firelander Warlord demanding her in exchange for a cease-fire. Xylara knows must trade the life she has always known for the well-being of her people, and so she becomes...

My thoughts:
I had heard good things about this series, and then book 1 got re-published so of course I had to take a look, and I am glad I did.

The book is about Xylara, and she is one brave woman. I admired her strength, and courage. She  was taken as a warprize, but instead of sitting in a tent being scared she went outside and found the tent with wounded soldiers and got straight to work. She knew what she wanted and that was to help people. The hero in the book is the warlord that crushed all resistance and took over their country (which is a good thing because her brother is a hopeless and bad king, so perhaps it was for the best). Anyway Keir was strong too, protective, and he wanted her, but he also wanted her to want him. He is one barbarian to fall hopelessly in love with.

The whole book is told in 1-person, so we always got her thoughts and fears, and it does work. Because this way there is a lot of confusion and fear in the air. I had no idea what a warprize was, neither had she, and I wanted to know. Then when I the reader finally found it, oh I will not tell you, but it sure made the book good.

What we have in this book is one strong woman, a feared warlord, and some behind the scenes backstabbing and politics. Some are not happy that the firelanders won and they want revenge. Danger is in the air, from both sides, since there is this one firelander warrior that wants to take over as warlord.

The book has a happy ending, even though there is a book 2 and 3. I was glad for this because I just wanted happiness.

Conclusion:
A good fantasy romance, I would recommend this book to others, and  I do want to read book 2 and 3. It has so much to offer, a good couple, great side characters, and interesting world, and a story that will have you turning page after page top find out more.

Rating:
I enjoyed it, a quick read.

Cover:
Lovely



30 comments:

  1. I love the dramatic cover!

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  2. I agree about the cover- it's stunning! I like th fact that the female protagonist is portrayed as a strong woman.

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  3. Is it wrong to really want the dress on the cover of the book!!

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  4. The cover is gorgeous. Xylara sounds like an amazing woman and I'm glad there's a happy ending.

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  5. I hope there is much more fantasy than romance in this one...I also agree with Vivienne - the dress is lovely!

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  6. I've been wanting to read this series for long time. And now I'm dying to know what a warprize is. Thanks for the review and recommendation, Blodeuedd!

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  7. Totally stunning cover! And dramatic romance too ;p

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  8. This actually sounds like one I would read and I really like the cover!

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  9. Sounds like a good story - I hate those women who sit around waiting to be rescued so going out and healing means I already like her! And who doesn't like a haoppy ending? :)

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  10. This sounds so good! And the cover is pretty! The dress reminds me of Kahlan from Legend of the Seeker :D

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  11. Hmm I have read about this series before, and it does appeal to me. Nice review, and a good cover.

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  12. I like when there's a nice ending despite there being additional books in the series:) I adore a strong heroine too, so this sounds like a great read!

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  13. Audra
    It's so her, and also, it totally makes me wanna pick up the book

    Misha
    She is strong, but also strong without being kick-ass, and I like that. She is not a fighter, but strong in spirit

    Vivienne
    Lol, no! I want it too :D

    Carol
    I was happy too, and they left it open for more and there is more too so yay

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  14. Ana
    oh you ;) But actually there is, since the romance is slow and not there in a way. It's more about her finding her way

    VFG
    I was dying too, and then I found out, and I am not telling ;) You just have to read and find out

    Darlyn
    I think this one is my fav cover so far this year

    Staci
    I am glad to hear that, I am sure you would enjoy it

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  15. I just read an m/m romance that had sort of this same theme (the guy ended up a warprize for a warlord).

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  16. Mel
    I would sure have stayed in the tent and cried. But she was so brave and knew what she wanted. It was a woman to admire

    Elysium
    You got a point there :D I do see them similarities

    Aurian
    I do love this new cover much more than the oldies :)

    Jenny
    I am not a big fan of cliffhangers so it was nice that it got all wrapped up, but that there still also is more to come

    Chris
    Ohhh, I actually like the sound of that book

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  17. Now I'm wondering what a warprize is. Sometimes always reading from two persepectives gets a little tiring for me so I like that we only get Xylara's pov.

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  18. Okay, with a guy who could just have her w/o consequences but yet wants her to want him. Oh yea... I could like that warlord. Oh and having such a strong woman? Yep... you have me wanting to read this book.

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  19. The cover really makes me want to read this fantasy!

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  20. Great review! Sounds like a good book. Love that cover!

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  21. Oh yes. I've heard good things on this too. I'm glad you enjoyed it. :) I'm thinking I want it on my WANT list. :)

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  22. I had the older version of this one once upon a time but never read it. Sounds like the barbarian is a cutie!

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  23. What a fantastic review! The cover is stunning and the plot sounds like a lot of fun! :-) I will add this to my TBR list...you're reviews are going to overflow my already flowing TBR list. :-P

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  24. Xylara sounds very noble, brave and kind. What a nice surprise to read a republished book and find such a strong character and sweeping romance.

    And yes, the cover is breathtaking.

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  25. Jenny
    I am so used to a lot of POVS, so it felt really nice. And yes you so wanna know what it really means ;)

    Melissa
    I so wanna spill the beans and tell you all about it, but I can't...so read it and I will ;)

    DC
    It was so great :D

    Yvonne
    The cover is just so amazing

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  26. Melissa
    I would say..READ IT :D It was so fun to read a fantasy romance with such a strong woman, and it was cute too

    Carrie
    If you still got that older version then I would say dig it out

    DL
    I have been bad lately ;) Hihi, awesome books! Gotta love em

    Missie
    I can not say enough things about this cover

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  27. I read this trilogy when it first came out and loved it. Don't know why I didn't read any of her other books though.

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  28. Marg
    I have read he later books and liked them, so it was nice to get back to these

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  29. I like the cover too. Xylara sounds like a great heroine.

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