Mishel Reviews. Braedric's Bane - AJ Nuest

The key would unlock his future and the safety of his kingdom, but he never imagined the sorceress would unlock his heart…

To escape the clutches of the evil Wizard Gaelleod, Rowena and Caedmon flee to the future. With her memories in tact and the help of her dear friends, Rowena is confident they can uncover the clues behind her connection to the key.

Yet Violet's dire prophecy does more than detail their history. Caedmon's worst fears are confirmed. Though they must return to his realm, everything he loves stands to be ripped from his grasp.

The conclusion to the breathtaking new Fantasy Romance series from AJ Nuest!

My Take:

I don’t think I made it quite clear that my last review was for the third book in The Golden Key Chronicles, my apologies. I only meant that by the time I was writing the last review I had already finished reading the last book, Braedric’s Bane. My favorite out of the series is the third book. But don’t let that deter you from this review. Braedric’s Bane comes in at a very close second place favorite! AJ Nuest has tied everything in the series together in an action packed and exciting conclusion to a series I’ve really come to love. The kingdom of Austiere is on the brink of war.  In order to stay alive, Rowena and Caedmon must return to the future and find the answers they need to save themselves and the kingdom they call home. 

Returning to the future was such a treat for me. Not only do some old characters come back into the story, but the charming and oh-so-sexy Prince Caedmon is finally in Rowena’s contemporary time period. To see him so unsettled was too funny. I came to really love the old world feel of the series but I forgot how much fun modern times could be. Caedmon finally gets to meet Oliver, who was introduced in book one, and his boyfriend John who may or may not develop a crush on our sweet Prince. As for the mission at hand, the couple needs to determine the connection between Rowena and the key. They hope to find some answers from Rowena’s friend Violet. What they find out though is not the happily ever after they were aiming for and the two of them have to reluctantly return to Caedmon’s realm for an epic showdown between good and evil.

Nothing is lacking in the romance department as readers are rewarded with some pretty steamy smexy-time scenes. Caedmon and Rowena’s relationship has continued to grow and bloom ever since they’ve first met. I’ve come to really enjoy how connected they’ve stayed and how true their love remains despite the obstacles that have been placed before them. I can see them becoming a favorite romantic couple for many readers. 

The final showdowns are both super exciting and a little disappointing. Caedmon comes face to face with his half-brother Braedric. After learning so much about his half-brother during the entire series, Caedmon’s final battle is bloodthirsty and very emotional. Rowena faces off with the evil Wizard Galleod. The reader learns much about him in this final book and I was pretty satisfied with the knowledge I got about him. Sometimes evil characters don’t really need much of a back story. Sometimes evil is just evil. However, Rowena’s final battle felt very short-lived. I mean I was ready for some impossible-to-win epic battle between the two, but didn’t really feel like I got that. And honestly, I’m okay with that. I say that because at the end of the day there was a really wonderful happily-ever-after.  I also feel like there are so many more avenues AJ Nuest can explore within the beautiful and magical world she has created. I’m so looking forward to different story arcs with other characters and hope she may be exploring that option. Either way I’m extremely thankful to have discovered AJ’s writing. It’s simplistic, easy to read, and hard to put down. I never once felt overwhelmed by unnecessary filler or over-the-top descriptions. AJ knows how to tell a really great story while staying on point and keeping the reader always wanting more! The Golden Key Chronicles is sweet, sexy, fierce, and filled with adventure. I highly recommend the series! 

Braedric’s Bane by AJ Nuest

The Golden Key Chronicles, #4

Published February 13, 2014 by HarperImpulse

eBook, 121 pages

Rating: 3.75/5

Tags: Fantasy Romance

Received eBook for review

Mishel reviews: Caedmon's Curse - AJ Nuest

The two years Prince Caedmon suffered in the dungeons of Seviere’s keep left him with more than just lash marks lacing his back. He now retains the secret behind the key, and is the only one who understands its grim connection to his beloved Rowena. Torn between telling her the truth and risking their future, he agrees to join her perilous quest. But their enemies to the north are not the only menace determined to see them fail and, to prove his love, he must conquer the demons of his past.

Join Caedmon and Rowena as they rediscover a love bound by fate, and struggle to unravel the significance behind Caedmon’s Curse, Book III in The Golden Key Chronicles.

My Take:

Having now completed the entire series I must say Caedmon’s Curse is my favorite! Although you may start reading out of order, I’d recommend starting this series with book one, Rowena’s Key, to fully appreciate what has happened until now. The romance aspect of the overall story slowed down a bit in the previous installment but I’m happy to report that AJ Nuest definitely turned up the heat! It is equal parts realistic, modern, and oh-so-dreamy. Fantasy elements truly take flight with the introduction of magical places and mythical creatures and the use of magic. Danger is around every corner as Rowena and Caedmon embark on a quest for the truth behind the key that will hopefully save Caedmon’s kingdom and their very lives.

Starting right after book two finishes, Rowena escapes the confines of the castle and decides to journey north in search of the key. Not your ordinary key, it holds the power to destroy entire realms if it falls in the wrong hands. Prince Caedmon is not far behind Rowena since he refuses to let his beloved go off into danger by herself. Their relationship has been a hell of a ride ever since they first met in the book one, separated not only by distance but by time periods as well. Despite having learned the secret involving Rowena and the mystical key during his horrible captivity in an enemy dungeon, Caedmon doesn’t know what to do with his knowledge. Rowena, ever the stubborn one, is determined to find answers and Caedmon reluctantly joins her. The couple faces danger from all sides and a gauntlet of obstacles with no true relief in sight. 

Rowena was a true bad ass warrior in book two. And although she’s still fierce as ever in Caedmon’s Curse, her snarky self returns and I hadn’t realized how much I missed that part of her. She softens a bit as things calm down and she learns to trust her own feelings. One of my favorite parts about the book is the interaction between her and Caedmon. Rowena’s sarcasm pairs so well with Caedom’s old-world charm. Their funny banter is sweet and endearing and I found so much joy in reading the scenes when they were together. They reminded me a lot of my own relationship with my other half and it made the book that much better for me.

The progression of the overall story is very well-paced and I’ve come to really enjoy the ease and finesse of AJ Nuest’s writing. There’s beauty, dangerous battles, magic, love, friendship wrapped in vivid and easy to read descriptions that will leave you breathless at times. I definitely recommend the series as a whole and I’m looking forward to reviewing the final book in The Golden Key Chronicles. If you haven’t started these yet, what are you waiting for?!

Caedmon’s Curse by AJ Nuest

The Golden Key Chronicles, #3

Published February 13, 2014 by HarperImpulse

eBook

Rating: 4.25/5

Tags: Fantasy Romance

Received eBook for review

 

Mishel Reviews: Candra's freedom - AJ Nuest

Series or Stand Alone: The Golden Key Chronicles, book two

Release Date:  December 2013 

Publisher: HarperImpulse 

Pages:  88

Author Site:  http://ajnuest.com/

My Rating: 4/5 

Source: Received for review from author/publisher

Cover: Pretty and goes well with the first book cover.

The key would unlock his future and the safety of his kingdom, but he never imagined the sorceress would unlock his heart…

Lost in a world she doesn't recognize, Rowena struggles to find her place.

Yet her abilities with a blade and the loyalty of a fierce falcon don't discourage the heated advances of the handsome Prince Caedmon, and the connection between them seems much deeper than her troubled heart can recall.

Review:

Candra’s Freedom is a tad bit shorter than Rowena’s Key, the first book in the Golden Key Chronicles, but it still packs quite a punch! Even with its minor faults it’s still a quick, satisfying and addictive read. 

I’d highly recommend reading the first book before starting this one to really appreciate Rowena as a character. After Prince Caedmon reluctantly leaves her side, Rowena is left on her own with no memories of her life, who she is, or what is happening. She is pretty much forced into a fierce and independent transition in order to survive. Although she is staying at the castle, royal intrigue has kept her at arm’s length from everyone around her. It’s difficult to know who to trust and who can be turned to for help so Rowena relies on herself. In the two years since Caedmon has been gone she has furiously trained with the royal guard to become an independent, respected, and strong-willed warrior. Her only desire is to escape her confinement and live away from the scrutiny and confusion of her current life at the castle. 

Prince Caedmon was whisked away shortly after the events in book one. He was actually taken captive during an important mission that involved Rowena’s move into Caedmon’s realm. I’m trying to be ridiculously vague in order to prevent any spoilers of the previous book or this one, so bear with me. With the disappearance of Rowena’s memories of everything so went her recognition and love for Caedmon. So when he finally escapes and returns to his kingdom he soon realizes that Rowena is no longer the sweet and docile woman he left. He must tread carefully in order to regain Rowena’s trust and hopefully her love. Caedmon also knows that his capture had nothing to do with chance but rather someone’s betrayal. 

There was a lot of action in this installment rather than romance. With Rowena’s shift in personality comes a lot of growth in her character development. I really enjoyed the fighting scenes that show just how much Rowena has had to change in order to survive. But oh how I miss the romance… I’m excited to continue on with the series and see more of Rowena and Caedmon. I’d really like to see some more development on the magical aspect of the key and the kingdom now that it is the current setting of the story.  I would have liked a more fleshed out transition in the beginning of the story since there is a significant time jump. I was also a bit confused on the title, if the name Candra was explained somewhere in the first or second book I completely missed it.  Either way the change in pacing and direction of the story was very much welcomed. I can’t wait to see what book three has in store.

Mishel Reviews: Rowena's Key - AJ Nuest

Mishel Reviews

Series or Stand Alone: The Golden Key Chronicles, book one

Release Date:  November 2013 

Publisher: HarperImpulse 

Pages:  109

Author Site:  http://ajnuest.com/

My Rating: 4/5 

Source: Received for review from author/publisher

Cover: It’s nice, I like the colors.

The key would unlock his future and the safety of his kingdom, but he never imagined the sorceress would unlock his heart…

Antiques restorer, Rowena Lindstrom, finds herself the owner of an ancestral armoire containing a hidden key and a magic mirror leading to another realm!

But the handsome warrior prince waiting on the other side is truly the final straw. This must be an elaborate joke, right? As she struggles to discover the truth, Rowena learns Prince Caedmon Austiere needs the key to save his kingdom. In the end, she cannot deny him anything. Including her heart.

Review:

Rowena’s Key is a great start to a series that I think a lot of people will enjoy. I honestly wasn’t expecting to like this one as much as I did. I’m glad I decided to give it a go when the author asked me to review it. I liked the heartfelt but subtle romance, the fantasy and magical elements, and the modern and believable characters. Everything flowed nicely into a quick and satisfying read.

We meet Rowena shortly after she impulsively buys a rather old and beat up armoire from overseas. As both a business owner and antiques restorer, she probably should have held on to the expensive shipping fees and thought a little bit more about what she was purchasing. Beginning to suffer from buyer’s remorse she sees firsthand how much wear and tear the piece has endured over the years. What makes matters worse, besides the obvious smoke and water damage, is the fact that the doors won’t even open! But life quickly changes for Rowena after she discovers a beautiful chain with a key and entire other world inside the armoire. 

Kind of makes you think of Narnia, doesn’t it? The idea of alternate realms, especially inside furniture!, is always fun in my opinion. I liked the fact that Rowena didn’t automatically accept that what she was seeing was real. Of course, what she thought was a little far-fetched as well…thinking her best friend Ollie had somehow set up some masterful play-acting through the mirror of the armoire…yeah, makes much more sense. The interaction between Prince Caedmon and Rowena was one of my favorite aspects of the story. Even though they were in different time periods, spoke and acted differently, the attraction between them was genuinely felt.

I’m getting a little burned out from the meet-and-greet insta-love thing. I used to be a firm believer in the idea of ‘love at first sight’! But I suppose after reading so much about it, I started rolling my eyes more than sighing dreamily when the heroine/hero swooned seconds/minutes/days after meeting their perspective soul mate... I do believe in insta-attraction though. This I have experienced, even though I haven’t acted on it…I’ll work on that though (maybe). Rowena and Caedmon have an attraction between them despite the odds set against them.  I like that the two shared intimate details about each other before even thinking of the future or the ‘L’ word. It was a nice change and made the story and romance more satisfying.

While it was a bit short for my taste I still felt pretty content with the plot, characters, pacing, and ending. I of course wanted more, but I have a good feeling that the things I was looking for in this first book will head my way with the next installments. And while the ending was a semi-cliffie, I could totally deal. It left me wanting more without feeling cheated or like I’m going to die waiting. I’m looking forward to seeing the story and the author’s writing grow in the upcoming books.