Review: Blackveil - Kristen Britain

Karigan G'ladheon was a regular girl until she stumbled across a dying man. There were two arrows embedded in his back, and wherever his horse was taking him, he was going to die before they got there. 

He gave Karigan his horse, his cloak and his brooch - the symbol that he was one of the King's Green Riders - and, with them, his mission. To deliver a message to the King. He made her swear to do it . . . even though the Shadow Man who killed him would be hot on her trail. That mission made her a Green Rider. 

Now, her first legendary mission is long complete. Karigan has learnt to wield the magic her Green Rider brooch allows her to access, and she's used it to defy some of the most terrifying dark magicians of the age. But while Mornhavon the Black has gone, he's not defeated. His restless spirit haunts Blackveil, the lethal, corrupt forest that stands beyond a failing magical wall at the edge of King Zachary's territory. Karigan's destiny is leading her there, and when her King asks her to join a mission to Blackveil to save the remnants of a dying race, it seems she has little choice but to follow it .

Series: The Green Rider #,4, Genre: Fantasy, Pages: 672, Published: Feb 2012, Publisher: Gollancz, Source: For review

My thoughts:

I want more...but do you know what the most horrible part i? Knowing that it might take years before book 5 comes out! Yes I do mean years because book 1 came out in 1998..do the math. The other books have all ended well, even if the doom is out there, but this one, no of course it did not end like that. It ended with one huge cliffie, a true evil cliffie in every sense of the word. I despair...I must know! But no, it will take a few years. 

As has been said before the second Empire still wants to take over the country. Grandmother, that evil witch is up to her old tricks. A truly well made evil baddie. She thinks she is good, while she certainly is the opposite. But she is not the only evil one, back at court we have someone else who is wolf among sheep. I thought he was bad in book 3, but here, oh that man needs to be stopped. 

The good guys then. Alton is trying to fix the wall, King Zachary is still brooding over Karigan. Karigan is being sent to the Blackveil (and is brooding too), Lord Amberhill who showed up in book 3 has a bigger part all the sudden and I can't put my finger on it. Does Britain mean Karigan to end up with him? But then he did flirt with the future queen too. Anyway he has a destiny. And Estora, well she is all nice (too nice), and things happens, she deals well with them, but at one time I just wanted her to say stop because it was shameful. I can't say what happened, but at least for medical reasons she should have known better. So yes I do not like her. And not only cos I want Karigan and Zachary to be happy. Which they never will be, and I really do not know how Britain will fix this. Amberhill? But I do not want that to happen. Oh the romance drama is so non-existing in a way and yet so very delicious. 

Going into the Blackveil means danger, and a lot of it. Secrets, blood and more is promised in this exciting new part of the Green Rider series. 

Conclusion:
But, how will I survive until book 5? And how will Britain save this poor world? But then good always wins and I always doubt it. I do need more, and now.

Review: The High King's Tomb - Kristen Britain

A thousand years ago the armies of the Arcosian Empire, led by Mornhavon the Black, crossed the great sea and tried to conquer the land of Sacoridia -and during Karigan G'ladheon's early years as a Green Rider, Mornhavon's spirit, sensing weakness in his prison walls and seeking vengeance, began to wake. With the ghostly help of the First Rider, Karigan had managed to drive off the spirit of Mornhavon-but for how long, no one could know. And now, the descendants of those Arcosians are ready to strike, reaching out to claim the land their forebears had tried to conquer. Worse, these vengeful enemies had spent generations honing their powers of dark magic-a force against which the Sacoridians had no defense . . . .

Series: Green Rider  #3, Genre: Fantasy, Pages: 768, Publisher: Gollancz, Published: April 2011, Source: For review

My thoughts:

This is the third book in the Green Rider series and even though it ended well in the last one, things are yet to be resolved. 

The enemy is defeated, and yet he is not. Karigan is in love with the king and he loves her, but this fairy tale can get no happy ending and he is to be married. Which breaks my heart because they love each other and should be able to be together. But I liked her strength as she stays away, her sense of duty and honor is strong.

This book is about Karigan and a new rider being sent away to find something to save the D'Yer wall. We also learn a bit more about her rider gift. Then there is the story of Grandmother, an evil woman who is hiding with followers of the Second Empire. A bunch of evil idiots who wants to take over the country. And last the story of Alton and Dale who is trying to save the D'Yer wall, because for it to fall would mean that the darkness behind will escape. As for the characters, Grandmother is a good bad guy since she believes everything she does is good, and those are always the scariest. Karigan is good as always and I mourn her loss when she is not allowed to be with the one she loves. Then we got the usual baddies and good people trying to do their best in a world in turmoil.

And as the book ends I have no idea what will happen next, and I can't wait to read the next part. What will happen? And most of all, will she be happy? Because I do want happy even if that means not being with the one you loved first.

Conclusion:

An adventurous third part in this saga and I am looking forward to reading more.

Cover

More horses

Review: First Rider's Call - Kristen Britain

Series: Green Rider 2
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 736
Published: April 2011 Gollancz (re-published)

Karigan G'Ladheon was a Green Rider, one of the King of Sacoridia's magical messangers. With evil forces at large in the kingdom and the messenger service depleted and weakened, can Karigan reach through the veils of time to get help from the First Rider, a woman who has been dead for a thousand years?

My thoughts:

This is then book 2 and a little time has gone by since the events in book 1. Karigan felt the need to come back to the capital and become a real Green Rider and that is what she is now. And of course even if the danger was averted in book 1 there is still the danger of the wall that now is broken in the north. And of a presence that is dangerous and mad and he wants destruction. Yes a crazy bad guy, one has to love those.

Karigan has come to terms (sort of) that she now is a rider, and she is good at it. She has grown a bit since the last book but I do like the fact that she is not perfect, she still has got her fears. She is also learning how to become a better fighter. Other characters are Rider Alton who is up in the north trying to fix the wall so no evil things can get through. He may not be around a lot but I do like him. King Zachary is trying his best to hold his people together and he does not need to do much for me to really like him..a lot. Through a journal we meet Alessandros who came over with ships 1000 years ago to conquer the lands. And he was not a nice conqueror. But I sure liked learning more about the history of this land, and there are also clues what it all has to do with Karigan since her name is whispered in the win. A mystery, I can't say more.

This book is sure long but there are a lot of things happening and a lot of things explained. In book 1 we learnt about a war but here we get to learn more. And it's fascinating. The history is rich and I want more, especially about the place the evil people came from (not that all were evil but let's just call them that.)

Then we have the crazy bad guy who unleashes wild magic and things get weird. I also talked about a hint of romance in book 1 and here there is more, not romance, but looks, smiles and thoughts. Enough for me to wish with all my heart that Karigan can be with the one she loves, but alas no, for it's the king. And this is not a fairytale.

Conclusion:

Wild Magic and adventure. I liked book 1 and I enjoyed book 2 even more. Because this is why I enjoy fantasy, rich history and a world built on that history. It's a nice fantasy story that does not get too violent, sad or bleak. And it made me want to read more.

Rating:

I enjoyed it.

Cover:

yes the horse is back

Source. Publisher

Review: Green Rider - Kristen Britain

Series: Green Rider 1
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 592
Published: April 2011 Gollancz (re-print)

On her journey home from school after a fight, Karigan G'ladheon ponders her future as she trudges through the immense forest called Green Cloak. But her thoughts are interrupted by the clattering of hooves as a galloping horse bursts from the woods, the rider slumped over his mount's neck, impaled by two black-shafted arrows. As the young man lies dying on the road, he tells Karigan that he is a Green Rider, one of the legendary messengers of the king, and that he bears a "life and death" message for King Zachary. He begs Karigan to carry his message, warning her not to read it, and with his dying breath he whispers, "Beware the shadow man..."  Karigan's promise changes her life forever. Pursued by unknown assassins and following a path only her horse seems to know. Caught up in a world of deadly danger and complex magic, compelled by forces she cannot understand, Karigan is hounded by dark beings bent on seeing that the message, and its reluctant carrier, never reach their destination.

My thoughts:
This is the beginning of a fantasy series with Riders who uses long lost magic and a kingdom on the brink of war. A good start is what I would say.

Karigan was a brave young woman who left her school cos she fought an aristocrat and she was only a merchant daughter. Not fair at all. When she then met the Rider she could have said no (of course the magic urged her on), but she wanted to do what was right and she also wanted an adventure. And that she sure got because on her journey she met funny old ladies, monsters, bandits, and saw the how angry the people in the north are. I liked her because even though it got tough she never gave up. Then we have the evil guys. The king’s brother wants the throne and the Grey Man uses magic to make people do his will. He is an evil killer and he has also made a crack in a wall that separates the badlands from the rest of the world. I liked the Grey Man, as much as one can like an evil guy. He was just a good bad guy. All evil and nothing at all to like about him.

The kingdom has lost its magic. There are still some magic left and the Green Riders uses some of it. I always do like when magic is lost and found again. And these Riders risk everything and still they are only seen as messengers, but they have a calling that they follow.

I have to say that there is a hint about romance. I truly mean a hint, one flutter in her heart, but I have hope for more in coming books.

Conclusion:
A good start with likable heroine who says what she wants to say. There is adventure, wild rides, magic and a race to save a kingdom. I will read more to see what happens next and I do like a fantasy series with a fantasy heroine  that feels down to earth. Not too tough, not soft,  but still willing to do what is right.

I recommend this series to fantasy readers.

Rating:
Enjoyable

Cover:

Pretty but still meh

Source: Publisher