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The Sundered Oath #2
On the Edge of Death
All the Left Hand of Death wants is something to call her own, but is the price too high?
Ellaeva, the fated avatar of the death goddess, is desperate to track down her missing family but the trail is decades old. Instead, she discovers her battered and bloodied sister priestesses driven across the Jerreki border on pain of death. Ellaeva must turn aside from her personal quest to investigate the murders, only to find her parents have been taken into the heart of the conflict.
Lyram Aharris, favoured son of the royal line of Ahlleyn, is the only living person she trusts to help her infiltrate the enemy stronghold and uproot the horror they find there, but their chequered past threatens the mission. Accompanying him is his crown prince, the one man Lyram wants dead above all others.
Now Ellaeva must face down the darkness in her soul before a dark god is brought into the world.
At the boundary of life and death, all oaths will be tested.
Ellaeva, the fated avatar of the death goddess, is desperate to track down her missing family but the trail is decades old. Instead, she discovers her battered and bloodied sister priestesses driven across the Jerreki border on pain of death. Ellaeva must turn aside from her personal quest to investigate the murders, only to find her parents have been taken into the heart of the conflict.
Lyram Aharris, favoured son of the royal line of Ahlleyn, is the only living person she trusts to help her infiltrate the enemy stronghold and uproot the horror they find there, but their chequered past threatens the mission. Accompanying him is his crown prince, the one man Lyram wants dead above all others.
Now Ellaeva must face down the darkness in her soul before a dark god is brought into the world.
At the boundary of life and death, all oaths will be tested.
- GenresFantasy
ebook
Published April 22, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 6, 2017
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was supposed to have this done ...oh, over a month ago? But better late than never I guess. So this was definitely better than the first one, but I still couldn't really get into it until about halfway through. I thought the plot was much more interesting this time around. I actually cared about the secrets they were trying to uncover and I think the pacing was better overall. I liked how the villain was revealed about halfway through because in the first book it wasn't until almost the very end kind of as an afterthought, but this time it was front and center the whole time.
But still for some reason these books just seem so much longer than they actually are. I mean 350 pages is really only slightly longer than the books I usually read but some reason these just FEEL long and I don't really know why. I think because a lot of the time is devoted to the romance and love triangles, which is just not what I'm looking for at all. This was one was much better in that regard too. I was hoping that since Lyram and Ellaeva slept together in the first book they would be less angsty in this one and thankfully they were. I mean they were still a BIT angsty, but they had mostly made up their minds so it wasn't an entire book of 'will they won't they' again.
Also while we are introduced to another new love triangle in this book [why], it isn't as prominent as the stuff with Leinahre in book one. Or at least it's not very prominent until the very end, where I just wanted to bury my head in my hands and scream again. Basically there were points of this book that I enjoyed enough to give it 3 stars instead of 2 and I was hoping it meant the whole series would be looking up but after the ending I just KNOW there is going to be so much relationship drama in the next book so I think I'm done with this series. If you like a lot of doomed romance and love triangles and relationship drama in your fantasy then you will probably like this, but it's just too much for me.
I was supposed to have this done ...oh, over a month ago? But better late than never I guess. So this was definitely better than the first one, but I still couldn't really get into it until about halfway through. I thought the plot was much more interesting this time around. I actually cared about the secrets they were trying to uncover and I think the pacing was better overall. I liked how the villain was revealed about halfway through because in the first book it wasn't until almost the very end kind of as an afterthought, but this time it was front and center the whole time.
But still for some reason these books just seem so much longer than they actually are. I mean 350 pages is really only slightly longer than the books I usually read but some reason these just FEEL long and I don't really know why. I think because a lot of the time is devoted to the romance and love triangles, which is just not what I'm looking for at all. This was one was much better in that regard too. I was hoping that since Lyram and Ellaeva slept together in the first book they would be less angsty in this one and thankfully they were. I mean they were still a BIT angsty, but they had mostly made up their minds so it wasn't an entire book of 'will they won't they' again.
Also while we are introduced to another new love triangle in this book [why], it isn't as prominent as the stuff with Leinahre in book one. Or at least it's not very prominent until the very end, where I just wanted to bury my head in my hands and scream again. Basically there were points of this book that I enjoyed enough to give it 3 stars instead of 2 and I was hoping it meant the whole series would be looking up but after the ending I just KNOW there is going to be so much relationship drama in the next book so I think I'm done with this series. If you like a lot of doomed romance and love triangles and relationship drama in your fantasy then you will probably like this, but it's just too much for me.
May 15, 2017
Ellaeva is still looking for her missing family but finds herself wrapped up in the mystery of who is killing off the priestesses of Ahura. Although Alhura has abandoned them months ago. But she is not going to be able to investigate by herself, she only has one person that she trusts to help her, Lyram. But the deeper the mystery goes, the more Ellaeva learns about herself. There is a darkness inside her that would be easy to slip into and never return. Is she strong enough to fight herself and those that want to kill her?
I really enjoyed In the Company of the Dead and was very excited to read book two. Ellaeva is still looking for her family although it’s been decades. But finds her true path as she looks for the one killing the other priestesses. It’s so easy to get wrapped up in her inner battle against the darkness. You can see how easy it would be to go down that path but it never ends well. That has to mean something since all of the other priestesses die before they are 30 years old. Either way she is doomed.
This is an amazing world with a great story that will draw you in and leave you reading until late. You can’t help cheering for Ellaeva and Lyram and crying at all they have to go through. I can’t wait to see what happens to the both of them next. This is one series that I would love to see as a movie or television series.
I received On the Edge of Death from Reading Addiction Virtual Book Tours for free. This has not influenced my opinion in any way.
I really enjoyed In the Company of the Dead and was very excited to read book two. Ellaeva is still looking for her family although it’s been decades. But finds her true path as she looks for the one killing the other priestesses. It’s so easy to get wrapped up in her inner battle against the darkness. You can see how easy it would be to go down that path but it never ends well. That has to mean something since all of the other priestesses die before they are 30 years old. Either way she is doomed.
This is an amazing world with a great story that will draw you in and leave you reading until late. You can’t help cheering for Ellaeva and Lyram and crying at all they have to go through. I can’t wait to see what happens to the both of them next. This is one series that I would love to see as a movie or television series.
I received On the Edge of Death from Reading Addiction Virtual Book Tours for free. This has not influenced my opinion in any way.
June 22, 2017
Ellaeva, the battle priestess, is on a quest to enter Jerreki, a land where the rulers have been killing and driving out her fellow priestesses. Turned back at the border, she asks the king of Ahlleyn to send her in secret as part of an embassy that includes Lyram Aharris, a man from her past as well as the hated Prince Drault and the Duchess Narrawen. What they find in Jerreki is unspeakable evil, and Ellaeva and Lyram must put duty and justice above love in order to prevail.
This is the second book in The Sundered Oath series. I didn't read the first book, though I intend to remedy that omission, I felt I picked up the story and the characters very easily. The author weaves the backstory into the narrative seamlessly, no data dump here. In fact, the writing is quite brilliant; the descriptions give an excellent description of the world and people while not being overly verbose. There's a lot of battle scenes and fighting which I sometimes get bored with, but they drew me in, and I could almost see each parry and thrust. Drault is a wonderful villain, not over the top, but still capable of great evil. Narrawen's character is more subtle, but I disliked her just as much as Drault by the end of the book. And neither of them is the true enemy.
Ellaeva and Lyram are heroes in the true sense of the word. Both have lost much and want so much more, but let the needs of others and their own senses of duty override their love. I can't wait for the next book in this series and I will definitely find some more of Ms. Ballintyne's books. A truly great fantasy series.
This is the second book in The Sundered Oath series. I didn't read the first book, though I intend to remedy that omission, I felt I picked up the story and the characters very easily. The author weaves the backstory into the narrative seamlessly, no data dump here. In fact, the writing is quite brilliant; the descriptions give an excellent description of the world and people while not being overly verbose. There's a lot of battle scenes and fighting which I sometimes get bored with, but they drew me in, and I could almost see each parry and thrust. Drault is a wonderful villain, not over the top, but still capable of great evil. Narrawen's character is more subtle, but I disliked her just as much as Drault by the end of the book. And neither of them is the true enemy.
Ellaeva and Lyram are heroes in the true sense of the word. Both have lost much and want so much more, but let the needs of others and their own senses of duty override their love. I can't wait for the next book in this series and I will definitely find some more of Ms. Ballintyne's books. A truly great fantasy series.
May 7, 2017
I preface this review with the fact that I rarely give five star ratings. A novel really has to wow me to earn five stars, and this one did. While it does suffer from the fact that it is not a true stand alone novel, and there is a lot that the reader has to read between the lines on if he or she has not read the first book in this series (which I have not), the author has spent so much time creating an internally-consistent world that I was able to readily forgive those flaws. There is a lot to recommend about this book aside from the aforementioned world creation. The characters are complex and not all all one-dimensional, which is so nice to read. Even the prince, who I really loathed, was not a caricature. There are numerous references to the physical transgressions between the two main characters, but all of the action takes place off stage, as it were. Therefore, I feel comfortable recommending the book to mature readers 16+. There is a LOT of bloody violence, however, and squeamish readers might be well-advised to give this book a pass. I will definitely have to go back now and read the first book in the series then re-read this installment so I can more fully appreciate the intrigue and bask once again in the setting that was so well-constructed.
Reviewed by HR Duby for Romance Authors that Rock
Reviewed by HR Duby for Romance Authors that Rock
July 6, 2017
This has been a very intense story if I do say so, Ellaeva had one magnitude of a task being the battle priestess of death, justice, and truth, what is a girl to do when she finds the one she loves and he is forbidden as is the law.
The book is packed filled with action, adventure and a bit on the morbid side but exciting and interesting all the same. Lyram was in turmoil wanting his true love, but she was forbidden to him, he couldn't help it ,his feelings ran deep. Even after the betrayal and deceit of his prince, he burned to exact revenge but was bounded by the oath of allegiance he took, fear for the price he would have to pay if he took measures into his own hands.
Their love was forged in a war that was based on deceit, hatred, anger and a lot of other complex situations all destined for the path of disaster. This book was excellently written with a gripping and riveting story line.
The book is packed filled with action, adventure and a bit on the morbid side but exciting and interesting all the same. Lyram was in turmoil wanting his true love, but she was forbidden to him, he couldn't help it ,his feelings ran deep. Even after the betrayal and deceit of his prince, he burned to exact revenge but was bounded by the oath of allegiance he took, fear for the price he would have to pay if he took measures into his own hands.
Their love was forged in a war that was based on deceit, hatred, anger and a lot of other complex situations all destined for the path of disaster. This book was excellently written with a gripping and riveting story line.
July 23, 2017
This is a fantasy novel that is not simply action and adventure and fantasy, it is dark and involved the entire way through. There is a lot going on and these characters go through quite a bit over the course of the novel. I enjoyed that fact. I liked how much we got to experience throughout their journey.
I liked the growth the characters showed in this novel. There wasn't any character who seemed stagnate, which was great.
I think the addition of the darkness was great in this one. It added a creepy element that I actually quite enjoyed.
I think the flow of this novel was well done and I found myself flipping pages quite quickly to keep the story going.
I liked the growth the characters showed in this novel. There wasn't any character who seemed stagnate, which was great.
I think the addition of the darkness was great in this one. It added a creepy element that I actually quite enjoyed.
I think the flow of this novel was well done and I found myself flipping pages quite quickly to keep the story going.
July 9, 2017
This novel really starts off with a bang and doesnt let up. Ellaeva is a very strong lead and while I didn't always agree with her decisions, I did like her overall as a character.
She has a lot to deal with over the course of this novel.
I loved the way Ciara Ballintyne told the story. It was very well thought out and this really showed through the characters and setting.
A very wonderful Mysterious and Suspenseful Fantasy Novel.
You will definitely want to have plenty of allotted reading time before starting this one. It was hard to put down.
She has a lot to deal with over the course of this novel.
I loved the way Ciara Ballintyne told the story. It was very well thought out and this really showed through the characters and setting.
A very wonderful Mysterious and Suspenseful Fantasy Novel.
You will definitely want to have plenty of allotted reading time before starting this one. It was hard to put down.
May 22, 2017
This is a continuation in Ciara Ballintyne's The Sundered Oath series and it is just a great as the first. Ciara makes sure to catch readers up without making them feel bogged down with details from the first.
I felt like I got more of an understanding of the characters in this one. The first in the series was really an introduction and their characters really took off in this one.
Definitely a lot of action going on that will have readers flipping pages furiously.
I felt like I got more of an understanding of the characters in this one. The first in the series was really an introduction and their characters really took off in this one.
Definitely a lot of action going on that will have readers flipping pages furiously.
May 31, 2017
Dive into a wonderful and imaginative new world with Ciara Ballintyne.
I think that as soon as you start this one, you wont want to stop until you have finished it and then you will want to read more by this author as soon as possible!
It is packed with twists and surprises along the way along with emotional and suspenseful moments.
I enjoyed the characters and the growth they showed throughout the novel as well as the connections between them.
Overall wonderful Epic Fantasy!
I think that as soon as you start this one, you wont want to stop until you have finished it and then you will want to read more by this author as soon as possible!
It is packed with twists and surprises along the way along with emotional and suspenseful moments.
I enjoyed the characters and the growth they showed throughout the novel as well as the connections between them.
Overall wonderful Epic Fantasy!
July 28, 2017
May I say wow?! Ballintyne has taken fantasy to a whole new level. From the start the story line reels you in. You begin to feel emotions as you read through the first chapters and quickly find yourself flipping the next page and before you know it your halfway through!
Absolutely loved this! Wonderful Characters, Beautiful Storyline, Plenty of Action and Suspense throughtout, a well rounded novel.
Absolutely loved this! Wonderful Characters, Beautiful Storyline, Plenty of Action and Suspense throughtout, a well rounded novel.
July 9, 2017
This is a very imaginative Fantasy. There was a lot of time to get used to the world that Ciara Ballintyne has created, but once I understood the world, I was truly invested.
I liked that this was fantasy but also had many other qualities that made it lovable to readers of other genres as well.
I liked that this was fantasy but also had many other qualities that made it lovable to readers of other genres as well.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews