The first in a two-book series, SILVER & BLOOD is a diverting forced proximity enemies-to-lovers romantasy by an author that I adore, Jessie Mihalek. My favorite reads by Mihalek have been sci-fi romance. Her Consortium Rebellion series is especially amazing, with uber- competent and kickass female heroines. SILVER & BLOOD is a more traditional sort of fantasy, with a renaissance-y sort of fae feel to it, where the heroine is not as in-your-face kickass but still manages to bumble her way into a sort of competency. Inspired by Beauty and the Beast, SILVER & BLOOD is Mihalek’s first full-length foray into fantasy romance. If you enjoy this vibe, check out some of her free short stories on the author’s website. Riela is a desperate, untrained mage forced by her village into the deadly nearby forest populated by monsters, where she is supposed to kill the beast that attacked a neighbor. Once there, she is astonished to be rescued by a powerful mage. This mage is gorgeous, but even growlier than the sentient wolf that lives with him in his enchanted castle. He makes for a marvelous brooding Beast! Garrick, the sexy curmudgeon mage, turns out to be an ancient Etheri king. It takes Garrick a long time to figure out that Riela may be what she claims to be, an untrained mortal mage. But the secrets that both Garrick and Riela are concealing complicate their battle to remain safe in the magical castle where they are sheltering. Both Garrick and Riela are a delight. It’s so enticing to watch them circle each other, as their attraction wages war with their suspicions. Magic, intrigue, and sexy temptation haunt them at every turn in this twisty tale. Mihalek’s SILVER & BLOOD is an engaging fairy tale with plenty of action and allure that grabs the reader’s interest. I’m salivating for the second book in this romantasy duology, although no release date has been announced yet.
On a deadly mission to kill the mythical beast that has been haunting her woods, a desperate mage finds her fate intertwined with the handsome, powerful man who saves her in this dark and sexy romantasy—perfect for readers of Jennifer L. Armentrout, Callie Hart, and Holly Black.
There’s something in the woods…
When a vicious beast begins attacking her fellow villagers, Riela reluctantly agrees to enter the forbidden forest and kill the monster as she’s the only mage available—or so she thought.
Untrained and barely armed, Riela is quickly overwhelmed when one beast turns into two. She fears her death is at hand until the unexpected arrival of a scarred, strikingly handsome man with gleaming moonlit magic changes her fate—and provides a rare opportunity to learn more about her own fickle power.
After being rescued and healed from the beast’s poison, Riela awakens in a magical castle complete with a gorgeous library, a strange wolf, and the surly man who saved her life. She soon learns Garrick is both more powerful and far deadlier than a mere mortal mage—but thanks to a century-long curse, his powers are weakening.
Trapped in his castle and surrounded by the treacherous woods, the spark of attraction between Riela and Garrick slowly ignites into fiery desire. But the more they discover about Riela’s magic, the more suspicious Garrick grows of her identity. As they unravel the secrets and lies connecting Riela’s past to Garrick’s, the tenuous threads of trust between them start to fray.
Because Riela’s life—or her death—might be the key to regaining everything Garrick has lost.
No excerpt available.
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