Week 20 Review: A Heart of Blood and Ashes

From Goodreads:

A generation past, the western realms were embroiled in endless war. Then the Destroyer came. From the blood and ashes he left behind, a tenuous alliance rose between the barbarian riders of Parsathe and the walled kingdoms of the south. That alliance is all that stands against the return of an ancient evil—until the barbarian king and queen are slain in an act of bloody betrayal.

Though forbidden by the alliance council to kill the corrupt king responsible for his parents' murders, Maddek vows to avenge them, even if it costs him the Parsathean crown. But when he learns it was the king's daughter who lured his parents to their deaths, the barbarian warrior is determined to make her pay.

Yet the woman Maddek captures is not what he expected. Though the last in a line of legendary warrior-queens, Yvenne is small and weak, and the sharpest weapons she wields are her mind and her tongue. Even more surprising is the marriage she proposes to unite them in their goals and to claim their thrones—because her desire for vengeance against her father burns even hotter than his own… 

My Review:
This book was so fantastic! I really enjoyed the short stories that we've gotten so far, and it was so great to have a full length book in this world! And getting to know these characters was so great, and I'm so excited to read more of this series!

This book was pretty darned violent and sexual. And there was a fair amount of politics as well, given the ranks of both of these characters. And the relationship between them was so rocky, and I loved going on this journey with them, as it evolved and changed and grew! So many complications arose, and it was so entertaining to read!

There were several conflicts that could've been avoided if these two had just communicated with each other better. Like with her knee. She assumed that the group knew about it, and that was a pretty big situation there. Another big one was the whole, his mother accepted her, but he didn't believe it and called it a lie, when it wasn't. That caused a lot of heartache and drama before it was all sorted out!

That ending really proved just how much these characters grew over the course of this book. Maddek needed the heart of a king, and to be more than a warrior, to think strategically about more than just battle, though it did help him with battle! And Yvenne had confidence to be a Warrior Queen, and it was just so great to read!

This book was an epic read, it was so enjoyable to read, and I can't wait to read more!

Author: Milla Vane
Series: A Gathering of Dragons #1, Barbarian #2
Read: May 15th, 2020
Source: Ebook.bike
Reason Why: Sounded really great, and it's a Prequel && Sequel Challenge 2020 Book!
Publisher: Berkley
Published: February 4th 2020

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars