OUR FELLOW HARDCORE FANTASY ROMANCE LOVERS are so into this series!!
Michele G: So, for my fantasy lovers out there, I just finished Kill the Queen by Jennifer Estep. It was soooo good! It’s the first in a new series by her and has a really strong cast of characters. I listened to the audiobook and it was outstanding!
Tessa: Jennifer Estep’s Crown of Shards series? I’m want to say it’s her best series so far, but I’ve only read book one. … so goooooood! …The action is fast-paced. The only slow was waiting for the massacre to start. lol But, all the talk and such beforehand actually matters later, even the minor stuff. I love that nothing was actually wasted.
Michele G: Listening to Protect the Prince by Jennifer Estep (2nd in the Crown of Shards series) – it’s so good!
-123: I devoured this book. Yes devoured. It was so good especially since I’ve been having cealena sardothien (Sarah j Maas) withdrawals. Impatiently waiting for the next one.
About book #1:
Gladiator meets Game of Thrones: a royal woman becomes a skilled warrior to destroy her murderous cousin, avenge her family, and save her kingdom in this first entry in a dazzling fantasy epic from the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Elemental Assassin series—an enthralling tale that combines magic, murder, intrigue, adventure, and a hint of romance.
In a realm where one’s magical power determines one’s worth, Lady Everleigh’s lack of obvious ability relegates her to the shadows of the royal court of Bellona, a kingdom steeped in gladiator tradition. Seventeenth in line for the throne, Evie is nothing more than a ceremonial fixture, overlooked and mostly forgotten.
But dark forces are at work inside the palace. When her cousin Vasilia, the crown princess, assassinates her mother the queen and takes the throne by force, Evie is also attacked, along with the rest of the royal family. Luckily for Evie, her secret immunity to magic helps her escape the massacre.
Forced into hiding to survive, she falls in with a gladiator troupe. Though they use their talents to entertain and amuse the masses, the gladiators are actually highly trained warriors skilled in the art of war, especially Lucas Sullivan, a powerful magier with secrets of his own. Uncertain of her future—or if she even has one—Evie begins training with the troupe until she can decide her next move.
But as the bloodthirsty Vasilia exerts her power, pushing Bellona to the brink of war, Evie’s fate becomes clear: she must become a fearsome gladiator herself . . . and kill the queen.
SERIES READING ORDER:
OMG, this is another one that I’ve moved up to my “read this book, jammit!” shelf. I really, really need to get reading!
LOL!! I have so many like that… *sigh* book-problems. 😉 😛
The audios of this series are awesome Nay!
I devoured this book. Yes devoured. It was so good especially since I’ve been having cealena sardothien (Sarah j Maas) withdrawals. Impatiently waiting for the next one.
YAY!!! Great to know (and I thank you so much for your recommendation). In fact, I’m going to put it up there in the main post. 😀