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blodeuedd's review against another edition
4.0
This series is my favorite Kennedy series. I know I know, yes an author can have different voices, and she so has! Lately I have read one set in the same world, but before The Twelve Kingdoms, and that is not a romance one, but fantasy. And the voice is a whole other authors. Then there was this fantasy romance set in yet another world, and again, totally different voice. But hey, that is why she is the author! But my heart belongs to the first trilogy, and the this new series. This is my favorite voice.
Ok so when I am done rambling about that...
Karyn was married, she was told she had to be a virgin for the rest of her life. Then her husband fell in love and said they could divorce so that he could leave that stinking kingdom behind. But, what about her!? She is not prepared for this world. She was raised to be a princess. She knows nothing else. She tries to become a fighter since Jepp showed her some moves (Jepp who fell in love with her husband who was not allowed to touch her omg just read the previous books.) But Karyn is not really a fighter. And she wants more from life. Sure, being a princess could have been nice. But she would never have been allowed to be a mother. And now she is with the Tala...
Zyr is, oh he is a bit too much, but then he is Tala! They are flirty, they do not care about silly things, sex is not big deal and they are free. Though, now when I start to think about it, that is not the best thing. I mean if you are not sure who your baby daddy is then what stops your kid falling for his half sister! I mean they are inbred enough already. These people need some new boundaries and to start writing down who fathered who. Anyhow, he is a good guy. He is just...a surfer dude! Ha, but yes, I could see that. Carefree, loving and kind.
And he sure flirts with her and tries to get under her skin, and clothes. And she might just need it so that she can learn that women are not tools, women have a voice too. They can be strong on their own (and fall in love too.)
But before the love falling part, they will banterm become closer and fight monsters as they set out on an adventure. And dang! Now I want to know what happens in the next book!? Who is the next book about?
Great series :)
Ok so when I am done rambling about that...
Karyn was married, she was told she had to be a virgin for the rest of her life. Then her husband fell in love and said they could divorce so that he could leave that stinking kingdom behind. But, what about her!? She is not prepared for this world. She was raised to be a princess. She knows nothing else. She tries to become a fighter since Jepp showed her some moves (Jepp who fell in love with her husband who was not allowed to touch her omg just read the previous books.) But Karyn is not really a fighter. And she wants more from life. Sure, being a princess could have been nice. But she would never have been allowed to be a mother. And now she is with the Tala...
Zyr is, oh he is a bit too much, but then he is Tala! They are flirty, they do not care about silly things, sex is not big deal and they are free. Though, now when I start to think about it, that is not the best thing. I mean if you are not sure who your baby daddy is then what stops your kid falling for his half sister! I mean they are inbred enough already. These people need some new boundaries and to start writing down who fathered who. Anyhow, he is a good guy. He is just...a surfer dude! Ha, but yes, I could see that. Carefree, loving and kind.
And he sure flirts with her and tries to get under her skin, and clothes. And she might just need it so that she can learn that women are not tools, women have a voice too. They can be strong on their own (and fall in love too.)
But before the love falling part, they will banterm become closer and fight monsters as they set out on an adventure. And dang! Now I want to know what happens in the next book!? Who is the next book about?
Great series :)
timitra's review against another edition
4.0
Rated 4.5 Stars
The Arrows Of The Heart was a bit slow at the beginning but what an epic adventure it turned out to be. It was also a tale of empowerment, finding strength within yourself and being your own hero among so many other things. I enjoyed it and cannot wait to read the next book in the series.
ARC provided by author in exchange for a honest review
The Arrows Of The Heart was a bit slow at the beginning but what an epic adventure it turned out to be. It was also a tale of empowerment, finding strength within yourself and being your own hero among so many other things. I enjoyed it and cannot wait to read the next book in the series.
ARC provided by author in exchange for a honest review
bookameme's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this series, but this is my least favorite Jeffe Kennedy book because I’m not a big fan of aimless adventure quests.
mdlaclair's review against another edition
4.0
This was an interesting read I like the story for the most part but the heroin was a little immature and whinny at times. However, we do see some personal growth on both parts.
alexiachantel's review against another edition
5.0
The Arrows of the Heart is fantasy romance perfection. Every time Kennedy releases another Twelve Kingdoms-series book she brings us another heroine who comes through the fire changed, stronger, formidable. And wow did she ever give Karyn and Zyr a heart pounding journey.
So, so, so good. If you are in the mood for fantasy romance, pick this up. If you haven’t read any of the Twelve Kingdoms trilogy or spinoffs, start from the beginning and prepare to book binge!
Review posted at Reading Between the Wines Book Club:
http://www.readingbetweenthewinesbookclub.com/2018/10/5-wine-glass-arc-review-of-arrows-of.html
So, so, so good. If you are in the mood for fantasy romance, pick this up. If you haven’t read any of the Twelve Kingdoms trilogy or spinoffs, start from the beginning and prepare to book binge!
Review posted at Reading Between the Wines Book Club:
http://www.readingbetweenthewinesbookclub.com/2018/10/5-wine-glass-arc-review-of-arrows-of.html
audiobookmel's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars
Review originally posted at BooksOfMyHeart.net.
As Ms. Kennedy continues to expand the world she has created with The Twelve Kingdoms and The Uncharted Realms, we take two characters who’ve had minor roles in previous books and bring them together.
Zyr is one of the Tala and twin brother to Zynda (heroine from The Shift of the Tide). They have be involved in a bit of fun sibling rivalry from the beginning. Zyr’s first form was pretty spectacular in that it was mythical creature called a gríobhth (Zynda’s was a hummingbird). They also tried to have the most number of forms. But Zyr isn’t happy that Zynda is trying to take the final form, which is a dragon, as he doesn’t want to lose her into that form. But Zyr is a total flirt. He also works to teach the children to help them with shifting.
Karyn af Hardie is Kral’s ex-wife (hero from The Edge of the Blade). She was raised to be the perfect Dasnarian woman. She knew her marriage to Kral was nothing more than a political thing. He was not allowed to have any legitimate children who could challenge his brother or his brother’s heir for the throne. So, she was to stay a virgin her whole life. Then she asked for an annulment, to which the king granted and sentenced her to death for it. Then she escaped Dasnaria and back to Annfwn.
Now, Karyn and Zyr have been paired together by Andromeda, queen of Annfwn, to figure out these “map sticks”. They are basically little pieces of driftwood sticks that form a map which can be carried by flying Tala in their claws. Karyn rides him in his gríobhth form as they search for a hidden kingdom. Things get really tense when they are attacked the Deyrr, which has been going on for several books now.
I can’t say much more without giving out spoilers. Let’s just say things do get a bit dark in this story (when compared to the previous books in this series, but not quite as dark as the first book in the The Chronicles of Dasnaria series, Prisoner of the Crown). There is quite a bit of action. The romance is slow to start, as Karyn really wants to hold on to her virginity until marriage and Zyr has a hard time of thinking of monogamy (which he points out to her in the beginning). But things do finally go the right way in the end.
I continue to really love this fantasy romance series. It has great romances from a variety of different types of characters (warriors, princesses, kings, shifters, flirts, and more) from several different types of backgrounds. It really makes for interesting interactions with the cultural differences of all these different characters.It is also interesting to see into the heads of some of the characters, like how Karyn keeps thinking about Dasnaria and how she should react based on the Dasnarian rules, forgetting that she is bound by those rules anymore.
**Book was provided to me by the author. This review is my opinion and was not requested or provoked in anyway by the author.
Review originally posted at BooksOfMyHeart.net.
As Ms. Kennedy continues to expand the world she has created with The Twelve Kingdoms and The Uncharted Realms, we take two characters who’ve had minor roles in previous books and bring them together.
Zyr is one of the Tala and twin brother to Zynda (heroine from The Shift of the Tide). They have be involved in a bit of fun sibling rivalry from the beginning. Zyr’s first form was pretty spectacular in that it was mythical creature called a gríobhth (Zynda’s was a hummingbird). They also tried to have the most number of forms. But Zyr isn’t happy that Zynda is trying to take the final form, which is a dragon, as he doesn’t want to lose her into that form. But Zyr is a total flirt. He also works to teach the children to help them with shifting.
Karyn af Hardie is Kral’s ex-wife (hero from The Edge of the Blade). She was raised to be the perfect Dasnarian woman. She knew her marriage to Kral was nothing more than a political thing. He was not allowed to have any legitimate children who could challenge his brother or his brother’s heir for the throne. So, she was to stay a virgin her whole life. Then she asked for an annulment, to which the king granted and sentenced her to death for it. Then she escaped Dasnaria and back to Annfwn.
Now, Karyn and Zyr have been paired together by Andromeda, queen of Annfwn, to figure out these “map sticks”. They are basically little pieces of driftwood sticks that form a map which can be carried by flying Tala in their claws. Karyn rides him in his gríobhth form as they search for a hidden kingdom. Things get really tense when they are attacked the Deyrr, which has been going on for several books now.
I can’t say much more without giving out spoilers. Let’s just say things do get a bit dark in this story (when compared to the previous books in this series, but not quite as dark as the first book in the The Chronicles of Dasnaria series, Prisoner of the Crown). There is quite a bit of action. The romance is slow to start, as Karyn really wants to hold on to her virginity until marriage and Zyr has a hard time of thinking of monogamy (which he points out to her in the beginning). But things do finally go the right way in the end.
I continue to really love this fantasy romance series. It has great romances from a variety of different types of characters (warriors, princesses, kings, shifters, flirts, and more) from several different types of backgrounds. It really makes for interesting interactions with the cultural differences of all these different characters.It is also interesting to see into the heads of some of the characters, like how Karyn keeps thinking about Dasnaria and how she should react based on the Dasnarian rules, forgetting that she is bound by those rules anymore.
“I apologize,” I replied. These Tala with their lack of rank and titles—how did anyone know how to address anyone? I knew I’d never be able to call him baldly by his name. It also seemed equally as impolite to just truncate my apology like that. I truly longed for Dasnaria’s clear rules for behavior.
“Don’t apologize so much either,” he bit out, and I swallowed a sigh. Zynda had said the same. Even Thalia had remarked on it. I couldn’t say anything without apologizing again, so I stood there, waiting for him to lose his patience with me entirely, which usually didn’t take long, —I couldn’t imagine how he could be a teacher—so he’d quit blocking my path and let me go have my breakfast. “Where are you going so early anyway?” he asked, when the silence stretched out too long.
I could ask him the same. “I’m going down to the market to buy tea and a sweet roll,” I replied, adding a silent Lord Zyr to make myself feel better and satisfy the voice of my etiquette tutor in my head.
“I’m hungry, too. I’ll join you.”
I would have liked to protest, but I could hardly contradict the command. So I glumly followed along when he turned and headed back the way he’d come. He slowed, so I slowed, too. When he stopped, I stopped, peering at him peripherally to determine what the problem might be.
“Why are you trailing along behind me—something wrong with your feet?” he asked, looking me up and down.
“In Dasnaria, it’s proper for a woman to—”
“Well, you’re not in Dasnaria, are you? I don’t see any hulking brutes in armor like giant beetles anywhere around here, stinking up the place, do you?”
I had to suppress a giggle at the image, it shocked me so. “No,” I replied carefully. “We are in Annfwn.”
**Book was provided to me by the author. This review is my opinion and was not requested or provoked in anyway by the author.
jcb820's review against another edition
2.0
This is easily the weakest installment in this series thus far, especially following Zynda's story in book 3 (one of my favorite fantasy romances around). It's a fairly standard road trip romance, but what really let it down, for me at least, is that it's a full length novel that felt like it could and should have been a novella. Not a lot happens, overall, so a lot of the narrative felt like padding. I didn't find either main character that compelling, and can't see myself revisiting this book even in a series re-read.
jayceejarvis's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Jeffe Kennedy has done it again. This fantasy romance seamlessly weaves a compelling story of fantastical forces at war with all the intimacy of a heartfelt romance. This story follows Karyn, who is the ultimate fish out of water coming from the rigid Dasnarian culture to live with the fluid flexible Tala. I loved getting a peek into her perspective, and watching her grow and adapt over the course of the story. The story is told in first person from her point of view (not my favorite for romance, but Kennedy pulls it off) and I struggled with some of the miscommunications in this story. The characters truly come from totally different worlds, and I'm not sure the depth of their differences can be fully addressed without a peek at Zyr's perspective.
That said, I have enjoyed this series so much, and highly recommend it for anyone looking for something different in an epic fantasy. While each book follows a different heroine, and wraps up with a satisfying HEA for the couple, the overarching storyline builds with each book in such a way that I don't recommend reading the stories out of order.
That said, I have enjoyed this series so much, and highly recommend it for anyone looking for something different in an epic fantasy. While each book follows a different heroine, and wraps up with a satisfying HEA for the couple, the overarching storyline builds with each book in such a way that I don't recommend reading the stories out of order.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny
Minor: Sexual violence
There is a threat of sexual violence, and some complicated consent scenes that could be triggering
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