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grimmlan's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
hellobookbird's review against another edition
5.0
Vampire worldview, condensed into three sentences: If it’s not food or a pet, kill it, because it might be poisonous.
Once a wife to a powerful vampire knight, Maud and her young daughter, Helen, were exiled with him for his treachery to the desolate, savage planet of Karhari. Karhari killed her husband, and Maud—completely abandoned by his family—has spent over a year avenging his debts. Rescued by her sister Dina, she's sworn off all things vampire.
Except... In helping Dina save the world, she met Arland, the Marshal of House Krahr, one of the most powerful vampire houses. One thing led to another and he asked for her hand in marriage. She declined. Arland is not used to hearing the word ‘no;’ and try as she might, Maud can't just walk away from Arland. It doesn't help that being human is a lot harder for Maud than being a vampire.
To sort it all out, she accepts his invitation to visit his home planet. Maud Demille has never run from a fight, and House Krahr will soon discover that there's a lot more to Maud than they’re expecting.
I'm not much of a fan of Andrews other series, but the Innkeeper Chronicles is hands down an insta-buy for me. Up to this point, the chronicles have focused on Dina's adventures so I was pleasantly surprised we get to see more of her family...and Maud may just be my favorite sibling yet.
"I’ve survived countless attempts at manipulation before. I appear to be too dense for it. However, I am open to being seduced."
Maud is less forgiving than Dina but no less knowledgeable. I get my Innkeeper fix by the careful orchestration of inter-species relations, contracts, and alliances that Maud navigates on behalf of House Krahr. I get a wholesome mother-daughter relationship that I never knew I needed. Last but not least, I get to see more of the vampire Holy Anocracy which combines feudal mentality with advanced technology...an interesting combination that is blended perfectly.
"Clearly, some people just can’t handle their coffee."
With a perfect blend of light, witty banter and head-knocking, mace-pounding, bloody fights, [b: Sweep of the Blade|37712577|Sweep of the Blade (Innkeeper Chronicles, #4)|Ilona Andrews|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1544318270l/37712577._SY75_.jpg|59348185] kept me entertained and intrigued throughout.
Recommended for everyone, especially established fans of the Innkeeper Chronicles.
cricklewood's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Setting/Worldbuilding: 8/10
Main characters: 9/10
Side characters: 7/10
Dialogue: 7/10
Plot: 7/10
Technique: 5/10
Prose: 5/10
Romance: 9/10
Ending: 9/10
Overall enjoyment: 9/100
Total: 75/100 (3.75)
Well, I was ready to rage and rage and one star this due to the sudden change in POV, but Maud, Helen and Arland were strong characters and vampire court intrigue became way more interesting than I originally thought it would be. That, and I love a good underdog story, so.
I will say though, that the story was originally serialised and it was quite obvious this was the case - this led to a bizarre flow in the story and quite an episodic kind of storytelling, which has its strengths and weaknesses.
I’ll say I enjoyed it overall. I’m certainly not mad at the story.
Main characters: 9/10
Side characters: 7/10
Dialogue: 7/10
Plot: 7/10
Technique: 5/10
Prose: 5/10
Romance: 9/10
Ending: 9/10
Overall enjoyment: 9/100
Total: 75/100 (3.75)
Well, I was ready to rage and rage and one star this due to the sudden change in POV, but Maud, Helen and Arland were strong characters and vampire court intrigue became way more interesting than I originally thought it would be. That, and I love a good underdog story, so.
I will say though, that the story was originally serialised and it was quite obvious this was the case - this led to a bizarre flow in the story and quite an episodic kind of storytelling, which has its strengths and weaknesses.
I’ll say I enjoyed it overall. I’m certainly not mad at the story.
veraann's review against another edition
5.0
It may not be their best book but I still like reading anything from Ilona Andrews. It is always at least a fun time to read. Interesting world builds and some good depth to some characters. The more shallow characters are still there to add to the fun and not distract.
reneec1's review against another edition
4.75
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️
This book centers around Maude as she follows Arland into vampire territory and navigates her feelings and possible new life.
I really liked getting a book from Maud’s perspective and learning more about vampire world!
🌶️
This book centers around Maude as she follows Arland into vampire territory and navigates her feelings and possible new life.
I really liked getting a book from Maud’s perspective and learning more about vampire world!
bhnmt61's review against another edition
4.0
I read the first three books in this series over a year ago and loved them. So much so that when I found out the fourth book was not about the central two characters from those books, Dina and Sean, but was instead about Dina’s sister Maud, I wasn’t interested. At the time, those were the only books in the series that had been published, so I moved on.
But for some reason I noticed last week that there was not only a new novella but a new full-length novel, so I decided it was time to go back to this one and then keep going. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. The Innkeeper universe is ours, enhanced, and it’s a great concept. This one starts by backtracking and re-telling some of the events from the previous books from Maud’s point of view, so it’s slow to start. But once Maud and Arland arrive at the vampire home world, it’s non-stop.
The vampires in the Innkeeper universe are not undead, not at all, but there are a few similarities (like fangs) that may have given rise to human myths about vampires. They live by a strict code of warrior honor. One of the most powerful and deadly vampires, Arland, Marshal of House Krahr, fell in love with Maud in the previous book, but Maud has a long history with vampires and she is having none of it. She could love Arland, but his snotty, condescending family? No, thanks.
It will be no surprise to anyone that they eventually work things out. Maud is a fierce, well-trained warrior in her own right and she gives nothing up. Her five-year-old daughter Helen is adorable. As with all the books in this series, it was originally published serially on the authors’ website, and its episodic nature sometimes shows. And there’s maybe a little too much time spent on explaining exactly why House Krahr is in the tricky political situation it finds itself. There is a lot of violence- a lot of violence- but there’s no gratuitous gore, and the authors are always careful to establish why it’s happening. But mostly, it’s just a ripping good story. To my surprise, I’m now a little reluctant to go back to Dina and Sean.
Book 1- Clean Sweep 5 stars
Book 2- Sweep in Peace 5 stars
Book 3- One Fell sweep 4 stars
Book 4- Sweep of the Blade 4 stars
But for some reason I noticed last week that there was not only a new novella but a new full-length novel, so I decided it was time to go back to this one and then keep going. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. The Innkeeper universe is ours, enhanced, and it’s a great concept. This one starts by backtracking and re-telling some of the events from the previous books from Maud’s point of view, so it’s slow to start. But once Maud and Arland arrive at the vampire home world, it’s non-stop.
The vampires in the Innkeeper universe are not undead, not at all, but there are a few similarities (like fangs) that may have given rise to human myths about vampires. They live by a strict code of warrior honor. One of the most powerful and deadly vampires, Arland, Marshal of House Krahr, fell in love with Maud in the previous book, but Maud has a long history with vampires and she is having none of it. She could love Arland, but his snotty, condescending family? No, thanks.
It will be no surprise to anyone that they eventually work things out. Maud is a fierce, well-trained warrior in her own right and she gives nothing up. Her five-year-old daughter Helen is adorable. As with all the books in this series, it was originally published serially on the authors’ website, and its episodic nature sometimes shows. And there’s maybe a little too much time spent on explaining exactly why House Krahr is in the tricky political situation it finds itself. There is a lot of violence- a lot of violence- but there’s no gratuitous gore, and the authors are always careful to establish why it’s happening. But mostly, it’s just a ripping good story. To my surprise, I’m now a little reluctant to go back to Dina and Sean.
Book 1- Clean Sweep 5 stars
Book 2- Sweep in Peace 5 stars
Book 3- One Fell sweep 4 stars
Book 4- Sweep of the Blade 4 stars
velosaraptor's review against another edition
dnf - not bad i just got bored at 30%. i couldn’t really see where the plot was going and i had no desire to find out.
forestidylls's review against another edition
4.0
Apparently, my favorite part of this series is the inn because it took awhile to get into this book, but I did end up truly enjoying it. I'm typically not a fan of single mother books, but this was an excellent example of how charming such tropes can be. Helen played her own part in the book rather than being in the book solely to bring the couple together, and I loved her part in the plot.