Could have been more
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I had high hopes for this new series, having read previous reviews of this first instalment. The premise was a good one, but unfortunately I felt that the book never really followed through in this potential. I liked the idea of the story, but I found the heroine just too annoying to enjoy the plot, which was clunky and slow moving, especially to begin with. The heroine comes across as a bossy, angry know-it-all who is ungrateful of all attempts to help her. She is the archetypal shrew, who crowns herself in charge of the castle's cleaning by the simple virtue of the fact she is female. Her aggressive and laughably physical attack on one of the brothers, making him 'eat-dirt' because he dares question her authority was utterly ridiculous. The brothers' patience with her was commendable, I wanted nothing more than to have Dominor give the idiot her a taste of her own medicine. My complete inability to sympathise with the heroine made me increasingly annoyed the more I read, as it would have been so easy to create a likeable lead female role in keeping with the plot, and, from that, more entertaining and comedic scenes.
I felt that the character building also left a lot to be desired, mostly because of the fact that it would have been difficult to adequately build the character of each of the eight brothers without a 1000-page saga. Instead, the author has opted on several occasions to simply list each brother's characteristics in a series of flat and boring paragraphs. This is not character building. There are simply too many brothers to try and divide equal time between them, and the attempt to do so came across as a rather obvious desire to pave the way for each new instalment, to the detriment of this one. In saying this, the main problem I had with this book was with the attitude and character of the heroine, a problem which will hopefully be resolved with book 2 and a new female role. The idea behind the books is a new one in the romantic/fantasy genre, and so fingers crossed the next book lives up to this potential.
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The first stone is cast in this top-notch Fantasy-Romance series
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Quote website Jean Johnson:
Eight brothers, born in four sets of twins, two years apart to the day-they fulfill the Curse of Eight Prophecy. To avoid tempting their destiny, the brothers are exiled to Nightfall Island, a land where women are strictly forbidden. But, when the youngest of the mage-brothers rescues a woman from another universe, their world is altered forever.
Jean Johnson takes me on a journey across the universes and I descended on Nightfall Island where I met eight utterly seductive Mages. Four sets of twins that have one prophecy to fulfill. The Song Of Destiny is written by the Seer Draganna over a thousand years ago and is about to complicate the life of the eldest Mage, Saber.
With Morganen rescuing Kelly from Earth there is a female on Nightfall Island now, something that is strictly forbidden and Saber isn't a happy camper about it. A woman on the Isle sets the prophecy in motion and he will fight it every step of the way. It is safe to say that Kelly and Saber didn't hit it off right away. Nevertheless, how can one fight his own Destiny?
THE SWORD casts the first stone in this new series from Jean Johnson and it contains the caliber of top notch Fantasy-Romance. It will keep many a reader fascinated with the presented overall story arc as the individual romance story of each twin is told. Not only are their eight distinctive different Mages to get to know, there is also an Island with a castle that holds an exuberance in magical details to explore. For me as the reader it felt like standing in front of a display window full of the most enticing chocolates, and I was almost unable to avert my gaze from what was put in front of my eyes!!
Saber, as the eldest, is a gruff and stubborn man that refuses to start the fulfillment of their Prophecy. So subsequently he tries to resist the pull that Kelly has on everything that is man in him. Their encounters are hot headed ones, full of invigorating discussions where - in the end - there is no true winner and where passion flares. Do not make the mistake to hold Kelly for a petite damsel in distress and though she needs help, she will do anything within her strength to pull her own weight around the castle. She has a whole new world to discover and through her eyes I got a spectacular view of the rooms, the furniture and the Island outside. In this I can only celebrate the vast talent of Jean Johnson's imagination. I heartily feasted on every page and before I knew it I was wholly absorbed in a new world.
Saber and Kelly continue to bicker, circle around each other and it turns into the realization that deeper feelings are hidden by the fast retorts and flammable discussions. I enjoyed the romance and my heart soared at a ceremony where Saber was on the receiving end of all my appreciative feminine sighs. Though I do feel the romance had a hick up here and there concerning the development of feelings it is but a minor thing in the grand scheme of the story!
If there was one thing that was a bit "off" for me it was Kelly's attitude at times. It is one thing to be headstrong but I felt it was almost like "my way or the highway" with Kelly regarding certain things and the twins gave very little resistance save Dominor, who in turn got to "eat dirt" for his effort. In the beginning - as I got to know Kelly - it gave friction between her and me but in the end she was the right woman for the right Mage. Kelly also intertwines a feministic point of view to the story regarding the position of women on Earth and compares it to the treatment of women in this new universe. It adds to the true nature of her and I wonder what she will do once she meets the leaders of Katani.
Though Kelly and Saber are quite the couple there are also seven brothers who will demand your attention. From the meddling Morganen, to the competitive Dominor, to the brooding - night bound -Rydan and all brothers in between it will almost give you an overdose of highly alluring men...almost. Jean Johnson hit the right note in character and plot development where the atmosphere of magic, evil and romance is just about in a perfect balance and will do nothing short of giving you an astonishing read. With the climactic ending the author ensures to keep me succumbed to the last page and clinging to every word. As I closed this book I'm already thirsting for more and I'm glad THE WOLF can be found on my bookshelves giving me a one-way-ticket back to Nightfall Island.
The evocative voice of Jean Johnson delivers an impressive debut novel in her Sons Of Destiny series.
Quote:
Kelly - "Diplomacy is the art of saying, `Nice doggy,' while reaching for a big stick.
Saber to Kelly - "All that I have, I give into your hands. All that I am, I lay at your feet, for I am yours, Kelly, and yours from this day forth."
Reviewed by Leontine
Courtesy of Realms On Our Bookshelves
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the sword
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When i started reading this book i was skeptical and didnt know what to expect from it. As i continued to read it i became glued to the story of the eight corvis brothers exiled on nightfall isle and i felt as if i was part of the story and there lives, living,loving,fighting and feeling that anything is possible if you just try. i cant wait to read the last four books of the Sons Of Destiny i am thouroly griped and i have to say it is a must read for anyone who feels that true love is dwindling in there hearts.
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Not bad...worth a look
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I enjoyed this book and I think it's a great premise for a paranormal romance series. Personally I'm getting bored of all the 'hard ass female meets sexy, dangerous vampire' ilk so this was quite refreshing. It has a nice mix of romance, magic and suspense. The eight brothers are all...well, delicious, each mage with a destiny to be fulfilled in every book. I really loved the brotherly interactions, sometimes they had me laughing out loud.
The only reason I gave it 4 stars was I wasn't too keen on Kelly. I think the character was over the top and bossy. It just annoyed me when she kept saying 'a Doyle does not ...blah blah' She was basically the 'all singing and dancing' female. Not only did she happen to have vast sewing and embroidery skills, she was an amazing cleaner, she could do martial arts, she could use weapons...yeah, there is more.
Aside from that I'm really looking forward to reading the rest of the series especially Dominor and Rhydan....
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Masterpiece
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Emerging new series. Masterpiece. Remains to be seen if following books in the series keeps up to expectations, either way this one is good!
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