Blood is how it all began, and only by blood can it end. Chaos has reigned in Zendar for years since the rise of the seven Bloodlines. The Liege Aleron Corvinus ruthlessly seeks revenge for the mistreatment of his ancestors. His ambitions will only be sated when he claims the world under his family’s name; he will only stop when all of Zendar is his and the other six Bloodlines pay their weight in blood.
Azel Undel was born into this world of blood and sand. She is of a dying Bloodline, a feared one, but most coveted. Promised, in exchange for money, to a man she had never known; Azel travels across Zendar. Her ship is attacked and she alone survives, setting the wheels of fate in motion. She did not expect to become her enemy’s captive or that he would demand her submission to him.
Loyalties are tested, secrets are uncovered, and Azel will have to make a choice: remain loyal to her family and everything she ever stood for or be loyal to her own heart.
K.T. Munson is an independent author. First published at 5 years old in the young writers conference, she has pursued writing ever since. She maintains a blog creatingworldswithwords.wordpress.com that is about writing and her novels. She was born and raised in the last frontier, the great state of Alaska.
Keep your friends close and your enemies closer, an adage that looks like it could work out pretty well for sworn enemies in a land that has known only chaos since the rise of the seven Bloodlines. Not all of the Bloodlines have flourished. Some have been so powerful that they were feared and murdered. One man is determined to avenge his ancestors and will stop at nothing to conquer and rule the world with a ruthless and bloody hand.
She was born into the most feared Bloodline, one that is dying and Azel has been promised to a stranger far across the sands of Zendar. When her ship is attacked and she is taken prisoner, she will find that for all of his vitriol and hatred, Aleron is a lonely soul looking for the same comfort and companionship as anyone else and just maybe her heart is telling her she has found where she truly belongs.
How does one choose between hearth and home and their heart? How can sworn enemies find common ground in emotions and passions? Is there something in the fiery Azel that whispers to Aleron’s heart in the silence of the night? Will she give in to his demands or become the mistress of his very being?
Fall into the words of K.T. Munson and ZENDAR-A TALE OF BLOOD AND SAND as she builds a futuristic world that is unforgiving and magically powerful. Feel the grit of the sand, revile the smell of bloodshed as rivers of life are drained away in battle. Who can be trusted? Whose loyalties are suspect? And what is the precious secret that Aleron protects with his very life? Amazing characters come to life as tempers flare, and passion rages like a burning inferno. Well-written, perfectly paced and filled with hidden mysteries all woven into a tapestry of words that guarantees to enthrall! K.T. Munson’s imagination is magnificent!
I received this copy from K.T. Munson in exchange for my honest review.
I found myself entranced by the lush world-building of Zendar. Magical gifts. Warring families. Airships and fantasy creatures descended from earth animals after the world was deprived of water. Women are bought and sold as property in order to barter peace and solidify political treaties. I immediately loved Azl. Tough and stubborn, when the ship she is on is attacked by pirates, she fights back, and refuses to five in to her abductor, who turns her into a concubine, rather than deliver her to her intended husband. As we are slowly immersed in Aleron’s privileged world, of fine clothes, scented baths, and games, the two test one another. I found the relationship between Azl and Bella particularly charming.
Lots of cool palace intrigue and family drama in this one. And it was especially awesome watching Azl grow into her powers and venture out into the kingdom to begin fighting/healing people (she was so cool in the scene at the hospital), taking back control in a world where women have little agency. Plus many twists and surprises, along with palace intrigue as we got to the end!
Trigger Warnings:
Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader.
What a fantastic book! I don't know what I expected when I first started this story but I absolutely loved this action packed romance of intrigue, revenge, secrets, lies, and a world steeped in tradition and prejudice. The setting of sand and blood in Zendar is superb, building up a tale of impossible circumstances where few can be trusted and all is not as it seems.
At first I hated Aleron's character and I was undecided on Azel. Their initial hatred of each other as well as their sparring meetings was interesting and kept me riveted to the story. There's a lot of history within all the bloodlines as well as past horrors and wrongs. The slow build of the love story between Azel and Aleron is one of the best parts of the book but I also really enjoyed the action adventure aspect of the novel. Lots of description with scenes painted in imagery that transported me into another universe.
This was a great read, far different than the normal paranormal or fantasy romance. There's a lot going on but it's handled in small parts that allow the reader to keep track of all the magical abilities and the seven houses. Unique and refreshing, with twists and turns you won't expect, Zendar is a tale you won't want to miss. 5 Stars!
I have always admired writers who can create other worlds with their words. K.T. Munson does an excellent job with that in Zendar: A Tale of Blood and Sand. There were moments during the story where I could see the world she painted. Her clever way of describing the animals and cities, the creative and believable names she came up with, all made it an enjoyable read. Add in a kick-ass heroine who doesn't take crap from anyone, and it's a "you go girl!" Story all the way. Building worlds with words is a difficult task, but K.T. does it beautifully. One thing I especially liked,was the history at the beginning that both drew me into the story, and shed light on events surrounding the time frame and current events on Zendar. Well done K.T!
I received an ebook copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you K.T. Munson!
This story had great potential! It has 5the bones of a great and exciting story, but I found that it was too concise. In the sense that the author did not explore some deeper and emotional aspects of the book. This made the book feel slightly two-dimensional, which was a shame. Yes, it was great that the plot was fast-paced, but I felt as though we were missing portions as a reader.
I have mixed feelings about the cultural aspects of the book. The author decided to have the aspect of a harem and concubines present in the novel, yet they were barely present. I felt like that undermines the authenticity of the cultural concept. The duties of a harem were not explored, yet other acts of duty were... Maybe I'm picky because I recently read a fabulous historically accurate concubine/harem romance.
Now, despite all of this, I really liked our romantic interest Aleron; well only for the last 2/3 of the book. I felt like the first third of the book was not consistent with the rest of the book in terms of his characterization. So a little lack of consistency, but it was a fun, quick read, and I'm just a picky person.
Fantastic, fast-paced, thrilling fantasy with an incredibly strong heroine in Azel. Everything is highly detailed, from the characters to physical descriptions, and a promising cliffhanger leaves us wanting more. Sometimes it's hard to get into a fantasy without some background, and Munson offers a short but helpful 'guide' of sorts at the very beginning to let readers know what is going on in this world before she starts into the actual story. Fans of Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire (Game of Thrones) series will definitely enjoy this one.
First off, I was very excited when I first started reading. The premise was promising and the title and cover photo pulled me in from the start ... Then I started reading.
HOLD UP
I don’t want anyone reading this review to think I’m about to roast this author’s life, so I’ll start by saying I enjoyed this story. The plot was suspenseful and full of drama. There were a number of twists and turns I truly did not see coming and I absolutely loved Azel’s abilities. The powers in this book were incredibly unique—there were honestly some things I never would have imagined. Not to mention the world surrounding our characters. As soon as I realized this would all take place in a fantasy desert world, I wanted a copy of the book IMMEDIATELY.
Building a fantasy world in the desert was bold of Munson, but I think she did it well and managed to create a culture that is unique and beautiful in many ways. I just wish we’d spent more time exploring it. And that brings me to my first complaint.
The world in Zendar was so vast and different from our own but we didn’t get to see or experience much of it. Most of the story took place on ships and when Azel was out and about there was very little detail in her surroundings. There was a big war going on but we didn’t hear much about it until it was convenient for the plot. I still don’t know who was fighting or why.
My second complaint is the writing. The plot for this book was out of this world but I felt the writing was very weak in comparison. Scenes that should have felt heart-pounding amounted to little more than a shoulder shrug. The writing lacked in development as well. Azel in particular felt like a robot; she displayed very little emotion throughout the entire story, even in situations that seemed frustrating or saddening. That made it difficult to like or care for her. But what really irritated me about Azel was her inconsistency. At first she seemed like a stubborn, headstrong woman, but as the story progressed her seemingly concrete moral code began to chip away.
First, she was fiercely loyal to this mystery fiancé of hers and even admitted to hating Aleron—her persistent crush. But then, after a terrible encounter with Aleron, she offered him a deal based on whether or not he could get her to fall in love with him, despite the fact that she was engaged.
She also brazenly defended a red-handed assassin against the death penalty then she went around murdering people at will when she could have easily put them to sleep like she’d done literally a page before this fight scene happened. Her sense of justice was shaky at best, convenient at worst.
There were other inconsistencies throughout the story. In the beginning of the book we learn that Azel’s one weakness is that she couldn’t heal herself. Halfway through the book she’s not only healing herself but expelling poison from her own body. Don’t get me wrong, this is some cool stuff that definitely entertained me, but there had been no development in her powers or mention of her getting stronger so when she started pulling out mastery level techniques I was really confused. Munson also introduces Bella’s character as a young girl, not yet ten. But a few chapters later, Azel asks Bella her age and she replies that she is thirteen.
Lastly, I think the book could have used a fresh edit. I can overlook a typo here and there, but there were so many and they were all such simple mistakes I felt they could have been corrected by a simple proofread.
Other than that, I really did enjoy this book. I know it seemed like I dwelled on the negatives a lot, but that’s because I truly loved the plot and wanted more from the book than what I was given. But I’m not going to write Munson off so easily. I am rooting for this author and look forward to future releases as practice makes perfect and most authors get better over time.
I wish the best for Munson’s career and I hope I have not discouraged anyone from reading this book. It is quite an adventure and is definitely worth giving a try. Please don’t let my complaining fool you—I wouldn’t have finished the book if I didn’t like it. At the end of the day, it was a great story and I think it could become your next favorite read if you give it a chance. If you enjoy fast-paced romance and suspenseful adventures, this is certainly for you.
If you are looking for a fast-paced romantic adventure with elements of fantasy, Zander: A Tale of Blood and Sand by K.T. Munson is worth your time. I felt that I wanted to keep reading and found Munson’s heroine, Azel, engaging.
Without giving too much of the story away, Azel is a princess of one of Zander’s noble bloodlines. While on her journey to be married, she’s taken captive by Liege Aleron, the leader of an enemy kingdom. Azel’s secret identity, power, and generous spirit help her to play the role of peacemaker within Aleron’s kingdom and find love, she does not expect.
The plot is solid and offers several unexpected twists, which might have been expanded, and I would polish a few of her conventions, but the story is thorough and compact at 160 pages. I also found some of her prose quite nice. “Stars that spread the full length of the night sky always made everything vastly unimportant.” This would make a great summer read or anytime as well.
Zendar was a romantic fantasy with an abundance of mystery, action and adventure to keep the reader engaged throughout. It has a kick-ass heroine, a gritty hero, and in the beginning, there was plenty of push and pull between Azel and Aleron. I guess you could say, it wasn't love at first sight. But as time moved forward, love truly outweighed hatred. Enter a magical world, where Bloodlines collide, and get bewitched into the mythical world of Zendar. I highly recommend to all fantasy lovers out there.
Finally got around to reading this! I don't usually read books of this genre but I honestly really enjoyed reading this. I would love to read a sequel. Proud of you, Katherine!
This is one of the first TikTok books/authors I reached out to, and got me into #BookTok. K.T. Munson is one of the nicest people I've ever met, and has been so flexible working with someone who is new to book reviewing. Thank you for that!
I really enjoyed this book, especially after I read the (34) page prequel. This book was a bit of a rollercoaster, there were times you could have scraped my jaw off the floor, times I gasped audibly, and times I was feeling every emotion with the characters. K.T. Munson is a great writer, and this book shows that. The only reason it's getting four stars instead of five is because I wanted more! (See the highlights for info!)
Summary: The book opens with our main character, Azel getting ready for her wedding. She's the third daughter (and most magically gifted) of a Leige, (head of a large family, similar to Duke/Prince). She gets on an airship to head to her wedding, and the ship is overtaken by privateers. Everyone on the ship is killed except Azel. She is captured by Aleron, who we find out is her father's greatest enemy in the war the planet is currently fighting. She keeps this knowledge to herself, as Aleron wants to make her one of his concubines. Being raised as a Princess, she'll have none of that, and puts him in his place. She makes a deal, if he can make her fall in love with him, she'll marry him and be his queen, but if not, he has to take her to the city of Mobly, where her betrothed is. Aleron, it turns out, is a pretty decent guy, and an even better lover, and Azel does fall in love with him. Unfortunately for Azel, Aleron's people do not like her, and do not trust her. She has magic they do not understand,(healing magic), and they fear her. Azel agrees to marry Aleron, but she knows she must tell him the secret of her parentage. She tells Aleron, and an argument ensues. It turns out it was her jealous (non-magically gifted!) brother who told Aleron where her airship would be, thinking Aleron would kill his sister, and he could inherit. Azel, understandably upset, decides to flee, and escapes in an airship. She crashes, is healed by not only her own abilities, but by the kindness of the people who find her, who happen to be with a circus. She joins the circus to hide, makes it back to civilization, and then is hit by a sleep dart when presenting to the governing body of the province she's found herself in, when she demands to go to her father to stop the war. She is captured with a man named Caine, and both of them escape, and make it to her father. She is successful in getting there, but her brother kills their father after Azel tells him she will marry Aleron, and Azel is blamed. She is put on trial, and sentenced to death. She is rescued by Aleron, the war stops, and she marries Aleron.
Some highlights: - There is a LOT here. A very long plot, and if I'm honest, I had to keep notes of what was happening, or I was forgetting what had previously happened. (The notes helped!) - I could picture just this book being expanded from its 160 pages into (5) of (6) books if the author was inspired to write them (cough cough!). I would have loved to know more about Azel's home, more of the market scene (where we run into the man from the prequel!), or more about how Azel grew up. Again - fabulous descriptions, I just want to spend more time in each place. :) - Azel very much gives Margery Tyrell and Princess Leia vibes, and I'm here for it. She's kind and cunning like Margery, but no-nonsense like Leia. - The first chapter is a history of the planet. It was very confusing, but I think if I'd stopped to make a family tree/chart of magical abilities, I would have understood it more. I read the ebook, so there could be one in the printed novel, but a family tree would be extremely helpful! - Munson is FANTASTIC at world building. Her descriptions are just *chef's kiss*. I understood what I was reading, and could picture everything Azel and Aleron were seeing. - This scores a 2/5 on the spice meter, but what was there was GOOD. Azel/Aleron=Chemistry!
Fans of Game of Thrones, and Star Wars will love this book. I know I did! Thank you for the opportunity K.T. Munson! It was such a pleasure reading your work!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
There is a lot to like about Zendar by K.T. Munson. At its core, it is a romance, however, it is also filled with other themes and ideas that make it fresh and exciting. The characters too are a joy to read. Bar the exposition-heavy opening, I found myself engaged throughout and was hooked by such a joyous and violent plot.
The book’s strength is its characters. Azel is a plucky and adventurous heroine, full of strength and power, and her reluctance to use the force and violence she has at her fingertips is admirable. Instead of using violence, (as is so common in Zendar), she shows true restraint in the hopes of bettering the violent world she inhabits. I felt that this quote summed her character up perfectly: ‘we are blind to the tragedy we create when we kill our enemies … I am tired of crying mothers who have lost their sons and children wondering where their father or mother is. I will take no part in anything but peace’. As soon as I read this passage, I knew that Azel was something special as a heroine, and a welcome departure from other protagonists in romance novels.
The Liege, Aleron, could have gone either way and could have been a terrible match for Azel. I enjoyed seeing his character develop by Azel’s presence, letting the true, kinder version of the ruler of his people come through. If he had been abusive and vindictive, and Azel still fell for him (a trope that is sadly too common), this would have ruined the story. Instead, they complimented each other perfectly and their relationship was interesting.
The plot is also strong too. For the first 40% it is a romance novel, but when Munson brings other ideas in it really starts to shine. Azel and Aleron aren’t wrapped up in their happy bubble, but instead are fighting off assassins, dealing with familial disputes, countering deceitful liars and slanderers, and building their city. Their multi-faceted characters are very engaging and I was rooting for them the whole way through. I am very excited to see where their adventure goes next (as promised in the final chapter).
The world that Munson has built is engaging and exciting, but it felt a little shallow at times. We never really get more of a description than it is sandy and has air-ships. I would have loved to hear of some of the buildings and features of this dry and violent land, maybe some more of its lore and history. It did not affect my enjoyment though, but instead made me more excited in the hopes that this will be explored in future books.
Zendar is a post-apocalyptic tale of a desert World ruled by 6 powerful bloodlines that oversee their part of the expansive sand. Wars are constant among the blood lines, and royalty is married off in hopes of alliances.
Azel Undel is the daughter of one of the precious bloodlines and she is sent by Airship to the advisor of yet another bloodline, in hopes this would solidify their allies. On her way to his country, the airship is attacked, and she plummets onto the land of the one and only bloodline that is her family's enemy. Kidnapping, secret powers, and the blurring lines between enemy and lover ensue!
Zendar keeps you turning the page for many reasons. In the beginning, you're intrigued by this planet that isn't fighting over resources, as you think a desert planet would be, but instead fighting over grudges that happened generations ago. Munson also incorporates some steam punk gadgetry in there and some powers that are unique to the fantasy genre which lead you wondering when and if the extent of their magic will be used.
Then you turn the pages to wonder if Aleron will ever 'possess' Azel as he so often claims, or if this heated back and forth will ever become something. Then when that portion of the romance novel is solved, the author plants in vengeance and assassins so that the pages continue being clicked on your kindle screen as you scream, "Just let them be together, damnitt!"
Munson writes a very believable world, and although some of the feelings and personality changes between our two protagonists are a little forced and hand-fed to the reader-- I like to sometimes read the love through their actions, not always their thoughts-- this novel is quite an entertaining read both for fantasy lovers and romancers, and you do cheer for the two even through all the wit and aggression!
Azel is everything I adore in a heroine: smart, tough, a natural leader who doesn't put up with any man's crap. Aleron, as the hero, was true to his character: gruff, angry, and misguided until he falls for Azel. Ah, but the secrets...no spoilers, but there is so much wonderful conflict! So many twists and turns. I'm usually pretty good at figuring out things ahead of time, but not with this book. Kudos to the author for keeping me on my toes and glued to the edge of my seat.
Where I felt the book needed work was how quickly Azel's opinion of Aleron changed. Lots of great friction and anger between the two, then she falls in love with him rather soon, while I felt he hadn't redeemed himself enough. I enjoyed how much she stood up to him and wanted there to be more "courtship" as their relationship progressed from hated enemies to lovers. Not a major deal breaker though because I did believe their love later in the book. I was also bothered by the several punctuation and capitalization errors. My eye would be drawn to the mistakes, which would pull me out of what is otherwise a great story.
Zendar: A Tale of Blood and Sand takes place in a world that merges magic with elements of science-fiction, an element which I deeply enjoyed. The main protagonist (Azel) is complicated, strong and enjoyable to read and her counterpart, while slightly less defined, is also enjoyable as the story progresses. There is a leap in the early stages of their relationship that's a little hard to believe (he almost does something unforgivable and only stop because she threatens to kill herself, but she ends up forgiving him without much real effort on his part.) After that one hiccup, though, the story progresses well and really picks up in the second half. So the world, the characters and the story are all good and my only other large complaint is that the opening chapters read clunky. On a side note, there are several fairly explicit sex scenes throughout the book, which you should bee aware of before giving the book to a younger reader or reading it yourself if such things bother you.
“Blood is how it all began, and only by blood can it end.”
This book was a great read. The world-building is fantastic, and the MC Azl is an awesome character, tough, persistent, and fleshed out.
This book has intrigue, mystery, action, drama, and magic, so there is a little here for everyone to enjoy.
The plot was fast-paced and left the reader wondering what would happen next.
I had a small issue with the harem and concubines and felt like these were not as explored as they could have been and maybe culturally insensitive. I also felt the relationship between Azl and Aleron felt a little forced at time.
The book has several unforeseen twists and the prose is quite beautiful.
I would be interested in reading more from this author.
Let me start by saying that I don't read much of this type of fantasy and when the book started with a brief history of this strange world, I wasn't sure that I'd like it. Nevertheless, I plunged ahead, and will happily admit that it didn't take long for me to be completely caught up in this fast-paced, action-packed read. Once Azel and Aleron meet, the story's primary focus is on their romance, and what a romance it is. I found myself not liking Aleron at all in the beginning. He's overbearing and brutish, and I found myself smiling every time the strong-willed Azel bests him. As the story progresses and things unfold, Aleron slowly grew on me and ended up becoming one of my favorite characters. As Azel runs head first from one predicament to another, I was so engaged in the story that I read it in one sitting. As I said, the story is primarily a romance, but it's also a tale of war, family, betrayal, secrets, and learning to entrust your heart to another.
If you're looking for action and adventure wrapped up in fantasy, science fiction, and romance, you've come to the right book. This book has sworn enemies, blood feuds, flying ships, a dying world of hot sand, and betrayal amidst a budding romance going on.
I liked Azel from the start. Aleron was written gruff had the start, but I knew he was just misunderstood. The romance part of the book was a little predictable, but the rest of the story is not. Twists and turns on the bloodline elements of the plot were what I really enjoyed. Some people are not who you think they are and I'm not saying who. The author is not afraid to take twists on established, main characters either.
There is a little note at the end that the author may revisit this world again for a sequel and I hope this happens. I'm interested to see where the story goes and I'd like to see what happens with Titus, Aryia, Azel, and Aleron after this story ends
Zendar was very interesting immediately, and kept me entertained throughout. The back story is well thought out and detailed. I liked the concept of different lineages having different skills, all set in a dystopian world.
In the main story, we follow Azel on her journey as she travels through the barren planet of Zendar. I especially enjoyed how the main character interacted with the technology of this world. I can see there is so much room for more books in this series (if there aren't already).
**Following is a mild spoiler about something that happens midway through the book:**
I saw the love between Azel and Aleron in two ways: 1) An abuser (Aleron) manipulates his prisoner (Azel) into to believing she’s in love with him. This book acts as a cautionary tale for Stockholm Syndrome. 2) Azel does what needs to be done to survive and improve the world. This is for the reader to decide, which only adds to the intrigue.
I'd probably give this 4.5 stars, so seems fair to round up to 5.
Princess Azel is born a Kaheron one of the 7 great bloodlines of Zandar. Heading for an arranged marriage with an ally bloodline her airship is attacked by pirates but she is rescued by a handsome stranger named Aleron of the Corvinus Bloodline who are enemies to the Kaheron. Not knowing who she is at first but intrigued by her beauty and sass, Aleron abducts Azel and holds her captive in order to charm her into submitting to him. However it doesn’t all go to plan and when Azel does warm to Aleron the fact their families are enemies come into play again when a close family member is killed and a traitor is revealed. In an effort to keep the peace will Azel choose the love of a man over family loyalty? This is a steamy and fast paced read with great descriptive world building. My interest was kept throughout and I can’t wait to read more.
Part romance and part fantasy adventure, all wonderful. This story was filled to brim with emotion – romance, betrayal, adventure, danger. Azel is a brave and often brazen woman, born to a powerful family with powers that reach beyond what anyone expected. Her heart is loving and her motivations beautiful. Aleron was a character I had mixed feelings about, part of me loved him, but there were places his behavior made me cringe. The dynamic between them was real, flawed, and rang true.
The plot moved fast, and the amount of twists and turns was wonderful. Each one was placed perfectly and though I didn’t see many of them coming, they were written well and naturally fit into the story. The details made the world easy to imagine, vivid and fascinating. I loved the unique magic elements included.
Fans of fantasy and romance should really enjoy this tale.
I received an ebook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you again K. T. Munson.
Zendar: A Tale of Blood and Sand begins with such amazing worldbuilding. It felt like the opening scene of a movie where the narrator/MC is giving the background information that leads up to that point. I appreciate that the author took the time to flesh out the world so much so that you can see what the character sees. This book is definitely fast-paced, almost too fast-paced. Regardless, we have an amazing heroine that shows us to always stand up for yourself, your beliefs, and the greater good. I cannot wait to see how Azel's story continues!
'Zendar' is a Science Fiction romance novel. The world building in this book is nicely done. The setting of the desert planet sets the appropriate mood for the story. There are a handful of places in this work that need to be edited further, but the grammar was not terrible, so I gave the book 5 stars. The characters Munson creates here are well developed. In romances, usually the lead female character is unaware of their own appeal. In this, Azel realizes her own beauty and it's a nice touch. I like reading things that are a little different from the main stream. Everything in this book is well developed. If you like science fiction and Adult romance, I recommend you read "Zendar".
An arranged marriage... An attack... A loss of a loved one... And then held captive by the enemy...
Such a purely genius, gripping, interesting and highly entertaining read! I swear I couldn't read it fast enough, I just wanted to know everything now!
Falling in love with the enemy has never been so sexy before! Gah! I am loving this story! A story with such an incredible and magical world - I love how the author has written this story and world - well thought out and written!
Full of powers, rulers, loss, secrets, love, family, deception and betrayal.
Zendar is a fantasy romance novel written about a girl named Azel Undel. She is the youngest daughter of one of the seven bloodlines. She is arranged to be married for political gain. As she sales to meet her future husband her ship sinks and she is captured by the enemy. That is when she gets to learn about Aleron and with that, everything she has known is then questioned. It is a tale about love and loyalty. Aleron seeks revenge over what’s happened to his ancestors in the past. The tangled affair becomes very emotional and dramatic creating this really interesting storyline.
I wish to begin discussing the world setting of this novel. I really enjoyed the pattern the author took in slowly introducing a picturesque description of the fantasy world. The characters were also introduced at a slow pace before the story picked up, intriguing the reader on wanting to know what’s going to happen next.
The literary standard and the style of writing was enjoyable to read. The author perpetrated the lead character in a very well-suited place. Zendar is full of magical powers and hidden secrets. This imaginary world really needs saving and all the hatred and crime has to stop, but it has a history. Azel is strong and has the perfect personality for such a situation and the author has created a very likable character.
The work had a nice flow and connectivity between the chapters and the plot. The contrast between the good and evil was deliciously written and I believe the author can succeed in writing a sequel following the way the book ended.
I recommend this book to romance- fantasy book lovers.
Azel, a princess in her own realm and youngest daughter of one of the powerful houses that descended from a race gifted with magical abilities, was ready to perform her duty as nobility: marriage as a political play. She embarks on the journey to meet her new husband only to become waylaid when her shipped is attacked. Azel is taken captive by a sexy and commanding noble and sparks fly.
This book is incredible and it sucks you in from the moment you open it! The author's world building rivals the greats, even reminiscent of Brandon Sanderson and Patrick Rothfuss with an elaborate back story and complex, yet believable, magic system. The author's writing brings you on an emotional journey, that actually makes you miss it when the book ends.
I was so fortunate to receive an eARC of Zendar: A Tale of Blood and Sand, and my *spoiler free* review is as follows.
This is an enemies to lovers fantasy story that takes place in the world of the Zendar desert. This story is fast paced, and includes fight scenes, magic, romance and a little spice.
We follow Azel on her journey to another kingdom to be wed. On the way, her airship has been attacked and she is the lone survivor. She is then captured by the enemy, Liege Aleron Corvinus, and taken back to his home.
Deals will be made, secrets will be learned.
I really enjoyed diving into this book. The overall story and plot were very interesting and kept me moving forward to find out what happens next. The spice scenes were written modestly and not overly graphic or vulgar. I would be excited to have a continuation of this story to see what unfolds beyond the last chapter.
As I am not a big reader of fantasy romance, I didn’t know what to expect when I first started reading this story. I will say that I had a hard time keeping up with the Seven Bloodlines at first, but as the story progressed I finally got them all figured out. That being said – I loved this book! Zendar is a world that is unique, believable, full of magical powers and literally out of this world! Toss in one domineering Aleron (Liege) and one beautiful Azel (Princess) – and watch the action takes place between these two! Not wanting to give away too much, because I hate spoilers, but whew - where do Aleron and Azel draw the line between love and loyalty to their bloodlines? With the hatred of each other’s families and the enemies that they both have, can their live survive?
This is a great book for readers of fantasy romance. I, for one, am hoping for more of Azel and Aleron in a future book!
This is the first book I have read by this author and it’s a great fantasy romance book! Lots of adventure and fantasy in this story that kept me reading until the last page. A must read for any fantasy book lover. *Magic Beyond The Covers Book Blog*