Rise of the Phoenix King (Crown and Crest #4) by Shari L. Tapscott and Jake Andrews

 

The epic conclusion to the Crown and Crest series!

After serving Camellia for the last five months, Henrik is prepared to sacrifice his future to remove the people he loves from the princess’s clutches—even if it means he must say goodbye to Clover for good.

But Camellia isn’t willing to turn away from her wicked ways. Just when it seems peace might be possible, she rises again, more powerful than anyone could have predicted. Armed with magic to control a legion, the princess is determined to overthrow Lawrence and take the crown by force.

For the first time in Caldenbauer’s history, humans, Woodmores, and High Vales must band together to defeat a foe who grows stronger with each passing day. Alliances must be formed, but it’s difficult to forgive the wrongs of the past.

A new era is on the horizon, but darkness looms before the dawn…

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The last book!!  Should I shout for joy or cry?!  Both.  The answer is both.  I always love when epic stories, spanning multiple books, come to an end.  My heart always longs for knowing endings and wrapping things up.  BUT.  It's also hard to reach the end of such a fun fantasy adventure.  The characters have become friends and it's hard to say goodbye to that.

This story is fast moving and full of crazy stuff.  You would expect that from a conclusion, right?  Everything is coming to an explosive ending!!  Each book has been working it's way to this.  Camellia the insane.  War.  Unlikely alliances.  

Henrik and Clover.  Will they?  Won't they?  Yes?  No?  It's the constant questions throughout the whole entire series.  Their story is basically a roller coaster of ups and downs, separately and together.  My desperate heart was so glad to reach a resolution with them.

This book will tug at your emotions.  This band of friends is among my favorite group of characters because of their quirks and their diversity.  I will miss them.

Content:  peril, mild violence, kissing, death.

- I received a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Knight from the Ashes (Crown and Crest #1) by Shari L. Tapscott, Jake Andrews

 

 

With single-minded determination, Henrik has worked toward gaining his knighthood so he may rise above the lowly station in which he was born. But just when the coveted position is within his grasp, he’s tasked with a mission that proves to be far more difficult than expected—secretly keeping a watchful eye on Lady Clover, a nobleman’s daughter with a sharp tongue and a knack for starting fights.

Clover, too, has one goal in life, and it has nothing to do with joining dull and dry Henrik on his supply run to the northern barracks. Why the blacksmith’s son is so determined to keep her close, she has no idea. They bicker and fight, and if Clover were to find a troll pit, she would certainly dump Henrik into it.

By the time they reach their destination, they are more than ready to be rid of each other. But something is amiss in the northern mountains. The usually quiet aynauths are on the move, with a bloodthirsty agenda of killing the peaceful Woodmoor elves.

Left with no choice but to team up, Henrik and Clover investigate the strange happenings and uncover a sinister plot against the crown. Together, they have a chance to save the kingdom—but only if they can keep from killing each other first…

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It's a new start to a new series from one of my favorite authors!  And guess what?  She co-wrote this one with her husband.  That a new dynamic.

So I have some conflicting emotions here after finishing this book and that's mostly due to the cliffhanger ending.  I really don't love to be left hanging and I'm not a very patient person when it comes to waiting for books.  I get frustrated when there is no closure and yet, I keep coming back to these books and these authors because the stories are so good.  I just can't help it.

This book is all about the adventure.  Henrik is collecting people as he goes, it seems, and unwillingly, I might add.  But I really like this fun group of characters because they all have well defined personalities and are so endearing.  I think they are all growing on Henrik as well.  This book is really about the growing friendships between them and the growing plot.  There is no real romance and no kissing although Clover and Henrik definitely have an attraction to each other.  I call this the "laying the foundation" story and it's a good one.  I'll be coming back for more because, well, cliffhanger.  The next book cannot come out soon enough.

Content:  mild violence, mild peril

- I received a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions expressed are my own.