A Touch of Stone and Snow

Gathering of Dragons Series, Book 2

By: Milla Vane

Narrated by: Nicole Poole

Length: 12 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's summary

Danger lurks in the western realms. The Destroyer's imminent return has sent the realms into turmoil as desperate citizens seek refuge - but there's no safety to be found when demons and wraiths crawl out from the shadows. Even Koth, a northern island kingdom left untouched by the Destroyer a generation past, is besieged by terrors spawned from corrupt magics. 

When Lizzan leads the Kothan army against these terrors, only to see her soldiers massacred and to emerge as the only survivor, she is called a coward and a deserter. Shunned from her home, Lizzan now wanders in solitude as a mercenary for hire, until she encounters a group of warriors seeking new alliances with the northern kingdoms - a group that includes Aerax, the bastard prince of Koth, and the man who sent her into exile. 

Though they were childhood friends, Aerax cannot allow himself to be close to the only woman who might thwart his treacherous plan to save their island realm. But when a goddess's demand binds them together, Lizzan and Aerax must find a way to overcome their painful pasts. Or there will be no future for the western realms....

©2020 Melissa Khan (P)2020 Tantor

🌻I guess I’m in the minority 🌻

🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻V from Kansas🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻

Many reviewers wrote that they liked book two more than book one, however, I liked book one a little more. I think what I liked more, in book one, was the camaraderie between the characters in the Dragon guard. I enjoyed the scenes, as they camped at night, and all the teasing, stories and fierce loyalty they showed towards each other. This book really didn’t have that connection because there were too many characters traveling together that truly didn’t like each other.

The Heroine, in the story, has had it pretty rough. She has been lied about and lied to. She has also been ostracized by the very people who she devoted her entire like to protect. She also suffers from PTSD and self medicated, as many people continue to today, with alcohol. Therefore, as she begins to correct her path in life, she has to deal with the Dts and cravings that all alcoholics do. Unfortunately, there was no AA and alcoholism was thought of as a weakness of character, rather than an illness and so she struggles a good part of the time, alone.

This book did have all the magic, monsters and struggle of good against evil, as the first book, however, it also demonstrated the ugliest sides of humanity and that’s the part I didn’t enjoy.

I’m eagerly awaiting the next release, however!

WOW! Even better than the first book!

I thought the first book (Heart of Blood and Ashes) was the best Audible book of 2020. Impossibly, this book even better than the first installment, certainly hotter. The world-building is excellent and thoughtful. For that reason, this is not a series you can read out-of-order, but it is well worth the credits. The story is focused on romance, but the adventure/ quest propels the storyline in a natural, believable way.

WHERE IS BOOK 3?!?!

I didn't think I would like this series, but I'll be damned I am HOOKED. I need the third book!!

A Touch of Stone and Snow

Lizzan is a woman that has no name!
She has a childhood friend who becomes her lover then her husband!
Her quest will last her a lifetime!
A beautiful cat and a handsome man are her companions!
Will they be successful?
I don't know.
This is just the beginning!

Great!

It took quite a bit of time to get into this one because there weren't any of the same characters or even the same country as in the first book, at least until the last half of the novel. Plus the heroine was an alcoholic and spent the first part of the book drunk, so I didn't enjoy it as first. But after you get into it, it's great!

Good

Liked the first a lot better but this was still very good. Looking forward to the third.

love it

I love this series! The audio is done well and I can't wait for the next.