Black Rose

By: K.L. Bone

Narrated by: Sara Dunham

Length: 9 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's Summary

"May the Black Rose protect you in life and avenge you in death." - Vow of the Black Rose

Six hundred years ago, the Muir Court was wiped from existence, destroyed by an elite group known as the Black Rose Guard. Their Captain, Mara, has a reputation of being a harsh woman who leads the guard with a fierce formality. During her long years, she has known pain, loss, heartache...and one great love.

Edward was the Captain of the Royal Guard. He loved her once. However, it was a love that faded the day he met young Liza, the Princess who stole the heart he had once sworn belonged to Mara alone. Liza was also the woman that Mara was fated to protect. When the Queen learns of her daughter's forbidden love for Edward, she devises a series of punishments, torturing Edward while her daughter is forced to watch. In a an act of desperation, Mara takes Liza's place and looks on helplessly as Edward endures the torments which break his body and Mara's soul.

All of their pain is put aside when Liza is murdered by the rulers of a rival court. Haunted by her failure to protect the Princess and adhering to tradition, Mara takes the vow of the "Black Rose". It is an ancient oath which ties those under its power to abandon the lives they knew for the sake of a single goal: vengeance. Her quest leads her on a dark path of violence, rage and bloodshed.

Tormented by a fate they can neither accept nor escape, Black Rose is a tale of retribution, love, and above all, honor - at any cost.

©2014 K.L. Bone (P)2016 K.L. Bone

Beautiful, dark and very romantic.

Would you listen to Black Rose again? Why?

Yes. Love the story and the characters

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes and I almost did.

Any additional comments?

K.L. Bone is brilliant!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Storytelling with the classic telling of folklore!

I met this author at a convention in Portland. I skimmed the book, but it only took a few paragraphs for me to decide it was something I wanted to read. I bought a hard copy, something I never do, and added it to my list of books to read. With a hectic life, I could not find the time to get through my list very quickly.

With little time available, even though I had only read a few paragraphs, I was still intrigued. I decided to listen to Black Rose on Audible in what little spare time I had, it was a small book it would be a smooth listening experience. I was wrong.

The story itself is a beautiful piece of writing by K.L. Bone. It tells a story spanning hundreds of years, and with every word, I wanted more. The fight scenes are well written; you'll find yourself seeing the fight instead of trying to use your imagination to figure out what is going on.

Be prepared to feel anger, sorrow, and an array of other emotions. This book will capture your soul and leave you wanting more of the writer's works.

Sara Dunham's ability to present this epic story vocally was the magic weaving of storytelling. Her pacing of the book is somewhat slower than most books, but that's what makes it so entrancing. I found myself sitting in my car, in a parking lot, just listening to Ms. Dunham's reading of this wonderful fantasy story.

The nine-plus hour book with my crazy schedule should have lasted atleast a week, but I found I went through it in less than three days.

Fantastic!

If you could sum up Black Rose in three words, what would they be?

Tragic Love Story

Who was your favorite character and why?

Mara is my favorite character because she has the strength and the determination that I wish that I had.

Which character – as performed by Sara Dunham – was your favorite?

Mara. She captured her tone and inflection.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I have listened to this book several times.

Any additional comments?

I enjoy the complete series.

powerful

this was a very powerful story. From the start of the book it was full of action and you can feel the characters anguish throughout

0 of 1 people found this review helpful

Could not get into it

it might have been better if the narrator wouldn't have sounded sooooooo depressed, unfortunately I could not get past the narration in order to really sink into the story...

0 of 3 people found this review helpful