Blade & Rose

Blade and Rose, Volume 1

By: Miranda Honfleur

Narrated by: Amanda Leigh Cobb

Length: 21 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's Summary

A kingdom in turmoil or the love of her life. Which one will she save?

Elemental mage Rielle hasn't heard from her best friend in far too long. Yet no one at the Tower of Magic seems to care about Olivia’s silence or the curtain of secrecy surrounding the distant capital. Before Rielle can investigate, she's assigned a strange new mission: escort a knight named Jon across the kingdom.

When whispers reveal mercenaries have killed the king, taken the capital, and that no one is coming to help, Rielle can’t leave Olivia in peril. But as infamous mages and deadly assassins hunt Jon, she can’t leave him unprotected either - especially as she finds herself falling for his strength, his passion, and his uncompromising goodness. Her past returns to haunt her, a werewolf stalks their steps, and an ancient evil is gathering, yet the restraints forbidding their love strain and snap one by one.

Saving Olivia and the kingdom means defying orders and sacrificing her every ambition and could mean losing the man who's become so much more to her than a mission. Which will she choose: her best friend and the kingdom or the love of her life?

If you like the romance of A Court of Thorns and Roses, the epic adventure of Game of Thrones, and a heroine who never gives up, you’ll love this romantic epic fantasy series.

Buy Blade & Rose and dive into a medieval world sensual and dark, full of magic and greed, love and blades, where factions vie for influence and there are no easy choices.

©2017 Miranda Honfleur (P)2018 Miranda Honfleur

Blade & Rose

After a traumatic incident with her family at a young age, Rielle chose to serve the Divinity. Over the years she's learned to hone her elemental magic, and now she's on her way to becoming a Master. Lately, though Rielle has noticed that she hasn't heard any news out of the capital especially from her good friend, and fellow mage, Olivia. Before Rielle can investigate for herself, she's tasked with escorting wayward paladin, Jon, across the kingdom. As they begin their journey, they're met with the stunning realization that the capital has been overtaken and the royal family all killed by hired mercenaries. Rielle will start to question her duty against what is right with a forbidden love hanging in the balance.

Blade & Rose is the start to what is truly an epic fantasy series. There is a lot to unpack in this first book, but it certainly sets the stage for what can be expected throughout the series. Miranda Honfleur manages all the characters, histories, magics, politics, etc. with relative ease. Early on it took a little getting used to terminology but by the end of the book, I'd say any of the confusion had been quickly forgotten, and now I'm just ready to get on to the next book!

There are quite a few characters but the main ones - the ones who get their own perspective in the story - are Rielle, Jon, Brennan - Rielle's bethrothed, Olivia, and Lee - Rielle's former Master. Although everything kind of circulates around Rielle. First off, I need to acknowledge the whole "everyone falls madly in love with the heroine" thing. It's seemingly true on a surface level, but as the story proceeds you get more depth to each of the characters and while, yes, Jon, Brennan, and Lee all had/have romantic entanglements with Rielle, there's so much more to each character. I think this is one of the rare occurrences where I'm all for exploring the ins and outs of each separate relationship. Some have moved on, some are fresh and new, and some are just now acknowledging what has probably been there all along. This is especially true for Brennan. Rielle and Brennan have such a complicated relationship full of hurts and anger, but also of caring and love at different points. Brennan for me was one of the best characters because I feel like he has such a redemptive arc that I'm hoping we'll see explored more in the series. He's definitely the antithesis of the anti-hero. But as I found each of the characters has a good balance of virtues and flaws. It makes each character very dynamic. For the most part they're inherently good, or want to do good, but there's also this kind of precipice they stand upon where they could choose questionable tactics when it comes to saving those they care about.

As I said, there's so much that happens from Point A to Point Z in this story and while the main conflict is solved it's only on a surface level. There are many more conflicts stemming out from the original that, I'm assuming, will be taken up as the series progresses. All these conflicts and problems, though, seem very organic and a natural progression, never coming out of left-field.

Listening to the audiobook of Blade & Rose, the narrator does such a great job of giving each character their own voice. She does a wonderful job varying the cadences of each voice, and I hope she continues to narrate the rest of the books in the series.

I was pleasantly surprised by Blade & Rose. There's a short prequel novella (Winter Wren) available that connects a few dots in regards to past occurrences.

If you're in the mood for an epic fantasy with a heavy romantic element. You've found the perfect fit with Blade & Rose.

had to give up

maybe it's an age thing, but I couldn't finish this one. the premise is solid. the characters have promise and maybe if I could stomach the ridiculous repetition of the inane refusal to just honestly communicate- I would be able to keep listening. maybe it evolves and is great. however after hours of listening nothing much has happened other than intermittent fight scenes (pretty cool there) and the protagonists obvious creeping progression. just giving up

Great!

I hope they come out with the rest of the books soon- Amanda Cobb was a perfect choice!

A wonderful, thrilling tale!

This book was beautifully voiced and the story compelling. Had me on the edge of my seat for most of the book. I highly recommend everyone to listen to this one. I am (impatiently) waiting for the next book.

Story draws you in

The action starts from the start and never stops. I love that the back story was built as the story was told instead of taking up the first half of the book. I don't even know which love interest I love more or villains I hate more. I am impatient for the next book to be on audio.

Love the storyteller but story was lack luster

Had high hopes for this one, story line had a lot of potential and there were good portions of the book. But I failed to grow a connection with any of the characters really. There was a lot of potential for dynamic romance triangles, but the moments when the interactions should have been intense, dramatic or even authentic... fell flat. :(
Don’t know if I will read the second book.
Would recommend the Cruel prince series or Court of Thorns and Roses Series over this.
However - LOVE Amanda Leigh Cobb no matter what she’s reading.

The beginning of a new adventure

If you like your fantasy romance, then buckle up folks! Blade and Rose by Miranda Honfluer delivers romance, magic, friendship, twist, and characters veeery much in the grey area of morality. Follow Rielle the mage, and Jon, a man of God on their adventures! A warning, this book has insta-lust (not insta-romance, they are different). If you can get over that hump the story is AMAZING. Oh, and did I mention, werewolves?

Amanda Leigh Cobb does an AMAZING job with the story. I'm hooked to the way she narrates this series and am ruined forever. She was the perfect choice through and through. Lots of emotion and yearning that she delivers perfectly.

If you haven't read book 1, it's getting my recommendation!

Phenomenal

Awesome narrator, and the story was captivating. I can't wait to get the next book.

Delightful and good

This is my first book by this author and I was completely enthralled. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to more books by the author. Completely kept me hooked from beginning to end

An epic read!

A kingdom in turmoil or the love of her life. Which one will she save?

An epic read that will hook you from the very first word. A read that will make your head spin and enjoy every second of it.

Thrilling and amazing!

Lovely narration.

It is DNF for me

I was 5 hours in, when decided to return the title. I usually try to finish books, but here I just didn't like the writing. Maybe it gets better, but I just felt like on the dnd campaign.

Amazing read

One of my favourite reads so far.. full of twists and turns .. you don’t know which characters to trust .. can’t wait to read second book