The Foxling Soldati

Soldati Hearts, Book 2

By: Charlie Cochet

Narrated by: Manuel Pombo

Length: 4 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's Summary

Sequel to The Soldati Prince - Soldati Hearts: Book Two.

Foxling Toka has served the Soldati king for centuries, and now he attends to the kingdom’s cherished Soldati prince. It’s a position of honor, and as Toka helps the once-human prince adapt to their magical realm, he finds joy in their friendship. He also grows bolder in his encounters with Rayner, a Soldati warrior and the king’s second. But the laws are clear: servants and Soldati are not permitted to mate. It doesn’t matter that Toka lost his heart to the dashing cad long ago.  

Rayner never imagined he would fall in love with a servant, but the clever and beautiful foxling has ensnared him, and he resents the regulations keeping them apart. When an arrogant and spiteful king visits from a neighboring realm, Rayner is in danger of losing everything. But Soldati warriors don’t surrender, and he intends to fight all the harder to keep Toka where he belongs - in Rayner’s arms.

©2017 Charlie Cochet (P)2018 Dreamspinner Press

Better than The Soldati Prince and can stand alone

3.5

The Foxling Soldati, the second installment of the Soldati Hearts series, follows King Khalon's second-in-command, Rayner, and the Soldati Prince's servant, Toka. After centuries of flirtation and kisses, they finally succumb to their desires, knowing that the law forbids them from being mated. Even though Toka tries to keep from hoping for more and Rayner resents the laws that keep him from mating Toka, having been alive for centuries in a realm that has existed for millennia, they are faithful subjects to the laws of their kingdom. Rayner and Toka's inability to have the relationship they want is actually the least harmful of the laws of the realm to which they find themselves subjected.

During a visit by King Pavoni, from the neighboring realm, Orso, Rayner and Toka are faced with the consequences of laws in which the words of those in power are automatically worth more, no matter how corrupt and despised the person, while those of lesser station have no recourse for defense or protection. To avoid spoilers, the repercussions of King Pavon's despotism and perversion, combined with King Khalon's staunch adherence to tradition and, in his own words, his arrogance and cowardice, have a resounding impact on not only on Rayner and Toka but Riley, Khalon and the entire kingdom.

For me, Foxling is a step up in story and narration for several reasons. Having found Rayner to be a much more engaging character in The Soldati Prince than the MC, Khalon, and Toka to be sweet and charming, I was invested in their story from the beginning. Additionally, the central conflict of this story is much more complex and integral to all the characters as opposed to being driven solely by one MC's feelings, as in the first novella. Additionally, Manuel Pombo's narration technique is definitely better. His pacing and delivery have improved, there are notably fewer instances where sentences run together, and he takes more care with pauses. Moreover, Pombo is much better at maintaining character voices, so it was a lot easier to simply enjoy the beauty of his voice. His decision for character voices is one of the best aspects of his narration, as each voice fits the characters very well, particularly his voice work for King Pavoni, where he manages to infuse it with all the smug creepiness it needs.

The Foxling Soldati is sweet, but layered, and although The Soldati Prince explains more of the world, you can actually enjoy Foxling on its own, and in my opinion, it's a much better listen both in narrative and narration than the The Soldati Prince.

Reviewed for The Novel Approach Reviews

Made me fall out of love with first book's lovers

Ending
💖Happily Ever After

Comedy Level
😄Minimal Comedy

Romance
❤️Starts already in love & practically in an official relationship
💘Forbidden Love

Sex
🔥Short Sex Scenes

Series
📘Stand Alone

Misc
👨‍👨‍👧‍👦Too Many Characters (Hard to follow along)
🌑Alternate World
🏰Fantasy

Narrator
💩No Distinct Voice for Each Character
🔇Voice does not match emotion of story

Biased Review:
This book made me fall out of love with the king. Scratch that, I was completely disgusted by the king. If you read this book first, don't bother reading the first book in the series.

Better Than Book 1, I NEED ANOTHER BOOK FROM THIS SERIES!!

A Solid 4.5 Stars for both the narration and the story.

My, did this pack a hell of a punch in such a short number of pages. It made me laugh, rage, swoon and ultimately made me whoop in joy when all the evil bastards got what they deserved (looking at you evil bastard of the bear-shifter variety).

Once again, like the previous book, I wish this was longer and wished it had an epilogue. It also didn’t explain how there was suddenly the appearance of a certain someone when it supposedly takes days to get where she appeared. Although, it was a negligible plot hole so I didn’t really mind.

Aside from that, I really enjoyed this book and it was great bumping into my baby Riley and Khalon(who I wanted to push over the rooftop of a tall building at a point in the book but luckily, he redeemed himself).

With the unexplained “vibe” between Ezra and The General, I do hope there is another book planned for this series. I know for fact I will be reading/ listening to it should that come to pass.

+++Review Copy Graciously Provided By Publisher In Exchange For An Honest, Unbiased Review ++

Charlie should ALWAYS write these fairytales!

Charlie should write these types of “fairytales” FOREVER!

While I’m a big fan of her THIRDS stories, I think she is truly EXCEPTIONAL when it comes to her fairy tale type stories. This, her Christmas series just absolutely GLOW with her creativity!

THIRDS is funny and sexy and witty, but these series are super creative and whimsical as well as deeply romantic and touching.

First, let’s address that cover – GORGEOUS and so spot on!

Second, OMG Toka and Rayner are so sweet together! I loved how they both were willing to go to extremes for the other and their love. So romantic!!

It was great seeing Riley keep Khalon in control – heh heh. Riley is a great character and I was glad to see him so often throughout this story.

The shifting and the fact that our MCs mannerisms are so like their animal halves is fantastic! So often shifting is just something they do rather than who the character is. Right down to his human coloring, Toka is a fox!

The magic, the mystery, the romance, the action and the sacrifices and the HEA – all superlative.

I can’t recommend this enough and I hope you read book one first because it’s important and awesome.

Hopefully someone amazing will do these in audio format and SOON!


Audio

Manuel Pombo does another amazing job with this. He is absolutely worth listening to and adds to the ambiance and character of this tale. I wish I had more superlatives to describe how lovely his narration is, but it just… fits. Highly recommended!


6 of 5 stars

On Point Narration!

I feverishly hope Manuel Pombo will be narrating many more books to come! He portrays each character with such distinction it was so easy to follow along who was talking without the annoying "he said she said" endings to each sentence. The cadence of his voice was just right and the love scenes were not awkward at all.

Unique Characters and intriguing story

The Foxling Soldati is book two in the series but I think you could read it first, there is enough backstory to fill you in. However its good enough to read in order!
The Foxling Soldati is a unique shife book set in another world. There are kings, princes, wars, servants, romance, drama and all you could want.. I love all the characters. Chalie Cochet has a knack for developing interesting shifter characters and unique worlds.
Toka has served the king for centuries now he serves the prince, Riley. Foxlings are born into servitude and servants and Soldati are not allowed to mate. Raynor a Soldati warrior cannot help his feelings for Toka. The king of the bear shifters comes threatening what Toka and Rayner have.

The characters are amazing, the story intriguing, full of action, tensions and a touch of humor and sweetness with Rayner and Toka. Of course, there is some hot man-sex as well.

Manuel Pombo has a fabulous voice with a unique accent. He gives a very historical, foreign feel to each character's voice. He does a fabulous job narrating and voice acting this story