The Ward of House Rega

Renascence Alliance, Book 7

De: Alma Nilsson

Narrado por: Jill Smith

Ward, Prisoner, or Beloved Stepdaughter?

Ellie watched her mother’s execution shortly after she arrived in the Alliance Empire. Now, she is the Ward to her deceased mother’s lover and murderer. This last year has gone by in a flurry of confusion and sadness. But things are changing in the Empire, humans are finding loopholes and essentially making the Empire work for them. Ellie, taken up with this Lost People Renaissance, is no exception. She wants to marry an Outcast, a man whose only crime is that his father is human. Inspired by Jade’s recent invoking of an ancient law, Ellie and her lover devise a plan to marry. However, it is not easy fooling the most powerful man in the galaxy and the Admiral of the Fleet, especially when she is constantly being watched in House Rega.

Admiral Jei was devastated by Jane’s choice to die during her trial. Following her death, he dutifully brought her eldest human daughter, Ellie, into his home and hired the best professionals on Alliance Planet Two to heal her and prepare her for life as a maximum class woman, befitting her rank in the Empire. However, despite his best efforts at prayer and understanding, he cannot live without Jane. He has now thrown all his finances, prestige, and power into bringing her back, unlimited UCs, access to banned medical equipment, and finally a deal with the god of peace. He is risking everything, but Jei does not care anymore what he must sacrifice.

Although it is possible to jump into the Renascence Alliance Series at any time, it’s recommended you listen to Married to the Alien Admiral of the Fleet, Renascence Alliance Book 4 or Restaurateur in the Alliance Empire, Renascence Alliance Series Book 6, before listening to The Ward of House Rega, Renascence Alliance Series Book 7 for maximum understanding and enjoyment.

©2020 Alma Nilsson (P)2020 Alma Nilsson

Great Worldbuilding and Super Romantic!

I wouldn’t recommend you read this book as a stand-alone, as opposed to all previous books in the Renascence Alliance Series. Too many storylines and characters come together here, and you won’t be able to place everything and fully appreciate it. (and that would be such a shame, this is a wonderful series!)

In previous books, we mainly follow 1 main character and hear other people’s point of view in between from time to time.
This book is different. It can roughly be divided into 3 parts.
The biggest part of the book is about Ellie (the ward of House Rega). We also continue the love story of Cole and Jessie (started in book 5), and we follow Admiral Jei, as he tries to bring back his beloved Jane (continuation of book 4).

Let’s begin with Ellie’s part. My favorite part of the book, I enjoyed it very much!
It represents everything I love about this series. Great worldbuilding and super romantic!
I have to admit I would have enjoyed this book even more if it was only from Ellie’s point of view.
Even though everything fitted (and timeline-wise had to be) right where it was, it still slightly lessened my enjoyment that Ellie’s story was interrupted so much.
I absolutely loved Tamsen (what a wonderful side character!), and would have loved to hear more about her too!

Onto Cole and Jessie’s part.. I was delighted to read more about their love story.
Book 5 had a bit of an open ending so it was very satisfying finding out how their story continues.

Now the hardest part for me, Jei’s storyline.
(SPOILER ALERT, don’t read this if you haven’t finished Book 4!)
I’m a big fan of this series, but there is one gripe I have with it, namely Jane.
The ending to Book 4 broke my heart (and made me sad, angry and confused), and not because she dies, but because I lost my emotional connection to her. All sympathy build up during the entire book just vanished at the end.
Because of this, everything concerning Jane/ the Goddess of Humanity doesn’t sit well with me, and alas it made me enjoy Jei’s part of this book less.
I wish so much the end of book 4 was written in a slightly different way, so I would still be able to sympathize with her.

Overall the book felt a bit rushed at times, but maybe that’s because of all the interlinked/ interrupted story lines. (and because I wanted to hear more about Ellie, Valentine and Tamsen)

The narration was very well done.
I enjoyed Jill’s performance a bit more in the previous book, but I think that’s because Book 6 was (mostly) all from the perspective of 1 main character (Jade).
Considering that in this book almost everyone from the previous books make an appearance, Jill did an excellent job. (it can’t have been easy)

I got this Audio Book for free (thanks!). I'm voluntarily leaving this review.
Opinions and ratings are my own and not influenced by how I got the Audio Book.