Novellas can be hard to get into. But, when a series catches your heart you want to explore more of their world too! This is the case with Elise Kova's "Air Awakens" series. The prequel trilogy follows the tales of the guards and the royal prince and how the band came to be known in the main series.
The reviews are for the trilogy and below you can find the links for the main series too!
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Summary from GoodReads
The first in an Air Awakens prequel trilogy.
A coastal summer is turned upside down by a violent murder, and a quest for lost pirate treasure turns into a hunt for the killer.
Jax Wendyll is the crown’s dog. As punishment for the unspeakable crimes that tourment him to this day, his life has been conscripted to the Empire Solaris. However, in an Empire afflicted by peace, his duties are relegated to unquestioningly aiding the antics of the youngest prince, Baldair.
Erion Le’Dan, a nobleman’s son, expects a quiet summer visit to the Imperial Palace, his only agenda to visit with his unlikely friends. But Jax’s discovery the legendary pirate Adela Lagmir’s old workroom inspires a hunt for her long lost treasure.
The pursuit of Adela’s truth takes the three men to the Imperial summer manor, built along the old pirate mainstays. When Adela’s trident is branded into a murdered servant, Prince Baldair’s summer amusement of treasure-hunting becomes a hunt to find the killer. But, as mysteries compound, the ghosts of Jax’s past may not be the only things haunting them.
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Summary from GoodReads
The second book in an Air Awakens prequel trilogy about the Golden Guard.
The Empire has declared war against its neighbor to the north, the country of Shaldan. Prince Baldair is summoned to lead, but the untested royal harbors secret reservations about his ability to inspire confidence in troops his senior in both age and experience. The memory of his first kills the summer prior still weigh heavy on his shoulders, and he flees to his friend Erion’s home near the Crossroads to wait for the army before marching north.
Raylynn Westind had never held a responsibility in her life. After losing her mother years ago, she wanders from town to town in search of a challenge, honoring the sacred song of the sword her mother taught her. She never backs down from a fight, not when her opponents are the deadly Knights of Jadar, mysteriously insistent upon her death. And certainly not when the opponent is the Empire’s young playboy prince.
Baldair has never met another person as gifted with the sword as he, and is insistent on seeing a golden bracer grace Raylynn’s forearm. But the woman lives a mercenary’s life, and Baldair quickly learns that her loyalty comes at a high price. When he discovers the bounty on her head, the prince must choose between his responsibilities to his father’s Empire, and the woman who has captured his heart as a soldier, and as a man.
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Summary from GoodReads
Lieutenant Craig Youngly has only ever wanted one thing in his life -- to join the illustrious Golden Guard. In pursuit of his goals, he has found himself protege to Raylynn Westwind, notable Guard member and favorite of Prince Baldair. He has fought for two years in the sweltering North and now prepares to embark on a mission on behalf of the Guard that could secure his long-sought membership. It's the opportunity Craig has been waiting for, until Raylynn's attention turns toward another swordsman, Daniel Taffl.
Daniel has always been a man of modest aspirations. As a farmer's son from the East, he seeks a soldier's wage to support a future for the woman of his dreams when he returns from the front lines. It isn't until he's conscripted into Craig's mission that he learns his sword-craft has caught the eyes of the powers above him.
Craig sees his mission as an opportunity to impress the guard and exert his authority over Daniel. Daniel sees it merely as the chance to secure a more financially stable future. Their goals seem too simple to go awry. But, in the perilous jungles of the North, luck is something both men find to be in short supply.
THE FARMERS WAR is the final installment in the Golde Guard Trilogy, prequel stories to the AIR AWAKENS SERIES:
Book One, THE CROWN'S DOG
Book Two, THE PRINCE'S ROGUE
Book Three, THE FARMER'S WAR
BUY THE COMPLETE TRILOGY ON
REVIEW
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
When I learnt that my dear Elise Kova was writting a prequel novella series for the characters of her completed "Air Awakens" series, I could sign fast enough! I loved all her characters on her debut series and while it's sometimes hard for me to read novellas, (they have to make me interested on them) this one had everything I loved in a good short story: memorable characters (Baldair and Jax!) and a good mystery to go with it.
It almost turned Sherlock-like with the mystery behind the Pirate Queen! How strong the friendship between everyone was! It's clear now why the Guard seemed to be so well connected with each other on the series.
The second book of the trilogy takes place into the desert, where Baldair meets Raylynn a swordswoman nd together seek the mysteries behind the reason there is a bounty on her head. Needless to say that there was a cameo from Aldrik, the bander between Baldair and Raylynn was amazing, not to mention the romance. Though subtle it is there and if you get to read the original series, you'll see more of them too.
Farmer's War is mostly the tale of how Graig and Daniel became such good friends and how finally the Golden Guard took its form. There war scenes were realistic and the world-building for the Eastern region of the Empire was very well written!
Not to mention that the books have maps too!
THE AIR AWAKENS SERIES
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