Review: The Garnet Dagger by Andrea R. Cooper

Title: The Garnet Dagger
Author: Andrea R. Cooper
Genre: New Adult Fantasy
Source: Author Request
Release Date: March 25, 2013
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Forbidden to cross the Elvin barrier into human lands, Brock cannot sate his curiosity. Cursed by a vampyre bite that forces him to feed on the life-essence of others, he is unable to touch another without taking their life. Chained by prophesy, he must find a witch, pierce her heart, and draw her blood for his cure. 

Celeste must escape the monks who have held her prisoner for years. Her magic has been kept dormant by her captors. An ancient powerful Warloc craves her powers. If he succeeds in devouring her magic, she and the world will die.

When Brock falls in love with Celeste before realizing her demise is his cure, will love triumph over his desire to be healed? Will he risk everything to save her from a Warloc, an oath breaker, who also wants her dead?

What happens when you turn an elf into a vampire?  You get the fulfillment of a centuries old prophecy.  One that tells how to save the land from a horrible blight.  But to do so, this elf must pierce the heart of a very specific witch.  Brock is devastated when he is bitten and turned by a vampire.  As punishment, he is cast out of the Elvish lands until he can redeem himself by fulfilling the prophecy.

Celeste is a witch.  She has been held captive for years by a group of monks that want her for some unknown purpose that can't be good.  When Brock realizes this just may be the witch he is looking for, his prayers are answered.  At least until he falls in love with her.

This book tried very hard to combine fantasy and romance, but the romance just didn't flow very well for me.  It was almost overly sweet.  On the other hand, I loved the very unique aspects of the the fantasy.  With a unique twist on the elves and vampire lore, along with a few new magical creatures - creativity always keeps me interested.

The storyline flowed nicely and kept the action moving in the right direction.  With a great twist at the end when some history is revealed, and of course the prophecy itself comes into play full force, the characters are forced to make some tough decisions that will effect all of their lands.

Barnes & Noble: The Garnet Dagger

Review: Viking FIre by Andrea R. Cooper

Title: Viking Fire
Author: Andrea R. Cooper
Genre: Historical Romance
Source: Author Request
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

856 CE, Ireland is a land of myth, magic, and blood. Viking raiders have fought the Irish for over half a century. Rival Irish clans promise only betrayal and carnage.

Kaireen, daughter of Laird Liannon, is suddenly forced into an arranged marriage with her sworn enemy, a Viking. She refuses to submit. With no mention of love, only land and the protection of her clan, she endeavors to get her betrothed banished from her country. Will love find its way around her stubborn heart?

Bram, the Viking, finds himself without future or inheritance as a younger son in his family. A marriage to the Laird’s daughter would grant him land if he swears fidelity and if his men will fight along with the Liannons against any foe—Irish or Viking. However, the Laird’s feisty daughter only holds animosity for him and his kind. Is marriage worth the battle scars of such a relentless opponent?

With the blame for a rival laird’s death treacherously set against the Liannons, Kaireen and Bram must find a way to lay aside their differences as an unforeseen darkness sends death snapping at their heels.

The blurb for Viking Fire caught my eye when the request was sent and I just had to check it out.  I am always a sucker for a really good historical romance - and having a soft spot for vikings helped, too.  Kaireen is in some ways your typical historical heroine - headstrong, independent, and determined not to marry just because her parents say so.  In other ways she was very unique - she wasn't perfect.  In the beginning she showed signs of being a bit snobbish and spoiled - but learned her lesson in those areas as she grew as a character.  Bram was a bit of a mystery.  He was foreign to her lands, but had earned the trust of Kaireen's parents and her clan, but hadn't earned Kaireen's.  He finds ways to repeatedly prove himself to her as loyal, but she still wonders if their marriage is one of convenience and politics or if there could be love.

There is a lot of action in this for a romance, but not so much that the romance falls from center stage.  Every action had a purpose of bringing Kaireen and Bram closer together.  This romance also includes a good bit of mystery and intrigue in its midst, giving yet another depth to the story.  This threads hangs out in the background, reappearing in bits and pieces as the story unfolds, but really comes to a head when a rival clan leader is killed.  It took me awhile to figure out all the players involved in the plot, and I really enjoy figuring out the bad guy at the same time as the character instead of knowing all along.  And our bad guys here are really bad - and their story is quite unique as well and led to several big reveals as the story wrapped up.

The minor downside was something that may be attributed to being a newer author.  Two or three times it seemed like entire phrases or paragraphs were repeated - not word for word, but in a way that made me think I'd accidentally turned back a few pages.  It didn't detract much from the overall enjoyment, but it was just enough to keep this from getting the full five stars it would have otherwise received.

*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*
Barnes & Noble: Viking Fire