The Secrets of the Vanmars (Argetallam Saga, #2)

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The Secrets of the Vanmars (Argetallam Saga #2)

by Elisabeth Wheatley (Goodreads Author)

4.31 of 5 stars 4.31 · rating details · 26 ratings · 14 reviews

After her adventures with the Key of Amatahns, sixteen-year-old Janir Caersynn Argetallam returns home to find Brevia on the brink of war with a neighboring country, Stlaven. Her foster-father and even Saoven—a brave young elf warrior—think it will be safe at the castle where Janir grew up. However, while trying to unravel a looming mystery, Karile—self-taught wizard and J...more

Paperback, 266 pages

Published May 15th 2012 by Chengalera Press (first published May 9th 2012)

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Dec 25, 2012 Justin rated it 5 of 5 stars

If anyone was to tell me that younger writers can't compete with older writers I would have to say they are wrong. Elisabeth is only 16 and she writes outstanding fantasy books. If you saw my review to the first book in this series you would know that I loved it and this second installment only reinforces that. I feel like Fantasy is really hard for anyone to write, regardless of how old the person is. To be able to create an entire world and really make it feel unique is something I could never...more If anyone was to tell me that younger writers can't compete with older writers I would have to say they are wrong. Elisabeth is only 16 and she writes outstanding fantasy books. If you saw my review to the first book in this series you would know that I loved it and this second installment only reinforces that. I feel like Fantasy is really hard for anyone to write, regardless of how old the person is. To be able to create an entire world and really make it feel unique is something I could never imagine being able to do but Elisabeth really does a beautiful job at crafting it all.

I do feel like she improved a lot as a writer in this second book, because I did have a few issues with the first book that did bug me quite a bit but never really took away from the overall greatness of it. But when it comes to this book I really didn't come across anything that really bothered me. I felt like she did a great job at keeping the pace nice, and not unloading to much information at once. That is a big thing with Fantasy, there is so much to digest in most of them that it can become really difficult to keep up with it all sometimes if it is all dumped on you at once. So I was happy to see that it was pretty easy to keep up with it all.

The was s great as I was hoping it would be. You get to see some action, romance, magic and everything in between. There is just so much going on (but like I said it is easy to keep up with) that you can easily stay entertained while reading this book. I had been reading it for quite awhile off and on, only because I was trying to read so many other books at the same time. But I really did enjoy the story and even with not being able to read it all at once it was easy to keep up with.

Janir is a fabulous character, I can't say that enough. I love her personality and just really enjoy following her throughout this series. Things are a lot different for her in book two, and you really see that early on. She really has to deal with a lot, and you can see that it is really tough on her sometimes. But I loved that she is such a strong character. I'm not going to dive into all of the other characters in this book, simply because it would take forever to really talk about all of them. But they were all really enjoyable and a lot of fun to read about.

Overall this is a fantastic series. Elisabeth was able to make a lot of improvements in this book compared to her first one, and I can't wait to read more of her works in the future. If you haven't had the opportunity to start this series yet make sure to check out the first book which is The Key of Amatahns.(less)

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Sep 17, 2012 Sheri rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Secrets of the Vanmars (Argetallam Saga, #2)Elisabeth Wheatly
Fantasy/Adventure

Janir is a 16 year old girl who lives with her step father. She returns home to find a war is brewing nearby. She sets off with Karile (her best friend who happens to be a wizard) and Saoven (an elf warrior). They face many obstacles and dangerous creatures during this quest, but she is determined to find the truth. Her childhood home is in danger and she must face the most powerful family of all , the Vanmars.

I lo...more

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Jul 20, 2012 Cecilia (rather barefoot than bookless) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult-romance, young-adult-paranormal, reviwed-on-request-by-author

4.5 stars!

I really enjoyed reading this second book in the Argetallam Saga. It was a great read and just as intriguing and exciting as the first book in the saga. There is also more romance in this book which I love. This book is filled with exciting mysteries, action, love and a lot of humor and we have the best friend Karile to thank for that.

If you´ve read the first book in this series you know that Janir struggles with her past and the fact that she is an Argetallam and not just that she is...more

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Jul 26, 2012 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: r2r-complete, read-2012

(I was given a digital copy of this book for free, by the author, on a read-to-review basis.)
This is the second book in the Argetallam Saga.
Three weeks have passed since the end of the events in ‘The Key of Amatahns’, and Janir is now on her way to Saaradan, to meet with her foster father – Armandius. Unfortunately her half-brother has also survived his wounds, and has made it back to ……

Janir makes it to Saaradan, and is reunited with Armandius, the man who she wishes was her real father. She e...more (I was given a digital copy of this book for free, by the author, on a read-to-review basis.)
This is the second book in the Argetallam Saga.
Three weeks have passed since the end of the events in ‘The Key of Amatahns’, and Janir is now on her way to Saaradan, to meet with her foster father – Armandius. Unfortunately her half-brother has also survived his wounds, and has made it back to ……

Janir makes it to Saaradan, and is reunited with Armandius, the man who she wishes was her real father. She explains to him what has happened since she left him, and he tells her that she must see the high lords for them to determine her fate after she killed a visiting Duke in ‘The Key of Amatahns’. (She did this because the duke tried to kill Armandius.)

Karile, the wizard who she travelled with, comes to her to tell her that he fears that there will be a war soon. The Stlavish armies are on the move, and Karile is concerned that it may have been a Stlavish Sultan who tried to purchase the key from the Argetallams.

Fortunately Janir survives her meeting with the high lords, but only through the kind words of Lady Gwenna. It seems that her maternal grandfather Meliard, would like nothing more than to behead her – immediately.

Once home, Janir and Karile start searching for a legensary road known as the ‘Kryden road’, and discovers dwarves, who appear to have teamed up with the Stlavish. What is going on? Why are the dwarves helping the Stlavish? And what does Janir’s real father have in store for her if he finds out that she is n fact alive?

I enjoyed this book, I actually think it was better than the first!
Once again there was a lot going on, and Janir finds herself in evens stickier situations. We once again have the characters of Karile, and Saoven the elf, and Janir is reunited with her foster father. There’s even a hint of romance between Janir and Saoven which I loved!

This book was once again very well written, and had excellent flow. I liked the storyline, but unfortunately it ended on a bit of a cliffhanger and we have to wait ‘til 2013 to find out what happens to Janir next!
7 out of 10.
(Book Length:3583 kindle locations.)(less)

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Sep 18, 2012 Clara rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Secrets of the Vanmars is a novel I wished I read earlier when I first received the book. I was very hesitant to read it because I am not that big of a fan of fantasy novels. I didn't have much of a standard when I started reading the novel, but it blew my mind with the characters and expansive world Janir lives in.

Elisabeth Wheatley is the youngest author that I have ever read and she could go for thirty if I didn't know ahead of time. Her writing wasn't a novice and she used her words car...more The Secrets of the Vanmars is a novel I wished I read earlier when I first received the book. I was very hesitant to read it because I am not that big of a fan of fantasy novels. I didn't have much of a standard when I started reading the novel, but it blew my mind with the characters and expansive world Janir lives in.

Elisabeth Wheatley is the youngest author that I have ever read and she could go for thirty if I didn't know ahead of time. Her writing wasn't a novice and she used her words carefully, unlike most seventeen year olds. I love the world she created and the special weapons of the Argetallams. The world and characters were well developed and I wished I had read the first book before.

I absolutely loved the characters in this novel, besides the MC with daddy issues, Janir I couldn't stop laughing with and at Karile. He's more of the jester than the enchantress, but he means well though his actions might make you think other wise. The love interest, Saoven is the charming, and handsome elf, and I can see him with Janir, unlike other novels that decide to have two people fall in love after an hour. I really love to read more about the elves and their ways in future novels in the series.

What I loved most about this novel is the fast paced keep moving mentality. There wasn't a moment where I felt the novel was dull or could be better. There was always something pressing and it made me read the novel less than a day. When I started reading the novel, I couldn't stop until I had to.

As for how the novel ended, it made me feel content, but at the same time I want to get my hands on the third novel. I'm afraid where the next novel will go for Janir because you(me) never wants the MC to go crazy or have someone else completely change who they are. Besides that I am all for reading all seven novels in the series. I do recommend to read the first novel before this one. It seems like I've been reading some really awesome books lately, so The Secrets of the Vanmars gets a head nods, thumbs up, and smiling like there's no tomorrow. (5 out of 5)

If you liked my review, or not, please check out my blog @ http://readrw.blogspot.com/(less)

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Dec 26, 2012 ephrielle rated it 3 of 5 stars

I was often confused during this book. For instance, I couldn't understand the relationship between Lucan and Janir. There were some tidbits related but they didn't seem enough to paint a picture. There are several other things that never made much sense to me. Thankfully confusion was the worst I suffered in this book. It is fairly well written especially considering the age of the author. I think this is a good sign of books to come. The story is very imaginative. I did struggle to understand...more I was often confused during this book. For instance, I couldn't understand the relationship between Lucan and Janir. There were some tidbits related but they didn't seem enough to paint a picture. There are several other things that never made much sense to me. Thankfully confusion was the worst I suffered in this book. It is fairly well written especially considering the age of the author. I think this is a good sign of books to come. The story is very imaginative. I did struggle to understand all the strange names and terminology.

Sometimes Janir will think or say the strangest things. It usually left me wondering where the author picked up that particular saying. There is this point where Janir describes the width of a landing in sword lengths. Her character doesn't strike me as a warrior. So why would that be the way her mind measures distance? Another relationship that needed a bit more development was that between Janir and Saoven. Saoven seems to have the emotional abilities of a stick. Then very unnexpectedly he seems to have very strong feelings. What seemed especially odd was that Janir only pages before seemed to come to the same unnexpected bout of strong feelings but then when faced with a return from her swain she acts like it is burdensome. As if she has to turn down some overly friendly admirer. I just felt that a bit more development would have smoothed the transition. Saoven is a complete mystery. There is very little said in this book about his kind, the Elves. I am not really sure what he is capable of and what is not considered proper for him to do. There was almost no time spent getting to know him in this book. As such I wasn't really emotionally drawn to or phased by his revelations. I do think that most if not all of these confusions could have been avoided had I read the first book. Surely they were explained in depth amongst those pages.

I am not sure if Janir is supposed to be something really special but if that is the case she sure needs some more growth. She is too weak both physically and mentally. More steel in her will would go a long way.

Karile doesn't make sense. It seems he is supposed to hold high rank but doesn't act accordingly. He is only fourteen and acts like an out of control little brother. He has an overdeveloped taste for adventure and trouble. Along with no idea of his own mortality and even less respect. It seemed Janir was always babysitting him.

An abrupt ending which wouldn't have worked well without the epilogue. As is it is very daunting and not encouraging as it was doubtless meant to be. I am curious as to how it will work out. But I think there will be hard times ahead for the characters.

Basically it was a good story if a bit confusing. I wouldn't recommend reading this book without having read the first. Too many gaps. I would like to see a smidge more light shone on the characters and their relationships. That way I can build desires for their futures and route for their success.

Content:
Violence: Mild(less)

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Feb 04, 2013 Eli Hinze rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013-reading-list, reviewed

To read this review and many more, visit my blog!

I will no longer be buying the Argetallam saga's eBooks. I'll be buying the paperbacks to add to my very own library collection, where I only keep books I truly adore. This series is one of the better ones I've come across in quite some while, and I don't even like High Fantasy.

As for the characters, Janir is as fantastic as ever, taking action as a strong, realistic female lead. She's selfless, feisty and quick-thinking all at once. While there...more To read this review and many more, visit my blog!

I will no longer be buying the Argetallam saga's eBooks. I'll be buying the paperbacks to add to my very own library collection, where I only keep books I truly adore. This series is one of the better ones I've come across in quite some while, and I don't even like High Fantasy.

As for the characters, Janir is as fantastic as ever, taking action as a strong, realistic female lead. She's selfless, feisty and quick-thinking all at once. While there wasn't much of Lucian, - still one of my favorites -, I liked his bit in the opening of the book. Boiling with emotion and a strange tinge of. . . guilt? Goodness, Lucian, better hide that away before Daddy smacks it out of you. As for one of my other favorites? Saoven. How I love him. He's kind, fiercely protective and, this I love most, (view spoiler). I'll be glad when there's a bit more tension between Saoven and Janir, but I think it's at the appropriate level for the story thus far.

The Lord Argetallam isn't that interesting of a character, simply because he's the bad guy without much wiggle-room to sympathize or tantalize, but he does bring some interesting cards to the table. At the end of the book, he says he's going to (view spoiler) The possibility is extremely interesting.

I appreciated the world-building here as much as I did in the previous story. Well laid out and not too confusing, a trench many fantasy stories tend to fall into. My one irk with The Secrets of the Vanmars is some of the writing. In the first half, the writing was superb. While the writing still continued to be good in the latter half, I came across a few grammatical and formatting errors, as well as some sentences that seemed clunky.

One of the loose ends from the first book, the comment about Janir being a "fledgeling" and some of the respective mystery floating around her is still unanswered, but this is a seven book series and might require some patience from me before I get the answers I crave. Ew. Waiting.

Overall, The Secrets of the Vanmars is packed with great characters, action at ever turn and a constantly developing plot. With the exception of a tiny bit of awkward writing, the story sinks its hooks into you with no intention of letting go, earning it a solid 4 out of 5.(less)

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Oct 04, 2012 Katelyn (Tales of Books and Bands) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: own, review-books, read-in-2012, 4-stars, young-adult

This was such a fun, fast-paced, high fantasy novel! I was instantly drawn into the Ja1nir’s crazy life and Elisabeth’s writing kept me so invested throughout the entire book

Now before I really get going on this review, let me start by saying that I did not read the first book before reading this one. This did cause for a bit of confusion especially when it came to the world that Elisabeth created but I was able to catch on fast and still enjoy the book.

Janir has just been through an adventure o...more This was such a fun, fast-paced, high fantasy novel! I was instantly drawn into the Ja1nir’s crazy life and Elisabeth’s writing kept me so invested throughout the entire book

Now before I really get going on this review, let me start by saying that I did not read the first book before reading this one. This did cause for a bit of confusion especially when it came to the world that Elisabeth created but I was able to catch on fast and still enjoy the book.

Janir has just been through an adventure of a lifetime when we first meet her. During the first book she was on a quest of some sort, met a lot of people along the way (some good, some definitely not so good), learned a few secrets of her past, found a whole lot of questions of her present & future, and faced quite a bit of life-threatening events. All Janir wants is some peace and quiet when she returns but as it often times turns out, we don’t always get what we want. Again, Janir is thrown into a life of craziness, some of it fun, some of it scary, and all of it entertaining!

I LOVED Janir. She was a sweet, loving, girl with a huge heart and a good head on her shoulders, and she also had a bit of a backbone to her. Janir was always so quick to help her friends out but she was also one to not let people walk all over her. Even though Janir is one tough cookie, she also lets some of her insecurities show in this novel which made me love her even more! Janir is an Argetallam, and according to the beliefs of everyone in the kingdom, Argetallam = Bad. . .VERY BAD. Janir had a tough time trying to be proud of the person she was and balancing that with the shame she oftentimes felt for her heritage. My heart hurt for her because I could see how great she was but it was really difficult for her to see that at certain times.

I feel that this is the part that I should mention the bit of romance that I saw! Okay, before you romance-aholics get too excited, there wasn’t a whole lot in this story but there were definitely the makings of a relationship within this book! Saoven is an elf warrior who has helped Janir out a tough situation more than once. He is strong and brave and he is always there to help save Janir. These two are most definitely feeling something for each other and I cannot wait to see what they do with those feelings in the next book!

Another character that stood out so very much to me was Karile, a young wizard and the sort-of best friend to our main character. Holy crap everyone, this guy was all sorts of fun! Karile added so much pizzazz and humor to this story! He is definitely a troublemaker, too curious for his own good, and he was always dragging Janir into his messes. Even though he sounds like a giant accident waiting to happen, and trust me people that is EXACTLY what he is, he always had good intentions!

The world that Elisabeth created was so awesome! It was definitely a historical/fantasy setting. This is back in the day when there are High Lords, castles, and raging wars between surrounding kingdoms but on top of that there are also dragon-like beings, elves, wizards, other fantastic creatures, and magic! Like I said before, I really wish I would have read the first book before because I feel like that would have given me just a bit more background information on the world Elisabeth created. I may have been confused for the first little bit of the book but once I began reading, I had no problems imaging the places and things that Janir was seeing.

This story is a really fast-paced story. Janir finds herself in one mess right after another and while some had me laughing others kept me on the edge of my seat. Elisabeth’s writing made this world easy to imagine and her characters were all nicely developed and entertaining. The story left off at a great part and I cannot wait to find out what happens next with Janir, Karile, and the rest of the great characters I met in this book! This was a great book and I think it will certainly appeal to fans of The Hidden Sun by J. Lloyd Morgan and Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas.(less)

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Aug 29, 2012 Karen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review

Wheatley's writing style is wonderful, every word she writes is like magic. And the book was very good, nothing big happened. Something that I thought was strange, since this was the second book. The action started almost right a way in the first, so I thought the same would happen here. I actually have to admit, even though Elisabeth write beautiful, then this book was kind of boring. I was disappointed because the action didn't stared before at the end of the book.

But on the positive side whe...more

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Sep 10, 2012 Georgiann Hennelly rated it 5 of 5 stars

I recieved an e-book copy from the author. Thank you Very much. This is the second book in the series. Even though this is a young adult book i truly enjoyed it. The friends and the action. You also learn more about Janir and her past. This is a very well written book with an easy to follow story line.You have wizards and warriors, dwarves and elfs. A truly fascinating read for people of all ages.I can,t wait for the next installment in the series to see what happens next.

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Dec 13, 2012 Julie Powell rated it 4 of 5 stars

I was sent this by the author for review.

This is the second book in the series and it didn't disappoint. I'm a sucker for magic and this was full of all the right characters - elves, wizards etc - set within an enchanted world where there was no shortage of action and adventure.

I don't give spoilers, but will say that it is a well told tale, and I like the way each story gives way to the next.

Very good.

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Sep 05, 2012 Jennifer rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Sep 04, 2012 Jessica rated it 3 of 5 stars

Second book to the series wasn't bad. I enjoyed the action the friendships, learning more about Janir and her past. Kinda wish that something big would have happened that would have left me speechless. Nevertheless, Karile still remains my favorite character I love the way he's written, someone has to deliver the well timed funny lines!

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Aug 20, 2012 Michele(mluker) Luker rated it 4 of 5 stars

Review to come

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Apr 20, 2013 Elisabeth Wheatley rated it 5 of 5 stars · (Review from the author) · review of another edition

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About Elisabeth Wheatley

Elisabeth Wheatley is a high school student homeschooled in the Texas Hill Country. When she’s not daydreaming of elves, vampires, or hot guys in armor, she is reading copious amounts of fantasy, playing with her little brothers, studying mythology, and training and showing her Jack Russell Terrier, Schnay.

More about Elisabeth Wheatley...

Books by Elisabeth Wheatley

The Key of Amatahns (Argetallam Saga, #1)

Fanged Princess: The Hunted (Fanged Princess, #2)

The Chalice of Malvron (Argetallam Saga, #3)

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The Secrets of the Vanmars (Argetallam Saga #2)

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