He is one of many: a creature of magic, unrelentingly male. He is lured through the portal by pure female beauty, a virgin sacrifice. She is killed...
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reviews
Jun 13, 2011
Zeek
rated it: 
In the world McDonald created, warrior Slyphs (creatures similar to faeries I believe) called Battle Sylphs, are enslaved by brutal trickery, tying them to men of the upper ruling classes. When the King decides it’s time for his weakling of a son to have a battle sylph of his own, something goes awry during the ceremony binding the creature to a helpless female instead.
Solie has no idea the turmoil she’s created by just surviving- all she knows is that something has irrevocably conn More...
Solie has no idea the turmoil she’s created by just surviving- all she knows is that something has irrevocably conn More...
9 comments
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(6 people liked it)
Jul 28, 2010
Bookwatcher
rated it: 
Just finished this book, and I love it!
Deserve 5 stars, and if I could I would give more! Fantastic!
So, I'll do something different, and answer imaginary questions about this book (probably the questions you would ask me)
What can you tell me about the Story?
I can tell little about the story, or will ruin the surprise. What I can say is that Sylph are ethereal creatures slaved by humans. There are a variety of kinds. Air, water, earth, healer, fire.. all Sylph More...
Deserve 5 stars, and if I could I would give more! Fantastic!
So, I'll do something different, and answer imaginary questions about this book (probably the questions you would ask me)
What can you tell me about the Story?
I can tell little about the story, or will ruin the surprise. What I can say is that Sylph are ethereal creatures slaved by humans. There are a variety of kinds. Air, water, earth, healer, fire.. all Sylph More...
7 comments
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(10 people liked it)
Sep 19, 2011
Cindy
rated it:
Excellent fantasy read with an action plot. The lead characters - Heyou [the battle sylph:] and Solie [a farm girl:] - meet up because she is kidnapped to be the virgin sacrifice to 'catch' a battler sylph. She defends herself from the Crown Prince's attempt to kill her giving the battle sylph time to come through the dimensional gate and rescue her; killing all present [including the prince:]. She inadvertently names him by calling out 'hey, you'. He is enchanted by his new queen and carrie
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5 comments
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(4 people liked it)
Oct 21, 2010
Ronda
rated it:
WOW! EXCELENT READ! POWERFUL! LUSTILY HOT! HYSTERICALLY FUNNY!
So full of action and excitement that you find this fast page turning book read before you know time has slipped away, excellent writing, I absolutely loved it.
In this crazy world full of Kings and peasants, Solie is running away from her father whom has arranged a marriage with an old man she has no wish to marry. The king needs a virgin sacrifice for his son to acquire a battle sylph and Solie just happens t More...
So full of action and excitement that you find this fast page turning book read before you know time has slipped away, excellent writing, I absolutely loved it.
In this crazy world full of Kings and peasants, Solie is running away from her father whom has arranged a marriage with an old man she has no wish to marry. The king needs a virgin sacrifice for his son to acquire a battle sylph and Solie just happens t More...
15 comments
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(9 people liked it)
Dec 24, 2010
Laura the Highland Hussy
rated it:
4.5 stars
I have had this book for months and months and I kept pushing it back because if you read the back of the book, it doesn't sound amazing.
So that being said, all my friends have loved this book. Not liked, but loved and I just didn't get it. 2 chapters in and I wasn't hooked.
But then I passed into chapter 3 and I was snared.
There is so much I want to say about this book, so be prepared for spoilers, and me talking a lot :)
The world buildin More...
I have had this book for months and months and I kept pushing it back because if you read the back of the book, it doesn't sound amazing.
So that being said, all my friends have loved this book. Not liked, but loved and I just didn't get it. 2 chapters in and I wasn't hooked.
But then I passed into chapter 3 and I was snared.
There is so much I want to say about this book, so be prepared for spoilers, and me talking a lot :)
The world buildin More...
29 comments
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(15 people liked it)
Dec 12, 2010
Michelle, the Bookshelf Stalking
rated it:
Even before I finished reading this book, I ordered the next one. I hated this book to end, it was that good. I was completely caught up in the world created by the author. Not only did McDonald create an impressive setting for the book but also created not one or two great characters, but numerous interesting secondary characters.
Usually when an author bounces from character to character in a book, it annoys me and it disrupts the flow of the book. Quite the opposite was true in th More...
Usually when an author bounces from character to character in a book, it annoys me and it disrupts the flow of the book. Quite the opposite was true in th More...
9 comments
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(8 people liked it)
Feb 26, 2010
Donna
rated it: 
The Battle Sylph was a unique read for me and yet at the same time it wasn't. There were elements that seemed familiar such as the summoning of the battle sylph by luring them from another world with a virginal maiden. Once summoned, the battle sylph is bonded and compelled by these bindings to obey their master's every command. This scenario I have seen several times but what makes it unique are the characters and where the story goes from time you start reading and finish it. The world buildin
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10 comments
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(1 person liked it)
Dec 04, 2011
Marlene
rated it:
There are a lot of myths where a virgin sacrifice (always female) is necessary to tame some monster or other. Occasionally, the sacrifice is bait for the monster, so that the intrepid hero can slay the "dreadful beast". If the sacrifice survives, she's either a pariah or forced to wed the beast-slayer, whether she wants to or not. She's his reward.
The Battle Sylph from L.J. McDonald turns the entire trope on its head, and in this story, throws the entire female-subjugating so More...
The Battle Sylph from L.J. McDonald turns the entire trope on its head, and in this story, throws the entire female-subjugating so More...
Oct 15, 2011
Katie
rated it:
Jump into a world full of intrigue, a fight for equality, and love.
The Battle Sylph is a great read that starts out with an independent and strong girl named Solie. Having a really bad day after being kidnapped and almost sacrificed Solie is thrust into a fight for not only her life, but the lives of many others that are trying to get away from their tyrannical ruler. She is accompanied by a battle sylph that because of a mistake she calls “Heyou”. “Heyou” and Solie’s romance was minimal, More...
The Battle Sylph is a great read that starts out with an independent and strong girl named Solie. Having a really bad day after being kidnapped and almost sacrificed Solie is thrust into a fight for not only her life, but the lives of many others that are trying to get away from their tyrannical ruler. She is accompanied by a battle sylph that because of a mistake she calls “Heyou”. “Heyou” and Solie’s romance was minimal, More...
Jun 22, 2011
Clee
rated it:
Meine Gefühle zu diesem Buch sind ziemlich zwiegespalten. Zum einen bin ich begeistert von der Idee, die hinter der hier aufgebauten Welt liegt – zum anderen war ich enttäuscht darüber, wie flach die beiden Hauptpersonen dargestellt wurden.
Eine Sache verstehe ich einfach nicht: Was gefällt einer Frau daran, dass ein Kerl nur in sie „verliebt“ ist, weil es vom Schicksal so vorherbestimmt ist oder wie hier, weil sie seine Königin ist. Okay, sie lässt keine andere Drohne an sich heran, More...
Eine Sache verstehe ich einfach nicht: Was gefällt einer Frau daran, dass ein Kerl nur in sie „verliebt“ ist, weil es vom Schicksal so vorherbestimmt ist oder wie hier, weil sie seine Königin ist. Okay, sie lässt keine andere Drohne an sich heran, More...
May 06, 2011
Anne
rated it:
The back cover makes this book sound like a throwaway bodice ripper, but it is a decent story. I think for a first novel it turned out pretty well. I did get tired of the word "hate" and wished that the author had some synonyms or something. I think there are some loopholes common to the para-romance such as how men actually do end up owning the sylphs when a woman is killed and how in the world this was discovered in the first place. I also wondered at the lack of curiosity about the
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Feb 23, 2011
Ryn
rated it: 
Oh, this could have been so good. OOH! It makes me so mad...
First of all, props to the author, because she really had a good idea. It was a sweet blend of romance and fantasy that was soooo close to being a hit for me. What brought it down to a two-star rating? Her writing.
L.J. McDonald's bio says she's been writing since she was 15. Her writing style and grace suggest that she must be almost 16 now.
It was corny, but that I could forgive; it happens with rom More...
First of all, props to the author, because she really had a good idea. It was a sweet blend of romance and fantasy that was soooo close to being a hit for me. What brought it down to a two-star rating? Her writing.
L.J. McDonald's bio says she's been writing since she was 15. Her writing style and grace suggest that she must be almost 16 now.
It was corny, but that I could forgive; it happens with rom More...
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(3 people liked it)
Feb 12, 2011
Austine
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Nov 28, 2010
Nan
rated it:
I downloaded this book for free through Barnes & Noble's Free Book Fridays promotion.
Once again, the editors in charge of the free books have outdone themselves. They've consistently managed to recommend books that are not major bestsellers but are still intriguing nonetheless. I enjoyed this book greatly, and while the general content was only worthy of three stars, the sheer originality of the worldbuilding took it up to four stars, easily.
In this world, men are allowed t More...
Once again, the editors in charge of the free books have outdone themselves. They've consistently managed to recommend books that are not major bestsellers but are still intriguing nonetheless. I enjoyed this book greatly, and while the general content was only worthy of three stars, the sheer originality of the worldbuilding took it up to four stars, easily.
In this world, men are allowed t More...
Oct 24, 2010
Erinaceina
rated it:
I would definitely class this book as fantasy with romance rather than fantasy romance/romantic fantasy, simply because, after about p. 170, there is comparatively little about Solie and Heyou: no angst, no hard decisions or long talks. When we see Solie coming to terms with her leadership role, it's not through a long chat with Heyou. To a certain extent, it felt like they disappeared in the second half of the book - much of the dramatic tension didn't focus around them, but around secondary
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Jul 21, 2010
Veronica
rated it:
L.J. McDonald crafts a complete and enjoyable world in The Battle Sylph. Filled with action and drama from its beginning to its bittersweet end, this novel tells a tale of court intrigue, family drama and unusual romance. It's the perfect beachside or summer picnic read.
When the book opens, our heroine Solie is on the run from an arranged marriage. Her streak of poor luck continues when she's picked up by the king's guard to be offered as a sacrifice. The king wishes to acquire a bat More...
When the book opens, our heroine Solie is on the run from an arranged marriage. Her streak of poor luck continues when she's picked up by the king's guard to be offered as a sacrifice. The king wishes to acquire a bat More...
Jun 08, 2010
Cathy
rated it:
I thought this was an entertaining fantasy. Nothing too challenging here, just a fun read. People in this medieval world acquire energy-beings called sylphs to serve them. Most sylphs are elementals, fire, air, water or earth. But a few sylphs are battle sylphs. They are incredibly powerful, but it takes a female human sacrifice to draw them and they hate, make that loath, their human masters. The book explores what happens when one of the girls doesn't lay down and die like she's supposed to.
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Feb 25, 2010
Melindeeloo
rated it:
Battle Slyph starts off a new fantasy series in a world where magical elementals are lured from an alternate dimension and then bound to a master and forced to do their bidding. Trouble, adventure and love, well at least lust, occurs when the binding of the most powerful of all the Sylphs goes wrong.
I have to admit that I bought Battle Sylph because of the cover. And from the cover (picture, back blurb, and recs from authors) I thought that this was going to be a steamy fantasy ro More...
I have to admit that I bought Battle Sylph because of the cover. And from the cover (picture, back blurb, and recs from authors) I thought that this was going to be a steamy fantasy ro More...
0 comments
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(2 people liked it)
Feb 12, 2010
Has
rated it:
I was lucky enough to win an ARC of The Battle Sylph on Twitter. And I thank the book fairy goddess for gracing me with the luck of having an early chance to read this.
This is the start of a new fantasy romantic series by début author, L. J. McDonald. The world-building and setting is similar to that of Phillip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy, and the epic feel and tone of C. L. Wilson’s Tairen Soul series.
In the land of Eferem, the King and powerful Lords enslave and u More...
This is the start of a new fantasy romantic series by début author, L. J. McDonald. The world-building and setting is similar to that of Phillip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy, and the epic feel and tone of C. L. Wilson’s Tairen Soul series.
In the land of Eferem, the King and powerful Lords enslave and u More...
0 comments
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(1 person liked it)
Aug 27, 2011
Erica
rated it:
I raced through this book, which is set in a fascinating world in which human men enslave sylphs from another dimension. The strongest are battle sylphs, who are furious at being tricked, but nevertheless forced to obey their masters. When a battler is unexpectedly bonded to a young woman named Solie, all hell breaks loose.
I really enjoyed the carefully constructed rules of this world, which the author carefully adheres to. Characters were diverse and interesting, though there wasn't m More...
I really enjoyed the carefully constructed rules of this world, which the author carefully adheres to. Characters were diverse and interesting, though there wasn't m More...
Mar 19, 2010
Mary Beth
rated it:
How fun! What a great new book/author. This book had me from page one. Great new fantasy ideas coupled with likable characters, clear writing style and packed with action. Here is a world where elemental sylphs are summoned by magic from their hives to serve human men as mute, invisible slaves. A special type of vicious battle sylph can only be summoned with a virgin sacrifice and the men who serve as their masters must fight against constant hatred in order to control the dangerous creatures.
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Aug 17, 2011
Jen
rated it:
Imagine a world filled with elemental beings, subjugated to human masters. These beings are called sylphs. Each female sylph has a special gift: power over healing, water, air, fire or water. The males are warriors... battle sylphs. Humans can open a portal to the sylph world and if the sylph sees someone worthy of being a master, they'll cross over. But the battle sylphs are being tricked. They see lovely young women in the portal... but when each battler crosses over, the humans kill the f
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6 comments
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(3 people liked it)
Sep 21, 2011
DavinciKittie
rated it:
TLDR recap:
Captured to be used as the sacrifice in a terrible ceremony to bring over one of the feared battle sylphs, Solie is not about to just give up and die. Through a bizarre turn of events that starts a chain reaction of pivotal events, Solie becomes the battle master and, together with her new battler, sets out only to run and survive and inadvertently begins to change everything about her world, how it works, and who's in charge. This first book in the Sylph fantasy series by L. More...
Captured to be used as the sacrifice in a terrible ceremony to bring over one of the feared battle sylphs, Solie is not about to just give up and die. Through a bizarre turn of events that starts a chain reaction of pivotal events, Solie becomes the battle master and, together with her new battler, sets out only to run and survive and inadvertently begins to change everything about her world, how it works, and who's in charge. This first book in the Sylph fantasy series by L. More...
Apr 29, 2010
Jenna
rated it:
This fantasy centers around the Sylphs who are creatures from a different dimension. They are lured into another world and are basically slaves. There are many types - fire, water, earth, air - (and remind me of the furies from the Codex Alera series by Jim Butcher) and the most dangerous, the battle sylphs. The battle sylphs are lured over with a woman. Once the sylph comes through the gateway, the woman is murdered and the battle sylph enslaved. Without surprise, the battle sylphs hate th
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Mar 02, 2010
Rebecca
rated it:
This is the first book by L.J. McDonald. I bought it on a whim and because it had a cool cover. (I can't help it, I'm visually motivated!) Anyway, I loved this book. It was fresh and original, the main characters were vibrant and I loved how our hero was emotionally and experientially "young" and they kept him that way. I hate it when the author starts a hero out naive and then by the end of the book sounds like a sage. Anyway, the heroine was well developed but there was a bit o
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Sep 24, 2010
Vanessa
rated it:
This is an incredible book with a uniquely different line of characters & beings in a setting that is in an alternate type world. The book starts off heavily as a fantasy adventure. Over all there is a very small amount of romance. The romance that is present is very consuming. Heyou CANNOT keep his hands off of Solie. His loving worship of her keeps you smiling. This is the first book in the series so the world and character development takes precedence. The characters are wonderful. The world
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4 comments
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(2 people liked it)
Oct 10, 2011
Becky
rated it:
Despite the cheesy-sounding description of this book ("He is one of many: a creature of magic, unrelentingly male."), it's actually more fantasy than romance. The world-building here is very strong, and is hands-down the best part of the novel.
The author clearly put a lot of thought into the world the sylphs come from, and the complicated dynamic between the battle sylphs and their masters was fascinating. Unfortunately, the characters are otherwise pretty wooden and one-d More...
The author clearly put a lot of thought into the world the sylphs come from, and the complicated dynamic between the battle sylphs and their masters was fascinating. Unfortunately, the characters are otherwise pretty wooden and one-d More...
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(2 people liked it)
Jun 16, 2010
Princessjay
rated it:
I read an electronic version of this book, cover-less (hence, unwarned), which accounts for my anger and disappointment at its contents. Otherwise I would have known that this is one of them genre romances, only thinly disguised as fantasy.
5 hours later, my eyes were rattling in their sockets, I had rolled them so much. However, I did finish it--albeit with much skimming--so it's not all bad.
Recommended for readers of genre romance who wanted a little twist in their form More...
5 hours later, my eyes were rattling in their sockets, I had rolled them so much. However, I did finish it--albeit with much skimming--so it's not all bad.
Recommended for readers of genre romance who wanted a little twist in their form More...
Nov 23, 2011
Melissa
rated it:
This was a very interesting world that was created. In this world, the sylphs live in a alternate universe ruled by a queen. Not unlike bees. They are elemental in nature and the most coveted type of sylph to rulers are battle sylphs to make them invincible in war. In this world, women are seen as nothing but property, second citizens or slaves at best. Of course there are always dreamers in this world in which have a glimpse at a world where they might control the direction of their lives and o
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Jul 11, 2011
Larissa
rated it:
Klappentext:
Schon seit Jahrzehnten verschwinden im Königreich Eferem immer wieder junge Frauen. Die selbstbewusste Solie erfährt nun am eigenen Leib, was dahintersteckt:
Sie soll in einem geheimen Beschwörungsritual geopfert werden. Es gelingt ihr zwar, die Zeremonie im entscheidenden Moment zu zerstören, doch dabei bindet sie die herbeigerufene Kreatur unwiderruflich an sich. Solie reagiert zunächst panisch auf den gefährlichen Krieger - die Angst verfliegt jedoch, als er sich in einen More...
Schon seit Jahrzehnten verschwinden im Königreich Eferem immer wieder junge Frauen. Die selbstbewusste Solie erfährt nun am eigenen Leib, was dahintersteckt:
Sie soll in einem geheimen Beschwörungsritual geopfert werden. Es gelingt ihr zwar, die Zeremonie im entscheidenden Moment zu zerstören, doch dabei bindet sie die herbeigerufene Kreatur unwiderruflich an sich. Solie reagiert zunächst panisch auf den gefährlichen Krieger - die Angst verfliegt jedoch, als er sich in einen More...
