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Warrior (The Blades of the Rose #1)

by Zoe Archer (Goodreads Author)

3.51 of 5 stars 3.51 · rating details · 1,167 ratings · 265 reviews

To most people, the realm of magic is the stuff of nursery rhymes and dusty libraries. But for Capt. Gabriel Huntley, it’s become quite real and quite dangerous…

IN HOT PURSUIT…
The vicious attack Capt. Gabriel Huntley witnesses in a dark alley sparks a chain of events that will take him to the ends of the Earth and beyond—where what is real and what is imagined become terr...more

Mass Market Paperback, 354 pages

Published September 1st 2010 by Zebra

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Historical Paranormal Romance

8th out of 263 books — 233 voters

The Blades of the Rose

1st out of 4 books — 13 voters

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Sep 26, 2010 Shawna rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Anyone who loves romance with a hot warrior hero, action, adventure, magic, & steamy love scenes

Shelves: historical-romance, exotic-wild-settings-survivor-lovin, historical-romance-victorian, pnr-angeldemon-fae-magic-witch-misc, cop-bodyguard-govop-merc-military, steampunk, zoe-archer, heroine-bluestocking-unconventional, heroine-kickass-spirited-strong, heroine-naïve-virgin-like-a-virgin, heroine-tomboy-lady-in-pants, hero-alpha‎, hero-commoner-self-made, humorous-at-times-or-fluffy-fun, action-adventure-treasure-hunting, hh-warrior, i-read-own-faves-keepers, favorite-love-scenes, favorite-romance-couple-hh-pairings, favorites, hero-im-gaga-over, hero-stud-mantel-hall-of-fame, hero-celibate-virgin-virginesque, heroine-i-adore, heroine-odd-spinster-wallflower, sizable-packages, yowza-hotness, 2010-reads, archaeology-antiquities-scholar, best-top-favorites, hero-abused-scarred-tortured-angst, hero-stalk-me-baby-possessive, hh-disfigured-injured-scarred-ill, hero-i-wanna-marry, best-faves-of-2010, favorite-romance-series, series-blades-of-the-rose, 5-stars-or-higher, pnr-occult-magic, hh-smart-intellectual-brainy-geek, mystery-intrigue-espionage-subplot, paranormal-romance, heroine-miss-independent, pnr-living-walking-dead-zombies, a-all-time-fave-hero

5+ stars – Paranormal Romance

WOW! What an extraordinary, freakin’ fun read this was! I loved it! Warrior is one of the most unique, entertaining romances that I’ve read, with an exotic setting, captivating, complex characters that you’ll love, a thrilling combination of Victorian-era historical and paranormal, and an exciting, perfect mix of action, adventure, steampunk, magic, suspense, humor, and blistering hot love scenes.

And if you’re concerned or doubtful about the level of romance, no need...more

53 likes · like · see review

Oct 12, 2010 Catherine rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Catherine by: Katyana

Shelves: historical, romance, steampunk, magic-mystical-ability, fantasy-paranormal-sci-fi, mongolia, challenge-task-contest, excellent, read-2010, series, adventure

Wow, I am so pleased that I picked this book up! It was EXCELLENT! I loved the world and the characters so much.

You know how most romances show the pov's of both the hero and heroine? But even then the focus is on the heroine's pov with the hero's pov sprinkled in occasionally? This book had the reverse and I loved it! We spent most of the book firmly in Gabriel Huntley's head. I'm so glad, because his narrative voice and the innate goodness in him made that the best seat in the house.

I loved bo...more

27 likes · like · see review

Feb 03, 2012 Wicked Incognito Now rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

There is nothing that is BAD about this book. It has all the right elements: interesting plot, interesting story, interesting characters, likeable characters, correct ratio of character interaction/dialogue/exposition. However, I just cannot stay interested in it. The prose is bland and draggy. I keep putting it down after read only a few pages.

I need the writing to have a bit more flair. There is too much telling and not enough showing. There are spots when the characters come to some interesti...more

15 likes · like · see review

Apr 21, 2012 Ren rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Paranormal fantasy fans with historical setting

Shelves: ass-kick-heroine, based-on-mythology, cant-wait-the-new-release, historical, magic, wow-fantastic-baby, there-are-hot-men, own-and-reread, favorite, reviewed, alpha-hero, author-autobuy, assasin-killer, best-cover-at-series, drooling-cover, crazy-character, god-goddes, make-me-nosebleed, own-paperback, paranormal, fantasy, reccomended-to-translated, special-ability, steamy, stubborn-chara, thriller-suspense, virgin-heroine

Also posted at : http://samsawesomness.blogspot.com/20...

Note : Kinda look like commercial rather than review. But who's care? Ms Archer can thank me later for this free promotion ;P

Unusual Historical Romance! Victorian Era! Steampunk! An Exotic Place! Magic! Adventure! Action! Romance! And , a steamy read of course.... ;)

I want to go to Mongolia...

and meet a hero like Captain Gabriel Huntley...

Gerard Butler anyone? *wink

a steamy scene at Oasis?

Oh,yes, please!! *quiver*

A series tha...more

18 likes · like · see review

Dec 29, 2010 Lady Danielle aka The Book Huntress rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Fans of action/adventure and magical historical romance

Shelves: historical-romance, warrior, owned-copy, favorites, favorite-or-autobuy-author, kickbutt-heroine, hot-heroes-kicking-butt, hero-to-die-for, heroine-i-adore, historical-fantasy, steampunk, exotic-setting-jungle-island-desert, woman-in-pants, asian-setting, marksman-sharpshooter-sniper, quest, supernatural-defense-agency, action-adventure, soldier-or-military, hot-and-steamy-romance, a-to-z-author-challenge-z

It's very true that if you do something well, people will notice. That's how I feel about this book. Zoe Archer did a fine job with Warrior. If I were to imagine a dream book based on my favorite historical action/adventure movies, with the romance ramped up, then this is a very good example.

Warrior has a couple that I totally loved. Gabriel is a man's man, and I adored him for it. He's not macho and overbearing. Nope. He's just a rough and tumble guy who's spent his life as a soldier, and it's...more It's very true that if you do something well, people will notice. That's how I feel about this book. Zoe Archer did a fine job with Warrior. If I were to imagine a dream book based on my favorite historical action/adventure movies, with the romance ramped up, then this is a very good example.

Warrior has a couple that I totally loved. Gabriel is a man's man, and I adored him for it. He's not macho and overbearing. Nope. He's just a rough and tumble guy who's spent his life as a soldier, and it's made one heck of a man of him. He worries about his lack of social polish--but his worries are groundless as far as I am concerned, and Thalia too. I adored him. I liked his confidence as a warrior, his ease with dealing with very hostile situations, his deep sense of honor. I liked how he committed himself to protecting Thalia and seeing her fulfill her mission. He was willing to stand up for a cause that didn't even make sense to him. And he showed a remarkable ability to adapt and to react to the very strange situations he found himself in. I loved how he adored Thalia for who she was, and didn't feel the need to change her into the average Englishman's ideal woman. She was his ideal, instead. Gabriel might consider himself rough and unpolished, but he definitely knew how to take care of his woman.

Thalia was an awesome heroine. I liked that she wasn't the typical English rose. She'd been raised in Outer Mongolia, and was a woman of that world. She'd yearned most of her life to take up her father's work with the Blades, and when she got her chance to prove herself, she was determined to do so. Thalia respected Gabriel for who he was, admired his strength, and the innate essence of him. She realized that he was the man she'd been waiting for, but couldn't believe that he'd want her and not a perfect English lady. Seeing their love affair unfurl like a blooming flower was such a pleasure. This book is very steamy, and wildly romantic. A perfect combination. There are many sigh-worthy scenes between Gabriel and Thalia. I was very invested in this couple, and I was cheering for their happy ending together.

On top of the great romance, this is a fantastic historical adventure. I loved the setting and the way that it was as much an integral part of this story as the romance. I think Ms. Archer did a great job of bringing this rollicking, good old-fashioned (in the vein of Indiana Jones and Stephen Sommers' the Mummy movies) story to life. Ms. Archer showed a respect for the Mongolian culture and its people. Before this book ended, it felt so familiar to me, I could have been on the Mongolian steppes myself.

The action and adventure aspects were fantastic. There is a sense of risk throughout this story, right from the beginning. I loved the fact that although Gabriel was a formidable warrior, he was not blood-thirsty. He respected life, but was more than willing to fight and kill for a worthy cause. Conversely, he went out of his way to save others. (Sigh break required) I liked the fact that Thalia could more than defend herself. I loved how things unfolded in the final confrontation in this book. Thalia didn't get shut out of the action, just because she was a woman. In fact, she plays an integral role in fighting the Heirs.

I think that Ms. Archer handled the multi-cultural aspects deftly. There is no preachiness here, but she addresses the imperialistic drives of the British Empire, using it as a backdrop in which there is a struggle between two groups who differ in their attitudes about how the British Empire will succeed. One group, The Heirs, wants to use the magical treasures of various cultures around the world to expand Britain's influence. The Blades of the Rose want to protect the cultural heirlooms and preserve the heritages of the various countries. I loved the fact that there were major players of various ethnicities in this story, and none stereotypically portrayed. I am already enamored of Catullus Graves, who is the intellectual giant of the Blades, constantly inventing nifty instruments to assist them in their endeavors. And the best part is he's black (and very British). I love to see the breaking of cultural stereotypes that portray people of color as intellecutally inferior (when the truth is that people of black heritage have been responsible for many scientific advancements in society although they typically remain unacknowledged for it). I remember talking to Ms. Archer on an Amazon forum about multicultural characters in urban fantasy. She posted about Catullus having a book of his own, and I put this series on my wish list right away, not just for that reason, but because I love historical adventure, especially with fantasy elements. She is my heroine!

The magic was very grand in this novel. There were some very novel elements, and I loved how the magic of the Sources was such an intrinsic, naturalistic force, tied to the people and their lands. It was beautiful. Ms. Archer has a great imagination, and she put it to very good use in this book.

I must say that the praise for this new series is well-earned. I had to think long and hard about what I was going to say in this review, because I hate being repetitive. I want my words to count here. A great book deserves a well-written review. It's the best tribute to an exceptional author and her work. I am a huge fan of Ms. Archer now, and I cannot wait to read more of her books. (less)

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Jan 01, 2012 Audrey rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal-sci-fi-or-otherworldly

Mixed feelings on this one. In a few words, characters were mostly yay, but the plot/adventure/mission was ho-hum.

Characters

Captain Gabriel Huntley, late of Her Majesty's Thirty-Third of foot, gets a fat, juicy 5+ star thumbs up. Gruff, unpolished, unrefined, he speaks bluntly, fights passionately, makes love wholeheartedly, and loves with his whole self. I loved his honesty and commitment. His lack of pretty words simply meant I knew he would always be a straight shooter and tell the truth of h...more Mixed feelings on this one. In a few words, characters were mostly yay, but the plot/adventure/mission was ho-hum.

Characters

Captain Gabriel Huntley, late of Her Majesty's Thirty-Third of foot, gets a fat, juicy 5+ star thumbs up. Gruff, unpolished, unrefined, he speaks bluntly, fights passionately, makes love wholeheartedly, and loves with his whole self. I loved his honesty and commitment. His lack of pretty words simply meant I knew he would always be a straight shooter and tell the truth of how he was feeling. This bluntness also makes for pretty hilarious observations and narrative from his POV.

Thalia Burgess...maybe 3-3.5 stars. I did like her and thought she showed courage and a unique spunk unlikely to be found in a Victorian era lady. I'm guessing her upbringing in Mongolia contributed to that uniqueness. I could see Gabriel falling for her. Her POV was fine and didn't grate...except that she "grew damp" more times than I could count. Seriously, woman? It got to the point that she felt herself "growing damp" when they were talking battle strategies, at which point I became a little concerned for her health "down there." Otherwise, though, an acceptable, courageous, and mostly likable heroine.

Secondary characters were fine, too. While I didn't really like the way this story unfolded and the plot/adventure/mission itself, I'm curious enough about one of the secondary characters, the fellow Blade Bennett Day, that I think I'll probably read his story, too.

Plot/Adventure/Story/Mission

Meh. Meh meh meh. 2-2.5 stars-ish? I know paranormally stuff usually has a lot of worldbuilding in the first book and already sort of expected that. This book, however, felt like an odd blend of not enough information and then TOO much detail. I grew bored with the first 20% or so of the book when the mission was cloaked in so much mystery that I didn't know why they needed to protect this elusive thing-they-must-protect, and I quite honestly didn't care. The worldbuilding is provided very piecemeal, so we get a little background at a time, until it's around Chapter 18 or so that we finally understand the power behind the thing-they-must-protect. My patience only lasts so long, to be frank. Then there was a lot of detailed description that, while building a lovely picture of their setting and the exotic location, sometimes felt a little too detailed. I found my interest once again wandering.

Maybe I just wasn't in the right "mood" for this book, but I just found myself not interested in the story when Gabriel - and Thalia, I suppose - weren't on screen. To that end, I also didn't like the way some of the POV came from secondary characters - most notably, the villains' POV. I mean, I don't really care what the bad guys are thinking. JRW's lessers did nothing for me. On top of that, sometimes there was shifting POV within a single section, and that also took me a bit out of the story.

Overall

I think the premise is promising, and I like the idea of this circle of protectors called the "Blades of the Rose" that protects these magical objects around the world. I just didn't really think the execution was all that great. The characters held my interest, even if the story didn't. Oh, and Gabriel Huntley...? *le sigh* Where can I find one of him for myself?
(less)

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Apr 22, 2011 Lisa Kay rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: genre-action-adventure, genre-fantasy, character-woman-in-pants, genre-romance-historical, its-magic, reviewed-by-me, character-blonde-hero, bom-rlftci, authors-a, authors-z, zzcover-red-orange

Before reading this book I thought the Mongolian steppes were like this:

Now I realize they can also be like this:

Animals of the Mongolian Steppe

Short legged camels.

Or a link for a closer look at camels and dogs (I love dogs!) with their owners.

Mongolian yak.

Russia, Mongolia and China - Mongolia yak Pictures, Images and Photos

Short legged horses.

And a link entitled eagle hunter.
Another link to plain mongole and last, but not least, a good Sheppard and his angora goat.

Going through book, starting with Chapter 5.

(view spoiler)...more

17 likes · like · see review

Mar 01, 2011 Summer rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance, magic, paranormal, paranormal-romance, romance

I'd really say for me, Warrior was more of a 3.5 rating as a whole. The beginning kept me interested and the premise was built up well. I liked the characters and the fact that it had an actual realized plot besides the romance. However towards the middle it sort of lagged for me. I skimmed a good deal from there until towards the end. It picked up from there and it thankfully ended well. I suppose I just didn't get quite the excitement over it as other reviewers have. It is worth a read and I'l...more

6 likes · like · see review

Apr 07, 2011 Lady Heather rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: everyone

Shelves: 1st-in-a-series, e-book, favorites, historical-romance, magic, zoe-archer, adventure

WOW! This was such a good story and a wonderful surprise. There was magic, adventure, history and or course Romance!
The story features one Captain Gabriel Huntley who has just retired from the military after 15 years in His Majesties service. Capt. Huntley is returning home with the intention of finding a job and settling down with a wife and children...but fate had other plans for Mr. Huntley. Upon arriving in England, Mr. Huntley stumbles upon a man being beaten by a gang of men. Mr. Huntley t...more

5 likes · like · see review

Mar 20, 2011 Suzanne the Mighty ~Satin Seductress~ rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-romance, action-adventure, girlies-i-would-take-for-a-tequila, hot-male-in-my-harem, funny-funny-har-har, lover-the-cover, magic, romance, pdf-kindle

When Captain Gabriel Huntley comes to a lone mans defense when he discovers him being beaten in a dark alley, he doesn't realize that this one selfless act would set in motion a set of events that takes him from England to Outer Mongolia seeing things he never before imagined could be real. He certainly didn't see Thalia Burgess on the horizon, the strong, beautiful and unconventonal woman he soon realizes he would give his life to defend.

I love this book, right from the start it drew me in wit...more

5 likes · like · see review

Nov 09, 2011 Jan rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Fans of adventure, romance, and fantasy thrown together.

Shelves: wishlist-print, romance, steampunk, z-2010, stars5, z-2011, fantasy-romance, historical-romance

Originally read Sept 6th 2010.

Thoughts after the third reread at the bottom.

***

I really looked forward to this book and series. The blurb looked so very promising, the reviews were quite raving, the excerpts looked promising. I was actually anxious for a book to come out, and I hadn't been anxious for a new book in a while. Honestly, I was quite frantic.

But I was also slightly worried that maybe I was too enthusiastic, a little too hyped, and that I would end up disappointed.

I'm glad that didn'...more

4 likes · like · see review

Sep 19, 2010 Jessica rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance

I think if this had been advertised as historical romance instead of PNR, I wouldn't be sitting here wishing vainly for my $8 back. (Oh, and for those looking for steampunk romance, I'd highly recommend looking elsewhere unless all you're interested in are the occasional gadgets.)

The opening is strong--fun, adventurous, imaginative. The descriptions of Mongolia are well done, they seem well researched and visually striking. The storyline is pretty standard cross-country adventure to stop the vil...more I think if this had been advertised as historical romance instead of PNR, I wouldn't be sitting here wishing vainly for my $8 back. (Oh, and for those looking for steampunk romance, I'd highly recommend looking elsewhere unless all you're interested in are the occasional gadgets.)

The opening is strong--fun, adventurous, imaginative. The descriptions of Mongolia are well done, they seem well researched and visually striking. The storyline is pretty standard cross-country adventure to stop the villains and save the world, which I'm totally ok with. The characters are where it all fell apart for me.

The heroine is described as being spunky, intelligent and strong-willed, but she's... I don't know. She meets the hero and there are sparks, longing glances, etc., which is fine. She finds out he's an ex-army captain (and is it me or were the descriptions of his military service kind of weird?) and pronounces him a hero for the work he did helping England colonize India. (Ok, fine, I'm not pro-colonialism myself, but I can understand why a character of her background and in her time would be.) But then, enter the villain... whose villainy is that he wants to colonize the world in the name of England. Um, what?

There's also the part where the hero, the heroine, and her Mongol servant enter a Mongol community seeking shelter. They have to pretend that the hero and heroine are related so as to avoid offending their Mongol hosts about their unmarried status; an unrelated man and woman traveling alone is not ok. But, it's not a man and woman traveling together. It's two men and a women traveling together. Apparently the Mongol servant doesn't count as a man for some reason.

What finally made me put this down in defeat is when the hero and heroine make love. She's all angsty about sharing her heart with another man, but decides that she can trust him and... I'm sorry. She's been in a dither for over 100 pages about the risk to her heart, but has not a single qualm about the chance of getting pregnant?

These were just some of the things that made me put the book down in disgust. I tried reading this for a week, but every time I'd get 20 pages I'd find another thing like this. I'm only halfway done at this point, but I have so many other books to read that I'm quite positive are much better than I'm giving up and getting rid of it. I can't get my $8 back, but at least I'm not wasting any more of my time.(less)

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Dec 07, 2010 Keri rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed, 2010-read, romance-historical, zoe-archer

Zoe Archer is a NTM author and I went out and bought the 2nd book in the series before I finished this one. This was such a freaking great book. I won't get into details about the book as so many of our friends have done such a good job with that. To me this book was unique in the fact that we have a man and woman who are ideally suited for one another. The are both warriors in their own right and once they meet they see their better half.

When she needed to, Thalia stepped aside when it was mor...more

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Sep 03, 2010 MaggieReadsRom rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arcs, action-adventure, historical, paranormal

4,5 stars!

First line: Gabriel Huntley hated an unfair fight.
Memorable Scenes:
All the scenes where Gabriel and Thalia got it on:
- Their first time...on a rock! > original and hot!
- The scene at the pond in the oasis in the Gobi Desert > If I still smoked I would've lighted a post-coital cigarette

Gabriel Huntley is a former captain in the British army. He has been all over the world serving Queen and country and is on his way back to England to leave the dangerous and adventurous life behi...more

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Aug 12, 2010 Juli rated it 5 of 5 stars

Warrior is the beginning of an exciting new series of historical fantasy romance novels -- three of my favorite kinds of fiction rolled into one. I've been eagerly awaiting these books, and I was fortunate enough to receive an advance review copy of Warrior.

The Blades of the Rose are men and women who work to preserve the freedom of magic in a mid- to late-Victorian fantasy version of our own world. The Blades exist primarily to fight against the Heirs of Albion, a powerful society of men dedica...more Warrior is the beginning of an exciting new series of historical fantasy romance novels -- three of my favorite kinds of fiction rolled into one. I've been eagerly awaiting these books, and I was fortunate enough to receive an advance review copy of Warrior.

The Blades of the Rose are men and women who work to preserve the freedom of magic in a mid- to late-Victorian fantasy version of our own world. The Blades exist primarily to fight against the Heirs of Albion, a powerful society of men dedicated to finding and controlling the sources of magic in order to bring the entire world under British rule. Each book tells the story of one couple finding love while fighting against the Heirs.

In Warrior, most of the story takes place on the Mongolian steppes. The heroine, Thalia, is the daughter of a Blade, eager to experience her first mission. The hero, Gabriel, has recently left the British army and finds himself in the midst of her mission due to his sense of honor and desire for adventure. As they try to beat the Heirs to a magic source, they also fall in love.

This book has lots of adventure and fight scenes, like the Indiana Jones movies that the cover reminds you of. And yet there is time for both main characters to reflect on their feelings for each other, so the reader gets to watch the relationship develop from both perspectives. There is humor, excitement, passion -- the adventure plot and the romance plot are integrated in a way that really works for me. It's clear that their shared adventure is bringing the couple closer together, and yet the demands and dangers of that adventure could also separate them forever. The success of their mission and the success of their relationship become intertwined, in the tradition of the best romantic suspense novels.

Another thing I love about this book is that Thalia and Gabriel are equals. Not that they don't have some gender bias to overcome, but it's clear to the reader that they need to be equal partners to succeed, and of course that eventually becomes clear to them, too. They have to learn to trust each other, and to work together, but she's no damsel in distress and she kicks ass equally with him.

The world of the book is evoked very well, I thought. The author creates a very complex and detailed setting, particularly in Mongolia, but I never felt that I got bogged down in description or explanation. There is some necessary background information, but it's introduced naturally and not as "info dump." I got lost in the place, the characters and the story and thoroughly enjoyed the ride.(less)

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Sep 22, 2010 May rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: action, mushy-romance-stuff, series

Set (mostly) in 1874 Mongolia, Zoe Archer introduces us to a new series featuring a secret group known as "the blades of the rose". I liked that while the Blades are protecting ancient magic and fighting for good, they're also not over the top wizards or practicing magic. No, they study and protect the strong magical 'sources' around the world from the baddies (Heirs) trying to take over the world.

What I loved:
* The good guys try not to use magic, instead they protect it. With blood, sweat, an...more

1 like · like · see review

Dec 24, 2012 Book Chick City rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance-paranormal

Reviewed by Laura for Book Chick City.

Captain Gabriel Huntley has returned to England after years of serving abroad in the army. With no remaining family he has nothing in his pocket save a letter from a friend inviting him to Leeds to make and honest living, settle down, marry and have a family.

But Gabriel is restless after years of travelling the world and fighting for his country. He does not know how to fit in to English society, let alone how to go about courting a delicate, Victorian lady....more

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May 04, 2011 Nicci rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: authors-to-avoid-crap-books

This book lost me somewhere along the way. It's not a bad story just not a great one. The magic is a bit too unbelievable for my taste(this coming from someone who reads all sorts of supernatural novels). We have a strong independant heroine and a completely noble selfless hero. I have a hard time believing in Gabriel's character. He's almost too perfect. 2.5 out of 5 stars.
I wouldn't advise against this book but I'm not sure I would recomend it either.

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Sep 14, 2010 Melindeeloo rated it 4 of 5 stars

A bit of magic, a bit of adventure & a bit of steamy stuff - Warrior, the first of four 'Blades of the Rose' historical fantasy romances

Minutes after returning to England, Captain Gabriel Huntley fails to save a stranger, Anthony Morris, from a fatal attack in a dark alley, and soon Gabriel finds himself back on a ship this time bound for Mongolia to deliver the Morris' final message, a message warning of the end of the world.

When a dusty foreigner appears on their doorstep, Thalia Burgess a...more A bit of magic, a bit of adventure & a bit of steamy stuff - Warrior, the first of four 'Blades of the Rose' historical fantasy romances

Minutes after returning to England, Captain Gabriel Huntley fails to save a stranger, Anthony Morris, from a fatal attack in a dark alley, and soon Gabriel finds himself back on a ship this time bound for Mongolia to deliver the Morris' final message, a message warning of the end of the world.

When a dusty foreigner appears on their doorstep, Thalia Burgess and her father are at first suspicious of the stranger bearing a message along with the news of their comrade's death. But once it becomes apparent that the messenger is true and immediate action is required, it falls to Thalia to take on a dangerous mission to save a magical object from those who would use it to dominate the world. And though Thalia sets out on her with just a trusted servant at her side - eager to perform her first mission for the Blades of the Rose - Thalia soon finds that she has an unwanted protector in the handsome Captain - which is quite fortunate, because the Blade's dangerous enemies will stop at nothing to obtain the prize.

I really liked the mix of genres in Warrior as a change of pace from the paranormal romance and urban fantasy that I usually favor. While there is some magic in the world, Warrior was more of a historical fantasy with a touch of adventure, although there wasn't quite as much action as I was expecting from the some review blurbs which described Warrior as "Indiana Jones" or "Romancing the Stone". But there was still enough contests and battles mixed in with the glimpses of far-off Mongolia and its people to keep the story moving in between allowing time for a slowly building yet steamy relationship for Thalia and Gabriel.

The leads in Warrior were really appealing. I really liked the honorable, heroic, commanding, capable and virile Gabriel - gotta love those manly men. And Talia was a wonderful match for him, strong and accomplished herself, Talia fit so well with the rough Gabriel who would have be lost trying to deal with some pampered English rose- fortunately Thalia was much more interesting, a sturdy yet beautiful bloom more suited to the steppes of her adopted homeland and somewhat of a warrior herself.

There are three more book in Archer's Blades of the Rose being released back-to-back - instant gratification is good. Next up is Scoundrel("I like the sound of that"), with Rebel and Stranger following over the next few months. Oh and I didn't realize this when I read Warrior but there is also a Blades of the Rose prequel in the anthology Half Past Dead (Archer teams up with Bianca d'arc with zombies stories to start both of their series).(less)

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Sep 12, 2012 Ridley rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ebook, 3-star, dnf, read-2011, paranormal

I don't dislike the book, really, but it reminds me of why I don't read PNR. The romance or the paranormal story or both gets shortchanged. In this case, it's both.

Well, this has sat on my currently-reading shelf for a year now, and I still can't be bothered to pick it back up. I think it's safe to toss it on the DNF shelf.

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Apr 19, 2011 D.G. rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, reviewed

I’m very torn about this book. On one hand, it had a really interesting setting but the central theme was a bit silly and the relationship between the hero and heroine was full of clichés. They were more original themselves but how they got together was very predictable and boring.

Things I liked:

• I’ve never read a book set in Mongolia so I was enthralled by the descriptions of the people and the places. The author really took some time to get the feeling for the land and their inhabitants and t...more

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Oct 20, 2010 Carla *Jen7waters* rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: steamy, read-in-2010, paranormal-romance, virgin-heroine

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Well, this was a joyful ride. Where to begin? Sometimes I really don’t know where/how to start a review *.*

So…Warrior, the first book in The Blades of the Rose series, is a fast-paced, romantic-adventurous tale about secret Orders, ancient and powerful magic, exotic places, a beautiful and brave heroine, an extremely hunky hero, and yes, a steamy-no-really-can-someone-hand-me-a-fan love story. I don’t think I’d ever read a book quite like Warrior before, nevertheless, a somewhat unsettling feeli...more Well, this was a joyful ride. Where to begin? Sometimes I really don’t know where/how to start a review *.*

So…Warrior, the first book in The Blades of the Rose series, is a fast-paced, romantic-adventurous tale about secret Orders, ancient and powerful magic, exotic places, a beautiful and brave heroine, an extremely hunky hero, and yes, a steamy-no-really-can-someone-hand-me-a-fan love story. I don’t think I’d ever read a book quite like Warrior before, nevertheless, a somewhat unsettling feeling that I’ve seen this movie already kept coming and going. And then again, maybe this was just because the author knows how to write a scene that can unfold itself before one’s eyes just like a movie, in which, by the way, what happens is what the reader wishes to see.

The whole adventure is engaging -believe me, there’s never a dull moment in this- and the lead characters, with whom the reader naturally spends most of the time, are a pleasure to watch in action. The female protagonist, Thalia, has a mind of her own, is sensible enough without being a whiner, and most importantly, gets things done even with such a strong male lead beside her; and Gabriel, a recently retired army Captain, who just wanted to settle down and raise a family, but who gets caught up in this good versus evil unusual fight instead, is manly enough without ever being the common alpha-jealous-possessive guy -he’s all that: yes, but with a lot of (appreciated) moderation. Of course once he sets his golden eyes on Thalia, the battle quickly gets to be his own too, and that Settle Down life plan is no more.

And because I already started the lust topic, here we go again…it’s Confession Time! So, one thing that annoys me a bit in some books is when the sex scenes make me feel like I’m reading the script of a porn movie (if such things even exist). You know…*unsure*…when after the “normal” first scene, things make a turn to Kinky Road. Now I’ll just pretend I’m being interviewed -by myself- and ask: but why is that annoying to you? Weeell…first because the whole thing is just predictable…really it is, want to see? It usually goes like this: man on top, girl on top, doggy style, one finger, two fingers (optional), oral for her, oral for him, oral for both, and again from the start! Marry me, my love, the end (note that sometimes there’s a pause for pregnancy -not the case here, though) –and Warrior is only ruining my sequence because the first two stages are switched; second, because I hate the sex talk that comes with it -all the “Oh…God, yes!” variations and alikes: hate them; and lastly, because I don’t want to know about the “juicy” details… -that’s just too much information…really, keep your eating/drinking habits to yourselves, lead characters. (Note to future readers: be sure this book is going to be…say, 50% of lust, 20% of consummated lust, and 30% of everything else.)

(I’m so cranky today. Forgive me, Zoë.)

To finish: I will certainly read the rest of this series (Scoundrel: next) because, besides the fact I want more Blades of the Rose adventures, these books are addictive, and because *blushes* well, I kind of acquired a literary crush on the nerdy-genius Blade, with coffee colored skin, and oh-so-cute way of quizzically cleaning his glasses, Catullus. He appeared briefly in this one, but will be the hero in the fourth and last book of the series (not really sure if it’s the last one…), so yeah…I have to keep reading to get to him.
Cuidado com o Dálmata - Warrior (less)

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Dec 02, 2010 Quinn rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance, paranormal-romance, library-book, fantasy-romance

3.5 stars

On paper (no pun intended), Warrior had all the ingredients for a 5-star read – exotic location, action and adventure, steamy romance, appealing characters. And it did deliver in all these areas. Yet, the overall package still somehow missed its mark for me.

There was plenty to like about Warrior. For a start, I loved both Gabriel and Thalia. Thalia was a strong and capable heroine who remained realistic. Being English born but raised in Mongolia by her father, she doesn’t resemble the g...more 3.5 stars

On paper (no pun intended), Warrior had all the ingredients for a 5-star read – exotic location, action and adventure, steamy romance, appealing characters. And it did deliver in all these areas. Yet, the overall package still somehow missed its mark for me.

There was plenty to like about Warrior. For a start, I loved both Gabriel and Thalia. Thalia was a strong and capable heroine who remained realistic. Being English born but raised in Mongolia by her father, she doesn’t resemble the gently bred English Rose you will often find in Victorian romance novels, but the author also ensured she never became one of those OTT kick-ass heroines you might find in Urban Fantasy, for example, either.

Gabriel was also a very endearing character, and it was wonderful to be reading this novel primarily from his perspective. A successful and talented career soldier, Gabriel is unsophisticated and inexperienced with gentlewomen, and finds himself drawn to Thalia, who is unlike any woman he has ever known. Gabriel is able to strike that difficult balance of needing to protect Thalia while recognizing and respecting her own capability.

The attraction and sexual tension between Thalia and Gabriel was very well done, and I really believed in them as a couple.

The author also did a great job with the Mongolian setting. She provided the perfect amount of detail regarding the landscape, culture and people to give a wonderful sense of place, which I was easily able to visualize.

The action, for the most part, was also well done, particularly the battle near the end. Again, the author provided a fantastic depiction of the setting and conflict, immersing the reader into the chaos.

That all sounds good so far, and it was, but the problem I found was how all these elements were strung together. There was something about the narrative connecting each individual scene that just didn’t work as well for me. The writing was almost, well, bland and it just didn’t grab me. It took me nearly twice as long to read this book as most others, because I just wasn’t compelled to pick it up, at least until the last third when things started happening in earnest.

I also don’t think the author did a good enough job of selling the overarching plot of the Blades of the Rose, the Heirs and the Sources – critical to the story. Having seen how talented she is in providing the perfect amount of detail to satisfy the reader in other areas, I think she really missed the mark here. The information we received was basic at best, sorely lacking in history and detail. As a result, I didn’t feel invested in or connected to that part of the story. I don’t know whether this was an intentional result of having mostly used Gabriel’s POV or not, but it didn’t work for me.

I will definitely be reading more of this series, because there was great potential and characterization in this one.
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Jul 07, 2011 CJ - Secret Charm rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction-mystery, out-of-the-ordinary, romance, steamy, steampunk, women-hero

3.5 - 3.6

OK. So my problem with this book was that the hero was so much more interesting than the heroine and I couldn't figure out why he would like such a curmudgeon. Not to mention that the setting, and subsequent behavior, reminded me of Sherry Thomas' "Not Quite a Husband" and Lauren Willig's The Temptation of the Night Jasmine; just not as well written. There was very little original about this book and not to mention that there's "magic", which with Thalia trying to explain things made it...more

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Sep 06, 2010 Missy Ann rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-romance, kindle, paranormal, lendable-ebook

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

It's trite to say "I wanted to like this", because that's true with every book I pick up. I wouldn't bother if I didn't want to enjoy the story.

First the positives. Indiana Jones style story were the heroine is the co-star not a supporting role. The mechanics of the writing were solid. Great premise, not terribly innovative - but fun so who cares?

Now on to why this book scrapes with a barely passing C- grade.

1. The all encompassing and irresistible instantaneous lust of Thalia &...more Disappointed.

It's trite to say "I wanted to like this", because that's true with every book I pick up. I wouldn't bother if I didn't want to enjoy the story.

First the positives. Indiana Jones style story were the heroine is the co-star not a supporting role. The mechanics of the writing were solid. Great premise, not terribly innovative - but fun so who cares?

Now on to why this book scrapes with a barely passing C- grade.

1. The all encompassing and irresistible instantaneous lust of Thalia & Gabriel. Yawn... Listen I buy whatever magical system you're selling (provided it has rules and follows those rules), but you don't get to make up your own rules for how humans interact with each other.

2. I can't tell you of my love because gosh! we're just so darn busy and it'd be a huge distraction. This is in addition to the fact I don't believe they're in love. They're hot for each other and have these glorious inner monologues about how much they respect & admire each other - because a) they are beautiful b) they aren't an asshole c) ummm... I'm hot for them?

3. Heavy handed set up for the 3 books that are going to follow. And I mean HEAVY.

4. Gabe's Mongolian. Maybe, just maybe I could've believed it IF it had been dealt with earlier in the book. Even a throw away line about picking up a few languages during his service. As it was it was done too late & then he "few words" became basic conversational level in the matter of about 2 weeks.

5. With the exception of Batu, no one can get these two into bed with each other fast enough.

6. And the biggest insult to my knowledge of human nature. Tribe has the magical object. Tribe has massive good luck because of this object. Oh bad guys are coming? Oh yes, here take the source of our good luck and success. Bye! Have fun storming the castle. WTF No. Fail. And this was just the biggest issue I had with Thalia & Gabe's interaction with the tribe.

All this being said, book 2 will get a chance. Because of the good stuff. I did love the basic idea. There were numerous flashes of authentic behavior from the characters (which probably served to make the mis-steps more glaring). And I liked the idea of Thalia, if not the execution of the character. But most of all, Archer gets a little gold star for resisting the urge to red shirt (Star Trek reference) Batu.

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Aug 09, 2010 Caroline The HEA Lover rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, e-book, 2010

(This was originally posted on a Book Lovers,Inc)

I will admit that what first caught my eyes was the cover of this book. I find it gorgeous. (Indiana Jones anyone? lol) I remember seeing it on someone’s sidebar and I had to know more about this book. (see? it sometimes pay to be a cover whore *wink*). I loved the cover but that would not have been enough alone to win me over. The book synopsis promised a mix of adventure and historical romance. I was sold! I can’t thank Zoe Archer enough for sen...more (This was originally posted on a Book Lovers,Inc)

I will admit that what first caught my eyes was the cover of this book. I find it gorgeous. (Indiana Jones anyone? lol) I remember seeing it on someone’s sidebar and I had to know more about this book. (see? it sometimes pay to be a cover whore *wink*). I loved the cover but that would not have been enough alone to win me over. The book synopsis promised a mix of adventure and historical romance. I was sold! I can’t thank Zoe Archer enough for sending me an ARC.

I loved Warrior. I’m still in a Historical phase (And I needed my fix!) but Warrior is that and so much more. The story takes place in the 1870s, but not in your usual England setting…no it is set in Mongolia! I never thought I would love reading about Mongolia this much. To be truthful the book was a bit slow to start. Well not that nothing happens in the beginning, quite the contrary, so MANY things happened that it made it a bit difficult to ‘know’ the characters and to like them. But since the moment the characters are introduced to the tribe I couldn’t put this book down.

It was a real pleasure to learn more about Mongolian culture and the life in the tribe. I was really fascinated (I even googled ‘Mongolian Clothing’ to picture it better). Zoe Archer transport us to an exotic country and show us the beauty of it. We get to really know the characters in the second half of the book and I started loving them. The relationship between Thalia and Gabriel became very interesting and we have some very hot scenes. I laughed quite a few times too, Gabriel is sexy AND funny.

Thalia our heroine, is not your typical English Lady. Thalia loves to ride, she knows how to use a crossbow and she wears practical clothes. Most of all she doesn’t mind Gabriel swearing and she is not waiting for someone else to save her. She is a strong woman who wants to do something with her life. She believes in the cause she is defending. *pats Thalia’s head*. Gabriel is…*drools* …sorry I mean Gabriel is fantastic. He was in the army and the prospect of living a ‘normal’ life is just not for him. He didn’t think twice before launching himself in this adventure. I really like this hero, his sense of humor and all his swearing are a big part of his charm.

The story is original and it really felt like an adventure. We discover a side of the world we didn’t know, a world full of Magic. The story kept on surprising me and I wanted more! We are introduced to some characters that will be the heroes of the following books. And I can’t wait! I’m pretty sure I will LOVE Bennett *drools* (Hero of Scoundrel).

I give Warrior 4 1/2 Bookies
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Mar 27, 2013 Marjorie Ingall rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: grownups, smokin

Delicious and genre-bending. Let's see how many seemingly random descriptors I can string together: Victorian Mongolia Feminism Paranormal Steampunk Desert Oasis Archery "The Amazing Race" Romance. And despite the wild mix, it didn't feel half-assed or lazy. I felt that Archer did the work of researching what life in Mongolia in the Victorian/Edwardian era was like, for both men and women, before proceeding to mess with convention most delightfully. There are hot sex scenes, but also a lot of ni...more

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Feb 04, 2012 Mikaela rated it 4 of 5 stars

I purchased this book when it was released, and I started reading it but for a number of reasons I never finished it. Until now. And oh my. This is the perfect mix of adventure, magic and love.
This story begins in Southampton, but most of the action takes place on the Mongolian steppes and in China. At times, it felt like I could feel the wind blowing in my hair, as I read about their adventure. The setting felt realistic, from the ride through the steppes through the time they spent with the Mo...more

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Dec 28, 2011 Chelsea rated it 5 of 5 stars

Oh, how I love adventure stories. Exotic settings, perilous journeys, treasures to be hunted, and of course fantastic romance. As adventure stories go, I found this one highly entertaining, delivering everything I want in this sort of book.

Gabriel, having just retired from life as a soldier, is returning to England for a life of peace. But his plans for an ordinary life are quickly interrupted when a dieing man asks him to take a message to a friend in Mongolia named Frank Burgess. Burgess is a...more

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Sep 16, 2010 Casse NaRome rated it 5 of 5 stars

I can't say enough about this book. If you are looking for a book that you just can't put down than this is it! Huntley (Lustley as I refer to him) is straight up sexy, there is no getting around this fact and he is so man-ish so you would think Zoe Archer would give him a heroine so damned stupid you wonder how she manages to breathe on her own but you'd be wrong. Thalia was smart, confident and not too kick ass that you think her hero should do a ball check on her.

The one thing I liked most i...more

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About Zoe Archer

Zoe Archer is an award-winning romance author who thinks there's nothing sexier than a man in tall boots and a waistcoat. As a child, she never dreamed about being the rescued princess, but wanted to kick butt right beside the hero. She now applies her master's degrees in Literature and Fiction to creating butt-kicking heroines and heroes in tall boots. She is the author of the acclaimed BLADES OF...more

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“Now that I've found you, it scares me witless to think of anything happening. To you. I'm not used to being... afraid." A sudden realization came to her, "So this is love," she said quietly. "The daily prospect of joy or disaster” — 27 people liked it

“Men," she said rueful, "are the most absurd creatures on this green earth." "But there are camels," Gabriel pointed out. "Believe me," she answered. "I've taken camels into consideration.” — 8 people liked it

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Warrior (The Blades of the Rose #1)

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