Hearts In Exile

Tallenmere #3

by Mysti Parker

In Tallenmere, fate has a way of catching up with you...

Somewhere, hidden in the waters of the Southern Sea, lies an island unlike any other. Within the amber glow of its pyrogem-laden cliffs, legend says the very heart of the dragon god Drae keeps the island, and its occupants, alive.

Loralee Munroviel, daughter of Leogard's High Priestess Arianne, had no idea what she would face when she arrived by boat ten years ago and was left alone in exile. All she knew about Draekoria's inhabitants was written in one tattered notebook. Now, her life revolves around keeping Drae's descendants happy. Never in her life did she imagine being a Dragon Keeper.

Captain Igrorio Everlyn, known as Sir Robert to his unit of Holy Paladins, has faced his share of hell, battling the evils of Emperor Sarvonn's tyranny and the dark god Tyr's abominations. But none of that compares to the ten years of hell he's been without Loralee, presumed dead.

One freak storm changes everything. Now the two of them must fight to reestablish the delicate balance of the island before the dragons take things into their own hands. Through it all, they discover the secrets that kept them, and their hearts, exiled for a decade.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, New Adult, Fantasy Romance, Paranormal

274 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2013

About the author

Mysti Parker is an award-winning author and shameless chocoholic. She writes romance for every reader's taste from super sweet to scandalously spicy. When she's not writing the next best-story-ever or tackling the endless mountain of laundry, she works as a freelance copywriter and editor. Mysti resides in Louisville, Kentucky with her husband, three children and too many pets.

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Reviews

[Dan Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m always excited to be handed a new novel by author Mysti Parker for review purposes. The Tallenmere series is one of my favourite Fantasy book series and I’m always excited to hear that a new novel is coming out. And I was especially pleased to hear that dragons and paladins would be involved in this one!

Hearts in Exile follows the love story of Loralee Munroviel, a daughter of a High Priestess – who, through no fault of her own becomes a Dragon Keeper and Igrorio Everlyn, AKA Sir Robert, a Paladin captain. Separated for ten years, a freak storm washes Sir Robert up on a seemingly deserted island – only to discover that the love of his life, whom he thought dead, is alive and well – and has made some new friends. Where has Loralee been all these years? She has some explaining to do! Add to the mix an island of dragons and we got a lot of potential with this one.

I’ll start off with the main characters first. I loved Galadin and Caliphany in A Ranger’s Tale and I also really liked Jayden and Serenya in Serenya’s Song. So how did Igrorio (Sir Robert) and Loralee do it for me?

Well I have to say that I really liked Loralee the best. She was a very good character and I thought she was as well crafted as Caliphany from A Ranger’s Tale. She was sort of trapped in a life and career that, whilst she enjoyed, was always at the mercy of a really obnoxious parent – and a bitchy sister. I honestly did feel sorry for Loralee as so many obstacles were put in her way. I liked her character development as well, as she went from a seemingly weak young lady to a really powerful woman – and she got a crowning moment of awesome at the end as well! She was a really strong lead and I think many female readers will like her.

Igrorio (Sir Robert, who you may remember from Serenya's Song), on the other hand, I didn’t like AS much. Even though the paladins were my favourite characters in Serenya’s Song, here I just didn’t latch onto him as much as I hoped. He wasn’t a bad character by any means, and he certainly had his fair share of obstacles and problems – but I personally found him a little too whinny in places. Not whinny as in Anakin Skywalker whinny (thank god), but there were times when I just wanted to reach in, grab him and tell him to man up and stop being a little b****! Galadin and Jayden had their fair share of “emo” moments, but I could kinda understand them because of what I knew of their past. Igrorio I just didn’t have that same connection – but I did ease to him as it went on.

The story itself (without giving TOO many spoilers away) is told mainly in flashbacks, starting off with Igrorio and Loralee meeting each other again after ten years, and then flashing back to their early days, leading up to these events. Whilst this was great to get the backstory between the protagonists, the problem I found with this (and with flashback stories in general), is that the whole time the flashback was going on, I kept wondering what was happening in the present time. It also meant that, when the flashback was over, characters just disappeared from the story with little explanation, aside from a brief exposition from Loralee. It’s a shame, because there were some characters that I REALLY wanted something bad to happen to – and ended up disappointed when that didn’t happen. I personally thought that it may have been better to switch between the past and present so that I wasn’t wondering what’s happening in one part of the story so much.

On the plus side, I really enjoyed the role of the dragons and how they went from powerful creatures to little more than refugees. I think more could have been made of the “evil” dragon’s motivations, but I was interested in the way that the dragons were handled here. Also the connection that Loralee had with the dragons was quite sweet in places. The final battle scene is pretty kick ass with Igrorio and Loralee getting their time to shine. However, there was a somewhat pointless nudity scene at the end of it – even for a romance novel – which meant I couldn’t take the final drama seriously.

But despite the (relatively minor) faults, Hearts in Exile is a really good story of lost love and destiny. And it also tries a few new ideas so that it doesn’t come across as a carbon copy of the other books. Some work, some don’t. But I really did enjoy the way that it opened up the world of Tallenmere and we got to explore places that we had never seen before. I also thought the pace was spot on and the twists and turns made me want to read on more – and there were some nicely written romantic scenes for those who love their romance sweet, but somewhat raunchy!

If you love the previous Tallenmere stories, then you’ll love this one. It has its issues, but you can easily look past them if you’re a fan of the series. Go check this one out. In fact, why not buy ALL of the books in the series and read them back to back if you haven’t already? You won’t be disappointed I can tell you that!

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW!!!! Okay now that I have that one word out, I have to say that this installment in the Tallenmere Series is just tremendous! I think Mysti Parker just keeps getting better.

Now I will be honest I enjoyed book 1 "A Ranger's Tale" but it wasn't something that I would read again. In book 2 "Serenya's Song" I was sucked into the world a bit more. But this book, this book not only sucked me in, it kept me up late into the night reading. And I must say that Mysti Parker has indeed struck that glorious 5 star mark with this book.

I won't go into much about the book because I think you really should get this series. What I will say is that in this book we have a story of Robert and Loralee. This book spans if I remember correctly six decades. Which is quite a long time span. This book while part 3 of the series could be read as a stand alone due to the way the Author has written the story. I must say that I really did love this book.

Trust me when I say that the relationship between Robert and Loralee is just perfect! Full of emotion and so real that you just know them. I must say that since I read these books one after the other, that I was able to discover a few things from book 1 and 2 that left me wanting while reading those books and now those as I call them mysteries were solved much to my delight.

I can't wait for book 4 because I want so much to follow this world some more. This book has it all for those fantasy lovers out there. From Gods on down to elves and every critter in between. The book is definitely more of a romance than a fantasy story. But having aspects of both I'm sure it will suck in most romance and fantasy lovers.

I must give one small tidbit out, I knew relatively quickly who the "bad guy" was, now I'm not sure if this was intentional on the part of the Author or just the mystery of who he was, was just too easy. But even that didn't really make that much difference to me, mostly because I knew this wasn't really a mystery for me to solve.

And once last thing, for those of you who absolutely hate info-dumps, have no fear while this world is incredibly interesting and new, you won't find one info-dump in the book. There is however some fairly drastic time jumps but once you get over those and realize that they are meant to be there, you will accept them for what they are for.

Well what are you waiting for??? GO GRAB THIS SERIES!!!

Details/Disclaimer: Review copy was provided to me in exchange for a fair and honest review. The free book held no determination on my personal review.

[Nara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is half of a review that I did with my co-blogger. Full review is here.

Hearts in Exile was quite a good book. Well written, interesting characters and amazing world building. I'm tackling plot and world building in my section of the review, so here goes:

World Building
I really think that the best thing about this novel was the world building (yep, it was better than the romance). World building can really make or break a novel, and it's just so important in high fantasy novels. Parker really nails it in Hearts in Exile. This is maybe because it was a world that has been set up already in previous novels. But the lore of the novel- the elves, the weird creatures, the dragons- these were all well described and well explained. I quite enjoyed reading about the background history of the novel.

Plot
The plot was fairly good, but I found that at times it was a bit too predictable. The villain was pretty obvious (there were all these hints at the villains' evilness throughout the novel). At the very start of the novel, it feels as if you've been dumped in the middle of the story- it takes a bit of time for you to be able to keep track of things. And then as you read on, you find that you have actually literally been dumped in the middle of the story- we start in the present, and then with flashbacks, the past is slowly revealed. The romance was a sweet one that spanned about a century (they're elves, not humans, so they live a long time). Although it was definitely not an instalove, it almost felt like one for me, because at the start there was quite a long period of time compressed into a few pages. In terms of the ending, I think it was nice, although slightly cliched. I wouldn't have wanted it to end any other way.

[Jeannie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had planned on finishing this book over the weekend, but I couldn't do it. After reading the Tallenmere novels back to back, and knowing I had to wait a while for another Tallenmere novel, I wanted to savor it. Mysti Parker did an excellent job with building tension, creating characters you fall in love with, and vivid imagery. This book has zombies, vampires, dragons, and more. It is ultimately a love story between Loralee and Igrorio (sir Robert). I was routing for them to be together the whole time. At the same time I grew to distrust and during some scenes downright hate Arianne. Both Sir Robert and Francis were characters I'm familiar with from other novels in this series. This book provides the background on them and when reading this one, I kept thinking, oh that's what happened when remembering scenes from the first two books. Ravenwing even showed up in this one. I love this world the author has created. It is complex and a living thing. She weaves her characters and settings together nicely. I can't wait for book number 4. With each book, mysti parker just gets better.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the ways I judge a book is by how long it stays with me after I'm done. This one's still hanging on after 3 or 4 days. That, in and of itself, is impressive!

Mysti's story telling skills have tripled with each new book, and Hearts in Exile is no exception. I nearly stayed up all night reading it - to me, that's always a strong recommendation.

Note that I read a pre-edit version - I am relatively certain I will be coming back to re-rate this book a 5. I rarely reread books, but I'm looking forward to doing just that with this one!

I want a man just like the man that married dear Loralee. ;)

[Mysti Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wrote it, and I like it. :)

[Charlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in the Tallenmere series, but the first two are not pre-requisites. The second and third books are like spin-offs, so you won’t miss out on anything you really need to know. The novel starts in the present, and then goes back in time to the reason why Igrorio comes to the Temple. The novel follows this time until present time.

How do you thank someone who saves your life when you’re not sure if you want to live?

I adore this book. It is a wonderful story, and well written. I fell in love with Loralee and Igrorio. They are strong, creative, loving and resilient characters. The Plague has struck the land. Igrorio has lived through his own hell until meeting Loralee at the Temple. Her mother gives up on him, but Loralee refuses to follow suit. She has hope, and she nurses him back to health and is in charge of his recovery. They are young, and form a strong bond with one another. They go on a hunt for the long-extinct dragons to help pass the days.

I wasn’t sure how two young men who excelled in beating the shit out of each other showed potential.

But Loralee is living with a very short fuse, that starts off the moment Igrorio arrives at the Temple. There is an unsettling dispute between her parents, her mother holds some imaginative power over the king to bend him to her will, and her sister is a hateful, deceitful, cruel person. This hate and deceit set in motion events that cannot be undone.

***

I found a kindred spirit in Loralee; I think she is a lot like me. She knows something will work, but is refused to be given the chance to prove it, so she does it in secrecy to have research to support her claims. She is removed from Igrorio’s day to day interactions, so she devises a way to still have a time with him. She is put on trial for saving Igrorio with her newly found Spark from Mother Inessa and must prove herself to her hard High Priestess mother. She is forced to follow in the footsteps of her mother, and punished for falling in love by betrothing her to Igrorio’s best friend. She has a sister that would just as soon stab her in the chest to get what she wants…and essentially, that happens in the novel. Ivy and Arianne Munroviel tell all that Loralee is dead – but they and King Leopold know differently.

Some mistakes go on to haunt us for the rest of our lives.

Loralee’s ten years on the island of Drae tending to the dragons has changed her, in so many ways. She comes to the island with one more secret, and it is lost to the island. When Igrorio washes up, I am surprised at the changes in her – and the forgiveness she has granted to her sister and her mother for all she’s endured and lost. It would be a hard thing to do, but I had to remind myself that ten years have passed, and she is living to fulfill the purpose of the Keeper of the dragons. Indeed, I had my own issues with my mother, and anger and hatred that lasted a decade, and like Loralee, I got tired of being angry and hurting myself more. Being away at college helped ease our relationship, and Loralee explains this time and distance aspect to Igrorio.

What also engrossed me about this book was that it delves into the society and culture of the world in which Parker has created. There are delicate matters that could upset the balance of the kingdom, and one of those things is the betrothal of the next High Priestess. For his sake, Igrorio has done his best to be the model citizen to be chosen for Loralee. He has impressed her father to give his name for recommendation, but ultimately it is King Leopold’s and her mother’s choice. The novel also closely examines Loralee’s relationship with both of her sisters, and each of her parents, as well as Igrorio. These moments reveal so much about each character.

The novel also touches on Igrorio’s relationship with Sir Francis. In the second book, the pair are sent to work an assignment together and there is small insight into their relationship, in that it is clear that they know the intricacies of the other. Ironically, it does not start out so, and in the third book it goes through their very rough and troubled meeting.

I highly recommend this book.

No, silly, you can’t saddle a dragon.

[Lola · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got a copy for review in exchange of an honest review

The blurb was what made me to decide to accept this book for review. It sounded like a book I would like to read. I was a bit hesitant because the title mentioned this was the 3rd book in this series, after reading it I can confirm that you don’t need to have read the first 2 books to enjoy and understand this book. Although after reading Hearts In Exile I also want to read those first 2 books!

Hearts in Exile is a story driven book, the story is the most important part of the book. There is always something happening and while the pace isn’t really slow nor fast, enough happens to keep my attention. The beginning felt a bit slow for me, but this is probably due to the fact I didn’t had much time to read and could only read small pieces. Also the beginning was a bit confusing as it starts then skips 10 years ahead and then makes a time skip into the past. Basically you get an idea about the characters and where they are present day and then there is a time skip in the past and you get their story from the beginning. At 75 or 80% in it skips to the present day again. The time skips take some getting used to, but when I understood there would be no time skips until the end I didn’t mind the time skips that much.

The story is about paladins, priestess, necromancers, gods, half elves, elves, dwarves and much more and while it contains some classical elements of fantasy books, it also manages to create an original world. I really liked the idea of the 3 gods where people believed in and their different roles. The romance also plays an important part and I loved the combination of fantasy and romance and how seamlessly the author interwove these two elements.

The characters are likeable and while I liked to learn more about them, we did get to know quite a lot about them. The story is told from two perspectives namely Loralee and Sir Robert. I loved reading how they fell in love and all they had to go through. Both are great characters and I kept routing for them and hoped they would end up together. Loralee is such a brave character who follows her head a lot and can be quite stubborn at times. Sir Robert has had a rough past and it was great to see how he developed and what he achieved. The side characters are interesting too, even though the focus is more on the two main characters, there is enough information about the side characters that they feel like real persons too.

One thing that bothered me a bit was that fairly early on I already knew who the ‘evil guy’ would be. It was pretty obvious and this character never even tried to hide her ugly and evil side. Loralee is a bit too forgiven and isn’t wary enough, even thought this character gave her enough reason to be wary. This bothered me a bit. Also at the end we never learn what happened with this character.

The world building is pretty original despite the few cliché elements it contains. The world building is done really well, there are no info dumps and most is learned through the interaction between the characters. I also liked the background on the three gods, Inessa, Omri and Drea and the roles they played in the story. Although I did wish there was more world building and I hope the first 2 books give more insight in the world of Tallenmere. The focus is on the city they grow up in and there isn’t much about the outside world. I would’ve liked to learn more about the rest of the world. At the end there is a nice piece of extra world building about the island and some history.

To conclude: I really enjoyed reading this book, it has a great combination of fantasy and romance. The book is story driven and the story was enjoyable. I also liked the characters and there is enough information to also make the side characters come alive. The world building is done really well, although I wished there was more world building. Although this book can be read without having read the first 2 books, after reading this book I want to read those first 2 books too!

[zapkode · Rating 5 out of 5]

{My Thoughts} – Loralee and Igrorio are in love and have been in love since the first day that met. That is abundantly apparent as you read through the pages of this book.

Loralee met Igrorio the night he was meant to die, because her mother didn’t think that he was worth healing because she figured the poor lass was too far gone. He had endured being attacked by his father both verbally and physically, watching his father take his own life and nearly burning to death in his childhood home. His father had slit his throat and left him to die in the burning house along with him, however, Loralee’s father and his men had rescued him from the building and took him to her mother who decided she was going to let fate run its course. Loralee saw him on the cot from the window in which she was looking down on what was taking place and decided to take matters into her own hands. She went down to try and comfort him, save him, sooth him in his time of need. That was the night she got Inessa’s spark and she healed him! From that day on they were in love with one another. They wanted to be together, but that wasn’t a possibility because of how high up she was in the hierarchy and how low down he was.

Loralee had two sisters Miss Priss and and Ivy. Miss Priss loved her and wanted her to be happy and to follow her heart no matter what. Ivy was rebellious, out to get her out of the way and wanted to be more important to her parents then she was, she wasn’t pleased that she didn’t get Inessa’s spark like Laralee had. She decided she would make her own fortune by doing things that weren’t of smart doing and could get the whole family in a lot of trouble.

Loralee too was doing her own research like Ivy had been and she wasn’t doing it to harm others, but to help and heal those by exploring the body more then what seemed to be allowed through the guidelines that her family followed. She has so much research and so much that she had learned through her own studying, she only wished that she could share her knowledge but knew that wasn’t likely because her mother and the king were against what she was doing and they forbid it, which is why she hid it and did it in secret.

Eventually, Loralee and Igrorio hook up and they get married. But then their world shatters when Loralee goes to a remote hidden island because she was tricked by her sister Ivy. While she is at that island she because the Keeper of the Dragons there. Everyone thinks she is dead but her mother knows differently. Her and Loralee talk through magic mirrors.

This whole book was an adventure. If you want to know what happens to Loralee and Igrorio you need to read the book. There is a lot of sad and disappointing parts within it’s pages. I can tell you that I hadn’t seen a lot of what was written taking place and to me that makes the book all the more special. I like when the ending of a book isn’t something that is obvious but something that is capable of catching you as a reader of guard.

[Tribala · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hearts in Exile
Once again Ms Parker has woven a beautiful tale about the world of Tallenmare. This time focusing on two lovers who seem to never be able to get together. Igrorio and Loralee fell in love as children. Though social rules kept them apart for years, they never lost their love for eachother. As Loralee grew into a formidable priestess, Igrorio became Captain of the Seventh Unit... A powerful Palidin warrior. Just when they thought they could finally be together, jealousy and hate stepped in putting up barriers towards their love. Finally Loralee decides fate be damned and takes her future and the love she has for Igrorio into her own hands, social expectations be damned. One glorious night is all the get as jealousy rears its head. Ivy, Loralee's treacherous sister, betrays her sending Loralee in exile. Thinking she is dead Igrorio lives a solemn life for 10 years until an eventful day brings the two lovers together again.
The book is well written with solid character development and extensive world building, expanding on what we already know from the previous 2 books. Unfortunately unlike the other 2 books, this one seemed to drag on. I wasn't hooked in right away. Usually I devour Ms Parker's books but this one I found I could put down and forget I was reading. Don't get me wrong the book was quite good just not as action packed or suspenseful as her previous books.
Some things that surprised me: Elf development. I guess I never thought about if an elf lives to be a 1000 years old, then it makes sense their development is not the same as humans. So a 20 year old elf is more like a 10 year old human. Along those lines, not being eligible for marriage until they are 70something!!! Imagine waiting that long... That being said.. It felt as though lots of "fillers" were used to get from their adolescence together, through "teenage years" to "adulthood" where everything else happens. One result is we get to know the characters better and the world in which they live, however, I believe this is also where the story tends to drag.
All in all, I enjoyed this story and am glad I read it. I do look forward to more books from this talented author.
***book provided by the Author through PNR NaUBA group Author/Reader Exchange for an honest review.

[Vonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was hesitant at first to read this book because it was the third book in the series and I have not read the first two books. The blurb caught my interest so I agreed to review it. Luckily, the book read as a stand-alone and I was not confused to the world that it described. I enjoyed the story very much that I am now interested in reading the earlier books in the series.

The world that Mysti created was quite interesting. This was an elven world where the elves lived the lives similar to humans. Though they lived longer and some had powers, they also went through the emotions that's usually associated with humans. I found it quite intriguing how mortal they appeared especially after reading about the plague. Another thing that I found fascinating was that there were necromancers and vampires in this world too. It made the plot more interesting and had me wondering how everything was going to play out.

The characters were also enjoyable to read. Loralee was a strong and brave woman who followed her brain and heart to do the right things without seeming to appear too naïve and childish. Next there was Loralee's love interest, Igrorio. He had a tough past and if it weren't for Loralee, he would not have much of a life. I was glad to read how he was able to overcome the darkness of his past and learn how to grow into a trustworthy leader. What I love best about these two characters was how their love grew. It was very sweet and heartbreaking at the same time.

The only downside that I found with this book was that it felt slow for me at first. The story started off in the present, which I found quite interesting, then it quickly shifted to past to described how the characters ended up where they were. I felt that the beginning of the past could have been condensed. Fortunately, the story picked up and continued to be exciting with the events with the necromancer, the vampires, and the betrayals.

Overall, I found myself liking this fantasy book. The love between the main characters was charming and the world that they lived in was interesting. I recommend this book to whoever loves fantasy, but be warned...there are explicit sex scenes. If this does not bother you than, go on and read Hearts in Exile.

[Jessica Jesinghaus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Check out this review, and many more, on my blog https://jessjesinghaus.wordpress.com

As the third book I've read and reviewed in Ms. Parker's Tallenmere series, I was chomping at the bit to get started with this one. I love, love, loved the first two installments and couldn't wait to immerse myself once again in her world. Although not my fave in the series, this book was still wonderful.

The story starts off about ten years before events in "Serenya's Song" (reading the first two books is not a prerequisite, each stands alone quite well) and introduces us to Loralee, who is being exiled on a mysterious island. Why she's been banished here is somewhat of a mystery, one that we'll spend the next 3/4 of the book discovering.

Then we rocket forward to present day, where we meet up with Sir Igrorio "Robert" Everlyn and his paladin comrade / brother Francis. When their ship is besieged by a storm and lost to the waves, Robert washes ashore at the cusp of death... only to be rescued and revived by his long-lost love Loralee, whom he had been led to believe was dead.

I didn't realize when I started this book that I'd signed up for time travel, but Ms. Parker takes us on a wild journey back in time 65 years to Sir Robert's tragic childhood and events leading to his meeting the young temple priestess and healer, Loralee. A good 75% or more of the story is spent spanning various time periods of their younger lives which, despite their obvious love for one another, are spent apart. It was agonizing to watch and wait for these two to come together again.

When we finally returned to the present day, I couldn't figure out how on earth things could be wrapped up and resolved with such a small portion of the book remaining. Yet Ms. Parker pulled it off with aplomb!

If you're looking for a steamy romance, this one doesn't pack the same punch as its predecessors. But if stalwart devotion, heartbreak, angst and adventure are what you seek you'll not be disappointed. And in case you missed it in the book blurb: there's DRAGONS! You can never go wrong, in my book, if you've got dragons.


**I received a copy of this book from the author which I then chose to voluntarily review**

[A.E. Curzon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hearts in Exile is a story spanning sixty years, involving paladins, elves, necromancers, gods and dwarves, to name but a few. The two main protagonists, Sir Robert (Igrorio Everlyn ) and Loralee Munroviel, daughter of a High Priestess, are two young people who fall desperately and deeply in love only to be separated for ten long years, neither knowing where the other is. Loralee is banished to an island to be a Dragon Keeper with only the company of dragons and a pet snippet called Puddle. Sir Robert becomes a Holy Paladin and goes off to fight and achieve great things for king and country. A freak storm eventually reunites them. Throughout the story we learn, from the perspective of both Loralee and Sir Robert, how their lives and love began and see the tale unfold and build to an enveloping crescendo. I don’t want to give too much of the story away; it really is something you should read for yourself.
This book is the third in the Tallenmere series, and regrettably I have not yet read the first two. I am not really sure this matters a great deal though, as this book stand up perfectly well on its own.
Mysti Parker is clearly an accomplished storyteller whose imagination surpasses expectation. This is one of the few books I have read recently that I simply could not put down. Clichéd as that may sound; it really is that sort of book. To say it is well-written would be superfluous. The whole shebang is flawlessly well-executed .The characters are enjoyable and believable, and very well-developed. Having never met any of them before, I felt an affinity with them within almost instantly. There are the usual; the good, the evil and the in-between, as one would expect, but these characters are a little bit more. They pull you into their world and take you with them on their respective journeys.

All in all; a unique and beautifully told story in the classic style of fantasy and romance, with all the pieces wonderfully woven together and all ends tied up.

[Jenny Twist · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loralee Munroviel, daughter of Leogard's High Priestess Arianne, has been in love with Igrorio ever since she found him horribly injured and left to die. She nursed him back to life and sanity and became his dearest friend. Neither admits their love to the other, but each secretly harbours a dream that they will be married one day. But in Tallenmere the daughter of a priestess cannot choose. She must accept her parents’ choice.
In this third story set in Tallenmere we meet an almost entirely new cast of characters and learn a great deal more of the culture of this fantasy world.
Igrorio, later known as Sir Robert, made his first appearance in Serenya’s Song and now we learn his full and tragic history.
But the most compelling character in the book is Loralee. Although she has a love/hate relationship with her mother, the high priestess, she resembles her in more ways than she would care to admit. She is not afraid to stand up for her beliefs and refuses to submit to the old regime’s outdated and dangerous ideas. What she cannot do openly she does by subterfuge.
All this is played out against a background of the fantastic beings that people Tallenmere. The main characters are elves, but there also are humans, dwarves and vampires – not to mention the myriad creatures that abound in Tallenmere. My personal favourite is the snippet. I would love to have one as a pet.
And then there are the dragons. Long supposed extinct, Loralee discovers not only that there is a small colony of them living on a secret island, but that she herself is a hereditary dragon keeper.
There is a world of excitement in this book. It is a true adventure story with one conflict after another.
Ms Parker writes in a highly-readable, uncluttered style, her characters are distinct and compelling, and the surprise ending alone is worth getting the book for.
Fantasies don’t come any better than this.
Grab your copy now. You won’t be disappointed.

[Jonel · Rating 5 out of 5]

“You’re so damn beautiful” may be the main character’s favorite sentence, but it also describes this novel brilliantly.

Parker uses the same vivid writing style that we’ve seen throughout the Tallenmere series to show her readers some of the furthest reaches of this world. She keeps you captivated as you live the story right alongside the characters. The various creatures of Tallenmere are developed much more fully in this installment of the series. Creatures that were spoken of in the first two novels become much more vivid in your mind’s eye. You also learn a great deal about the life cycles of some of the key species and races in the series, which sheds some light on their relationships with one another. In this novel Parker also tactfully writes a tale that comprises the better part of a century without leaving you feeling rushed or like something’s missing. You live the life of a High Elf.

Parker has a way of introducing characters in a previous novel and then bringing them to full form in a novel of their own. This really keeps the series interesting as each novel is its own complete story, while they’re also tied together via their relationships and the wonderful world of Tallenmere. The characters in this novel are so well developed that they become part of your family. You grow and care right alongside them. Although they are fairy tale creatures living their own fairy tale they become very real to the reader.

This was, by far, my favorite in the series so far. I cannot wait to see what Parker brings us next with this thrilling and heartwarming series.

Please note that I received this novel free of charge from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Stefanie Pristavu · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, I got this book and read it and it was... really, really good. Mysti keeps getting better with each book in the series (so I can't wait for the next one)

Right, Hearts in Exile follows the lives of sir Robert and Loralee.

First off, I loved Loralee. She made so much sense to me - there wasn't one moment when I didn't agree with her or cringed at her. Even when she made mistakes, I totally got where it came from. She was a strong, fair, loyal, brave character.

Igrorio was mostly likable as well. He did have his emo ups and downs, how I like to call them, but he grew and became pretty damn awesome.

Francis... now Francis I loved. He was such an awesome person, so loyal to Igrorio.

The plot - okay, this was a bit something else. There's no major plot per se seeing as the story consists mostly of how Loralee and Robert met and grew up. But there is a climax, there is action and also a satisfying ending. I would've liked to see more at the end about how Robert and Loralee's promise to Drae affected the rest of the world. How the king and Arianne reacted to what happened, and what the future held for the dragons.

Overall, I really liked the story. The plague scenes were great and the characters as awesome as ever. I would of course recommend it and can't wait for the next in the series.

[Cassandra-anne Delorie · Rating 5 out of 5]

***THIS BOOK WAS GIVEN TO ME IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW***
***Contains graphic sex and language. Not for young readers***
***Cassandra Delorie #NerdGirlLola’s Review***

Let me start off by saying that yes this is the 3rd book in the Tallenmere series but it is completely stand alone. I repeat you do not have to have read either one of the 2 previous books to understand this one. That being said I will begin my review.

This book is completely spellbinding. It took a few chapters but once I was hooked I couldn’t put the book down. I was totally captivated by Loralee and Igrorio’s story. The writing is so beautiful it’s hard not to get completely caught up in the story.

The characters were so well written and likeable (or despicable depending on whom we are talking about). Of course my favorites were Loralee and Igrorio but I also liked how the supporting characters were more then just background scenery. They actually had depth and became just as much a part of the main story as Loralee and Igrorio.

Overall this is an excellent book full of beautiful imagery and loveable characters. I am definitely going to check out the first 2 in this series and I suggest everyone else does as well.

***Review has been done in conjunction with Nerd Girl Official. For more information regarding our reviews please visit our Fan Site: www.facebook.com/NerdGirl.NG***

[Tracy Hanson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although this is Book 3 it is easy to understand and you don't have to have read the first 2 to enjoy it. Saying that, I would definitely recommend the first 2 (even out of order). The world that Mysti has created is easy to understand and very interesting. Elves live in a world very much like humans with the same emotions although some elves have powers and all elves live longer. Some parts of the book made me think just how mortal the elves were (especially one part). I enjoyed the addition of vampires and necromancers in this world as well. It made it a slightly more interesting read and was desperate to see how well the parts mingled (very well I will add). I loved Loralee who is a brave and strong woman. She isn't naive or childish in her approach to doing things. The love interest was great, I enjoyed learning about his past and the way he overcame his dark history with the help of Loralee. The only thing I will say was it started off a little slow, although it is worth persevering with as it soon gets going. You are drawn into a world full of adventures, battles and betrayal. The love between characters is believable and I enjoyed reading about the world they lived in.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hearts in Exile follows the story of Sir Robert, the Paladin who we meet briefly in "A Ranger's Tale," and get to know more fully in "Serenya's Song." Although this book is the third in the series, it serves just as easily as a stand alone book, with nice but brief references to characters and events from the first two novels.

The book starts in the present day with a shipwreck leading to a reunion. But almost immediately the reader is sent back over six decades to learn the back story of the two main characters, Sir Robert and Loralee. The back story is phenomenal because the author not only manages to give the reader the history of this couple, but also builds more fully the history of this world and its inhabitants.

Mysti Parker does a fantastic job of interweaving plots and subplots, leaving no loose ends. The storyline is unpredictable and exciting. The relationship and emotion between Sir Robert and Loralee has realistic depth.

I loved this book, and after reading it, immediately re-read the first two in the series. My only disappointment is the wait until the fourth book is released next year!

[Kendra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another amazing book in the Tallenmere series! I love this series!
This book takes us through the lives, past and present, of Sir Robert and the daughter of the High Priestess, Loralee. Thought to be dead, but actually exiled to a hidden island, Loralee is now the keeper of the dragons, thought to be extinct. Without a keeper on the island, the dragons will eventually die, and Loralee is one of very few people, the only one they currently know of, with the keeper's mark.
Lots of betrayal, hidden agendas, deaths and sacrifice, all make this into an amazing story. The majority of the book is of flashbacks, telling the lives of Sir Robert and Loralee when they were younger, how they met, their friendship and eventually falling in love, their struggles and eventually finding one another again.
I'd definitely recommend this book, this entire series, for others to read.
Review by Kendra @ www.FaeBooks.co.uk

[Nancy Steinle gummel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hearts in Exile by Mysti Parker was gifted to me by the author for an honest opinion. Sir Robert (Igrorio Everlyn) was told the love of his life, Loralee had died. Her family grieved, Igrorio never got over it. Returning from a mission ten years later, he is shipwrecked and lands on an island. He wakens to Loralee. He believes he died. When Loralee kisses him re realizes he's alive. He has questions. How did she come to be on this island. Where are hey. As he discovers she's the dragon keeper and the betrayal by her sister, then her mother and hen King Leopold, Igrorio gets angry. Gets angrier when he finds out their son, Clauson died at birth. Find out what the king wants Loralee to do and whether she will do his bidden.

[Tori Ridgewood · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is so very, very much to love about this book. Mysti Parker has outdone herself with this tale of love lost and found again, tragedy and courage, hope and ruin. The characters are beautifully written, and I fell right into the setting. It was difficult to pull myself out of Tallenmere and go to work; I wanted to devour this book whole in a single reading. There are echoes of Tolkien, "The Princess Bride", and "The Tempest" in this work. It is a romance / fantasy of the highest calibre. While I enjoyed "A Ranger's Tale" and "Serenya's Song", by a narrow margin "Hearts in Exile" is my favourite of Parker's novels so far. I await "No Place Like Home" next year with much anticipation.

[Petula · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a magical romance, with some beautiful and fierce dragons. It is the 3rd in a series but you can read this without spoiling the first two for yourself.
This follows the lives of Loralee, eldest daughter of the high priestess and Sir Robert orphan boy grown into a holy warrior. They have a lot to learn about their duty and each other. Tallenmere is a world where Elves are royalty . There are all sorts of creatures that live alongside humans. They battle with magic as well as swords. The ending is a big suprise. A beautiful lovestory with sex but I think fine for Y.A. readers and adults who like to stretch their immagination. I enjoyed it.

[Ruth Hartman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enchanting World September 23, 2013


In the third book of the Tallenmere series, Loralee and Igrorio are soul mates who are torn apart and must go through several trials and decades to be together. Elves, dragons, and a cute Snippet named Puddle are main characters. Mysti Parker is a master of description in both the characters thoughts and feelings and in the world she has created for them. The first two books in the series are wonderful, but don't have to be read first in order to enjoy the third. Although, it did help me with the overall flavor of the book since I had read the other two. I loved the ending! So appropriate for the story :) Great job, Mysti!

[Leila Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another excellent book by Mysti Parker! Third in the Tallenmere series, this work is the story of the life and enduring romance of Loralee Munroviel and Igrorio Everlyn as they battle together to find their way to each other after betrayal tears them apart. Overcoming tragedy and adversaries, their tale is certain to delight those who enjoy both romance and fantasy and I heartily recommend this work.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love, war, magic, healing, politics, adultery, insanity, dark magic, love, family, and finding bone's purpose ...what more is there?

A beautiful and not overly complicated narrative weaves together the lives of our two main characters, their families, and journeys while adding mystery. The characters are authentic for their reality, flawed, compassionate, and colorful.

Overall, an enchanting read.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the moment I started this I felt I'd enjoy it. I wasn't wrong. This is a fantastic story about romance, vampires, dragons. Clearly worth five stars and the time. Now I look forward to reading more of Mysti Parkers books.

[Melannie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mysti Parker keeps getting better!

Igrorio (Sir Robert) and Loralee's story is beautiful, magical, and full of adventure. You don't want to miss it. Every book in this series has been even better than the last. I'm ready for book 4!

[Joyce Hertzoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

This might be the best story in the romantic fantasy Tallenmere series. The combination of star-crossed lovers and dragons can't be beat.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Possibly my favourite of the series so far, although that's a very difficult choice to make! Now hurry up and gimme number 4!!! Love you, Mysti!