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Mine #2
Mine to Spell
Cynthia has always hidden from her father’s hexes behind her older sister. When her family gains independence unheard of for women, she’s relieved that her days of harsh punishments are over. But as her seventeenth birthday approaches—the typical age to be sold to a new master—death threats endanger her sisters. She now faces two options: run or meet society’s expectations.
For once, Cynthia isn’t going to let her older sister shield her from the problem. She’s going to prove to herself, her sisters, and society that her family isn’t a threat to their traditions. She willingly chooses to be purchased by a new master. A bold step that takes her somewhere she never thought she would go and to a man she might possibly fall in love with. With his help, she may just find a way to save her sisters while discovering how to stand up for herself. If she lives long enough.
For once, Cynthia isn’t going to let her older sister shield her from the problem. She’s going to prove to herself, her sisters, and society that her family isn’t a threat to their traditions. She willingly chooses to be purchased by a new master. A bold step that takes her somewhere she never thought she would go and to a man she might possibly fall in love with. With his help, she may just find a way to save her sisters while discovering how to stand up for herself. If she lives long enough.
First published May 5, 2014
About the author
Janeal Falor
36 books817 followersJaneal Falor has published over twenty books including the Mine series, Death's Queen, and Sands of Eppla. She lives in Utah with her husband and three children. In her non-writing time she teaches her kids to make silly faces, cooks whatever strikes her fancy, and attempts to cultivate a garden even when half the things she plants die. When it's time for a break she can be found taking a scenic drive with her family or drinking hot chocolate.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
July 8, 2014
Also reviewed for Addicted2Heroines
The first book in this series ( You Are Mine) took me by surprise and totally swept me off my feet.
So, when I saw the next book in the series was available?
I did the grabby-hands thing, and snatched it up as fast as I could!
And I was not disappointed.
*Warning: Possible spoilers for the previous book*
This book is about Cynthia, Serena's younger sister, who gets only a passing mention in the previous installment. In the first book, you learn that warlocks are the only ones who can use the magic in their blood. Women are bought and sold according to how powerful their blood is, and then used as baby makers by the men, in the hopes of getting a powerful male heir.
Serena's blood was powerful, but the surprise to everyone was how much more potent Cynthia's blood was. It's not something that's delved into in book one, but it's the focal point of this one.
And here's why...
*fist pump*
I knew it! I just knew girls could do magic!
I'm not counting this as a spoiler, because you find out that Cynthia can use spells in the beginning of this book.
M'kay, and not only has Cynthia learned how to tap into her magic, but she's wicked powerful! Except, she doesn't realize how strong she is, because she's had to hide her abilities from everyone throughout the years. Especially from Serena, who because of all the abuse she's taken over the years, hates magic.
But she's about to find out exactly what she's capable of...
Without giving too many spoilers, here's what I liked/disliked about this book:
I really love the parallels these books draw between this world, and the cults/religions that tell women they are...less.
But I also love the fact that Falor does it without the All-Men-Are-Evil thing. There are good guys in these books, just like there are good guys in in real life.
My only complaint? There didn't seem to be enough focus on showing Cynthia's magical progression. I wanted more scenes with her learning to do hardcore spells that could kick ass. It was a letdown, but it didn't ruin the book for me.
The ending for this one definitely lets you know that a war is coming, though, and I'm really looking forward to seeing what happens next! If you haven't started in on these books, you're missing out on a great story!
P.S.
There's also a prequel novella about Katherine that's out now. Mine To Tarnish was a good read, but you'll want to read book one beforehand, so that you have a better grasp on the world building . Check it out if you're interested!
The first book in this series ( You Are Mine) took me by surprise and totally swept me off my feet.
So, when I saw the next book in the series was available?
I did the grabby-hands thing, and snatched it up as fast as I could!
And I was not disappointed.
*Warning: Possible spoilers for the previous book*
This book is about Cynthia, Serena's younger sister, who gets only a passing mention in the previous installment. In the first book, you learn that warlocks are the only ones who can use the magic in their blood. Women are bought and sold according to how powerful their blood is, and then used as baby makers by the men, in the hopes of getting a powerful male heir.
Serena's blood was powerful, but the surprise to everyone was how much more potent Cynthia's blood was. It's not something that's delved into in book one, but it's the focal point of this one.
And here's why...
*fist pump*
I knew it! I just knew girls could do magic!
I'm not counting this as a spoiler, because you find out that Cynthia can use spells in the beginning of this book.
M'kay, and not only has Cynthia learned how to tap into her magic, but she's wicked powerful! Except, she doesn't realize how strong she is, because she's had to hide her abilities from everyone throughout the years. Especially from Serena, who because of all the abuse she's taken over the years, hates magic.
But she's about to find out exactly what she's capable of...
Without giving too many spoilers, here's what I liked/disliked about this book:
I really love the parallels these books draw between this world, and the cults/religions that tell women they are...less.
But I also love the fact that Falor does it without the All-Men-Are-Evil thing. There are good guys in these books, just like there are good guys in in real life.
My only complaint? There didn't seem to be enough focus on showing Cynthia's magical progression. I wanted more scenes with her learning to do hardcore spells that could kick ass. It was a letdown, but it didn't ruin the book for me.
The ending for this one definitely lets you know that a war is coming, though, and I'm really looking forward to seeing what happens next! If you haven't started in on these books, you're missing out on a great story!
P.S.
There's also a prequel novella about Katherine that's out now. Mine To Tarnish was a good read, but you'll want to read book one beforehand, so that you have a better grasp on the world building . Check it out if you're interested!
Want to read
April 1, 2015I'm looking forward to continuing this series, I hope the romance is turned up a notch in this one.
June 29, 2018
This wasn’t a kindle freebie like the previous book but at £3 I thought it was worth it to read Cynthia’s story. I liked Cynthia in book one, she was like a little ray of sunshine and I genuinely didn’t want to see things turn sour for her in this one.
The story pretty much starts where book one left. Like the previous book, it took a little bit to grab my interest, but since I invested myself in book one and reaped the benefits, doing the same for this was only fair.
I did expect a bit more of a connection between Cynthia and lukas, a bit more spark like Serena and zade, especially since lukas is effin adorable. But it fell a little flat for me there. That’s the trouble when you read such a good first book where you had a lot of love for the main characters, it’s hard for the successors to beat it. I found that there was a lot of one on one conversation for chapters on end and not a lot of surprises or drama.
However, Whilst there wasn’t enough in the way of romance, I enjoyed getting a more in depth look at the magic our characters use. The author has really thought about the development concerning the magic and the ever expanding world. I was excited to get to the parts where Cynthia would be competing in the duals, completely unheard of for a chardonian woman, until now. It was pretty obvious that she would eventually be duelling with lukas though, that seed was planted early on in the book, but I was still anticipating it.
It was a fairly hard slog to get to the tournaments but when it did I enjoyed it. It even ended on a nice little cliff hanger. As the women gain power the more I’m internally cheering, in a way the book is very pro feminism which was pretty cool.
I have some Massive mixed feelings about this. I’m giving it 2.5 rounded to a 3. The charm of the first book got lost in this one. I’d have liked to have read more about the rest of the family and I’d have liked more hearts and flowers and less pointless conversations. In all, it was an ok read, made more exciting with fast paced duals and Cynthia’s plight for chardonian women’s rights which was pretty empowering. It’s been nice to watch the characters grow and get stronger and it’s probable that I’ll continue with the series.
The story pretty much starts where book one left. Like the previous book, it took a little bit to grab my interest, but since I invested myself in book one and reaped the benefits, doing the same for this was only fair.
I did expect a bit more of a connection between Cynthia and lukas, a bit more spark like Serena and zade, especially since lukas is effin adorable. But it fell a little flat for me there. That’s the trouble when you read such a good first book where you had a lot of love for the main characters, it’s hard for the successors to beat it. I found that there was a lot of one on one conversation for chapters on end and not a lot of surprises or drama.
However, Whilst there wasn’t enough in the way of romance, I enjoyed getting a more in depth look at the magic our characters use. The author has really thought about the development concerning the magic and the ever expanding world. I was excited to get to the parts where Cynthia would be competing in the duals, completely unheard of for a chardonian woman, until now. It was pretty obvious that she would eventually be duelling with lukas though, that seed was planted early on in the book, but I was still anticipating it.
It was a fairly hard slog to get to the tournaments but when it did I enjoyed it. It even ended on a nice little cliff hanger. As the women gain power the more I’m internally cheering, in a way the book is very pro feminism which was pretty cool.
I have some Massive mixed feelings about this. I’m giving it 2.5 rounded to a 3. The charm of the first book got lost in this one. I’d have liked to have read more about the rest of the family and I’d have liked more hearts and flowers and less pointless conversations. In all, it was an ok read, made more exciting with fast paced duals and Cynthia’s plight for chardonian women’s rights which was pretty empowering. It’s been nice to watch the characters grow and get stronger and it’s probable that I’ll continue with the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 11, 2016
This and my other reviews can be found at http://amethystbookwyrm.blogspot.co.uk/
Thanks to Netgalley and Patchwork Press for giving me this book to review.
Since Cynthia’s older sister, Serena, did the unheard of in Chardonia and gains her own independence, Cynthia and her sisters have been free. But as Cynthia reaches her 17th birthday, to protect her family, she meets society’s expectations and is bought by a new master. However, when her new master attacks her, she reveals a secret, that she can do magic which it is believed that women cannot do. With the help of Lukas, a foreigner who want to change how Chardonia’s people are treated, Cynthia is willing to do anything to prove that women are more than possessions and are just as able as men.
Mine to Spell is the really good sequel to You Are Mine which is a feminist fantasy novel but does not do this by putting down all men. I like that there is more magic in this book and it is better explained than the last and also there is more romance but it is still on the light side.
Cynthia is just as protective as Serena and I like her as she has had to hide who she is and while is insecure is still willing to fight for independence for herself and others. I also like Lukas as he is brave but also kind and is a friend to Cynthia when she really needed one. I also enjoyed seeing characters that we met in the first book such as Serena, Zade and Waverly.
This is a really enjoyable book and I am looking forward to the next book. I would recommend Mine to Spell to people who enjoyed the first book You Are Mine and this series to those who like reading fantasy novels.
Thanks to Netgalley and Patchwork Press for giving me this book to review.
Since Cynthia’s older sister, Serena, did the unheard of in Chardonia and gains her own independence, Cynthia and her sisters have been free. But as Cynthia reaches her 17th birthday, to protect her family, she meets society’s expectations and is bought by a new master. However, when her new master attacks her, she reveals a secret, that she can do magic which it is believed that women cannot do. With the help of Lukas, a foreigner who want to change how Chardonia’s people are treated, Cynthia is willing to do anything to prove that women are more than possessions and are just as able as men.
Mine to Spell is the really good sequel to You Are Mine which is a feminist fantasy novel but does not do this by putting down all men. I like that there is more magic in this book and it is better explained than the last and also there is more romance but it is still on the light side.
Cynthia is just as protective as Serena and I like her as she has had to hide who she is and while is insecure is still willing to fight for independence for herself and others. I also like Lukas as he is brave but also kind and is a friend to Cynthia when she really needed one. I also enjoyed seeing characters that we met in the first book such as Serena, Zade and Waverly.
This is a really enjoyable book and I am looking forward to the next book. I would recommend Mine to Spell to people who enjoyed the first book You Are Mine and this series to those who like reading fantasy novels.
October 19, 2015
This review was originally posted on [Between My Lines]
Twitteresque reviews are for books where I don’t feel like writing a full review but I want to give you a flavour of how I felt during the book. All in 140 characters or less!
Unique world of warlocks and magic where women have no rights and no powers make this a scary but compelling read. I love the way colour blends with magic to create spells.
Twitteresque reviews are for books where I don’t feel like writing a full review but I want to give you a flavour of how I felt during the book. All in 140 characters or less!
Unique world of warlocks and magic where women have no rights and no powers make this a scary but compelling read. I love the way colour blends with magic to create spells.
Shelved as 'dnf'
March 21, 2017I really enjoyed the first book in the series but I was not a fan of this one. There were major editing issues and such poor grammar. I also found the main character TSTL. I have to say I dnf this about 3/4 through.
Read
November 4, 2016Read in 2014
Thank you to author Janeal Falor for providing me with a copy of this to read in exchange for an honest review
Find this review and more on my blog The Rest Is Still Unwritten!
Mine to Spell is the wonderful sequel to Janeal Falor’s sensational debut You Are Mine and is an exciting follow up to a brilliant book that promises this author has many more fantastic tales up her sleeves!
Can I just say….I seriously love this series! I mean, seriously love it. Janeal Falor keeps proving to me what a talented storyteller she is: weaving together this sensational world of magic and repression and managing to capitalize and build on an already superb world with each story. Serena won me over in the first book, You Are Mine and then its prequel, Mine to Tarnish featuring Katherine left me longing for more but Mine to Spell has me falling in love with the series even more as Falor this time tells Cynthia’s story.
As the reader, we met Cynthia briefly in You Are Mine when we followed her older sister Serena, but we didn’t learn that much about her. Falor only allowed us to see her as Serena saw her and as the older sibling wanting to protect her younger sister. It never became evident just want talents and abilities Cynthia was hiding, something that does finally become apparent in Mine to Spell.
Cynthia was a really likable character. She’s a young woman living in a world where women are repressed and are the property of men. In the world Falor details, men use magic, and while woman have it in their blood, they’re supposedly not capable of producing it physically; something we’re coming to learn isn’t the case, especially where Cynthia is concerned. Though she is very much a product of the world she lives in, Cynthia seems a lot more comfortable in her own skin that her sister was. Acting the sweet, boy-crazed sister, Cynthia embraces the magic she has and has instead been secretly practicing spells for years.
Coming across as the ditzy young woman has allowed Cynthia to escape the notice of warlocks who may have chosen to use the magic running in her blood up until now, but when unexpected circumstances and perilous danger force her into the hands of a new master, Cynthia quickly realizes the only way to protect herself is to use her abilities and soon Cynthia finds herself making bold decisions to take back her freedom, finding new friends, love and power in the process.
Cynthia really takes a stand in this book, and though she’s understandably afraid, she’s also very strong and as her strength slowly grows with the help of those she loves and a new ally in the from of a charismatic and beguiling young foreigner who sees Cynthia as more than just property to be owned, Cynthia does shine and I loved seeing her do so. Who knew such a brilliant character existed under all the airhead act she put on!
The thing I love about this series is that every main character really has had their own story to tell so far. It’s not like we’ve been introduced to a bunch of characters in similar predicaments and then see the same story over and over with slight differences. We’re seeing different stories about different young women who share similar social status and standing but who also have very different fears and obstacles to overcome, finding love along the way.
I was thrilled to find Serena and Zade make various appearances in this novel along with Cynthia’s sisters, Katherine and even Charles, whom we met in Mine to Tarnish. I adore these characters was so happy to see them again. Lukas was an adorable match for Cynthia and the perfect balance of brave fighter and kind friend. They had a great connection and chemistry that I enjoyed witnessing very much. Waverly and Bethany have me both looking forward to their stories and after the jaw dropping ending Janeal Falor left us with that sees an enemy of the past return, I’m extremely excited to get my hands on future books!
Featuring plenty of beguiling characters and exciting action during the warlocks tournament, Mine to Spell is an excellent addition to this wonderful series that mixes romance with magic and has me ready to dive into the next book pronto.
Thank you to author Janeal Falor for providing me with a copy of this to read in exchange for an honest review
Find this review and more on my blog The Rest Is Still Unwritten!
Mine to Spell is the wonderful sequel to Janeal Falor’s sensational debut You Are Mine and is an exciting follow up to a brilliant book that promises this author has many more fantastic tales up her sleeves!
Can I just say….I seriously love this series! I mean, seriously love it. Janeal Falor keeps proving to me what a talented storyteller she is: weaving together this sensational world of magic and repression and managing to capitalize and build on an already superb world with each story. Serena won me over in the first book, You Are Mine and then its prequel, Mine to Tarnish featuring Katherine left me longing for more but Mine to Spell has me falling in love with the series even more as Falor this time tells Cynthia’s story.
As the reader, we met Cynthia briefly in You Are Mine when we followed her older sister Serena, but we didn’t learn that much about her. Falor only allowed us to see her as Serena saw her and as the older sibling wanting to protect her younger sister. It never became evident just want talents and abilities Cynthia was hiding, something that does finally become apparent in Mine to Spell.
Cynthia was a really likable character. She’s a young woman living in a world where women are repressed and are the property of men. In the world Falor details, men use magic, and while woman have it in their blood, they’re supposedly not capable of producing it physically; something we’re coming to learn isn’t the case, especially where Cynthia is concerned. Though she is very much a product of the world she lives in, Cynthia seems a lot more comfortable in her own skin that her sister was. Acting the sweet, boy-crazed sister, Cynthia embraces the magic she has and has instead been secretly practicing spells for years.
Coming across as the ditzy young woman has allowed Cynthia to escape the notice of warlocks who may have chosen to use the magic running in her blood up until now, but when unexpected circumstances and perilous danger force her into the hands of a new master, Cynthia quickly realizes the only way to protect herself is to use her abilities and soon Cynthia finds herself making bold decisions to take back her freedom, finding new friends, love and power in the process.
Cynthia really takes a stand in this book, and though she’s understandably afraid, she’s also very strong and as her strength slowly grows with the help of those she loves and a new ally in the from of a charismatic and beguiling young foreigner who sees Cynthia as more than just property to be owned, Cynthia does shine and I loved seeing her do so. Who knew such a brilliant character existed under all the airhead act she put on!
The thing I love about this series is that every main character really has had their own story to tell so far. It’s not like we’ve been introduced to a bunch of characters in similar predicaments and then see the same story over and over with slight differences. We’re seeing different stories about different young women who share similar social status and standing but who also have very different fears and obstacles to overcome, finding love along the way.
I was thrilled to find Serena and Zade make various appearances in this novel along with Cynthia’s sisters, Katherine and even Charles, whom we met in Mine to Tarnish. I adore these characters was so happy to see them again. Lukas was an adorable match for Cynthia and the perfect balance of brave fighter and kind friend. They had a great connection and chemistry that I enjoyed witnessing very much. Waverly and Bethany have me both looking forward to their stories and after the jaw dropping ending Janeal Falor left us with that sees an enemy of the past return, I’m extremely excited to get my hands on future books!
Featuring plenty of beguiling characters and exciting action during the warlocks tournament, Mine to Spell is an excellent addition to this wonderful series that mixes romance with magic and has me ready to dive into the next book pronto.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 18, 2017
Totally enjoyed this book. Standing up for herself and showing the women of her country what they can do, is the mark of a truly great woman. Cynthia is Serena’s sister the next in line to be sold, she appears to comply with tradition and allows her self to be sold, but she is hiding a secret, one that will change the life’s of people especially women. Cynthia is totally different from any of her sisters and her story is a story of truimph over adversity. She even manages to finds love in the form of Lukas and he supports her where he can. A totally enjoyable story. Of the the next one.
September 1, 2016
I would like to thank the author for providing me with a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review
I had read You Are Mine last month and I was very excited to read Cynthia's story in Mine To Spell.The world building and the characters were just as awesome as in the previous book.
As you would have come to know from the end of the last book, Cynthia can do magic.But the problem is women in Chardonia don't do magic.When they are found, the memories of all the people who know about them are erased and they are sacrificed to the Grand Chancellor.
The events that took place in You Are Mine have caused quite a stir in Chardonia.Most men are angered by the fact that Serena is free and is her own master.So in order to pacify things and make the lives of her family easier Cynthia offers herself to be sold off to a warlock by marriage.Though Serena and Zade don't want this Cynthia pushes the matter and she is soon purchased by a warlock named Edward.He collects her as soon as they sign the agreement(without even marrying her) and takes her to his house where he tries to drain her magic.
In defence Cynthia uses her magic to bind him and blackmails him into freeing her.She becomes free just like Serena.She wanders around as she doesn't know where to go and is soon helped by a mysterious, handsome stranger Lukas who turns out to be a friend of Zade's.Cynthia is now free but she doesn't know what to do with this newfound freedom.She decides to enter the Tournament in order to show everyone that women can also do magic and Lukas offers to help her with the training.But by doing so she makes herself and her family an even bigger target than before.So will Cynthia be able to open the eyes of the people in the male-dominated, chauvinistic society of Chardonia or will she die trying??
Cynthia was an awesome protagonist.As You Are Mine was from Serena's perspective we only see the Cynthia that Serena sees.It was so surprising to find out that the Cynthia we saw was a front.She pretends to be a happy, carefree, boy- crazy girl when in reality she has her own insecurities and secrets to deal with.I loved her determination and her courage.She is so good at pretending to be fine that most of the times people don't notice that she is upset.I also loved Lukas.He was such a wonderful and caring love-interest.Cynthia and Lukas are perfect for each other. I guess the author must have heard everyone's requests because there was more romance in this novel than the previous one and this made it much more enjoyable.
I loved seeing all the other characters from You Are Mine.It is nice that the author didn't make it too easy for Serena and Zade.They have their minor problems to deal with and we could see how much Zade loved Serena.Phew!!Finally they can get married!!It was also good to see Serena overcome her disdain of magic.Waverly was also a very good friend to Cynthia and I hope we get to read her story in the future.I hate the Grand Chancellor and I hope they can finally defeat him by the end of the series.The ending of Mine To Spell has left things very open.There is a lot that needs to be done which can't happen over the course of two books.Can't wait to see where the story goes and the roles that the different sisters will play!!
I had read You Are Mine last month and I was very excited to read Cynthia's story in Mine To Spell.The world building and the characters were just as awesome as in the previous book.
As you would have come to know from the end of the last book, Cynthia can do magic.But the problem is women in Chardonia don't do magic.When they are found, the memories of all the people who know about them are erased and they are sacrificed to the Grand Chancellor.
The events that took place in You Are Mine have caused quite a stir in Chardonia.Most men are angered by the fact that Serena is free and is her own master.So in order to pacify things and make the lives of her family easier Cynthia offers herself to be sold off to a warlock by marriage.Though Serena and Zade don't want this Cynthia pushes the matter and she is soon purchased by a warlock named Edward.He collects her as soon as they sign the agreement(without even marrying her) and takes her to his house where he tries to drain her magic.
In defence Cynthia uses her magic to bind him and blackmails him into freeing her.She becomes free just like Serena.She wanders around as she doesn't know where to go and is soon helped by a mysterious, handsome stranger Lukas who turns out to be a friend of Zade's.Cynthia is now free but she doesn't know what to do with this newfound freedom.She decides to enter the Tournament in order to show everyone that women can also do magic and Lukas offers to help her with the training.But by doing so she makes herself and her family an even bigger target than before.So will Cynthia be able to open the eyes of the people in the male-dominated, chauvinistic society of Chardonia or will she die trying??
Cynthia was an awesome protagonist.As You Are Mine was from Serena's perspective we only see the Cynthia that Serena sees.It was so surprising to find out that the Cynthia we saw was a front.She pretends to be a happy, carefree, boy- crazy girl when in reality she has her own insecurities and secrets to deal with.I loved her determination and her courage.She is so good at pretending to be fine that most of the times people don't notice that she is upset.I also loved Lukas.He was such a wonderful and caring love-interest.Cynthia and Lukas are perfect for each other. I guess the author must have heard everyone's requests because there was more romance in this novel than the previous one and this made it much more enjoyable.
I loved seeing all the other characters from You Are Mine.It is nice that the author didn't make it too easy for Serena and Zade.They have their minor problems to deal with and we could see how much Zade loved Serena.Phew!!Finally they can get married!!It was also good to see Serena overcome her disdain of magic.Waverly was also a very good friend to Cynthia and I hope we get to read her story in the future.I hate the Grand Chancellor and I hope they can finally defeat him by the end of the series.The ending of Mine To Spell has left things very open.There is a lot that needs to be done which can't happen over the course of two books.Can't wait to see where the story goes and the roles that the different sisters will play!!
May 14, 2014
4.5/5 stars
Janeal Falor has done it again guys! I absolutely loved this second book in the Mine series! Falor has created such an incredible, yet oppressive society of warlocks, magic, and women who must marry and serve a Master. The previous book really sets the stage for change in Chardonia and this book continues to break all the rules of society. While the first book followed Serena, the eldest sister of the warlock Stephen's family, this book follows her sister Cynthia, who has just reached the age to be married and sold to another master.
I do not want to spoil the previous book for those who have not read it, but Serena has really shaken up society's rules and expectations of women and now serves as the family's Master. She is not bound to any warlock, but has found her former Master to be Zade, a trust-worthy, loving companion who truly cares for her and her family's safety. With such a huge change always comes repercussions. Cynthia steps up to try and appease society's dismay of what her sister has done and show that Serena is as capable of being the head of the family as any other man. However, in doing so, Cynthia is willingly giving up her freedom, not truly understanding just what she's getting herself into. Even more than that though- Cynthia harbors a great secret- one that is unheard of and could potentially get her killed.
I really enjoyed the storyline for this one. I loved where Falor took it and how she showed that even though women may be oppressed in society, they are strong and determined and ready to fight back. Cynthia was a wonderful character to follow and she will do anything to keep her family safe from harm. We get to see plenty of Serena and Zade, which I loved, and while Zade was very stoic in the first book, we really get to see the depth of his feelings for Serena and the lengths he would go to protect her and her family. Waverly, Zade's sister, is also present and is a good friend and mentor to Cynthia.
However, the mentor really worth mentioning (because he stole my heart right away) is Lukas. Lukas hails from Chryos, and is in Chardonia for the tournament. He is a good, brave man and as a friend of Zade's he has been tasked to protect Cynthia, as she really stirs the pot and has a lot of angry warlocks after her. I am really glad Falor upped the romance in this novel. Watching Cynthia struggle to work out her feelings for him is quite wonderful.
I felt this book was very action packed and we get quite the surprise at the end, which left me with a heavy sense of dread in my heart. I am very nervous about the next installment and what it will mean for Cynthia, Serena, and their family.
If you are looking for a good fantasy series- this is the one to pick up!
*Received a copy of this book via the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.*
Janeal Falor has done it again guys! I absolutely loved this second book in the Mine series! Falor has created such an incredible, yet oppressive society of warlocks, magic, and women who must marry and serve a Master. The previous book really sets the stage for change in Chardonia and this book continues to break all the rules of society. While the first book followed Serena, the eldest sister of the warlock Stephen's family, this book follows her sister Cynthia, who has just reached the age to be married and sold to another master.
I do not want to spoil the previous book for those who have not read it, but Serena has really shaken up society's rules and expectations of women and now serves as the family's Master. She is not bound to any warlock, but has found her former Master to be Zade, a trust-worthy, loving companion who truly cares for her and her family's safety. With such a huge change always comes repercussions. Cynthia steps up to try and appease society's dismay of what her sister has done and show that Serena is as capable of being the head of the family as any other man. However, in doing so, Cynthia is willingly giving up her freedom, not truly understanding just what she's getting herself into. Even more than that though- Cynthia harbors a great secret- one that is unheard of and could potentially get her killed.
I really enjoyed the storyline for this one. I loved where Falor took it and how she showed that even though women may be oppressed in society, they are strong and determined and ready to fight back. Cynthia was a wonderful character to follow and she will do anything to keep her family safe from harm. We get to see plenty of Serena and Zade, which I loved, and while Zade was very stoic in the first book, we really get to see the depth of his feelings for Serena and the lengths he would go to protect her and her family. Waverly, Zade's sister, is also present and is a good friend and mentor to Cynthia.
However, the mentor really worth mentioning (because he stole my heart right away) is Lukas. Lukas hails from Chryos, and is in Chardonia for the tournament. He is a good, brave man and as a friend of Zade's he has been tasked to protect Cynthia, as she really stirs the pot and has a lot of angry warlocks after her. I am really glad Falor upped the romance in this novel. Watching Cynthia struggle to work out her feelings for him is quite wonderful.
I felt this book was very action packed and we get quite the surprise at the end, which left me with a heavy sense of dread in my heart. I am very nervous about the next installment and what it will mean for Cynthia, Serena, and their family.
If you are looking for a good fantasy series- this is the one to pick up!
*Received a copy of this book via the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.*
August 10, 2014
I really loved You Are Mine and I was definitely unsure of what would happen after the happenings of the first book so needless to say I was eager to get started on this one and see what had transpired after Serena’s independence.
I was actually shocked to find out this was Cynthia’s story! I do remember Cynthia from the first book, obviously, as she was Serena’s younger sister but the two girls that stuck out strongly from the first book other than Serena were Katherine and Waverly. Despite not remember a lot about her, I was really antsy to jump into her story and see what role she played in it.
Although I didn’t remember a lot about her, I quickly fell in love with her, just as I did with Serena. Actually I loved her even more than I did Serena. Cynthia was strong, courageous, bold and determined. She never held back from what she thought was right, despite living in the ever-awful Chardonia, and protecting the people she loved was always first in her mind. Katherine and Waverly were both back to play their fabulous parts and I LOVED that they made such a heavy appearance, especially Waverly. The men in this book were also so lovely. Chadwick, Zade, and of course Lucas stole my heart. Too bad all of the warlocks in this series couldn’t take a page out of their book, but I suppose… there wouldn’t be a story to tell then. Lucas and Cynthia’s relationship warmed me, I loved seeing them get closer and Cynthia learning to trust a warlock and I really hope we get to see more of that play out in the third book.
I really enjoyed that although this is somewhat of a companion novel, as it features a different main character than You Are Mine, it really still reads like the second book in the series. The story is definitely focused more on Cynthia but you still get plenty of page time with her beloved sisters as well. Also, it doesn’t lack the fluidness that companion novels sometimes do, where it seems that bits of the story are left out between characters.
The plot was fantastic, and really surprised me. The fact that females can do magic and the choice that Cynthia makes is brave and held my interest to the very last page. When I finished You Are Mine, I really didn’t think this was the route that the story would take so I was so shocked and surprised and it THRILLED me. The pacing, at times, was a bit slow but I think that was due to the anticipation of the upcoming tournament, I just couldn’t wait to see what was going to unfold.
The ending was bittersweet. I loved it in parts, of course, but it also saddened me. I really hope that the girls, and woman of Chardonia will make it out of this alright. I cannot wait to read the next book in the series, I am so anxious to see what happens and delve even deeper in this story and world.
I was actually shocked to find out this was Cynthia’s story! I do remember Cynthia from the first book, obviously, as she was Serena’s younger sister but the two girls that stuck out strongly from the first book other than Serena were Katherine and Waverly. Despite not remember a lot about her, I was really antsy to jump into her story and see what role she played in it.
Although I didn’t remember a lot about her, I quickly fell in love with her, just as I did with Serena. Actually I loved her even more than I did Serena. Cynthia was strong, courageous, bold and determined. She never held back from what she thought was right, despite living in the ever-awful Chardonia, and protecting the people she loved was always first in her mind. Katherine and Waverly were both back to play their fabulous parts and I LOVED that they made such a heavy appearance, especially Waverly. The men in this book were also so lovely. Chadwick, Zade, and of course Lucas stole my heart. Too bad all of the warlocks in this series couldn’t take a page out of their book, but I suppose… there wouldn’t be a story to tell then. Lucas and Cynthia’s relationship warmed me, I loved seeing them get closer and Cynthia learning to trust a warlock and I really hope we get to see more of that play out in the third book.
I really enjoyed that although this is somewhat of a companion novel, as it features a different main character than You Are Mine, it really still reads like the second book in the series. The story is definitely focused more on Cynthia but you still get plenty of page time with her beloved sisters as well. Also, it doesn’t lack the fluidness that companion novels sometimes do, where it seems that bits of the story are left out between characters.
The plot was fantastic, and really surprised me. The fact that females can do magic and the choice that Cynthia makes is brave and held my interest to the very last page. When I finished You Are Mine, I really didn’t think this was the route that the story would take so I was so shocked and surprised and it THRILLED me. The pacing, at times, was a bit slow but I think that was due to the anticipation of the upcoming tournament, I just couldn’t wait to see what was going to unfold.
The ending was bittersweet. I loved it in parts, of course, but it also saddened me. I really hope that the girls, and woman of Chardonia will make it out of this alright. I cannot wait to read the next book in the series, I am so anxious to see what happens and delve even deeper in this story and world.
September 10, 2016
Boricuan Bookworms- Book Reviews
Admittedly, Mine to Spell was really difficult to get into because I was really hoping to see more of Zade and Serena from Book One. I couldn’t really connect to Cynthia much at first because I thought she was being really stubborn, and frankly very annoying. However, once I gave the book a chance, and kept reading on, I started to really get engrossed into the story.
I really liked the world building in this book, because it’s much more focused on Warlock politics, and also it focuses a lot more on a woman’s role in society in Chardonia. We really see how much women are treated as property, and we cheer for Cythia who actually openly fights against it.
We also meet some new characters, including the very charming Lukas (who I’d like to think of as Clark Kent; Superman’s alter ego). Lukas is the love interest for Cynthia, and I’ve got to say that I always had a soft spot for him. If there’s something Janeal Falor is good at, it’s creating love interests. Just like what happened to me with Zade, Lukas stole my heart and made me feel all gushy inside. Lukas was always so sweet and kind and charming, and it was really very difficult not to feel for him.
I like how Zade and Serena still played a part in this story (although I really would’ve wanted more! I can’t get enough of these two!), while at the same time giving Cynthia the page time she deserved.
This book has amazing character growth, and the way it progressed was wonderful.
I’ve got to say that I did not appreciate the cliffhanger. I feel toyed with! The story had picked up so nicely, and I was literally clutching my reader hoping it would never end. Then, something happened and the book was over. I’m left feeling like:
Overall, despite its shaky start, this book is still one to look out for. It’s captivating and wonderful, and will leave you wanting more.
Rating: 3.5 stars
An ebook was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review
Admittedly, Mine to Spell was really difficult to get into because I was really hoping to see more of Zade and Serena from Book One. I couldn’t really connect to Cynthia much at first because I thought she was being really stubborn, and frankly very annoying. However, once I gave the book a chance, and kept reading on, I started to really get engrossed into the story.
I really liked the world building in this book, because it’s much more focused on Warlock politics, and also it focuses a lot more on a woman’s role in society in Chardonia. We really see how much women are treated as property, and we cheer for Cythia who actually openly fights against it.
We also meet some new characters, including the very charming Lukas (who I’d like to think of as Clark Kent; Superman’s alter ego). Lukas is the love interest for Cynthia, and I’ve got to say that I always had a soft spot for him. If there’s something Janeal Falor is good at, it’s creating love interests. Just like what happened to me with Zade, Lukas stole my heart and made me feel all gushy inside. Lukas was always so sweet and kind and charming, and it was really very difficult not to feel for him.
I like how Zade and Serena still played a part in this story (although I really would’ve wanted more! I can’t get enough of these two!), while at the same time giving Cynthia the page time she deserved.
This book has amazing character growth, and the way it progressed was wonderful.
I’ve got to say that I did not appreciate the cliffhanger. I feel toyed with! The story had picked up so nicely, and I was literally clutching my reader hoping it would never end. Then, something happened and the book was over. I’m left feeling like:
Overall, despite its shaky start, this book is still one to look out for. It’s captivating and wonderful, and will leave you wanting more.
Rating: 3.5 stars
An ebook was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review
May 6, 2014
The Mine series is set in Chardonia – a place where women are possessions and male warlocks use hexes, spells, and the threat of being tarnished (magically made to be bald, tattooed, and unable to have children) to keep them under their thumbs. In the prequel to the series, Mine To Tarnish, Katherine refuses to be owned and finds herself among the tarnished. In book one, You Are Mine, Serena realizes what it means to be free and finds freedom within her grasp. In Mine To Spell, Cynthia (Serena’s sister) has reached the age in which society dictates she be sold to a new owner – one who will only value her for the magic contained in her blood.
Everyone in Chardonia knows that only male warlocks can do magic and the magic in women only exist to be taken by men to increase their own powers. But everyone is wrong and Cynthia refuses to let her magic be taken. She sets out to prove that women are not merely possessions and that they are as capable as any man – even if she has to become a martyr to do so.
A budding female equality movement set in a background of magic and romance makes me really love the Mine series more and more with each book. I love to cheer on each female protagonist as they pave new roads in the quest for recognition as people and not things. I also really like that romance and independence are not pitted against each other. Cynthia could find love and be her own person at the same time; loving a man didn’t make her any less of a strong, independent woman. Another trait of hers that didn’t make her any less in my eyes was her insecurity. That Cynthia was insecure, scared, and unsure as she set out to change history, and yet still refused to back down made her someone to be admired even more. She knew that she wasn’t just doing this for herself; she was setting a precedent for females all over Chardonia.
I love this series and I can’t recommend it highly enough. Beautiful writing flows into beautifully told stories of women finding their own power in the face of oppression. Lovers of women’s fiction, romance, and fantasy will all find something to like here.
*I received an ARC of this book to review.You can find this review and others like it at BookAndCoffeeAddict.com, along with recommendations for a fantastic cup of coffee.
Everyone in Chardonia knows that only male warlocks can do magic and the magic in women only exist to be taken by men to increase their own powers. But everyone is wrong and Cynthia refuses to let her magic be taken. She sets out to prove that women are not merely possessions and that they are as capable as any man – even if she has to become a martyr to do so.
A budding female equality movement set in a background of magic and romance makes me really love the Mine series more and more with each book. I love to cheer on each female protagonist as they pave new roads in the quest for recognition as people and not things. I also really like that romance and independence are not pitted against each other. Cynthia could find love and be her own person at the same time; loving a man didn’t make her any less of a strong, independent woman. Another trait of hers that didn’t make her any less in my eyes was her insecurity. That Cynthia was insecure, scared, and unsure as she set out to change history, and yet still refused to back down made her someone to be admired even more. She knew that she wasn’t just doing this for herself; she was setting a precedent for females all over Chardonia.
I love this series and I can’t recommend it highly enough. Beautiful writing flows into beautifully told stories of women finding their own power in the face of oppression. Lovers of women’s fiction, romance, and fantasy will all find something to like here.
*I received an ARC of this book to review.You can find this review and others like it at BookAndCoffeeAddict.com, along with recommendations for a fantastic cup of coffee.
April 29, 2014
MINE TO SPELL is the 2nd book in the YOU ARE MINE series by Janeal Falor. I absolutely LOVED the first book and its prequel MINE TO TARNISH and highly recommend the whole series to all. SPELL continues on with the same characters, but the main character is Serena’s sister, Cynthia. Cynthia has even more magic in her blood than her sister, and desires to become free from her owner and free to use her magic, which for women is strictly forbidden or even acknowledged. Cynthia is a very strong character with just the right amount of vulnerability and apprehension about her self-willed desire to bring a change towards female equality or at least acceptance, in Chardonia. Throw in a little romance, a little danger, a warlock tournament, and you have a tastefully written expansion of the series. Janeal really has a way with words. She gets straight to the point, without a lot of filler or fluff. I appreciate that. I believe it motivates and encourages YA readers to enjoy the plot without being dragged down by overdone descriptive settings. But I am captivated by this world and would welcome hearing more about it. SPELL does stand on its own, but to truly get the background on all the characters I would recommend reading the entire series. I have a prediction for Cynthia’s future beyond MINE TO SPELL. I don’t know if we will hear more about her, but in my mind there is another tale to tell. And I will be looking forward to hearing it, but then I never want to have a good series end.
June 5, 2014
I was given this book for free for an honest review.
The first book to this series was amazing! Loved the characters so much. As im not into witches and warlocks as my normal genre of books, I found I was pleasantly suprised by how much I enjoyed it.
The first thing I was disappointed with was the change in characters. I had to try and fall in love with new ones but still on the same story line. And because it had been awhile since I read the first novel, storys and characters were muddled. The writing did no back story to characters or events to give a reminder of what happenend previously, so it was a bit confusing.
Also, I didnt fall in love with the characters like before. I felt that Cynthia's character was all over the place, she was strong and yet very weak. The build up of her magic and personality did not in anyway make me believe she could beat any of the warlocks. Considering how strong they were and how weak Cynthia was or believed herself to be with no confidence whatsoever I had a hard time believing she could beat any of the warlocks at all.
I did however love that there were more spells then there were in the last novel. The spells created were fun, I loved the authors imagination on them. I also enjoyed the little cliffhanger at the end, I already loathed that character in the first book to see him come back and hate him all over, well, was fun.
I would like to read the third story, im hoping the characters from the first novel come back as the main characters instead of Cynthia. But the way the novel left off it doesnt give me much hope.
The first book to this series was amazing! Loved the characters so much. As im not into witches and warlocks as my normal genre of books, I found I was pleasantly suprised by how much I enjoyed it.
The first thing I was disappointed with was the change in characters. I had to try and fall in love with new ones but still on the same story line. And because it had been awhile since I read the first novel, storys and characters were muddled. The writing did no back story to characters or events to give a reminder of what happenend previously, so it was a bit confusing.
Also, I didnt fall in love with the characters like before. I felt that Cynthia's character was all over the place, she was strong and yet very weak. The build up of her magic and personality did not in anyway make me believe she could beat any of the warlocks. Considering how strong they were and how weak Cynthia was or believed herself to be with no confidence whatsoever I had a hard time believing she could beat any of the warlocks at all.
I did however love that there were more spells then there were in the last novel. The spells created were fun, I loved the authors imagination on them. I also enjoyed the little cliffhanger at the end, I already loathed that character in the first book to see him come back and hate him all over, well, was fun.
I would like to read the third story, im hoping the characters from the first novel come back as the main characters instead of Cynthia. But the way the novel left off it doesnt give me much hope.
April 29, 2014
This is Janeal's 3rd book for this series, and they just keep getting better and better. I've always had two loves in reading...historical (whether fictional or not) and fantasy. In this series I get both!
I didn't think I could love a couple more than Zade and Serena, but I was absolutely in love with Cynthia and her beau. I love that these sisters are so strong and unwilling to bend to what society expects of them.
In this story, Cynthia is found to have Sven more magic in her than her sister, only Cynthia has a secret. She's learned how to tap into her power. She's breaking a lot of laws and defying many prominent people. Her life is threatened enough that she needs constant supervision and protection. Even her own family isn't very understanding of her chasing her dreams.
I thoroughly loved this story and took my time reading it, so to keep the story from ending. Janeal sure has a way with words and is able to get her story across with out adding a lot of unneeded story. The only complaint I have? It ended too soon. I can't wait to see what she has in store for these two and the rest of the characters I've grown to love!
I didn't think I could love a couple more than Zade and Serena, but I was absolutely in love with Cynthia and her beau. I love that these sisters are so strong and unwilling to bend to what society expects of them.
In this story, Cynthia is found to have Sven more magic in her than her sister, only Cynthia has a secret. She's learned how to tap into her power. She's breaking a lot of laws and defying many prominent people. Her life is threatened enough that she needs constant supervision and protection. Even her own family isn't very understanding of her chasing her dreams.
I thoroughly loved this story and took my time reading it, so to keep the story from ending. Janeal sure has a way with words and is able to get her story across with out adding a lot of unneeded story. The only complaint I have? It ended too soon. I can't wait to see what she has in store for these two and the rest of the characters I've grown to love!
September 18, 2015
Not even close to how good You are Mine was. Almost everything that made the first book so original and good was missing in the second book of the series. Cynthia's character, to me, is not relatable. Through the whole story, she thinks and talks about being free from all rule and being independent. Yet she wastes no time in falling in love the first Warlock she meets. It made her so much less than what she could have been. The story it's self was mostly dry and bland, but It picked up just enough in the end to make me curious enough to read the last couple of books.
March 2, 2015
Totally loving this series. Delighted I got this book off Kindle one click. Read it from cover to cover. Unputdownable.
Loving Cynthia and her indelible spirit.
Big changes are coming, can't wait for book 3.
Loving Cynthia and her indelible spirit.
Big changes are coming, can't wait for book 3.
February 2, 2020
I don't know if the parts I like about these books are enough to overpower the parts that annoy me. Especially the grammar. I know that grammar mistakes are almost a given when a book is self-published, but there are lots of proofreaders out there. Some, like friends, who will even do it for free! As an English major, book lover, and former assistant editor, there are so many grammatical problems with this series. The thing that bothered me most in this book, though, was:
"Hello, father." I purposefully make his name sound lower case...
How do you purposely make a name sound lower case when speaking it? You can emphasize it, or maybe emphasize other words so it sounds less prominent, but when calling someone "Father" it is always capitalized. To make it lower case you would say "my father." This happens often in both this book and the previous one.
I usually try not to be a grammar nazi because I know how annoying that can be, but when it takes me too far out of the story, the word spell is broken. I enjoyed most of this book more than the first one, but I'm wondering why I'm still reading this series. Not sure it's worth it to me to continue.
"Hello, father." I purposefully make his name sound lower case...
How do you purposely make a name sound lower case when speaking it? You can emphasize it, or maybe emphasize other words so it sounds less prominent, but when calling someone "Father" it is always capitalized. To make it lower case you would say "my father." This happens often in both this book and the previous one.
I usually try not to be a grammar nazi because I know how annoying that can be, but when it takes me too far out of the story, the word spell is broken. I enjoyed most of this book more than the first one, but I'm wondering why I'm still reading this series. Not sure it's worth it to me to continue.
December 16, 2017
Once again I was dragged into this world. Everything the men said made me angry and the women made me more and cheer. I fought alongside these characters and wanted to burn the chancellor. Seeing the true, freeing side and enslaved side of not only the high society women but also those that were tarnished made me pine for women's freedom and say heck yeah feminism! Cannot wait to read the 3rd book!
July 24, 2019
Dramatically amazing storyline about Cynthia the rebellious sister I can relate to as well as Serena their bond is so real. The adventure is indifferent for a variety of structure to a cause that changes her mind as well as her actions taken to ignite change. A thrilling book two I truly hope there is more to read.
December 1, 2019
Another free book from Barnes & Noble, the sequel to You Are Mine. Still a male-dominated society, our heroine is the sister of the one in the previous book. Some interesting plots. But the men are still dominating and scheming to turn back what gains were made at the end of the book. I decided not to read the rest of the series.
December 19, 2017
Second book of the series keeps me interested and I really want to see where this is going so I will keep reading the rest.
The story focus on Cynthia, Serena's sister. What she can do is predictable but the story is nice with action and surprises. It is sweet and moving.
I definitely recommend.
The story focus on Cynthia, Serena's sister. What she can do is predictable but the story is nice with action and surprises. It is sweet and moving.
I definitely recommend.
May 8, 2019
Hard work
The story continues to be captivating but the reader has to work very hard to stay the course. Like the heroine throwing spells, the reader has to dodge twisted sentences, words in the wrong order and incomplete thoughts to make it through. Sigh.
The story continues to be captivating but the reader has to work very hard to stay the course. Like the heroine throwing spells, the reader has to dodge twisted sentences, words in the wrong order and incomplete thoughts to make it through. Sigh.
July 17, 2019
Started off slow but I enjoy this second book in the Mine series as it comes with a much stronger female character. It unravels the world that they live in with only men who do magic and the women in it who are basically slaves.
May 17, 2022
A good follow up to the first book and really gets into women’s rights. I really appreciate a novel like this in current times with a fantasy backdrop. However, I would like to see more world building.
November 2, 2017
I liked the first book in the series, but didn't like this one as well. I'm not sure that I'll finish the series.
January 10, 2018
2.5 stars. I liked it but it lacked a certain charm that was in the first book. I think this was due to the main characters as I found their personalities boring and their romance lacking.
May 9, 2019
Still pretty good. I think I liked Serena and Zade more than I liked Cynthia and Lukas. Although, to be fair, I think I like Lukas best of all. A charming, funny dork is right up my alley.
June 13, 2019
Another great story. While I prefer Zane and Serena, this was still an interesting story with good strong characters and a progression in Serenas story.
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