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Orc Saga #1
Honor Among Orcs
Tolkien meets Beauty and the Beast in this new fantasy by Amalia Dillin, author of the Fate of the Gods trilogy.
After nearly a decade as the king’s whipping-girl, Princess Arianna has no intention of going quietly into marriage to some treasonous noble, or serving obediently as the king’s spy until her death is more convenient. When she discovers a handsome orc, chained and trapped inside a magic mirror, Arianna cannot help but see a lasting freedom from her father's abuse.
Left to rot inside a mirror by the king, Bolthorn never imagined his prayers would be answered by a princess. Nor did he ever expect to meet so worthy a woman after knowing her father’s cruelty. He needs her help to escape the mirror before the king marches against the orcs, but all he can offer Arianna is ice and darkness in exchange for her aid.
If Arianna can free the monster behind the glass, perhaps she might free herself, as well. But once they cross the mountain, there will be no return, and the deadly winter is the least of what threatens them on the other side.
After nearly a decade as the king’s whipping-girl, Princess Arianna has no intention of going quietly into marriage to some treasonous noble, or serving obediently as the king’s spy until her death is more convenient. When she discovers a handsome orc, chained and trapped inside a magic mirror, Arianna cannot help but see a lasting freedom from her father's abuse.
Left to rot inside a mirror by the king, Bolthorn never imagined his prayers would be answered by a princess. Nor did he ever expect to meet so worthy a woman after knowing her father’s cruelty. He needs her help to escape the mirror before the king marches against the orcs, but all he can offer Arianna is ice and darkness in exchange for her aid.
If Arianna can free the monster behind the glass, perhaps she might free herself, as well. But once they cross the mountain, there will be no return, and the deadly winter is the least of what threatens them on the other side.
Fans of Kristin Cashore's FIRE and Tolkien's Lord of the Rings will appreciate the collision of romance, adventure, and epic fantasy -- all with a new adult edge -- in Honor Among Orcs.
370 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 27, 2014
About the author
Amalia Dillin
28 books286 followersAmalia Dillin began as a Biology major before taking Latin and falling in love with old heroes and older gods. After that, she couldn't stop writing about them, with the occasional break for more contemporary subjects. She lives in upstate New York with her husband, and dreams of the day when she will own goats--to pull her chariot through the sky, of course.
Amalia is the author of the Fate of the Gods trilogy, and the Orc Saga, beginning with HONOR AMONG ORCS. She also writes historical fiction under the name Amalia Carosella.
You can find links to all her work online at http://blog.amaliadillin.com/p/public...
Amalia is the author of the Fate of the Gods trilogy, and the Orc Saga, beginning with HONOR AMONG ORCS. She also writes historical fiction under the name Amalia Carosella.
You can find links to all her work online at http://blog.amaliadillin.com/p/public...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
April 12, 2014
No. Just no. DNF'd at 46%.
Mind you, if you find this review erratic it's because I normally don't write any but I just had to vent and forewarn others. If you're expecting anything relating to Lord of the Rings or Beauty and the Beast prepare to be disappointed. I feel it's an injustice to state that in the summary of the book and completely misleading.
Don't get me wrong, I love fantasy and I love Beauty and the Beast, I just hated this book. I even liked the first three chapters. The characters are what did it for me.
Arianna please. The amount of times I've rolled my eyes and wanted to throw her off a cliff was just too damn high. The first thing that got to me was when her abusive father, who enjoyed whipping her, hated her guts, and murdered her mother along with Alviss the sadist and woman-beater dies and she has the nerve to feel like Bolthorn did something wrong. Her unnecessary self-pitying and in-general weak character was just too much to handle. When Bolthorn told her she was brave I wanted to punch both of them.
Her inherit blindness to the horribly obvious attraction Bolthorn felt towards her also drove me up the wall and what is ultimately made me drop the book. Specifically this:
I really wanted this to work out, I really did. LoTR and Beauty and the Beast would've been a dream come true. But it didn't and that's just unfortunate.
Mind you, if you find this review erratic it's because I normally don't write any but I just had to vent and forewarn others. If you're expecting anything relating to Lord of the Rings or Beauty and the Beast prepare to be disappointed. I feel it's an injustice to state that in the summary of the book and completely misleading.
Don't get me wrong, I love fantasy and I love Beauty and the Beast, I just hated this book. I even liked the first three chapters. The characters are what did it for me.
Arianna please. The amount of times I've rolled my eyes and wanted to throw her off a cliff was just too damn high. The first thing that got to me was when her abusive father, who enjoyed whipping her, hated her guts, and murdered her mother along with Alviss the sadist and woman-beater dies and she has the nerve to feel like Bolthorn did something wrong. Her unnecessary self-pitying and in-general weak character was just too much to handle. When Bolthorn told her she was brave I wanted to punch both of them.
Her inherit blindness to the horribly obvious attraction Bolthorn felt towards her also drove me up the wall and what is ultimately made me drop the book. Specifically this:
"You didn't want me," she blurted, her eyes filling with tears. "You turned your back on me and walked away. How can I trust that you want me now? That this is not all just some debt you would repay?"Someone kill me. The guy pretty much married you, carried your sorry ass across the whole damn mountain, and made his affections clear as day and you have the nerve to say he doesn't like you. He went to get supplies and made that entirely obvious. The head-desking is real. Even after this, I wanted to give the book a chance so I went on. By the time they Vala takes her I've given up all hope of this book getting better.
I really wanted this to work out, I really did. LoTR and Beauty and the Beast would've been a dream come true. But it didn't and that's just unfortunate.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 21, 2016
Excuse me while I gush a little about an author new-to-me, Amalia Dillin, and her mythological mash-up of epic proportions, Honor Among Orcs. Having just finished The Brush of Black Wings, I was on a fantasy romance binge induced by Grace Draven. HAO popped up on the “customers also bought” feed, and with high overall ratings and as a Kindle Unlimited selection, I couldn’t pass it up. I’m glad I didn’t, and you shouldn’t either if you like fantasy tales with a strong romantic element or if you enjoy sci-fi romance featuring an alien. Since Arianna is human and Bolthorn is orc, I figure that cross-species pairing is close enough for the SFR crowd.
My familiarity with J.R.R. Tolkien is limited to three separate, aborted attempts to read The Hobbit, when I was too young to get past the vocabulary, and Peter Jackson’s cinematic adaptations (I know, I know, don’t gut me with an Elven-forged sword). I have to say, however, Dillin’s human, orc and elf realms carried my imagination effortlessly through an amalgamation of fairy tales, Tolkien’s kingdoms, and a surprising visit to Norse mythology. She does it with a nimble literary style, tossing down phrases, sentences and paragraphs that I was compelled to highlight because they are so beautiful. Seriously, I highlighted 16 passages, and most authors are lucky to get three marks out of my stingy pen. In deference to such glorious verse, I will pass on a sentence or two:
“There is room for love between us, Arianna. Outside of the vows that bind us. We need only nurture the flame together.”
“It wasn’t just the limp that made her wonder how old he was, but the way he looked at her, so steady and patient, as if he had eternity ahead and behind.”
“Let my life be bound to yours, and what strength I have steady you.” This partial passage is one of the most significant in the entire tale, and what is surprising is that this vow is not first uttered by the hero, but by the heroine. Sacrifice and honor are not only male qualities in this fantasy, but characterize women as well. In fact, the role of women is significantly more substantial in Dillin’s world as compared to Tolkein’s. Norse women were given more power in group decision-making and held influence of their own, and this bleeds into the orc civilization as well. I was intrigued by the female orcs in Bolthorn’s society and repeated use of the term “hrimthursar.” I assumed this was a Tolkien invention relative to orcs, but Wikipedia let me know this term was used to describe the Frost Giants in Norse mythology. Suddenly everything about Bolthorn’s tolerance for cold, his unique ability to scale icy mountains, and capacity to withstand everlasting night made sense to me.
The first part of the book is more reminiscent of fairy tales, in particular more adult versions of Snow White and Beauty and the Beast. The latter half is more associated with Tolkien and Norse mythology as humans, orcs and elves intersect. Since he was a blend of Frost Giant and tusked green orc, I had a difficult time picturing Bolthorn, and I wish the author had splurged for some original artwork for the cover. The amber eyes glowing in the darkened magic mirror do a disservice to the hero and honorable orc-king-in-the-making that I suspect Bolthorn to be.
The adventures of Princess Arianna and Bolthorn in this first part of the orc saga are largely limited to escape from the human realm and struggling to reach the orc villages high in the mountains. The lovers are plagued by injury, weather, hunger and evil foes willing to do anything to stop them and the “abomination” of their human/orc love. The emotional heart of this story is how Arianna and Bolthorn trust one another and strive to overcome the forces that would keep them apart. For those who like to know, there are love scenes, but they are not overly descriptive. My one complaint is that too much of the plot moves forward via internal reflection rather than dialogue or action.
This is a tender love story set amidst a fantastical world full of history and tradition. It is the beginning of an epic in every sense of the word, and the ending leaves us primed to learn more about the larger machinations of the elves, orcs and humans. If I had to guess, there will be new romantic entanglements for characters we have met but don’t yet know well.
My familiarity with J.R.R. Tolkien is limited to three separate, aborted attempts to read The Hobbit, when I was too young to get past the vocabulary, and Peter Jackson’s cinematic adaptations (I know, I know, don’t gut me with an Elven-forged sword). I have to say, however, Dillin’s human, orc and elf realms carried my imagination effortlessly through an amalgamation of fairy tales, Tolkien’s kingdoms, and a surprising visit to Norse mythology. She does it with a nimble literary style, tossing down phrases, sentences and paragraphs that I was compelled to highlight because they are so beautiful. Seriously, I highlighted 16 passages, and most authors are lucky to get three marks out of my stingy pen. In deference to such glorious verse, I will pass on a sentence or two:
“There is room for love between us, Arianna. Outside of the vows that bind us. We need only nurture the flame together.”
“It wasn’t just the limp that made her wonder how old he was, but the way he looked at her, so steady and patient, as if he had eternity ahead and behind.”
“Let my life be bound to yours, and what strength I have steady you.” This partial passage is one of the most significant in the entire tale, and what is surprising is that this vow is not first uttered by the hero, but by the heroine. Sacrifice and honor are not only male qualities in this fantasy, but characterize women as well. In fact, the role of women is significantly more substantial in Dillin’s world as compared to Tolkein’s. Norse women were given more power in group decision-making and held influence of their own, and this bleeds into the orc civilization as well. I was intrigued by the female orcs in Bolthorn’s society and repeated use of the term “hrimthursar.” I assumed this was a Tolkien invention relative to orcs, but Wikipedia let me know this term was used to describe the Frost Giants in Norse mythology. Suddenly everything about Bolthorn’s tolerance for cold, his unique ability to scale icy mountains, and capacity to withstand everlasting night made sense to me.
The first part of the book is more reminiscent of fairy tales, in particular more adult versions of Snow White and Beauty and the Beast. The latter half is more associated with Tolkien and Norse mythology as humans, orcs and elves intersect. Since he was a blend of Frost Giant and tusked green orc, I had a difficult time picturing Bolthorn, and I wish the author had splurged for some original artwork for the cover. The amber eyes glowing in the darkened magic mirror do a disservice to the hero and honorable orc-king-in-the-making that I suspect Bolthorn to be.
The adventures of Princess Arianna and Bolthorn in this first part of the orc saga are largely limited to escape from the human realm and struggling to reach the orc villages high in the mountains. The lovers are plagued by injury, weather, hunger and evil foes willing to do anything to stop them and the “abomination” of their human/orc love. The emotional heart of this story is how Arianna and Bolthorn trust one another and strive to overcome the forces that would keep them apart. For those who like to know, there are love scenes, but they are not overly descriptive. My one complaint is that too much of the plot moves forward via internal reflection rather than dialogue or action.
This is a tender love story set amidst a fantastical world full of history and tradition. It is the beginning of an epic in every sense of the word, and the ending leaves us primed to learn more about the larger machinations of the elves, orcs and humans. If I had to guess, there will be new romantic entanglements for characters we have met but don’t yet know well.
March 14, 2014
In Honor Among Orcs, Amalia Dillin has crafted a juxtaposition of two colliding worlds that despite the turmoil and trials, blossoms into a beautiful portrait of a deep and abiding integrity, and dare I say...Love. Her characters are both charming yet flawed, and they promise to draw you into their stories and their plights one page at a time.
By the first page, I found myself so wildly struck by the immediate plunge into conflict, that I was gripped. Dillin then expertly envelopes you in her heroin's mind, her fears and her desperation and then gently reveals the widening world around her, and what terrible danger she is actually in. This is a fantastic writing mechanic, and Dillin will not leave you wanting.
I have a hunch Dillin will do for Orcs what Mccaffrey did for Dragons and it WILL be good.
Dillin doesn't stop at character development, she reaches into the depths of mythology and resurrects aspects of the past and entwines them into the present. There is no lack for growing mystery in the plot line as the conflict unfolds around her characters. She creates believable conflict, and real sometimes gut wrenching solutions that present more conflict. Wicked. Splendidly Wicked.
I anticipate more revealing work from this talented young author, and I expect her new readers to feel the same way about discovering her and expect they will put her on their reading list too. Dillin is certainly on mine!
By the first page, I found myself so wildly struck by the immediate plunge into conflict, that I was gripped. Dillin then expertly envelopes you in her heroin's mind, her fears and her desperation and then gently reveals the widening world around her, and what terrible danger she is actually in. This is a fantastic writing mechanic, and Dillin will not leave you wanting.
I have a hunch Dillin will do for Orcs what Mccaffrey did for Dragons and it WILL be good.
Dillin doesn't stop at character development, she reaches into the depths of mythology and resurrects aspects of the past and entwines them into the present. There is no lack for growing mystery in the plot line as the conflict unfolds around her characters. She creates believable conflict, and real sometimes gut wrenching solutions that present more conflict. Wicked. Splendidly Wicked.
I anticipate more revealing work from this talented young author, and I expect her new readers to feel the same way about discovering her and expect they will put her on their reading list too. Dillin is certainly on mine!
September 1, 2016
DNF
The writing is amateur. Very confusing and unclear. Not descriptive. There is no sense of logic.
I wanted to like it. But I just can't continue.
The writing is amateur. Very confusing and unclear. Not descriptive. There is no sense of logic.
I wanted to like it. But I just can't continue.
August 5, 2018
4 Big Stars!
This book has it all! Fantasy, adventure, romance and good lore. I was bouncing between 4 and 4.5, but I decided 4 was adequate due to some things I will point out in this review.
This is a story about a princess trapped in a cruel world of political intrigue, an abusive father and royal duty.
Meet Arianna...
A woman who has little choices in life and can't escape her bleak present and awful future. An innocent kind soul, shunned and mistreated by her father. Abused and tortured by a twisted contendor. And chained to a fate she has no power over.
She has no knowledge of the outside world, because she has been kept behind stone walls since childhood. She ignores what's beyond the castle and doesn't believe in magic or mystical creatures. To her, they are myths and legends...
In an attempt to escape her persuer Lord Alvis, she stumbles upon a special mirror in a forbidden room, where her mother's belongings were stored. In her first encounter with the voice, she flees in fear. But her curiosity and desperate need to hide from Alvis and the King's wrath, lead her once again to the same place. Finally meeting the beast who had spoken to her before.
Bolthorn...
I'm in orc heaven! *gushing and squeaking like hysterical fangirl*
He's been trapped inside a mirror for a long time. Distrusting and hating humans. Tortured by a greedy human king, he endures anything to keep his silence and pride.
When fair Arianna stumbles in his life, he isn't prepared to trust or accept her kindness.
He soon realizes, she's very different from others of her kind. A beauty and a rare creature.
From that moment on, a comaradarie and friendship develops between these two characters and undeniable attraction. They both help each other to escape their imprisonments. And we Follow them in an adventure that will pull every geek string of your heart.
I'm a guilty geek and nerd mind you. I love fantasy! And my list certainly includes orcs. I play games, read books and I'm lore whore so to speak. Worlds like World of Warcraft and D&D make me gush in equal terms, if you can understand what I mean... Anyways, my point is... ORC AND HUMAN ROMANCE!
It's like offering me the tastiest and most unique candy in the world!
After reading Radiance, this book was a definite revelation and a must!
I enjoyed this book very much. It had a great premise, a good introduction and the pace was exquisite. Very easy to read and it flowed nicely. Trapping me along with the characters and absorbing my attention non stop.
Good points
-Bolthorn is an AMAZING character! Sweet, level headed, strong, interesting and even funny. SEXY AS HELL! Loved him dearly.
-Awsome main character backgrounds.
-Good world building.
-Profound dialogues and well constructed scenes.
-The lore is one of the strongest points in this book. A little foggy at times, but rich and satisfying. Making the world more tangible and allowing us to understand the races and different points of views of each one.
-The romance...
It transforms slowly and evolves from friendship to a hot and blazing passion. Something I appreciated in Radiance as well. But with more angst and intrigue.
-The sex...
Nice! But scarce in my opinion... A quicky and then some more of it as your read along. It was brief... I would have liked it to be lengthier, with a little more life to it. HUMAN and ORC intercourse had to be more detailed. Dealing with the differences and needs of each one. They are from different races after all. Plus heroine is totally innocent... It just didn't feel realistic at all... Acceptable. Not mind blowing... Although I know it's not the main focus of the book. It should be rather important.
-The PLOT was good. I liked the turns and twists. It made the ending satisfying and the events of the world meaningful, because the villain is a related consequence of it.
Bad things
-Secondary characters were mostly bland. They really felt like fillers. For the exception of Fossegrim. Who felt like a sort of Gandalf character. Very similar personality and attitude.
-The heroine was truly dull and depressing. She didn't evolve or grow in any way... She was always, gloomy, dramatic and negative about things. It just made her presence very boring and forgettable.
-Didn't like
-The action scenes were not well narrated in my opinion. It didn't move you or transmit any tension.
-The story was a little predictable. So it took some points from it too.
-The intrigue wasn't well achieved. It doesn't pull through... Too predictable.
But at the end HEA fuzzies all over!
I liked this book a lot despite some details and I fully recommend it!
GEEK/NERD ALERT! YOU MUST READ THIS!
FAB ORC HERO ALERT
This book has it all! Fantasy, adventure, romance and good lore. I was bouncing between 4 and 4.5, but I decided 4 was adequate due to some things I will point out in this review.
This is a story about a princess trapped in a cruel world of political intrigue, an abusive father and royal duty.
Meet Arianna...
A woman who has little choices in life and can't escape her bleak present and awful future. An innocent kind soul, shunned and mistreated by her father. Abused and tortured by a twisted contendor. And chained to a fate she has no power over.
She has no knowledge of the outside world, because she has been kept behind stone walls since childhood. She ignores what's beyond the castle and doesn't believe in magic or mystical creatures. To her, they are myths and legends...
In an attempt to escape her persuer Lord Alvis, she stumbles upon a special mirror in a forbidden room, where her mother's belongings were stored. In her first encounter with the voice, she flees in fear. But her curiosity and desperate need to hide from Alvis and the King's wrath, lead her once again to the same place. Finally meeting the beast who had spoken to her before.
Bolthorn...
I'm in orc heaven! *gushing and squeaking like hysterical fangirl*
He's been trapped inside a mirror for a long time. Distrusting and hating humans. Tortured by a greedy human king, he endures anything to keep his silence and pride.
When fair Arianna stumbles in his life, he isn't prepared to trust or accept her kindness.
He soon realizes, she's very different from others of her kind. A beauty and a rare creature.
From that moment on, a comaradarie and friendship develops between these two characters and undeniable attraction. They both help each other to escape their imprisonments. And we Follow them in an adventure that will pull every geek string of your heart.
I'm a guilty geek and nerd mind you. I love fantasy! And my list certainly includes orcs. I play games, read books and I'm lore whore so to speak. Worlds like World of Warcraft and D&D make me gush in equal terms, if you can understand what I mean... Anyways, my point is... ORC AND HUMAN ROMANCE!
It's like offering me the tastiest and most unique candy in the world!
After reading Radiance, this book was a definite revelation and a must!
I enjoyed this book very much. It had a great premise, a good introduction and the pace was exquisite. Very easy to read and it flowed nicely. Trapping me along with the characters and absorbing my attention non stop.
Good points
-Bolthorn is an AMAZING character! Sweet, level headed, strong, interesting and even funny. SEXY AS HELL! Loved him dearly.
-Awsome main character backgrounds.
-Good world building.
-Profound dialogues and well constructed scenes.
-The lore is one of the strongest points in this book. A little foggy at times, but rich and satisfying. Making the world more tangible and allowing us to understand the races and different points of views of each one.
-The romance...
It transforms slowly and evolves from friendship to a hot and blazing passion. Something I appreciated in Radiance as well. But with more angst and intrigue.
-The sex...
Nice! But scarce in my opinion... A quicky and then some more of it as your read along. It was brief... I would have liked it to be lengthier, with a little more life to it. HUMAN and ORC intercourse had to be more detailed. Dealing with the differences and needs of each one. They are from different races after all. Plus heroine is totally innocent... It just didn't feel realistic at all... Acceptable. Not mind blowing... Although I know it's not the main focus of the book. It should be rather important.
-The PLOT was good. I liked the turns and twists. It made the ending satisfying and the events of the world meaningful, because the villain is a related consequence of it.
Bad things
-Secondary characters were mostly bland. They really felt like fillers. For the exception of Fossegrim. Who felt like a sort of Gandalf character. Very similar personality and attitude.
-The heroine was truly dull and depressing. She didn't evolve or grow in any way... She was always, gloomy, dramatic and negative about things. It just made her presence very boring and forgettable.
-Didn't like
-The action scenes were not well narrated in my opinion. It didn't move you or transmit any tension.
-The story was a little predictable. So it took some points from it too.
-The intrigue wasn't well achieved. It doesn't pull through... Too predictable.
But at the end HEA fuzzies all over!
I liked this book a lot despite some details and I fully recommend it!
GEEK/NERD ALERT! YOU MUST READ THIS!
FAB ORC HERO ALERT
September 3, 2021
“We move forward together,” he said, gentling his hold upon her hand. “Or not at all.”
Love me a good orc x human pairing, and Bolthorn was a major sweetheart!
Looking forward to where the next story will go for this couple
November 25, 2014
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review
Honor Among Orcs is a sweeping romantic fantasy featuring two characters as alike on the inside as they are different on the outside.
Arianna is a princess with no freedom and no hope for the future. She suffers her father's cruelty, which runs not only to beatings but giving her company to nobles for their entertainment. She is battered and bruised in body, but her spirit remains. Inspiring really-- she is one of those characters who the reader can't help but rally behind. Bolthorn may be called a monster by humans, being an orc and all. But there is nothing monstrous about his personality. Though he knows that Arianna is his only chance for freedom, he still cares about her welfare and happiness from the beginning of their encounters.
The prose is beautifully written with an old world charm that sucks the reader into the story. Vivid descriptions become a bit repetitive at times, especially if you're the type of reader looking for fast-paced action. The story progresses slowly as Arianna and Bolthorn plot and plan their escape. I'm a bit impatient, and there were times when I wanted to give Arianna a swift kick to get things moving faster.
This is truly a sweeping epic fantasy with lots of adventure and a rather sweet romance. Though it moved a tad slower than I liked, I still really enjoyed the plot. Arianna and Bolthorn are great characters. If you like fantasy romance, be sure to add Honor Among Orcs to your TBR list.
Honor Among Orcs is a sweeping romantic fantasy featuring two characters as alike on the inside as they are different on the outside.
Arianna is a princess with no freedom and no hope for the future. She suffers her father's cruelty, which runs not only to beatings but giving her company to nobles for their entertainment. She is battered and bruised in body, but her spirit remains. Inspiring really-- she is one of those characters who the reader can't help but rally behind. Bolthorn may be called a monster by humans, being an orc and all. But there is nothing monstrous about his personality. Though he knows that Arianna is his only chance for freedom, he still cares about her welfare and happiness from the beginning of their encounters.
The prose is beautifully written with an old world charm that sucks the reader into the story. Vivid descriptions become a bit repetitive at times, especially if you're the type of reader looking for fast-paced action. The story progresses slowly as Arianna and Bolthorn plot and plan their escape. I'm a bit impatient, and there were times when I wanted to give Arianna a swift kick to get things moving faster.
This is truly a sweeping epic fantasy with lots of adventure and a rather sweet romance. Though it moved a tad slower than I liked, I still really enjoyed the plot. Arianna and Bolthorn are great characters. If you like fantasy romance, be sure to add Honor Among Orcs to your TBR list.
May 27, 2017
I loved this book. Seriously. Clear your reading schedule for April 1st and snatch this one up as soon as you possibly can.
Arianna may be a princess, but she's grown up being viewed as purely a tool for the king's use. Mocked, belittled, and humiliated she seeks refuge in the forbidden rooms that used to be her mother's. When she finds Bolthorn, an orc trapped in a magic mirror, Arianna is struck by his strength and his sense of honor. And she begins to see a glimmer of hope that perhaps they could save each other. But escaping the castle could only be the beginning of all of their troubles. Do they have enough faith to survive or will their differences shatter any hope of freedom?
Dillin crafts a world that is rich in detail and peopled with a cast of characters that leap off the page and grab hold of your imagination. In the vein of Tolkien, Honor Among Orcs is a high fantasy filled with danger, intrigue, magic, and love that you will want to read again.
And I can't wait for the next book to come out!
Full disclosure: I received an advanced reader copy of this for review, but my review was in no way influenced by this fact.
Arianna may be a princess, but she's grown up being viewed as purely a tool for the king's use. Mocked, belittled, and humiliated she seeks refuge in the forbidden rooms that used to be her mother's. When she finds Bolthorn, an orc trapped in a magic mirror, Arianna is struck by his strength and his sense of honor. And she begins to see a glimmer of hope that perhaps they could save each other. But escaping the castle could only be the beginning of all of their troubles. Do they have enough faith to survive or will their differences shatter any hope of freedom?
Dillin crafts a world that is rich in detail and peopled with a cast of characters that leap off the page and grab hold of your imagination. In the vein of Tolkien, Honor Among Orcs is a high fantasy filled with danger, intrigue, magic, and love that you will want to read again.
And I can't wait for the next book to come out!
Full disclosure: I received an advanced reader copy of this for review, but my review was in no way influenced by this fact.
December 11, 2022
Excuse me while I gush over my new favorite author! All my favorite fantasy and romantic tropes rolled into one book? Yes, please. This series is for anyone who devours human/monster romances, traumatized female protagonists quietly stepping into their power, and tear-streaked reunions between lovers. I cannot count the number of times this book made my heart race and my stomach feel warm and fuzzy. Can’t wait to read the sequel.
April 2, 2014
Deft Characterization and Turbulent Adventure a Fine Story Make
Having read "Forged By Fate" and other works by Amalia Dillin, I was excited to see her news about "Honor Among Orcs". It is in a very different world from the other series, which just means promise and potential for more fascinating storytelling on Dillin's part. That sense of promise paid off well as I dove into the story, each step of Arianna and Bolthorn’s journey leaving me eager to find out more about this new world and the inhabitants therein.
From the very beginning, the story draws the reader into the action. From those first breathless moments on the castle walls, it is difficult to not be drawn into Arianna's tale. There are twists and turns at surprising places and trouble from corners that seemed safe. There are dangers beyond the elements and there are tests of love which leave shivers in their wake.
One of my favorite things about Dillin's writing is her ability to make characters come alive on the page. Behind Arianna's carefully composed public face, you can feel the grief and fear she lives with. Bolthorn is clearly more complex than "big strong orc" and the shades of his complexity play out through the story, though his overriding strength is clearly steadfast loyalty. King Gunnar is clearly an awful person and you can hear the cruelty behind the sugary sweet words he speaks to the public. Lord Alviss made my skin crawl more than once and I was gleeful with how his role in the story played out. Though for me, the standout character was Fossegrim. I loved him from the second sentence he was mentioned and that only grew. I would love to hear more from him in the future.
While there were a couple of minor points that bugged me about the story, on the whole, it was outstanding. I found the early miscommunications between Arianna and Bolthorn to be a bit tedious in a few places and was very relieved when it was resolved. The other point that was likely more a me-problem than a book problem was becoming slightly confused about who each of the Vala were and what their roles were in the story. Once I mentally sorted that back out, a couple of confusing points made sense again. That I chalk up to reader error versus writer error, though I do suggest if you find yourself becoming confused you hop to the Dramatis Personae at the end.
While I received my copy of the book in exchange for an honest review, I was already going to purchase it, and I recommend that you do, too! There is adventure that begins with a heroine saving a hero and herself, but there are also thoughtful considerations of inter-race politics, what it means to be a part of a family, and how to stay strong in the face of great hardship. The adventure story alone makes it a fun read, but the depths of the undercurrents make it a true work of art.
Having read "Forged By Fate" and other works by Amalia Dillin, I was excited to see her news about "Honor Among Orcs". It is in a very different world from the other series, which just means promise and potential for more fascinating storytelling on Dillin's part. That sense of promise paid off well as I dove into the story, each step of Arianna and Bolthorn’s journey leaving me eager to find out more about this new world and the inhabitants therein.
From the very beginning, the story draws the reader into the action. From those first breathless moments on the castle walls, it is difficult to not be drawn into Arianna's tale. There are twists and turns at surprising places and trouble from corners that seemed safe. There are dangers beyond the elements and there are tests of love which leave shivers in their wake.
One of my favorite things about Dillin's writing is her ability to make characters come alive on the page. Behind Arianna's carefully composed public face, you can feel the grief and fear she lives with. Bolthorn is clearly more complex than "big strong orc" and the shades of his complexity play out through the story, though his overriding strength is clearly steadfast loyalty. King Gunnar is clearly an awful person and you can hear the cruelty behind the sugary sweet words he speaks to the public. Lord Alviss made my skin crawl more than once and I was gleeful with how his role in the story played out. Though for me, the standout character was Fossegrim. I loved him from the second sentence he was mentioned and that only grew. I would love to hear more from him in the future.
While there were a couple of minor points that bugged me about the story, on the whole, it was outstanding. I found the early miscommunications between Arianna and Bolthorn to be a bit tedious in a few places and was very relieved when it was resolved. The other point that was likely more a me-problem than a book problem was becoming slightly confused about who each of the Vala were and what their roles were in the story. Once I mentally sorted that back out, a couple of confusing points made sense again. That I chalk up to reader error versus writer error, though I do suggest if you find yourself becoming confused you hop to the Dramatis Personae at the end.
While I received my copy of the book in exchange for an honest review, I was already going to purchase it, and I recommend that you do, too! There is adventure that begins with a heroine saving a hero and herself, but there are also thoughtful considerations of inter-race politics, what it means to be a part of a family, and how to stay strong in the face of great hardship. The adventure story alone makes it a fun read, but the depths of the undercurrents make it a true work of art.
June 27, 2014
I've been a fan of high fantasy (Sword of Truth, Lord of the Rings, Wheel of Time) from the time I was quite young and this book holds it's own in such esteemed company. I found the book through an author group page on Facebook called Book Tarts and Ms Dillin had posted her information, as well as the description as "Tolkien meets Beauty & The Beast". A draw-line like that had me wanting more so I picked up the Kindle free sample and bingeread the rest of the book in about 20 hours.
The storyline of Arianna, the "put upon possible bastard" to the King and the suffering she endures at his hand provides a jumping off point to see how she grows and blossoms throughout the tale of her adventures with Bolthorn (pronounced Bol Thorn, not Bolt Horn ... I was corrected by another reader ... oops!). Theirs is not an easy tale to tell and there are twists and turns and intrigues enough to keep you reading well through the night.
Both main characters are believable and easily liked ... each jumps off the page with a well crafted description and an invitation to know more. One of the things I really loved about the author is that she never physically describes, to the minute detail, what her characters look like. She allows you to develop their image in your own mind while providing small details that help that picture develop ... (for example, we know Arianna has long, dark hair and she's milky white ... her facial structure, body type etc are left to the imagination of the reader ... I LOVE THAT!)
One note that I might offer: When reading this book, skip to the end where the author provides description of who is who in the book. About halfway through the story, she starts talking about certain characters and I had no idea who they were for about 3 pages. Reading the descriptions at the end of the book helped me to understand who they were and what their roles were better.
The book is not what i would call a "typical" romance ... there's no explicit sexual scenes but there is quite a bit of sensual romance in a traditional "sweep me off my feet" kind of sense ... If I were giving it a movie rating, I'd say PG ... no heavy violence or graphic sex.
Brilliantly written and expertly presented. One can only hope this is the beginning of a great series of books!
The storyline of Arianna, the "put upon possible bastard" to the King and the suffering she endures at his hand provides a jumping off point to see how she grows and blossoms throughout the tale of her adventures with Bolthorn (pronounced Bol Thorn, not Bolt Horn ... I was corrected by another reader ... oops!). Theirs is not an easy tale to tell and there are twists and turns and intrigues enough to keep you reading well through the night.
Both main characters are believable and easily liked ... each jumps off the page with a well crafted description and an invitation to know more. One of the things I really loved about the author is that she never physically describes, to the minute detail, what her characters look like. She allows you to develop their image in your own mind while providing small details that help that picture develop ... (for example, we know Arianna has long, dark hair and she's milky white ... her facial structure, body type etc are left to the imagination of the reader ... I LOVE THAT!)
One note that I might offer: When reading this book, skip to the end where the author provides description of who is who in the book. About halfway through the story, she starts talking about certain characters and I had no idea who they were for about 3 pages. Reading the descriptions at the end of the book helped me to understand who they were and what their roles were better.
The book is not what i would call a "typical" romance ... there's no explicit sexual scenes but there is quite a bit of sensual romance in a traditional "sweep me off my feet" kind of sense ... If I were giving it a movie rating, I'd say PG ... no heavy violence or graphic sex.
Brilliantly written and expertly presented. One can only hope this is the beginning of a great series of books!
April 15, 2014
When I saw the author post about this book online, I immediately wanted to get my hands on a copy. I love orcs in a way that everyone I know thinks is odd. Hey, some girls like werewolves, elves, or vampires. For me it's the green skin and tusks. A story where an orc is a main character and it's a romance? Yes, please!
I can happily say that I wasn't disappointed. The two main characters, Arianna and Bolthorn, have depth to them that makes them people rather than flat characters. For me what makes or breaks a book is characterization and the protagonists had plenty of that. I honestly wasn't sure if I would like Arianna, fearing that she'd be some sort of pathetic princess. (I know, I know, I shouldn't have, but with a romance, you never know.) I was pleasantly surprised that even in her times of weakness, which I certainly couldn't fault her for, she still had strength and determination. Bolthorn... well, let's just say that he's now another orc I have a massive crush on. I found him to be more interesting than Arianna; not that she was flat, he just had the more interesting backstory and personality, in my opinion. I really got into the orc culture and how they live and interact with each other and the world.
Speaking of that, the world-building had detail that I appreciated. The history of the elves and the orcs was particularly interesting, and I enjoyed reading about the orcs' culture, so I'm hoping we get more of that in later books. That's the other thing: when I got to the end of the book and realized that it was the first in a trilogy I think I gave a little squeal of delight. Needless to say I will be reading the next one!
This is another book where it's hard for me to put into words exactly what I liked about it because I want to say "everything". While that's accurate, it's also incredibly vague. Basically the characterization, the world-building, the star-crossed-type aspect of the romance, the main characters triumphing against odds... it's all there. The only shortcoming I can think of is that I thought it felt a little disjointed to start, but once the plot started rolling I had a hard time putting this book down.
I can happily say that I wasn't disappointed. The two main characters, Arianna and Bolthorn, have depth to them that makes them people rather than flat characters. For me what makes or breaks a book is characterization and the protagonists had plenty of that. I honestly wasn't sure if I would like Arianna, fearing that she'd be some sort of pathetic princess. (I know, I know, I shouldn't have, but with a romance, you never know.) I was pleasantly surprised that even in her times of weakness, which I certainly couldn't fault her for, she still had strength and determination. Bolthorn... well, let's just say that he's now another orc I have a massive crush on. I found him to be more interesting than Arianna; not that she was flat, he just had the more interesting backstory and personality, in my opinion. I really got into the orc culture and how they live and interact with each other and the world.
Speaking of that, the world-building had detail that I appreciated. The history of the elves and the orcs was particularly interesting, and I enjoyed reading about the orcs' culture, so I'm hoping we get more of that in later books. That's the other thing: when I got to the end of the book and realized that it was the first in a trilogy I think I gave a little squeal of delight. Needless to say I will be reading the next one!
This is another book where it's hard for me to put into words exactly what I liked about it because I want to say "everything". While that's accurate, it's also incredibly vague. Basically the characterization, the world-building, the star-crossed-type aspect of the romance, the main characters triumphing against odds... it's all there. The only shortcoming I can think of is that I thought it felt a little disjointed to start, but once the plot started rolling I had a hard time putting this book down.
February 20, 2014
I just loved this book. It took me back to highschool when I just DEVOURED high fantasy and especially high fantasy with some killer romance! It is all about the hunky orc that gives you warm fuzzies with how sweet he is :3 I am working on a design for a Bolthorn plushy. It will happen. I just <3 him and want to snuggle him that much!
Ok enough of the girl gushing. There is plenty of ACTION in this for anyone else too!! I was on the edge of my seat multiple times! And when I thought I wouldn't have time to read it much, I just had to MAKE time because I had to know WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN OMG!!!
Next question: When is the sequel coming out? <3
Ok enough of the girl gushing. There is plenty of ACTION in this for anyone else too!! I was on the edge of my seat multiple times! And when I thought I wouldn't have time to read it much, I just had to MAKE time because I had to know WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN OMG!!!
Next question: When is the sequel coming out? <3
May 27, 2014
I typically do not like fantasy books and I also do not typically read them either. But this one I did enjoy because I really liked Amalia Dillin's writing. Her writing flows so nicely and I appreciate that. I personally am not familiar with the Orcs so I did some research to get myself familiar with them. I did appreciate the New-Adult feel to the book and the fact that it has a Beauty and the Beast aspect to it.
October 21, 2015
This would have gotten a full 5 if not for some of the relationship stuff in the early-mid area of the book. Outside of that, it's fun, it's mushy, it's sexy, and I loved it. It was really cool to see an orc get a love story. Bolthorn and Arianna are great characters. You can't help but root for them deep down in the cockles of your heart. So, to recap, fun, sexy, mushy, and orcs.
Shelved as 'nevermind'
April 11, 2016$0.99 on Amazon 9/14/15
This is a bit boring. DNF @ 28%.
This is a bit boring. DNF @ 28%.
August 1, 2015
Amazing story and I'll be keeping my eye out for more from this series.
May 18, 2020
Very good
This book was well written and had equal parts of love,adventure,action! I didn't want it to end! This book made me go to another world
This book was well written and had equal parts of love,adventure,action! I didn't want it to end! This book made me go to another world
March 31, 2014
I've wanted to read this book since the author first began writing it and speaking of it on Twitter. Orc romance? Orc. Romance. If that doesn't intrigue you then you have no imagination.
It not only held up to my expectations but it had depths I hadn't anticipated. It had the world-building complexity of a Tolkien fantasy. The star-crossed aspect of a Shakespeare tragedy. All with the character and relationship development of a romance.
I like that the hero being an orc and her being a human was both a hindrance to their relationship even as it wasn't. It felt like a mimicry of our modern society that their disparate appearances were only a problem to those who made it a problem. It was a brilliant layer to the story.
I couldn't put this book down--which I've learned to anticipate whenever I read anything by Amalia Dillin. Her writing reads like she's worked over every sentence and it's been written by a writer who's spent decades at their craft. I can visualize everything. It's so real. Her stories are those great ones where you forget you're reading and just live it.
This book does have sexual content in it--enough to cause blink-eyed offense if you're expecting closed-door, fade-to-black scenes, but mild enough that the majority of you will laugh at me for mentioning it.
While it's the first in a series, this book is complete and doesn't have a stingy cliffhanger ending. So grab it in your grubby hands, settle down for a good long read, and expect great things...because you won't be disappointed.
I will confess I begged the author to be able to read this early, but bought a copy so that I can reread and highlight my favorite lines...and because I heart it and wanted to Gollum it while calling it my precious. I'll probably try and con the next installment out of her early too...which is the whole reason you make friends with authors on Twitter. (True story.)
It not only held up to my expectations but it had depths I hadn't anticipated. It had the world-building complexity of a Tolkien fantasy. The star-crossed aspect of a Shakespeare tragedy. All with the character and relationship development of a romance.
I like that the hero being an orc and her being a human was both a hindrance to their relationship even as it wasn't. It felt like a mimicry of our modern society that their disparate appearances were only a problem to those who made it a problem. It was a brilliant layer to the story.
I couldn't put this book down--which I've learned to anticipate whenever I read anything by Amalia Dillin. Her writing reads like she's worked over every sentence and it's been written by a writer who's spent decades at their craft. I can visualize everything. It's so real. Her stories are those great ones where you forget you're reading and just live it.
This book does have sexual content in it--enough to cause blink-eyed offense if you're expecting closed-door, fade-to-black scenes, but mild enough that the majority of you will laugh at me for mentioning it.
While it's the first in a series, this book is complete and doesn't have a stingy cliffhanger ending. So grab it in your grubby hands, settle down for a good long read, and expect great things...because you won't be disappointed.
I will confess I begged the author to be able to read this early, but bought a copy so that I can reread and highlight my favorite lines...and because I heart it and wanted to Gollum it while calling it my precious. I'll probably try and con the next installment out of her early too...which is the whole reason you make friends with authors on Twitter. (True story.)
August 26, 2015
Great worldbuilding, worth more than 4 stars plus amazing adoring orc H 5 stars for this guy , this book has got the whole beauty and beast thing going on.
But apart from that Meh, the h was a killjoy she was always looking for a reason to be more depressed and unhappy - even while the H was trying to be positive and hopeful and practical - the h was like what if the world fell on our head tomorrow?! Poor guy he would be patient and try to reassure her but she would find the next thing to agonize about and I was like enough already, I felt sorry for the H that he has to be around that. The poor guy adored the h, worshipped her really.
Also the book dragged, this was actually 3 books in one. In first part they escape from captivity so I thought ok, they made it home overcoming all dangers and was looking forward to the HEA - then suddenly h is bride-napped by evil villainess and we are led to believe H died. So when thats fixed and again they make it home and I was like finally heres the HEA - alas, no the people at H's home have been convinced by evil villainess that h has bewitched H, so they are separated and H has to fight to retain his position as orc village chieftain. There is an ex creating problems and H's brother is now believed dead and H suspects the villainess did it. So they then figure it all out(somewhat - some of it is series bait for bk2) and there is finally a HEA - and I was totally exhausted by this point.
I recommend this book to readers who enjoy a sweet romance with thrilling roadtrips and intrigue plus elves n orcs n dragons n magic - a bit tolkienesque, really, but sexier.
Overall I'm going with 3.75 stars, mainly for the H and the extensive worldbuilding.
But apart from that Meh, the h was a killjoy she was always looking for a reason to be more depressed and unhappy - even while the H was trying to be positive and hopeful and practical - the h was like what if the world fell on our head tomorrow?! Poor guy he would be patient and try to reassure her but she would find the next thing to agonize about and I was like enough already, I felt sorry for the H that he has to be around that. The poor guy adored the h, worshipped her really.
Also the book dragged, this was actually 3 books in one. In first part they escape from captivity so I thought ok, they made it home overcoming all dangers and was looking forward to the HEA - then suddenly h is bride-napped by evil villainess and we are led to believe H died. So when thats fixed and again they make it home and I was like finally heres the HEA - alas, no the people at H's home have been convinced by evil villainess that h has bewitched H, so they are separated and H has to fight to retain his position as orc village chieftain. There is an ex creating problems and H's brother is now believed dead and H suspects the villainess did it. So they then figure it all out(somewhat - some of it is series bait for bk2) and there is finally a HEA - and I was totally exhausted by this point.
I recommend this book to readers who enjoy a sweet romance with thrilling roadtrips and intrigue plus elves n orcs n dragons n magic - a bit tolkienesque, really, but sexier.
Overall I'm going with 3.75 stars, mainly for the H and the extensive worldbuilding.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 31, 2014
This new series by Amalia Dillin really has me hooked. I love it when a new supernatural creature is used in fantasy or paranormal romance. This is the second series of the author’s that I read and follow. She has definitely become an author that I keep a watch on for whatever she has coming out.
This book had me hooked right from the beginning. The magic in this story is fascinating as soon as I started reading this story I was not able to put it down. The descriptions and characters in the story were very well written. The king and the noble to marry the princess are horrible people and they deserve everything that happens.
What I really liked was the mystery of the world and the orcs. The history of the Princess Arianna’s mother also is something that I am really curious about. I hope that we find out more about this in later books.
There wasn’t much I did not like in this story. The only thing I can say is I got a little confused with the names once the book shifted to the orc’s territory. However this is also common in fantasy books and it was not enough for me to lower the score of the book.
All in all this is a great series to start and keep reading in the future. I can’t wait to see the future books in this series to see where it goes.
*I received this free from the author in exchange for an honest review.*
This book had me hooked right from the beginning. The magic in this story is fascinating as soon as I started reading this story I was not able to put it down. The descriptions and characters in the story were very well written. The king and the noble to marry the princess are horrible people and they deserve everything that happens.
What I really liked was the mystery of the world and the orcs. The history of the Princess Arianna’s mother also is something that I am really curious about. I hope that we find out more about this in later books.
There wasn’t much I did not like in this story. The only thing I can say is I got a little confused with the names once the book shifted to the orc’s territory. However this is also common in fantasy books and it was not enough for me to lower the score of the book.
All in all this is a great series to start and keep reading in the future. I can’t wait to see the future books in this series to see where it goes.
*I received this free from the author in exchange for an honest review.*
March 16, 2014
Once again, Dillin demonstrates her knack for crafting a story with compelling lead characters and striking the perfect balance between the challenges they face in the world around them and within themselves.
In my view, “Honor Among Orcs” has a Tolkien-meets-Twilight feel to it and should appeal to fans of supernatural romance and high fantasy alike.
A minor quibble: The male human nobles we encounter early in the tale come off a bit flat. I felt they would benefit greatly from some additional back story in order for their ill treatment of the heroine to feel more authentic and less irrational.
Other than that, I really enjoy how the book steadily adds new and interesting characters all the way through. As always, the author's writing flows so well that it carries the reader along effortlessly. More please!
In my view, “Honor Among Orcs” has a Tolkien-meets-Twilight feel to it and should appeal to fans of supernatural romance and high fantasy alike.
A minor quibble: The male human nobles we encounter early in the tale come off a bit flat. I felt they would benefit greatly from some additional back story in order for their ill treatment of the heroine to feel more authentic and less irrational.
Other than that, I really enjoy how the book steadily adds new and interesting characters all the way through. As always, the author's writing flows so well that it carries the reader along effortlessly. More please!
October 3, 2014
The first book in the Orc Saga series, this novel has a little bit of everything: action, adventure, a damsel in distress, and individuals of questionable character. And that's the just the prologue and the first chapter. Without giving too much away, our damsel, Princess Arianna, is in a difficult situation. She must be obedient to her father or face severe punishment, but that also means bending to the will of the sadistic Lord Alviss.
The only place to hide was the north tower, forbidden from entry by all except the kind since the untimely death of Queen Signy. The room is empty, except for her mother's ornate mirror. Or is it? Objects are not always as they first appear, and neither are people.
Follow Arianna's journey of growth and discovery as she learns that love can take many forms. And take her to people and places she never could have imagined.
The only place to hide was the north tower, forbidden from entry by all except the kind since the untimely death of Queen Signy. The room is empty, except for her mother's ornate mirror. Or is it? Objects are not always as they first appear, and neither are people.
Follow Arianna's journey of growth and discovery as she learns that love can take many forms. And take her to people and places she never could have imagined.
April 23, 2022
Description does not do it justice
I was sucked in to this book, and was NOT expecting it. It sat on my TBR list for ever, and I picked it up and could not put it down! It checks so many boxes - love story, action, adventure, lore, twists and turns, strong likeable leads. I’m eagerly picking up the next in the series.
I was sucked in to this book, and was NOT expecting it. It sat on my TBR list for ever, and I picked it up and could not put it down! It checks so many boxes - love story, action, adventure, lore, twists and turns, strong likeable leads. I’m eagerly picking up the next in the series.
February 19, 2014
I was super lucky enough to be given a Advance Copy of this book, and it is FANTASTIC.
I won't give too much away in this review, because I read it with only the barest blurb, no idea where it would go or how it would end, and I think that's the best way to read such a wonderful, thrilling story. Once again, Amalia Dillin has created a magical world that jumps off the page, populated with characters that will make you happy, make you sad, and make your skin crawl.
You will laugh.
You will cry.
You will fall in love. Multiple times.
If you like fantasy, magic, romance, adventure, monsters or princesses, this is the book for you.
I won't give too much away in this review, because I read it with only the barest blurb, no idea where it would go or how it would end, and I think that's the best way to read such a wonderful, thrilling story. Once again, Amalia Dillin has created a magical world that jumps off the page, populated with characters that will make you happy, make you sad, and make your skin crawl.
You will laugh.
You will cry.
You will fall in love. Multiple times.
If you like fantasy, magic, romance, adventure, monsters or princesses, this is the book for you.
March 23, 2014
I had the absolute privilege of reading this book, before its official release. Not only was I excited about how quickly I was pulled into the story, but I was surprised at how much I have come to like, and have an appreciation for Orcs! It was one of the books that I couldn't wait to read at night. I won't throw in any spoilers. But, you should know that it is not only humorous at times, but also sexy! I found myself giggling to myself a lot. This is a great book for any (mature) fantasy reader. I highly recommend it. The author drew out a vivid (movie-like) mental image for me. It was difficult to put it down.
February 25, 2014
What a compelling, unique and interesting story! Amalia Dillin brings you into yet another fascinating world where you learn about a multitude of characters including the two main characters Arianna and Bolthorn. What an intruiging story about these two individuals and how their lives become intertwined throughout the book. I was compelled by the story from beginning to end and it definitely kept on the edge of my seat in some part, its a very unique fantasy book with a little something for everyone! A must read for anyone who likes fantasy, adventure and princesses!
October 1, 2014
Honor Among Orcs is a fun read. I like that the author chose an orc as the romantic interest rather than the traditional werewolf or vampire which have both been done way too much. The author does a great job helping me visualize the characters and the land they’re traveling through. I loved learning more about the history of the orcs and the elves and really think that made the book much more interesting to me. If you enjoy fantasy romance, you’ll definitely want to read Honor Among Orcs by Amalia Dillin. I’m looking forward to Book 2!
November 16, 2017
This series does not only talks about the love story of the main characters but depicts the struggle of the Orcs- a race that was ridiculed from the day of their existence.
I will follow Bolthorn and Princess Arianna's journey 'til they find their happiness, and how they will give the Orcs the peace and acceptance that they truly deserve.
Nothing much to say because it is perfect the way it is- the story and the writing. Kudos, Amalia Dillin. I hope I can personally chat with you.
I will follow Bolthorn and Princess Arianna's journey 'til they find their happiness, and how they will give the Orcs the peace and acceptance that they truly deserve.
Nothing much to say because it is perfect the way it is- the story and the writing. Kudos, Amalia Dillin. I hope I can personally chat with you.
April 2, 2014
*sigh* Where do I start?
This book took hold of me from the very moment the ink met the page. Amalia has woven together a fantasy world with rich lore and a gentle nod to those who have traversed the lands of elves and orcs before her. Her prose so lovely I'm pretty sure I audibly swooned over and over again. A beautiful love story laced with magic.
This book took hold of me from the very moment the ink met the page. Amalia has woven together a fantasy world with rich lore and a gentle nod to those who have traversed the lands of elves and orcs before her. Her prose so lovely I'm pretty sure I audibly swooned over and over again. A beautiful love story laced with magic.
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