A Ranger's Tale

Tallenmere #1

by Mysti Parker

In the high elf city of Leogard, an elven noblewoman longs to leave her gilded cage. A half-breed former pirate wants nothing more than to escape his guilty past. Easier said than done...

Caliphany Aranea, nearly a century old, leads an enviable life as high elf King Leopold's niece and daughter of Sirius, Leogard's most famous wizard. She is expected to follow in her father's footsteps to lead the Mage Academy and to marry a man she doesn't even like. Yet, she craves a taste of life outside the city walls.

As a young boy, half-elf Galadin Trudeaux witnessed his parents' death at the hands of pirates. After being raised by those same murderers and forced to do their bidding, he escaped and now lives an honest life as a sea merchant and ranger.

When two brutes at Leogard Harbor attempt to kidnap Caliphany while she dreams of faraway lands, Galadin comes to her rescue. Impressed by his skills, she asks him to train her as a ranger. Though he is hesitant at first to train a woman of her class, Caliphany's hefty sack of gold finally persuades him. Unfortunately, her father is not amused, and the two must escape before Caliphany faces a forced marriage and Galadin faces a noose.

From that moment on, to the finale, where Caliphany must decide where her heart truly lies, she and Galadin embark on a fateful journey that will change their lives forever. Can they survive the trials and tragedies ahead to find a love that stands the test of time?

Read this exciting first book in the standalone Tallenmere series to find out!

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal, Fantasy Romance, Magic, Fiction, Young Adult

257 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 22, 2010

About the author

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

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Reviews

[Mysti Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wrote it, and I like it. :)

[Nemo (The ☾Moonlight☾ Library) · Rating 1 out of 5]

Legit tried to read this despite worst cover ever.

The second sentence had me cringing.

"Fresh hay tickled Caliphany's nose, and she stifled a sneeze. Hide-and-seek was her favourite game, except Aelendyl was allergic to hay, and she knew it."

What is up with that? Does that make sense to anyone?

This book appears to be unedited; either that or the source material was so shockingly bad to being with that this is the best the editors could tame it. It is also poorly formatted and often misses spaces at the beginning of new sentences. Paragraph breaks are not used in the correct manner, and new speaker dialogue is often not attributed its own line as is the accepted norm.

I'm all for experimentation in indie and small press novels but there are some rules that just shouldn't be broken. It makes one look amateur and stupid. Master the rules before you break them, then break them correctly.

It's an interesting story and clearly a decent imagination, but the skill to record it is far too poor.

Unfortunately the book does not get any better. I can't waste my time on something that clearly has not had any love and effort put into it.

Also, victim blaming. Yay.

[Jeann (Happy Indulgence) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review appears on my Happy Indulgence Blog. Check out the author interview here!

A Ranger's Tale is an emotionally charged story about a beautiful high elf in search of adventure and an ex-pirate sea merchant falling in love. Told from multiple perspectives, I experienced a flurry of emotions as I followed Lady Caliphany and Galidan on their adventures.

Caliphany is the King's niece and a high elf who will do anything to escape the life her father has planned for her. As a mage in training, she is expected to follow in her father's footsteps and become a wizard and wed another elf. While she can wield the power of fire, Cali wants to escape her gilded cage in search of adventure and independence.

One day, she is rescued by a half-elf and ranger called Galadin, who she pressures into training her how to fight. Unable to resist her charm, the Galadin succumbs and before long the two can't hide their attraction to each other. As the two begin to learn about each other, we're swept up in a sweeping romance between the two.

I thoroughly enjoyed the world of Tallenmere, a fantasy world full of high seas, elves, villages, goblins, magic and inns. The author has built an amazingly evocative world where we have the pleasure of experiencing the emotions of two strong, independent protagonists who go through some character developments and unresolved feelings. I loved Mysti's follow through and the way she tied things together, from bringing up Jayden, Cali's childhood love to Cali wanting to become a ranger later in life. Cali's relationship with her parents was both touching and heartbreaking at times as they are experiencing difficult emotions themselves with having a rebellious daughter.

I took a star off for the corny "want to be with him/her" lines and the way they suddenly decided they loved each other but hey, it's a romance so I guess that's to be expected. I've seen worse where it's completely unjustified and at least these two have gotten to know each other beforehand.

I didn't expect to love this book like I did when I finished it, as there was a difficult moment in the middle when things didn't seem to work out. With several unexpected twists and turns, I won't spoil the surprise but it's definitely a journey worth experiencing. The book features heaps of action, fantasy, romance and steamy bedroom scenes and I highly recommend it. Thanks Mysti for providing me with this review copy, in exchange for an honest review.

[Amanda The Book Slayer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!!! I loved it. All I have to say is, why haven't I heard of this book before? It is a must read people!

I was hooked from the beginning. I had a hard time putting this book down and if it wasn't for sick children(we love our children) I would have finished it in a day.


I Loved It!



Recommend : Anyone who loves Fantasy mixed with an ex-pirate and a kick-butt main female character! It really is a must read!

Warning: You may cry, so keep tissues close. This book will take your emotions for a ride.


Alright, on with the parts that I couldn't get enough of:

* I have to say it. Galadin reminds me of Orlando Bloom. A Half Elf and an ex-pirate. It was actually really wonderful to have an excuse to daydream about him. You know you wanna do it. Let's take a look....

Add that to


This equals one Sexy Galadin!

* I loved Caliphany. I thought she was the perfect female character. She decided to take her life back. I loved that she went and trained with Galadin. I am all about a sexy ex-pirate and ranger training a girl who is learning she can take control of her destiny!

* One of my favorite parts was when Caliphany and Galadin are out in the woods and they go tumbling. The scene was perfect.I think this for me was when the tides turned. I mean I thought there was something going on, but this scene seemed touching and sweet.

* I got the funniest looks from my hubby when I read about Juliana and Malchior dating. Really I just pictured her sweet friend hooked up with the other professor who she singed his hair off and about killed him. Really, it just made me chuckle. Yes, I do laugh when I read and it drives my hubby crazy. What can I say it is like watching a movie for me.

* I did love Jayden Ravenwing as well. I mean the head of the kings guards, way sexy! I thought his part in the whole book was good, but a little sad. He was a better man then most and it was refreshing to read a book with a good guy against a good guy. Really, both men were winners. But one out weighed the other when it came to Cali.

* I loved the overall messages of this book.
Love Conquers All and Always Follow Your Heart
I don't think you can go wrong with either of these.

Wishes :

* The one wish I had was I wanted a few more cute scenes of Cali and Galadin falling in love at the beginning. I really enjoyed the ones that were there but I could have loved a few more.

* Okay make that two wishes. I thought this was one of the few books that could have gotten away with Sectioning off the book. I am not sure what this is called, sorry. For example: When a book is broken up in 3 parts like: Free Falling, Troubled Switch, and Destiny or True Love. I don't know it might just me. I felt the characters shift and breaking up the book, would not have hurt it. Mysti is a great author and I think she could have pulled it off.

Favorite Quotes:

"No, I would never forget him. It would be like trying not to breathe—impossible."

"Together, we held to each other, swaying gently from side to side. We danced the dance of soul mates—a conversation that said nothing and everything all at once."

She poured a potion over my head wound. It burned, and I yelped. “A little?”Lillyanne shrugged. “Sorry. Every time I say, ‘It’ll hurt like hell’s blazes’,the patients take off. It’s a righteous lie, mind ye.”

To sum it up I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it! Thank you to Mysti Parker for sending me a copy to review. It was excellent. Bravo!

[Ronda Tutt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic Read!

I really enjoyed this Fantasy, Wizards, mages, spells, and magical powers with lots of action entrance you right away and the romance was weaved within the story perfectly as were the love scenes that were described with creatively written clean taste that left you with all kinds of erotic visions to imagine. The story grabbed me right away with the rebellious daughter of a master wizard who wanted nothing to do with the controlled life that was set before her.

Cali, a beautiful high elf with long golden hair and blue eyes wants more out of life than following in her father’s footsteps and having her life planned out for her with an arranged marriage to a man who she didn’t love. She wanted to see the world and experience life and discover who she was.

Galadin, ½ Elven and ½ human is whisked from his mother and father as a small child and raised on the rough seas by pirates until he is old enough to stand on his own. Changing his life by helping capture the rouge pirates, he makes plenty of enemies along the way but his good doing of helping others out does the evil past he had to live to survive.

When Cali and Galadin meet, the attraction is undeniable and Cali is determined to change her life by getting Galadin to train her skills in archery and in hunting so she can protect herself once she leaves the confinement hold of her fathers. Cali’s father learns of this training, he locks her up in a room and refuses to let her out until she agrees to marry a mage she despises. Cali’s rebellion refuses and cloaks herself invisible with magic and escapes her confinement and ends up on Galadin’s ship as a stow away. Cali forces Galadin to take her away to another island but Galadin can’t just drop her off to fend for herself and finds himself drawn to protect her from her father’s hunting party.

Cali and Galadin’s adventure is exciting, intense, and shocking as their romance blooms. The story is full of friendship, love, betrayal, loyalty, and death. The ending was very intense but glad it finally ended in a HEA.

[Tori Ridgewood · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was swept away from the moment I began following Caliphany and Galadin, and their adventures. I dearly love stories of missed connections, miscommunication, heartache, and reunion, and Mysti Parker has not disappointed -- in the tradition of Tolkien, she has created a whole new world of beauty, delight, and magic. I love the details she has considered in every creature, every home, and in the spell craft of the magical characters. And her characters are complex, pulling me further and further into their lives with every page.

I think my favourite thing about Parker's writing is the design of the novel itself: we begin outside of Caliphany and Galadin's perspectives, witness to pivotal events in their respective childhoods. Then, she brings us deeper by giving the narrative over to the protagonists, including the third point of a devastating love triangle, Jayden (whose adventures I cannot wait to read in Serenya's Song). But the ending of the story -- at least chronicle of Tallenmere -- is beautiful, taking the me back out of first person and into outside narrative. Thus, it is as though we are brought full circle, from above the action to deep within and back out again, like a camera zooming into a life and reversing, floating us back to reality. It's really lovely.

I devoured this book today, and I highly recommend it to any fan of fantasy fiction. (And now I definitely need elf ears -- Team Cali, all the way!)

[Laurie (barksbooks) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 ½ stars. A Ranger’s Tale is an action packed fantasy set in a world inhabited by magical elves, trolls and goblins in a land called Tallenmere. Caliphany is a beautiful high born elf and the only surviving child of an overprotective wizard who has her entire future mapped out for her. A future spent moldering away inside the stifling walls of the Magic Academy and marrying a man she doesn’t love. She does her best to abide by his wishes but her desire for adventure leads her into the arms of Galadin, a hunky halfling with a nefarious history. Her defiance leads them all into emotional turmoil but what’s the sense of living if you don’t do it with your whole heart?

This was a fast moving romp of a read with a nice mix of adventure and romance. It was written in first person with alternating chapters told from the point of view of Caliphany, Galadin and another character named Jayden. This format helped me to get to know each key character and their motivations pretty well but it also held me at an emotional distance at crucial times. There were several scenes that should have been emotionally devastating but they just missed the mark and didn’t give me that achy angsty punch to the gut. You know that feeling when your chest tightens up and you stop breathing as you try desperately to hold it together? Yeah, none of that happened here and it should have. I felt as if there was a slight glossing over, a holding back, of emotional pain after the fallout from several “events”. I’m a pain whore I suppose but this book could have been amazing with just a bit more focus on these emotions. I’m not sure if it was the 1st person POV causing this reaction or just the stepping away from the pain and moving along of the story. Maybe I’m just dead inside.

With that said the story was very readable and had some nice sexual tension going in the first half. Though the characters are tortured and impulsive (especially Caliphany) there are moments of humor and I’d be interested to see what this author comes up with in the future.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ever played Dungeons and Dragons? This book is straight out of it. High Elves, wood elves, halflings, dwarves, humans, half-elves, its all there. If you don’t like this stuff, don’t read it. It truly read like something out of a D&D campaign, with some romance and heartbreak rolled into it. The author put in enough culture into the world to make it believable, and enough description to make you feel it.

As an old Dungeons and dragons gamer and a fan of fantasy, I really enjoyed reading this book. The sequel to it is on my TBR shelf, after I get read the books I owe other reviews to.

[Stefanie Pristavu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Caliphany Aranea is a blonde bomb-shell, bad-ass fire mage, getting ready for her dissertation. But she wants more from her life than take her strict and famous father’s place as the next top scholar. She dreams of travel and adventure.

Galadin Trudeaux (awesome name, btw) is a ranger, ship captain and former pirate. He saves Caliphany from an attempted kidnapping and falls in love with her on the spot.

Their journey together begins when Caliphany pays him to train her in the ways of the rangers. What follows is a lightning romance, adventures, travels and a fast marriage.

Caliphany tries to bring her two lives together, but before she can even introduce her new husband to her family, tragedy strikes.

With a child on the way, Caliphany joins the L.I.O and seeks solace in her old flame, Jayden.

I won’t say more on the subject – all the twists and turns are worth reading and finding out.

I honestly didn’t expect to love this book so much. I expected to enjoy it, but not to like…love it. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt sad that a book is ending.

What I liked most about the book was how easily Mysti built the world around her characters – from names of places, months, and plants, everything felt as though it should be there, has been there all along, and will always be there. The description is not overwhelming, but enough to paint a vivid picture.

The characters are well developed, three dimensional and they grow on you. The fact that both Jayden and Galadin are decent men, both with their flaws, makes Caliphany’s struggle even more heart breaking and her suffering is well portrayed.

The romance is good. It was a little head-turning until Cali and Galadin got together, but afterwards, all flowed nicely. There’s some hotness in there as well. Nicely done, may I add. Not too graphic, not too tame, just enough to get the idea across and the heart racing.

The support characters are also very well done – the world is lively and natural and I guess that’s what drew me in the most.

Would I recommend it? Of course. This is one of the books that I’ll most definitely pick off the shelf and read again. So, if you haven’t already, pick up a copy of A Rangers Tale and join the magic.

[WildAboutBones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mysti Parker has hit one out of the ballpark with this first story in her new Tallenmere fantasy romance series with its wizards, paladans, elves, trolls, halflings, royalty, a secret agency, a poignant romance, betrayal, a love lost and found. Parker has created a wonderful new world for her authentic characters. I only wanted to smack the heroine once or twice.

Lady Caliphany, the high elf heroine and the King's niece, as a child accidentally set their barn on fire. Now, almost 100 years later, she is still a hopeless mage in training, still treated like a child by her mother and will never be able to live up to her father's expectations. She chafes at her father's demands, rebels and comes up with a plan soon after meeting Galadin.

Galadin, the elf/human halfling hero, as a child sees his mother beheaded and father burned to death by pirates. Now, 45 years old, he is a ship captain like his father and running his father's business. He is also a ranger. When he saves Caliphany from two brutes on the dock, he has no idea his life will never be the same. He cannot forget her beautiful blue eyes.

This story is told from both Caliphany and Galadin's point of view and later Jayden's point of view as well -- I really like this style.

I thoroughly enjoyed visiting this world and this story which I read in a single sitting - I couldn't put it down.

Fans of the fantasy and paranormal romance genres should like this as well.

Warning Spoiler Alert!!!
This does have a HEA ending.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mysti Parker’s novel has a lot to offer, whether or not you usually read fantasy! I can say this because I rarely pick up a fantasy book. I’ve read a lot of speculative fiction, sci-fi, and experimental fiction, but the allure of fantasy tends to be lost on me. However, I found A Ranger’s Tale captivating.

The novel follows Caliphany Aranea, a high elf who holds onto her taste for adventure in spite of her strict upbringing. Her choice to become a ranger – basically a wandering warrior – is frowned upon by her father. When Caliphany meets her soulmate Galadin, the book hits its stride as an epic fantasy romance.

There are plenty of unexpected twists in A Ranger’s Tale, and I enjoyed being surprised by them! Parker’s descriptions create a vivid world that drew me into the story. Caliphany’s struggle for love is skillfully woven into the fantasy setting. Although this is a fantasy romance, neither genre overpowers the other. Instead, they work in harmony.

The novel starts slowly, but the relationships between these characters really carry the book. There are several pivotal scenes that come to mind when I think about the novel; all of them are focused on character interactions. Caliphany and the other protagonists are not cut-out figures ripped from some other fantasy. They are individuals, with feelings, quirks of speech, and motivations with which we can all identify. If you're looking for an entertaining, heartwarming romance with fantasy elements, this is one book you should definitely seek out!

[Jinky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh wow! What a pleasant surprise. I wasn't crazy about the book cover (actually the color scheme) but once I started reading I was hooked. There was something hypnotic about Ms. Parker's writing and this was my kind of love story. It had heart, adventure, mystery, magic, twists, and a love triangle that rocked! I seriously did the squeeze-chest-shoulders-giddy-claps with a big grin after finishing the read because I was so happy.

I'm a bit apprehensive about reading the rest of the installments because I loved the ending to this so much that I don't want anything shaken. As far as I'm concern, this book was perfect as is. I was fulfilled. Yet, I want to experience and revisit this type of adventure again so I'm definitely continuing. I've fallen in love with the world of Tallenmere!

Let me tell you why this romance novel worked for me. It was tender, exquisite, passionate, and down right heartfelt. It had the elements of Disney's Brave mixed with Pirates of the Caribbean and Robin Hood in family dynamics and adventure. I giggled, I cried, and I cheered. It really was an intoxicatingly fun read.

Thank you Ms. Parker! You are now on my list of favorite authors. :)

Jinky is Reading

[Fran · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Ranger’s Tale: Mysti Parker


When someone’s life is programmed and they decide to rewrite it in their own way they often encounter many obstacles along the way blocking their path and hindering them from achieving their desired goals. Caliphany’s parents have always been inclined to have her follow in her father’s footsteps as a mage. But, that’s not what she aspires to be. Her father is dominant, controlling and refuses to understand that his daughter does not want the same things life he does. Caliphany is smart and resourceful as we learn at the start of the novel. However, no matter how hard she tries to complete her lessons, create the required wizardry taught by her instructors some calamity befalls her and things never turn out right and in some cases not for the instructor who needs protection from his student in more ways than one. But, she is headstrong and although pretty much living in a guarded environment at times she ventures out alone and one encounter would not only change the complexion of her life, her ideals and more but create more friction between her and her father. Caliphany ventures to the docks and finds herself at the hand of some men who begin to rough her up and have other ideas for our princess.

As she fights to free herself a young captain, who experienced a tragedy at a young age, comes to her rescue and the connection between them is instant. Galadin was taken from his parents at a young age and the end result would be working on a pirate ship. As the now installed captain he manages to free her from her captors, using brute force to make his point in order to save her from being kidnapped. Hoping to properly thank this young man, she convinces her companion and friend Juliana to allow her to return to the docks for a specific purpose. Venturing out she enlists Galadin in a secret venture that she hopes will finally free her from mage bondage as she might say if she could express it to readers and allow her to pursue the career she wanted. Imagine a princess becoming a Ranger and being taught how to shoot arrows.

Told in the first person narrative alternating between Caliphany and Galadin the reader gets inside the minds of both characters as they take us through what we hope will be a romantic journey with a happy ending. But, not every story or romance is without obstacles, betrayals and deceit and this one has quite a few. As Caliphany takes on her lessons with Galadin she becomes quite good at archery, tries to wield a sword and then learns how to create and institute an invisibility spell which I think many teens or young adults might think worthwhile. Added in we hear their conversations, eavesdrop on their inner most thoughts as each one bares the truths about their lives to each other in different ways. Galadin losing his father at an early age and he describes how and what caused him to become a pirate. Caliphany explains her bondage or mode of slavery in quite a different manner. Both seeking the approval of the other as tensions mount and the electricity flows. But, all things came to an end and Caliphany’s trust is betrayed when her father reveals he knows the truth about what she has been doing and the end result is anything but what you would expect someone to do to her. Added in we learn more about his goals for her, her straightforward comments and her stubbornness in not giving into what her parent’s want. So, what will happen to her and will she remain locked away in a storage room until she acquiesces to her father’s wishes?

Truths revealed in private, betrayals uncovered and then Caliphany’s move to release herself will definitely surprise Galadin when she lands right you might say on his doorstep in a manner of speaking. The niece of the King and the truth revealed to him what will he do with her and what will happen when the King finds out what her father did?


How does she escape and what part does Galadin play as the tension rises and the excitement runs through both of their veins. When things begin to change and he leaves her in Faewood, Galadin worries about her and what happens next will certainly surprise the reader, as he has no choice but to rescue her, take her along with him when the King announces she is missing. How they get away, who they tell everyone she is just adds some humor to the story and we begin to realize that they just might wind up together but there are more hurdles to overcome and Cali as he calls her needs to reconcile just who she is and what kind of life she really wants. Hunting, shooting arrows, killing animals and living off the land seems to make her soar and using whatever spells or incantations she remembers just might keep them both alive. He is part elfin and she is all elfin. One parent human and the other elfin caused his mother to be killed by pirates and Galadin kidnapped and doing their bidding. But, what will happen if her father finds her and will her disguise hold out? Things change as she and Galadin decide to marry and Cali returns home alone. A bad storm occurs while she is away, her father’s wrath at her choices comes through and her life changes when she thinks he is gone.

Enter the King and his off for her to come work for his secret organization to train others to in the skills she has now acquired. But, one young man named Jayden has other ideas for her and although he claims to be training her, her skills are stifled and her thoughts return to Galadin and not wanting to believe he is gone. When Cali learns she is about to have his child and her condition changes what will the end result be?

Author Misti Parker brings to light many important issues some face today. What happens when people of different races you might want to be together? What happens when someone of higher stations falls for someone in a different class? What happens when two people feel they belong together and parents have other ideas? Some families insist on prearranged marriages. Some are decided when their children are very young and others later in life. When Cali decides to rebel the end result is what has already occurred and when she approaches her father things get out of control and when forced to leave her life takes on a different turn without Galadin.

Events change relationships come about and Cali realizes that she wants someone else in her life. With Jayden pursuing her and her guard you might say down they begin to bond but does he have another motive for wanting to marry her?

Hoping to do more to help people and use her skills as a Ranger when her uncle requests that she, Jayden and others guard her father on a mission, she readily accepts. But, what happens will surprise the reader and the reason for the mission will come clear, as lives are lost, the person behind the murder is revealed and the tensions rise between Cali and Jayden. Betrayals, lies, deceits and a harsh reality hit her in the face, as someone she trusted proved more than unworthy. Just what really did happen to Galadin and who was behind the blast on his ship?

When all the players are brought together and truths are revealed just whose heart will be broken and who will win the golden arrow that Cali shoots to keep her heart? Fear, lies, deaths, questions left unanswered, harsh realities faced and one woman named Cali in the middle of what you might say a triangle has to determine just which side she is on. Author Mysti Parker’s plot is realistic, characters true to life and a story that will bring tears to your eyes, anger at times within your heart and hope that someone will prevail before another spell is cast and more lives are lost. Is Cali really bad news to both men? What’s her final fate? Read A Ranger’s Tale and find out. You never know she might come back again in another novel. A romantic novel with its own special twists and turns. A definite must summer read.

Fran Lewis: reviewer

[Susanna Mahoney · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Ranger’s Tale by Mysti Parker

This reader won this delightful tale in a book contest Hunger Games Read Along Event at http://read2review.com/

From the first page to the last, it was an entertaining tale of a young woman birth into a family of royalty and wizardry has her life destiny changed when a misfortunate accident takes her brother, the heir to the kingdom. She is given the responsibility of carrying the family’s name and reputation as a mage a powerful wizard to continue the linage of the generation. She is a fiery restless soul and when forced to do something against her nature; it was the last straw and she takes her destiny back from her controlling father. She desires to leave the kingdom and see the world, not trapped behind the walls of her castle...

She sneaks out pass the guards on one adventure where she meets a dark handsome man who saves her from being taken hostages by foes and pirates. Meeting him starts her on a wild passionate lusty and worldly education in romance, relationships and the fine art of defensive fighting; using the bow and arrows, survive in the woods and learn how to track and hunt animals for food. She rebels against her destiny and throwing caution to the winds plans her final elopement from her the destiny she desires not and begins a new start. Live her dreams, not her father’s...

The story is written with highly emotional and intimate scenes of powerful sexual chemistry between her and the dark stranger. They are attracted to each other and bond as soul mates. He is cold and distant with her but as the reader turns the pages the relationship heats up and moves to a more personal connection. He is her lover, protector and the man of her dreams. They separated for a while, she is waiting for him to return from the seas; the days stretch into long nights and no word of his existence arrives. Until the dreaded day a telegraph arrives informing her he was lost at sea. Her world crumples and she is lost without him. The author adds more surprises and twists that compelled this reader to not be able to put the book down.

The story continues on as life continues on but the reader’s heart was crying for Galadin, a hero lost at sea and Caliphany’s grief at losing her life soul mate.
This excerpt caught this reader’s heart;

“It was here that my life truly began, when the floodgate opened my heart to the possibilities of love and loss. Some of the best and worst days of my life had happened since Galadin rescued me that day. But without the good times and bad, I may have never experienced true love, sacrifice, the powers of forgiveness, and the consequences of guilt. Even in my weakness, I knew I was a stronger person now because one man decided to step into my life and save me from myself.”

The story continues with some dramatic events and transformations that pulled this reader along waiting in anticipation to see what would be the next action in Caliphany’s future and will she find happiness and peace ever again.

This story’s setting was creative blending in with elves, mages, faeries, kings, and other colorful characters. The healers and the magic community was a pleasure additional. Plus the sailing ships moving through the ocean with the fear of a pirate attack at any moment kept this reader on the edge of her seat and appreciated the author’s creativity of mixing so many concepts and write such a magical fantasy romantic adventure on the high seas and in the royal kingdoms of those days. I goggle her Amazon Author page and she has many five stars reviews and more works in progress. She deserves them. I was pleasurably delighted with the story and bless my lucky Irish four clovers to have won this gift.

This reader believes Mysti Parker is a rising star and this is her first story in her the paranormal fantasy romantic series’ very entertaining with wizards, paladins, elves, trolls, and other worldly creatures, royalty, a sweet romance, betrayal, and new beginnings with locations of faraway lands and very charming; good and evil characters fighting each other. This tale was suspenseful and poignant at the same time.

Good News: Look for more romantic tales from her fantasy world of Tallenmere, where magic, passion, murder, and mayhem are a part of everyday life coming soon.

Alert: This is a fantasy romance, not intended for children or teenagers. Contains adult and sexual situations, violence, and mild profanity.

http://www.amazon.com/A-Rangers-Tale-... ebook/dp/B004XJ5EI2/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_t

Another link to explore is http://www.mystiparker.blogspot.com/

Highly recommend this book with a glass of wine to put your feet up for a while; disconnect the phones, all distracting devices and lose yourself in a high seas adventure of fantasy and romance and destiny transformation, you will not be disappointed..

[Jody · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a highly emotional story based in the world of magic and mystical creatures that puts you through the wringer and leaves you exhausted after turning the final page. For full-elf Caliphany Arenea, being the daughter and only child of a renown mage hasn't been easy. Since the death of her brother she's been groomed to become the next leader of the Mage Academy except that's not what she wants. She longs for adventure and seeing the world past her city gates. She makes a deal with half-elf Galadin Trudeux, a Ranger and former pirate, to teach her to take care of herself in the wild and soon long days lead to a romance being kindled. Upon discovering her training her father's ultimatum leads to the biggest decision of her life that brings excitement and sorrow to her and a story that's both enjoyable and tear-inducing to the reader.

The world that Ms. Parker creates is full of exotic creatures like elves, trolls, and goblins and each brings extra excitement to the story. The use of magic ups the action and keeps you on the edge of your seat. The scenes involving its use leave your heart pounding. Each of the creatures in this world are unique and even though the story has lots of characters they're easy to remember because of their vivid descriptions.

Caliphany starts out as somewhat of a spoiled rich girl, but her father hasn't encouraged her to be any other way. It's only through her time with Galadin that a strong woman starts to emerge and a true heroine is created. As she goes out into the world she becomes more self-confident and she finally starts gaining control of her magic. Cali is put through the emotional wringer as the story progresses and it's only through the support of friends, both male and female, that help her continue on. I truly believe that the Cali at the start of the story wouldn't have survived these truly sad events and it's only because of the inner strength Galadin roused in her later on in the story that kept her going.

Galadin's had the exact opposite kind of youth than what Cali experienced. He saw his parents die and was forced into piracy and he carries a lot of guilt around for deeds he was forced into doing. He had to grow up way too fast. He understood Cali's need to make it on her own since it was the same for him. They brought out the best in each other and are the perfect match no matter what obstacles get in their way.

The secondary characters are intriguing and any of them would be worthy of their own story. As a matter-of-fact one of them, Jayden Ravenwing, will be the hero in the next installment of this series. After all the heartache he went through in this story in the name of love he deserves some happiness. The villains in this story also added to the excitement of the story. You never knew if they'd return to cause problems or even who the exact villain was. It adds a feeling of uncertainty that keeps you invested in the story since everytime Cali seems happy something bad happens to her.

This is an exciting world full of action and likable characters and a great start to a new series. When you're not cheering for true love to win, you're crying over the obstacles impeding true love. I'm excited to visit these characters again and will definitely pick up the next book in the series and recommend this book to get your first taste of this magical world.

[Anubis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Ranger’s Tale
By Mysti Parker
It is always a gamble when you pick up and read a book from a new author. Maybe their writing style hasn’t matured yet or maybe they are still learning character development, or maybe they just are down-right horrible. However, I can say, after reading this book, that Mysti writes as though she has been doing it for years and this could be her 20th novel.
One of my favorite things about this book is how the story progresses. What do I mean exactly? When you read a fantasy novel, authors often do what I call “detailing you to death.” In my opinion, in most cases, too much time is spent spinning a background that is totally unnecessary. When reading this genre of books I often skip over the boring details of family lineage that stretches for chapters and the entire history of the planet you’re reading about. Mysti was able to bring out a great story and not drag out the history of the characters to a point of boredom. She got straight to the meat of the story.
I was captivated by the third or fourth page and sometimes this doesn’t happen with me until further into a book. I had several emotions throughout this book; which is the sign of a great story. I would catch myself grinning or frowning depending on what was happening to the characters. I haven’t picked a favorite character yet, but I am hoping that the baby born near the end is going to be important in future novels. I’m partial to his name as it is my middle name.
So, it is obvious I really liked the book. So now the part authors dread. What didn’t I like about the book? There is always a part of a book that catches you off guard, whether good or bad, or makes you stop and think about a concept. I am trying not to spoil the story for everyone by including too much of what happens with all of the characters. However, there is one part of the book when one of the characters has fallen ill and she is being tended by a healer; this I want to address.
The healer injects the sick character with a healing potion and also draws blood and tests it for “something”; I won’t say what. This concept popped out at me as odd. In my personal view, I see injections as something from our world and our time and I have never associated injections and blood-testing procedures with fantasy style stories with elves, half-elves, trolls, and ogres. I suppose that they could have developed this and it is as legit as say fireballs from bare hands, but it is not something I encountered before in a fantasy story and it caused me pause for a moment.
The rest of the story flowed very smoothly and the stubbornness of the main character mixed with her passion for life and exploration allows the reader to place a part of themselves into the story. The story has action in it for the men, and romance in it for the women. There are a few tastefully done love scenes between some of the characters filled with a little “fire!” These scenes are then matched with the heat of the battle a few pages later. It is a well-rounded novel with something for everyone.
In wrapping up my review, I have to say, bravo Mysti. I am glad that I can say this is an excellent novel and the reader will not be disappointed. I await the second book in the series.

[I'mogén · Rating 4 out of 5]

I should mention, I received a free ebook copy of this book to read for review, but this in no way, shape, or form manipulates my thoughts on the quality this novel was executed with. -Just a head's up folks! ^^


Okay, so on first diving into this, I didn't really know what to think other than it was just okay, as I drifted in and out of the first... almost half, and for the longest time I was set on giving this a three stars.... Before I finished it. That ending sure changed my mind!

Also, Mysti Parker really does like to share her character's early on in their life, as I've seen both in this book and in the teaser for the second. It's pretty cool as it shows a type of innocence and what they're like.

Our protagonist was a headstrong individual, wanting to break the mold of her farther's stubborn and cold ideals. I loved that she wanted more for herself than a forced marriage and a life of law and order. She says a great statement: ''It could have been a masquerade ball, with all the masks they wore. Pasted-on smiles and haughty turned-up chins hid nasty inner demons.'' and I think that sums up how much she hated the ''planned'' life of everyone and wanted to be free from that and everyone's expectations.

So, the good:

-I loved that this story had short chapters, as it made me feel like I was progressing quickly and I didn't have to wait ages until I reached an end to stop reading.
-The characters were enjoyable and the plot was good-paced and intoxicating. Despite thinking it trifle at times, I really devoured every word.
-The ending was beautiful and left us with some closure, so much so that I know a little about what terms main character's ended on with others.
-Not all the time was the plot predictable, although I had the tense feeling something bad was going to happen, I still found it addicting.
-Strange enough, even though I couldn't always picture the scene, the writing was pretty well done... Not entirely admirable, but pretty, nevertheless.
-I loved the love issues that occurred, even though they hurt my heart. I really did, unexpectedly, have my heart ache and almost had tears, especially at the end. I love it when an author can drag out my raw emotions.

The bad:
-I couldn't imagine the setting very well, or some of the people.
-Although I ended up enjoying the story on a whole, I struggled with the fact that it was predictable and a bit random with the sex scenes. Though in terms of predictability it was good... because I got what I wanted out of the story, but was still shocked with the events leading up to it and the consequences after.
-The romance was so instant, it took about 50 pages and was a bit too much, but after the initial attraction I liked how it dragged out before anything was to come of it.
-Conversation didn't always flow easily, especially when I couldn't place a character's accent.

I feel like I'm missing so much, because that last part of the book just made it so awesome! I'm sure I'll think of more things (that will most likely be mentioned in my end of month wrap-up, which I'll link in the comments).

Pick it up, give it a go and enjoy! ^_^
Gén

[Cindy Borgne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Book Alert Review by Cindy Borgne

A Ranger's Tale by Mysti Parker 4.5 stars.

The story beings at the point where Caliphany realizes she doesn’t want to be a mage, and she has had enough of her father trying to control her. I enjoyed her take charge attitude. Anytime someone tried to make her do something she didn’t like, she instead took things into her own hands. Not with always with a good outcome, but that’s all the better.

We meet Galadin at the point he rescues Caliphany from almost being kidnapped. There is an instant attraction between the two. Galadin has a background opposite of Caliphany, and he is attracted to her right from the start, although he is often hesitant to admit this to himself. Even though they have different backgrounds, they both share the same interests. So I thought the contrasts in the story skillfully done. These common interests contribute to the growing love between the two.

After about the fourth chapter, “A Ranger’s Tale” became a page turner for me. I found myself wanting Caliphany and Galadin to be together shortly after they meet, and I’m sure this is exactly where the author wanted me to be. But no, that would be too easy, and things are not easy for Galadin and Caliphany. Many obstacles keep them out of each other’s reach. This made me keep turning the pages, wanting to know how they would ever end up being together.

Much of the conflict comes from the inner turmoil of the two main characters because each struggles to admit their love for each other. I totally enjoyed this. At times poor Galadin couldn’t seem to do anything right. He continually felt himself unworthy to be with Caliphany. While several time Caliphany couldn’t fully trust him. Galadin’s dark background made her leery, even though she was clearly in love with him the whole time. The two characters are both believable because they are not perfect. There were times I knew they were making a mistake, and this made me anticipate the outcome even more.

When I first started reading the book, I thought the choice of setting was not original with the usual elves, mages, faeries, kings, etc. But as I continued to read, I realized it was the right decision because an unknown type of world would’ve distracted from the focus of the story, which is the relationship of the main characters. As I continued, I was glad I didn’t have to learn about new beings or unknown worlds. I also found the setting enjoyable and beautifully described.

The story is written in first person, and it also switches viewpoint characters. At first I feared being jarred by numerous viewpoints in first person, however, this didn’t happen. All the viewpoints worked perfectly for this story. I didn’t find it jarring at all. The entire story flows very smoothly.

My only nit-pick is that the story could’ve been wrapped up a tad sooner. Yet, I tend to be impatient at times, so it could just be me.

So in summary, I highly recommend “A Ranger’s Tale.”

[Dan Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most common complaints that I’ve heard from non-fantasy readers is that there is no originality in it – that it borrows too much from other sources. This is a criticism that I totally disagree with. I don’t think fantasy borrows any more than any other genre. I mean, come on, how many vampire stories have we had since the release (or even before) of the Twilight series – or how many Sci-Fi stories have borrowed from Star Wars or the like?

The point I am trying to make is that a story does not have to be original for it to be enjoyable. It just needs to have a tight story and great characters. And this is where A Rangers Tale comes in, it won’t win any awards for being the most original of stories – but for what it is, it is a really good story and worth a read.

The tale is another fantasy romance involving elves – but with more adult touches to it. There are times whereby the story boarders on being pornographic, but thankfully the author has enough respect to not go down that route. I personally found the romance between the two characters very well done and didn’t feel forced like some other romance stories I’ve read.

The characters in the story are colourful and have enough traits to make them interesting. Cali is a very strong female lead – not too perfect, but not exactly a damsel in distress. She’s a very likeable character and you support her in her journey based on what you know about her. Galadin was equally as good a male role, though he does come across as a bit of a bastard at times. The one character I felt sorry for was Jayden – although I’d spoil the surprise if I said why.

The pace of the story moves quickly – sometimes too quick. Plot points can be resolved as quickly as they are brought up with no real time to develop. Nevertheless, the chapters are very short and you can breeze through them in a matter of moments. I never once got bored reading this story.

My only minor gripe is a couple of anachronisms, when one character refers to another as being “robotic”, or when some character says the words “thank God”. These feel more like modern words and kinda out of place in this sort of world.

Whether you’re looking for a good romance, or a good escapist fantasy, A Rangers Tale will satisfy both your needs. It may not be the most original of stories, but it’s entertaining and a good read – and isn’t that why we read these kind of stories in the first place?

[Alan Zendell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started “A Ranger’s Tale” expecting a fantasy novel about a heroine seeking adventure, but what I found was a story written with love from the very beginning. Caliphany is many things, but what stands out about her is her heart and spirit, and that endeared her to me instantly.

She’s flawed, like any good heroine. Like anyone who is motivated by her heart more than her mind, she doesn’t always make smart choices, but since we love her from the moment we meet her, we spend the story waiting, wishing, hoping she can find the happiness she deserves.

It goes without saying that she’s beautiful. But she’s also the King’s niece, she’s talented, rebellious, courageous, and strong, and she approaches every aspect of her life with the same intensity. She won't be pampered, restrained, or taken care of, preferring to succeed or fail on her own ability. She demands honesty and integrity and returns it in full measure, and we know this because when her impetuous actions inevitably cause pain for those she loves, she hurts more than they do. When things go wrong she never blames others, but questions herself first. Who wouldn’t love such a woman? Who wouldn’t want to spend his life trying to make her happy?

I’m generally not overly fond of formulaic fantasy novels, but Misty Parker has done something different here. Some readers will complain that the book is sprinkled with anachronisms that don’t follow the formula, but for me, they gave “A Ranger’s Tale” a special charm. Her characters are elves and humans and goblins and trolls, but they drink coffee instead of tea made from herbs and flowers, eat cookies and real meat, play the piano along with harps and lutes, and write with pencils instead of quills. When someone is hurt they bind their wounds with sterile gauze, (I never saw that in "The Hobbit") and when they’re ill they get injections and analyze blood for infections. Parker even has tourists visiting other lands and a King with his own combination CIA/FBI. And yet, the people travel by horse and sailing ship and their weaponry is a mix of bows, swords, and magic. I absolutely loved the mix.

I invite everyone to taste life with Caliphany. You’ll find it spicy and delicious.

[Lauren Keegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Ranger’s Tale is a fantasy romance novel. I really enjoy forbidden love stories, where two people come together despite all odds because of true love. In a Ranger’s Tale, Caliphany is a high elf, niece of the King of Leopald and a mage in training to become a wizard like her father. He plans to marry her off to another elf of high standing. Caliphany has always dreamt of travel and one day leaving Leogard. When Galadin a halfling and a ranger rescues her on the docks from two brutes she finds a way out. She asks him to train her to become a ranger so she will have the skills to travel solo, without her father’s knowledge. Their relationship transforms in a short few weeks and despite their differing backgrounds they long to be together whilst trying to fight off their own insecurities.

I enjoyed Caliphany and Galadin’s adventures and how Caliphany transforms from elegant royalty into a strong independent woman with the help of Galadin. The setting for this fantasy story is quite different to what i have read previously. I don’t think I have ever read a story where the elves are the main characters and it provides a nice spin to typical fantasy stories. There’s even a guest appearance of the infamous trolls!

I like Cali’s strong character and stubborness to break away from her father’s control and do what she really wants, travel the world. I am also drawn into the ruggedness of Galadin and how he wants Cali to have a well-deserving man in her life.

Although I did find it frustrating when Cali and Galadin were separated for quite some time ( I don’t want to give away all the details) but I knew he would come back on the scene and it kind of annoyed me when she moved on to another relationship, because the whole time I was thinking but what about Galadin? This view has nothing to do with the quality of the plot or storyline, i just personally don’t like it when that happens. But it kept me turning the pages until the very end as I rooted for Galadin to make it back to Caliphany. A Ranger’s Tale is a really enjoyable read and i recommend it to any fantasy romance fan.

[Kendra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great, fantastical story of love and loss and heartache and following your heart. Galadin is a ship merchant, but he hasn't always been. After his parents were murdered by pirates, he was kidnapped and forced to work, and kill, for them. After the pirates attack and kill some innocent friends of his, Galadin runs off, landing himself in Leogard, where he trains with the Rangers and rebuilds his father's ship merchant business.
Caliphany is a High Elf and King Leopold's niece, living in the palace. Her life is planned out for her to master her mage skills and take over the academy her father runs. Her bethrothal has been in planning for many years, and she struggles to hold herself up in the world she's being pushed into. After a walk on the docks, and her attempted kidnapping, she's rescued by Galadin and something in her wakes up.
She sneaks and learns ranger skills from Galadin, out of sight of her father, and quickly falls for him, not knowing that he's falling for her as well. After her father comes home and finds out, he locks Caliphany away, where she vows she'll stay rather than do her father's bidding. She uses a concealment spell and quickly escapes, planting herself in the cargo hold of Galadin's ship.
From there, the adventure begins. They're chased by the royal navy, fight goblins, and fall madly in love, but not without a fight.
Caliphany returns home to try to patch her relationship with her father, and sends her new husband back on the ship for what is supposed to only be a week, when she learns of a storm that has destroyed every ship in its path, and killed all on board. After giving birth, she finds herself back in the arms of a long-ago lover and friend, believing her husband is dead, and agrees to marry him. Time passes and she learns they all have secrets, the love of her life is being held as a slave, and she's torn on what to do, where to go, who to choose.

[Jonel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Parker has a very approachable writing style. She takes you on the adventure of a lifetime in a manner that makes you feel like you’ve been there with the characters. Parker has created a completely new and utterly ravishing world that is fully formed and intricately crafted. She has thought of, and written about, everything, including a new calendar. You can visualise the different species and races that you encounter throughout this novel. Her descriptions are well formed and flow in such a manner that they always add to the very well formed storyline.

The way that Parker writes in the first person makes you feel closer to the main characters. It gives you insights into their characters, thoughts, and actions. You get to know their deepest feelings via their thoughts and fears. Seeing as how she also flips perspective from one main character to the other, while keeping the POV clear, you get to see all aspects of the interactions. She also does so in a manner that keeps the story flowing forward, instead of perpetually doubling back. This allows you to form a deep connection with the main characters. It is this connection, along with a myriad of other things, that allows you to feel while reading this novel. At times I was excited, nervous, happy, and this novel definitely brought tears to my eyes more than once.

And don’t get me wrong. It wasn’t just the main characters who were well developed. The entire cast was to die for. Each one was individually developed in such a manner that they could hold their own in another novel. There were a couple of characters who remained somewhat mysterious, but that was simply who they were.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my time with this novel. I cannot wait to read more from this series and from this very talented author.

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

[Nora Weston · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Ranger’s Tale is set in the fantasy world of Tallenmere, where high elf Caliphany Aranea boldly defies her controlling father...who is the most powerful mage in the kingdom. Caliphany’s well to do life was carved out for her including a marriage and a lifetime dedication to her magic, and many citizens in Tallenmere would think it crazy to desire anything beyond what her father had planned. With her strong will and a heart for adventure, Caliphany breaks away from Tallenmere’s traditions to instigate a series of events that change her life, and the lives of others on her path of discovery. She is a very likable character, as is Galadin Trudeaux, even though he has a shady past. Secrets, revenge, and escape from both real and internal prisons are all accounted for in this wildly enjoyable tale.

The way grief, regret, and guilt affect A Ranger Tale’s characters make the story easy to relate to, and this is why I had a terrible time waiting to see the outcome of the story, but I did not read the last page first! I behaved myself...and read the pages in order, but it was super difficult to do. When you start reading this wonderful tale, make sure to give yourself time to dive in, because you will not want to put it down. This book is first in a series, so I’m thrilled to know the exploits of her characters will continue in Tallenmere. I can hardly wait to see what will happen next...

A Ranger’s Tale is set in a whimsical world, where magic is the norm for the Aranea family, but the feisty romance between Caliphany and Galadin, plus the real life issues Caliphany and Galadin face keep the story from becoming too fantastical. Ms. Parker did a fabulous job of weaving magic into an otherworldly realm that still felt accessible for this mere human. If you crave adventure, need to escape Mundaneville...and love a good romance, pick up your copy of A Ranger’s Tale.

[Tricia Kristufek · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd been through hell and back and thought I'd took up permanent residence there until I had Cali in my arms again.

Caliphany has an easy, if predictable, life as the King's niece. As the daughter of Sirius, Leogard's most famous wizard, she's forced into following his footsteps and finds that it doesn't suit her at all, and neither does her arranged marriage. She daydreams of adventure and is almost kidnapped. Fortunately, Galadin comes to her rescue, and the two of them strike a bargain--Galadin will train Cali to be a ranger.

What follows is a tale of adventure, of love, and of being true to yourself. Cali and Galadin are fleshed-out characters, each with their own flaws and ideas. The pain they feel is real. The hardships they face, separate and together, shape them in a way nothing else could.

The adventure is lively, filled with twists and turns and trials along the way. Just when readers think they know what will happen, some other choice comes along. Though in the end, love prevails.

The way everything comes together is a triumph of the author. Full of emotion, both grief and love, and adventure, A Ranger's Tale is not to be missed for lovers of fantasy/romance. Do NOT judge this book by it's cover--you WILL miss out.

[Mary Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed for The Romance Writer's Reads blog.

I know people always say never judge a book by its cover, so I should have known better!
This book has everything to make it great.
- Strong characters
- Lots of steamy sexual tension
- Action packed
- Jealousy and angst
- Magical creatures
- Pirates
- Runaway princess

The world in which the story takes place is magical and full of elves, trolls, half-breeds, and humans. The author does a good job of creating this world without making everything foreign and hard to envision. There are enough mundane things to keep it from being too far fetched. The background of the characters is also well explained, but too much time is not spent on creating the back story. The reader gets enough information to understand the characters.
The tension between the characters is thick. There is an archery scene towards the beginning that is one of the hottest things I have ever read. There is just the right amount of steam mixed with tension so you join the characters on the ride and root for them to make it.

I can not wait to read the next one in the series and continue the story of more of the characters in this world.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave this book a four, but it is a very very high four. There were just a few things that stopped me from giving it a full five stars, but I'll get to that later. First, I want to say that this was an awesome book. Fantasy/paranormal romances are one of my favorite genres to read, so I loved Caliphany and her abilities. My favorite part of the book was her romance with Galadin. They have an undeniable attraction from the start, but he's a ranger and she must study at home under her father. The world they lived in was so interesting and at times scary. For the entire book, I couldn't wait to see what happened next. The problems I had with A Ranger's Tale was that the middle of the book was a bit slow. The beginning and end were great, but time just sort of dragged by for Caliphany in the middle and so did the story. One other thing is that I felt like Caliphany and Galadin's relationship progressed a bit too fast. I think more time was needed for them to grow in their relationship (like how they act with each other) before diving in head first. Overall A Ranger's Tale was an excellent romance book and I was really sad when it had to end.

[zapkode · Rating 5 out of 5]

{my thoughts} - This book is about a High Elf named Caliphany Aranea. She is a very special High Elf because her Uncle is the King of the land in which she lives. She has dreams, wants, goals and desires, but her father will hear nothing of them. He wants her to carry on the family traditions and become a great Mage like he is. She isn't allowed to make her own choices she is confined to inside the city walls and must obey what her father wants of her. She finds a way to take part in things that she desires while her father is gone on business. She meets new people and she learns new things. When her father returns she is thrown into a cellar and locked up because of her disobedience. A lot of emotions take place in this book such as: love, hatred, betrayal, desire, lust, and more. I enjoyed reading this book very much once I initially got past the first couple of chapters. After that it was a difficult book to put down. If you would like to find out what happens to Caliphany you will have to read the book.

{reason for reading} - I was given a copy of this book by the author in return for an honest review.

[iamjenai · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Ranger's Tale is my first romantic elven book and yay, loved the story! Here in this book, an elven noblewoman, Caliphany, falls in love with Galadin, a half elven man and naturally everyone else is against the relationship. There are a lot of twists in it however there is this one major thing I couldn't take out of my mind, loving two guys at the same time. Love triangle is common in all romance books out there but the conflict on this story is somehow different. If you have seen the movie, Castaway, by Tom Hanks, well, it was something like that. Sorry, can't tell - spoiler. The "what would you do?" question about who to choose between two men you loved... I kept on thinking about it and I really can’t decide on that.

While I enjoyed reading the book, I was not satisfied with how the author ended the story. Seemed like it was an abrupt ending, she could have added some more pages about Caliphany's reunion to the guy she has ultimately chosen.

Overall, I loved the elven world the author wove, I thank Mysti Parker for sharing this book with me and I look forward to reading more books from her!

[Gaele · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a uniquely compact and bluntly honest writing style, Parker has managed to craft a world, build characters and create palpable emotions in the reader with the plotting. Combining all the elements needed in a good story: a quest, a romance, characters who are unique yet sublimely defined and a series of events that are easy to relate to, this story starts slowly as readers are given the chance to familiarize themselves with the world and the characters. Soon the pacing changes and the scuffles between the two romantic leads as they struggle with their own issues and maneuvering their way through the challenges begin to appear and expose the very human-like challenges their world faces from intolerance, war, greed and violence. A really good start to what is sure to be a series appreciated by many.


I received an eBook copy from the author for purpose of honest review for the Book Trailer Showcase eMagazine. I was not compensated for this review, and all conclusions are my own responsibility.