When love collides with duty, you do what you must.
One of Valis’ fathers came home half-dead. The other is missing. When Valis tries to form a rescue party, he’s blocked at every turn by the Patron Priest who refuses to even consider the matter.
Valis’ non-magical allies—the Kalutakeni and mercenaries—are all on board, ready to follow Valis at a moment’s notice. But to mount a successful rescue mission, Valis needs mages. A lot of them.
He will have to go over the Patron Priest’s head to get the sanction. Doing that means he and his husband must go up against the Aesriphos Order’s Grand Masters in a battle of magic and stamina. If they win, they get the sanction and much more than they bargained for. If they lose, it may cost them their lives.
His father’s life hangs in the balance. Valis will do what he must.
If there’s one thing Devon likes most, it’s chaos. They have a chaotic mind and a messy house, and they throw their characters into every calamitous situation possible. When they aren’t writing, they’re editing or formatting other authors’ works, building websites, creating graphics, reading, playing video games, or watching Fortnite streams on Twitch. They like to stay busy. So yes. Chaos.
This series has been so amazing! I’m sad that it’s almost over. It makes me want to cry. And this book actually did. This has probably been the hardest book of the whole series. And that’s saying a lot. Valis has had so much to overcome, it’s ridiculous. But he’s stepped up to every challenge and not backed down. But this has been the hardest stuff to overcome yet. Valis was so glad one of his fathers was home. But that’s made him more than determined to find his other. Scrying only shows him so much and he needs a sanctioned mission to go find him and take out the Qos nests as well. But he’s being fought at every turn and so he’s made the decision. If he can’t get it sanctioned, he’s leaving anyway. He will not leave his father behind. Especially with all the nightmares and things he’s seeing and having. It’s been too much. But the Grand Master has a plan for him and if he can pass it, he will get what he wants to go rescue his father. What he doesn’t realize at the time, is there are some secrets revealed that surprised the crap out of him and he passes the test set before him. Now he must make it safely to where his father is and back alive. Valis has just been through so so much. But seeing one of his fathers in the condition he was in and scrying to see how the other one is in, it’s giving him constant nightmares and throwing his anxiety to levels unknown. He’s having panic attacks and having a hard time. Especially when he keeps getting told he can’t go rescue his father. Pfft. as if. But it’s a hard thing to deal with. On one hand, he wants it done right, but on the other, it’s his father. He has to go. And for the sanity of his Papa, he has to go as well. This has been the toughest part of any journey he’s been through I think. As far as training and everything. He’s really had to learn how to think outside the box on the fly and learn to remember what he’s taught his own students. It’s been amazing to watch and see how much he’s grown. And how powerful now, he really is.
3.5 stars! This was still really good, but it was missing a lot of the action and tension of the previous book. It seemed more like a stepping stone to the next in the series. We did get a fairly big reveal at the end, and some bananas progress in Valis and Tavros lives in the monastery, and I’m excited to see how their journey progresses.
This series just keeps getting better and better. Each book I think “there is no way Devon can come up Itch something else to top the last book”, then I am ultimately surprised when Devon does just that. This book is what I would call a prelude to what is to come next. Valis and Tavros came upon someone on the back of horse in the last book that turned out to be Kerac. The question was where was Darolen? With Kerac and Darolen being husbands and mates together for all time, Kerac showing up in the condition he is in and no Darolen with him, then something must have vone truly wrong on their mission.
Valis is in a state when he find Kerac barely holding on to life. He is scared and relieved to have Kerac present and accounted for but he is terrified that something horrible has happened to Darolen. These two men were he first people to see Valis’ with and took him in as their son. Now to have the face the possibility of losing not one but both men is heartbreaking for Valis.
Valis is glad to have his husband by his side because without Tavros Valis knows he would not be able to keep an open mind and hope that Darolen is ok. The fact remains that until Kerac is able to answer questions, no one knows for sure what has happened.
Once Kerac is able to talk to Valis and fill in the details of their capture and torture and then ultimately Kerac’s Escape with Darolen’s help Valis had no clue what to expect. Finding Darolen is still captured and possibly dead already does not help Valis mentally. When Valis is able to find out one way or the other if Darolen is alive or not, Valis comes up with a plan to at the very least find Darolen’s remains and being him home. But with hope that he is alive, Valis is willing to go to the end of the earth to try and save him.
The only issue is not everyone is willing to go along with this mission. How is. Ali’s going to change their mind or is it a losing a battle?
This was such an incredible read and I cannot wait for the next book and the battle that is sure to come along with it. Devon continues to surprise me and hold me captive throughout each read. I will be once again impatiently awaiting the next book. Hope it will not be a long wait!!!
Was given this galley copy for free for an open and honest review
This one starts off with heartbreak and the hits just keep on coming. This book takes Valis on a roller-coaster of emotions, joy tempered by pain and fear, hope, and an all consuming rage and only Tavros can hold him back from the edge. Relationships are repaired and some are on the brink of being irrevocably lost. Valis and Tavros have to succeed at the unimaginable in order to fulfill the mission that Valis has every intention of going on with or without permission. This is an awesome addition to the series and I absolutely cannot wait to read the next book even though it's one book closer to the end of this incredible fantasy series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
In this, as with the previous books, the author rolls seamlessly from Betrayal, of the Purity and Control trilogy, into the Loyalty and War set. As shown by the ending of Betrayal, an important member of Valis's family is brought back into the active plotline, which leads to the catalyst for this book.
With one of his fathers home, Valis knows he must make it his mission to find the lost and imperiled Aesriphos father still missing. From what he is able to learn, he has an idea of the condition in which he will be found. Valis turns to his newly formed talent of scrying to find more details, and he is not prepared for what he discovers.
With Thyran's help and guidance, Valis is able to hone his ability to a greater degree in order to give what comfort he can, and gain as much intel as possible. Although he does not know if they are precognitive or not, Valis is exhausted daily from the nightmares that haunt his sleep.
Marshall is the perfect title for this book two fold; not only does Valis, along with Tavros, Seza, and Zhasina, marshal an army from first the mercenaries and the Kalutakeni, then later from his students as well, but he also becomes the Marshall of said army. The conflict arises from his friend and Patron Priest Bachris. A lot hangs on getting the mission sanctioned properly, but Bachris is adamantly opposed with only cruel explanations.
When things come to a head, the challenge set forth for Valis and Tav is intense and unexpected. However, the unrivalled outcome puts them in a position to get things started. They know they will be facing many nests of Qos followers, and Valis is determined that if it is possible, he will find the lost God Jar along with his father, and finally bring the war to an end.
Thyran is full of surprises, and the final gift he bestows upon the Marshall of this great army is fantastic and necessary. It is a secret between few, but it will be needed in the coming months. Overall, this story is the beginning of the end, I believe. There were a few things that bothered me, and a few things that made me smile. But, in the end, the war has been brewing, and Valis and his army are ready to head into danger.
Happy reading!
* I received an ARC of this book and I am leaving my honest review. *
Another wonderful book in the series! It's full of joy and sorrow, victory and defeat, action and adventure, and challenges galore. I face every book in this series with the best kind of ambivalence. On one hand, I love every book and devour it; but on the other, I know each book brings us closer to the ultimate battle after which, win or lose, we will have to say good-bye to Valis and all the other characters we have come to love (or hate). That said, I continue to wait impatiently for the next book in the series. Here's hoping our boys Valis and Tavros see a HEA at the end of the road, surrounded by those they love.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
These books just keep getting more intriguing as Valis gains more and more levels of power.
I’m not really sure if the following has spoilers. Being the seventh book in the series everyone should know what’s going to happen.
He helps heal his papa when he returns and vows to find his father regardless of what anyone says, to that end he begins to marshal his troops. Knowing it won’t be an easy journey.
He and Tavros forgive Aryn, realizing he has serious mental issues.
In a surprising way all the Aesriphos become his.
The end of the book has him leaving to rescue his father. I’ve spent so much time in this world I’m going to be sorry to see it end.
When I first started this series, I was unsure whether this would be something I could get into. Well, “get into it” I did. The series is remarkably written. The characters are so well drawn and the journey for the hero so profound that it is joining the ranks of “one of my favorite series. Jarec is home, having escaped the clutches of Qos, and NOTHING will stop Valis from saving Darolen as well. Well, nothing except TPTB. His powers are growing exponentially and Valis is sure that the mission would succeed.
Tags: It’s My Party and I’ll Scry if I Want To. Don’t Tell Me What I Can’t Do. Major Promotion. Tavros has earned my forgiveness.
What lengths would you go to to save someone you love? What if that someone was like a father to you? Valis has been to hell and back..more than once. But this adventure may be his ultimate challenge. With his husband at his side and over 100 loyal friends and extended family members marching, the quest is about to begin. Each book in this series is better than the last.
The first of the last trilogy finds us with a now married Valis and the return of his Papa. Valis grows in power as he fights to get the rescue mission to save his Father sanctioned by the monastery. Mysteries are hinted at. Visions and premonitions litter the scenery like epileptic seizures. Spells and shields and translocation begin to give hope that good just might triumph over the forces of evil. A+ series. Highly recommended.
As the book 1 of the next saga in the God Jars series, this book opened the path to more Valis and Tavros' adventures where they again proved their courage, loyalty and love for each other. The story finished in a emotional note, waiting for book 2, (book 8 in the series). Action-packed, page-turner, this story kept me at the edge of my seat all the time. Wonderful reading!! I received this book as an ARC and this is my honest opinion.
A new trilogy has begun. One of Valis’s father has come home half-dead. He wants to organize a rescue party to find his other father. But he is block by the Patron Priest. Valis will need a lot mages to rescue him. He could lose everything if he fails. Well written, strong characters, and fantastic story line. I am voluntarily leaving a review form an ARC that I received. My reviews are solely based on my thoughts and opinions.
I am loving the series still. The story has a nice steady pace to move the story along. Characters are still likable. Will be stalking the author bookshelves for a long time. “I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this book and was not required to leave a review.” Thank you for sharing your book with us.
OMG my heart is breaking right at the start if this book and it didn't stop. All the feelings that Valis are feeling just coming right off the pages in this story. This is such an amazing rollercoaster of emotions that I just couldn't stop reading once I started. Another absolutely amazing addition to Valis' story.
One of his father have arrived half dead and the other one is missing. He wants to mount a rescue but they will not allow him. He needs magic to do it. Will he go behind them? Can he mount a rescue? See if he can find him
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I throughly enjoy reading this book from the get go there is chemistry between the characters that are relatable and engaging which kept me interested from beginning to the end.
And the adventure continues in this marvelous, amazing, tension filled, action packed, emotionally charged, compelling, passionate, and totally awesome tale. I can't wait to see what happens next.
It’s about time now we’re finally getting somewhere now Valis is on his way to save his father and I know we’re getting ready to get down in the next book.. off to the next book
Betrayal keeps being my favorite book in the series, but this one is next to it. I think it's the more emotional of the series so far but it keeps advancing the storyline without pause.