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Violya

(In the Heart of the Mountains #2)

Rosalyn Kelly (Goodreads Author)

4.41 · Rating details · 17 ratings · 13 reviews

A gifted warrior consumed by revenge. An unstoppable enemy rampaging ever closer. A ravaged country in desperate need of a ruler.

After a brutal and bloody invasion, a once powerful matriarchal nation is in chaos.

Only the shy warrior Violya can pick up the pieces and save her broken country. But an old threat – for one thousand years suppressed – has awoken. Now unleashed, ...more

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Published December 10th 2019 by NValters

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Dec 10, 2019 C.T. Phipps rated it it was amazing

Shelves: grimdark, fantasy

http://booknest.eu/reviews/charles/17...

4.5/5

VIOLYA by Rosalyn Kelly is the second volume of IN THE HEART OF THE MOUNTAINS, which is a feminist dark fantasy series that deals with a multitude of societies undergoing deep social changes. I really enjoyed the previous volume, MELOKAI, and eagerly picked up this book the moment that it came out.

The book opens up with a helpful recap of the previous one's story hooks and plots, which I believe more books should include. The previous Melokai is dead http://booknest.eu/reviews/charles/17...

4.5/5

VIOLYA by Rosalyn Kelly is the second volume of IN THE HEART OF THE MOUNTAINS, which is a feminist dark fantasy series that deals with a multitude of societies undergoing deep social changes. I really enjoyed the previous volume, MELOKAI, and eagerly picked up this book the moment that it came out.

The book opens up with a helpful recap of the previous one's story hooks and plots, which I believe more books should include. The previous Melokai is dead along with her child, the rebellion by the peons has been crushed, and the people of Peqkyrian are stuck between the twin dooms of death or losing their traditionalist Amazon-esque culture. Worse, they are surrounded by enemy civilizations that wish to destroy them for their alien ways as well as resources. The Peqkyrian are not perfect victims with a history of conquest, slavery, and oppression among them.

Much of the book's first half deals with following up the events of the previous one's climax. The Peqkyrian have been hit hard and are struggling to deal with the blow to their cultural pride every bit as much as the damage done by the invaders. Though they technically won, they had their leader killed and their great library burned to the ground. Rayma's death causes most of the people to mourn her, even though she was a hated tyrant just a few days prior.

Violya is the new Melokai and stuck with the unenviable task of trying to reform a society that murders most of its useless men, keeps slaves, and is corrupt with cronyism at every level. She has the power of the Sight and has won a great series of victories but this does not guarantee her status. Violya wishes to reform Peqkyrian society, if for no other reason than their rampant slavery and misandry deprives them of valuable military resources. Unfortunately, reform is not always welcome and has the potential to backfire as we see with other rulers.

I was particularly fond of the character Jessima. Married off to a religious fanatic who she is not overly fond of, she's carrying the baby of his brother and set to become queen of Lian. Unfortunately, it is a society with no respect for women and she is expected to be nothing more than a pampered concubine when the entirety of the royal dynasty comes apart around her.

The politics of this world are brutal, the action is fierce, and the world-building is top notch. I think if you're looking for a new grimdark series then this is probably your best bet. It has a female perspective that is sometimes overlooked in the genre but benefits works like A Song of Ice and Fire as well as The Witcher. Sometimes the characters are a little too unsympathetic but everyone's of enjoyment for antiheroes varies.

I was also fond of the characters Ammad and Toby as the two of them show very different perspectives on the non-Peqkyrian storylines going on. Ammand is a brutish murderous scumbag who is like Khal Drogo and Joffrey had a baby. He has nothing going for him but his ability to kill and royal pedigree. So, when he loses both of his arms, he has nothing to fall back on. Toby is a captured prince who is tortured by the depraved ancient enemies of his family who have no interest in leaving him intact for ransom. His horror story is similar to the adversity many women suffer in grimdark fiction and seeing it gender reversed was, if not refreshing, an interesting twist.

In conclusion, definitely check this out if you have the time. In the Heart of the Mountains is shaping up to be solid works of fantasy and original to boot. I really enjoyed this book. I should warn readers that there is a lot of dark subject matter within. At least one character suffers sexual assault, there is torture, and it is a dark violent world that absolutely deserves the title of grimdark. It is also a strongly feminist work that I think brings a new view to the genre.
...more

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Dec 29, 2019 Rebekah Teller rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

This is book two, the follow up to Melokai. I very much enjoyed the world Melokai introduced us to, and have been eagerly awaiting the sequel. This book did not disappoint.

Where the first book spent more time introducing us to the world and the cultures, this one picks up where it left off and focuses much more on characters. Most of the point of view characters from book one continue here, with the exception of course of any who did not survive book one. No spoilers.

The character development i ...more

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Dec 06, 2019 Koeur rated it really liked it

Review: I received this from the author in exchange for an honest review and NOT Netgalley i.e. the tramplers of First Amendment rights while licking the anus’ of publishers.

Once again this author takes a very daunting approach to writing as there is a lot going on. Big props for wending a tale steeped in a myriad of unconventional approaches. What is a consistent theme throughout the novel, no matter the Kingdom in which it resides, is that men suck and when not sucking they are beta males tout ...more

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Dec 03, 2019 Saundra Wright rated it it was amazing

Anyone who loves great sagas needs to check out this series. The world is as richly imagined as the complex word of The Game of Thrones series by George R. R. Martin. It explores totally different types of people, the politics of the land both internal and between nations, with the added punch of magic.

The last Molokai, the leader of her people, was killed during an invasion by a neighboring land. Violya is a warrior. No one is more surprised than she when she is selected as the new Molokai.

But ...more

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Dec 10, 2019 Sarah Rutherford rated it it was amazing

I have been eagerly waiting to read Rosalyn's second book to see where she would take the characters next. This sequel is compelling and I was hooked by the first chapter (think I read it in 2 days!). The characters have evolved and there is more depth to their personalities which bring them to life through this intricate tale that is set in some intriguing locations. I love how the detailed descriptions of the environment allow you to visualize each element as if you were there, but don't detra ...more

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Dec 11, 2019 Becky rated it it was amazing

With the first book in this trilogy ending in a gripping finale, I couldn't wait to read the follow up, Violya. And I wasn't disappointed thanks to plenty of fast-paced action and strong female characters all set in a convincingly complex fantasy landscape.

With some beautiful descriptive touches, Violya transports you to another world. One where women don't just take a back seat or linger on the periphery but are at the heart of the story.

Like the first book Melokai, I couldn't put this novel ...more

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Dec 19, 2019 Yvonne rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy

Violya is the second book in the In The Heart of the Mountains Trilogy, the first one being Melokai which I read a couple of years ago.

This is an epic fantasy saga and the second book delivers just as much action and adventure as the first. In this second instalment the author has drawn me once again back into the world she has created. This book sees the different races of people being drawn into something more dangerous and it is a threat to the survival of their races.

The author has pitted fa Violya is the second book in the In The Heart of the Mountains Trilogy, the first one being Melokai which I read a couple of years ago.

This is an epic fantasy saga and the second book delivers just as much action and adventure as the first. In this second instalment the author has drawn me once again back into the world she has created. This book sees the different races of people being drawn into something more dangerous and it is a threat to the survival of their races.

The author has pitted family members against each other, with traitorous and bloody feudal consequences. For one family power is all-encompassing, it is all they have ever wanted so when it is threatened there are no holds barred. Trusted friends show their true colours and put lives at risk.

This story has a backstory that is interwoven throughout, it explains traditions and customs. As the different races are having to deal with many changes it is a really good way of bringing the past to the front as tradition is challenged.

Violya is the main protagonist and she has been chosen to become the new Melokai, leader of her race of people. Violya is stronger than most as she has the gift of magic. AS she is a warrior she is used to being in the thick of the action and so she is her own envoy travelling through lands to try to form alliances.

The author has an amazing way with her descriptions. She has made it so easy to imagine the different races from her descriptions. She goes even further by developing each race so as they have their own histories, explanations about their troubles and also what threatens them. Not every race is innocent though foresight is a way to start to put the past in the past and by doing that a new future and alliances can be formed.

I love everything about this trilogy, the characters, the stories, the settings and the descriptions. The author has woven quite a complex story but it has been created ion such a way as to make it understandable. The reading then becomes effortless and this makes it such a brilliant read.

If you are a fan of grimdark, fantasy saga genres then both Melokai and Violya should be on your list to pick up and read. They are fabulous and I cannot wait for the final book in this epic trilogy, though it will also be tinged with sadness as it will mean the end of a fabulous trilogy. Violya is a book I would Highly Recommend ...more

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Feb 26, 2020 Shaylyn rated it it was ok

Finally done with this - excuse my words - crap. I only read it because a) it was cheap (I have the ebook), b) taking a book to lectures is not so easy to hide and c) it's still more interesting than some of my classes.
That said, it was really annoying to read. Why not one star, then? Because some of the characters are interesting, despite being stupid. And because of the cliffhanger at the end of the book.
If you want to read something and not question what is going on, you might enjoy this book Finally done with this - excuse my words - crap. I only read it because a) it was cheap (I have the ebook), b) taking a book to lectures is not so easy to hide and c) it's still more interesting than some of my classes.
That said, it was really annoying to read. Why not one star, then? Because some of the characters are interesting, despite being stupid. And because of the cliffhanger at the end of the book.
If you want to read something and not question what is going on, you might enjoy this book. Otherwise, I can't recommend it.
However, I would like to know what's coming next. But am I willing to torture myself with another one of those? I don't think so...

>Warning: SPOILERS ahead!<

Now, to why it was annoying to read: Logic? What is this 'logic'? Right, most things don't make sense at all.
For example:

1) That's also true for book 1, but I somehow overlooked it there: Why are the people of one of the coldest regions those with the darkest skin? And why the hell do they sweat the most in the desert? Like, how does this happen? What went wrong with evolution there?

2) Started in book one, get's weirder in this one: How can two different species mix so easily and produce healthy offspring? I can somehow understand humans + humans who lived in complete darkness for centuries and evolved accordingly. I guess that can work somehow. But humans and wolves? And humans and Dromedari, who obviously have some dromedar DNA in them? At least the offspring show features from both species, but naturally they should not even exist!

3)Jessima's pregnancy and travel to Lian. She comes back from Peqkya and shows signs of pregnancy, according to a friend that means she is at least 5 months pregnant. Then she spends two months traveling underground, through a desert, with tiny rations, during which she does not walk AT ALL. But she can suddenly walk to her carriage, on legs with practically no muscles, with a 7 months old fetus in her belly. She then gives birth to a completely healthy child. How?

4) Travel distances and time. The journey from Cleland City to Lian takes two months. But the journey from Mlaw to Riaow takes only, what, four to five weeks? Looking at the map, thats roughly the same distance. And both are slowed down. The former by untrained ladies, one of them heavily pregnant, the latter by an entire army, including wounded people. There are many other occasions where the mentioned amount of time passed strikes me as odd, too.

5) Ammad can feed himself strawberries. With his feed. EASILY! Have you tried doing that? You'd have to be an acrobat to do that, and Ammad is clearly not one, even with his training. Speaking of which: Throwing knives with your mouth? How is that supposed to work?

Now, those are the examples that stuck to my mind. There are more, I'm sure, but I can't remember them right now and I have no desire to go through the book again.

Oh, one more from book one: How stupid do you have to be to think your infant is safer in a battle tied to your back than in the arms of his father, who stands by and can easily run away and hide the two of them? Sorry, but this years Darwin Award goes to Ramya and her baby daughter Terya. ...more

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Jan 13, 2020 Dann rated it liked it

With Violya, once again I am sent back to Rosalyn Kelly’s grim and brutal world, and for that, I am very happy. Set in her In the Heart of her Mountains series, Kelly’s Violya depicts the story of the titular character Violya (or V for short), the new Melokai of Peqkya. A once cautious warrior, V is thrust into a chaotic nation whereby she must repair her fractured nature, bonds, and garner new treaties with adversaries and once close allies. There is no time for hesitation, V must fight for her ...more

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Jan 18, 2020 Robyn Percy rated it it was amazing

Really enjoyed Violya and found it very hard to put down!

After the tragic and cliffhanger ending to book 1 of this trilogy (Melokai), I'd been eagerly awaiting Violya and I wasn't disappointed.

The author takes us into the world where ancient tribal wars are re-awakened, and warrior Violya must lead her people in a role she was destined for. Although I don't read a lot of fantasy, I found Violya gripping and found myself rooting for her and her people. There are many likeable characters to get b ...more

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Dec 22, 2019 Ray Else rated it it was amazing

Shelves: modern-classics, fantasy

An expansive adventure fantasy.

Written with a confident hand, the author fearlessly takes one to places and incidents never imagined, accompanied by (mostly female) characters brave and magical, ready to stand up to evil. I loved the caterpillar scarf!

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Apr 17, 2020 Melody Spencer rated it really liked it

Shelves: my-ebooks

This story is so unique and a delight to read. It did not capture my attention continuously as the first book had but the multiple storylines still had a lot going on and there was still those doark and shocking scenes I came to expect.

I find that with many trilogies the first book is so interesting because of the character and world building that must be done, the second installments are usually a midway journey that is entertaining but it's ultimately leading to an epic conclusion in the final ...more

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May 04, 2020 Laura rated it really liked it

Plenty and plenty of action in this one. I was a bit taken by it all. These battles were huge impacts on the story yet they were over fairly quickly. Which just proves the big battle to come is going to be a monster. Just love how the Author keeps adding more layers to the story, more depths to the different kinds of people that exist in the world she has built.

It had been a while since I read the first so the starting chapter did feel a little info dumped. I couldn’t follow half of it.

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About Rosalyn Kelly

Rosalyn Kelly

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Get my novella The Fall of Vaasar as a free ebook here: www.rosalynkelly.co.uk/free-book

Rosalyn Kelly grew up in the magical New Forest in the south of England and has lived around the country as well as in the Middle East, and travelled all over the world.

She studied English Literature and Language at Oxford Brookes University before embarking on a PR and marketing career.

After ten years telli ...more