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Violya

(In the Heart of the Mountains #2)

Rosalyn Kelly (Goodreads Author)

4.80 · Rating details · 5 ratings · 5 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

VIOLYA by Rosalyn Kelly is the second volume of IN THE HEART OF THE MOUNTAIN, 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 VIOLYA by Rosalyn Kelly is the second volume of IN THE HEART OF THE MOUNTAIN, 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.

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.

In conclusion, definitely check this out if you have the time. Melokai and Violya are shaping up to be solid works of fantasy and original to boot. ...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 ...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 ...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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Eleanor Brown marked it as to-read
Nov 16, 2019

Nov 17, 2019 Rosalyn Kelly marked it as to-read · (Review from the author)

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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 ...more