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The Elven Lords #2
The Lady of the Storm
She controls the sea and sky, and obeys no man...
There's a thin line between duty and desire...
Giles Beaumont is stuck in a role he never wanted, trying to safeguard a woman of incendiary powers who doesn't think she needs a protector.
Cecily Sutton has no idea of the enormity of her true task and no inkling of the effect she's having on Giles. But somewhere along their perilous journey together, they'll have no choice but to uncover the deep, dark connection that binds them one to the other.
Lose yourself in renowned author Kathryne Kennedy's gorgeous love story set in a lush world made of equal parts wonder and danger.
There's a thin line between duty and desire...
Giles Beaumont is stuck in a role he never wanted, trying to safeguard a woman of incendiary powers who doesn't think she needs a protector.
Cecily Sutton has no idea of the enormity of her true task and no inkling of the effect she's having on Giles. But somewhere along their perilous journey together, they'll have no choice but to uncover the deep, dark connection that binds them one to the other.
Lose yourself in renowned author Kathryne Kennedy's gorgeous love story set in a lush world made of equal parts wonder and danger.
416 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 1, 2011
44 people are currently reading
676 people want to read
About the author
Kathryne Kennedy
20 books215 followersAs a college grad, business owner, and writer, Kathryne has published nearly a dozen short stories in the SFF/Romance genre, receiving Honorable Mention twice in the 'Writers of the Future' contest. Being a self-proclaimed "Air Force brat," Kathryne has traveled a great deal, and over the years has lived in Guam, Okinawa, and several states in the U.S
She currently resides in Arizona with her husband, two sons, and the rest of her family (including two chihuahuas named Precious and Baggins (think Lord of the Rings) who she's rather fond of).
She currently resides in Arizona with her husband, two sons, and the rest of her family (including two chihuahuas named Precious and Baggins (think Lord of the Rings) who she's rather fond of).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
May 7, 2016
3.75/5
Another enjoyable installment in The Elven Lords series. The Lady of the Storm is a captivating historical fantasy story, laced with the perfect amount of romance.
I was so into Giles and Cecily's dangerous adventures, and they kept me turning page after page in anticipation of what would happen next. I could feel the sexual tension oozing between them and the romance was sweet and beautiful. Even though the way Giles pushed Cecily away had me so frustrated, I found myself satisfied with the ending of this book.
I will continue reading this series for certain.
Another enjoyable installment in The Elven Lords series. The Lady of the Storm is a captivating historical fantasy story, laced with the perfect amount of romance.
I was so into Giles and Cecily's dangerous adventures, and they kept me turning page after page in anticipation of what would happen next. I could feel the sexual tension oozing between them and the romance was sweet and beautiful. Even though the way Giles pushed Cecily away had me so frustrated, I found myself satisfied with the ending of this book.
I will continue reading this series for certain.
February 28, 2016
2.5 stars. I didn't enjoy this book as much as the first one. The plot was kind of all over the place and the romance wasn't my favorite. However, I do admire the way Kennedy writes her romances—the leads are equal to each other and have confidence in each other's abilities.
I'm looking forward the reading the third book.
I'm looking forward the reading the third book.
January 8, 2014
3.5 stars
Cecily Sutton has lived a fairly simple life, one she wouldn’t trade for the world that is until her small village is attacked by the Imperial Lord Breden. Her adopted father who is on a mission for what seems like forever has not returned and left her in the care of Gile’s, the elven blacksmith. Not one to sit around and do nothing, she calls upon her powers, the very one she swore to never use for she fears the temptation, and saves her small little town along with Giles and his magical sword. Her only hope to get back to her quiet life is to find her father, and has no choice but to rely on Giles to guide her.
From the moment, Giles was appointed one of her guardian’s, he has been told to keep his desires to himself, as a lady like Cecily is destined for a much greater future than he can give her. Understanding his role in her life, he has done everything he can do to keep her hating him. Cecily would never forget the day he humiliated her, throwing her naïve young affection back at her face. Their love hate relationship proves their journey to be most interesting. Cecily is being hunted by her father, the Imperial Lord himself, Lord Breden does not know who wields the same kind of power he does but he is determined to find it and kill it.
How long can you keep on denying yourself the one thing you want most, until you break? Cecily is tired of being told how to live her life, and what is expected of her, she is the secret weapon the rebellion has to strike back against the Imperial Lords but that doesn't mean she shouldn't have control of who she should love. At least the one thing she can do that she has wanted is to get the stubborn man to admit that they belong to each other… but it won’t be so easy…
Lady of the Storm is another entertaining read that had me getting lost in a fantasy world of elves and dragons, where the lands are ruled by the bored Imperial Lords. This is the second book in the series, which I liked but not as much as the first. Cecily was brave and strong and knew what she wanted where Giles although protective, didn’t believe in her love for him. It is a series I will continue with for sure, it was nice to see some of the characters from the first book here and as always the Dragon’s proved to be smarter than us humans.
*Reviewed on 1/8/2014 - after the holiday craziness
“…you are not alone. You will never be alone, as long as I draw breath
Cecily Sutton has lived a fairly simple life, one she wouldn’t trade for the world that is until her small village is attacked by the Imperial Lord Breden. Her adopted father who is on a mission for what seems like forever has not returned and left her in the care of Gile’s, the elven blacksmith. Not one to sit around and do nothing, she calls upon her powers, the very one she swore to never use for she fears the temptation, and saves her small little town along with Giles and his magical sword. Her only hope to get back to her quiet life is to find her father, and has no choice but to rely on Giles to guide her.
she had tried so hard, for so long, to plan her future the way she wanted it. And certainly not as some weapon for the Rebellion.
From the moment, Giles was appointed one of her guardian’s, he has been told to keep his desires to himself, as a lady like Cecily is destined for a much greater future than he can give her. Understanding his role in her life, he has done everything he can do to keep her hating him. Cecily would never forget the day he humiliated her, throwing her naïve young affection back at her face. Their love hate relationship proves their journey to be most interesting. Cecily is being hunted by her father, the Imperial Lord himself, Lord Breden does not know who wields the same kind of power he does but he is determined to find it and kill it.
It will take the might of many to defeat an elven lord. Or…” She finished the thought for him. “Or perhaps the powerful daughter of but one.”
How long can you keep on denying yourself the one thing you want most, until you break? Cecily is tired of being told how to live her life, and what is expected of her, she is the secret weapon the rebellion has to strike back against the Imperial Lords but that doesn't mean she shouldn't have control of who she should love. At least the one thing she can do that she has wanted is to get the stubborn man to admit that they belong to each other… but it won’t be so easy…
“You are a wealth of contradictions, Giles Beaumont. You act as if you cannot bear to be near me, and yet you find every excuse to touch me. You say you cannot wait to be rid of me, but there you sit, still watching over me.”
Lady of the Storm is another entertaining read that had me getting lost in a fantasy world of elves and dragons, where the lands are ruled by the bored Imperial Lords. This is the second book in the series, which I liked but not as much as the first. Cecily was brave and strong and knew what she wanted where Giles although protective, didn’t believe in her love for him. It is a series I will continue with for sure, it was nice to see some of the characters from the first book here and as always the Dragon’s proved to be smarter than us humans.
*Reviewed on 1/8/2014 - after the holiday craziness
August 18, 2011
This was such a unique concept with the mix of historical romance and fantasy. I thought there was an evenly balanced mix of both genres.
Sometimes the fantasy element was a little too involved for my liking, but there was a lot of romance as well. I would just have a lot of romance and a little bit of fantasy. The romance was very sweet and heartfelt though, so I was happy with what there was of the romantic story.
Cecily was a great character, she had a nice inner strength, not to mention her supernatural powers. Giles was a little bit cliched as the protector who couldn't get close to the woman he was protecting. I felt like I had seen that idea many times before. But, the romance was still nice and I did like Giles because he was such a sweet guy.
I really recommend this book to fans of fantasy who also like romance because I think they will really appreciate this genre-defying book.
ARC sent by publisher in exchange for honest review
reviewed for http://inthehammockblog.blogspot.com
Sometimes the fantasy element was a little too involved for my liking, but there was a lot of romance as well. I would just have a lot of romance and a little bit of fantasy. The romance was very sweet and heartfelt though, so I was happy with what there was of the romantic story.
Cecily was a great character, she had a nice inner strength, not to mention her supernatural powers. Giles was a little bit cliched as the protector who couldn't get close to the woman he was protecting. I felt like I had seen that idea many times before. But, the romance was still nice and I did like Giles because he was such a sweet guy.
I really recommend this book to fans of fantasy who also like romance because I think they will really appreciate this genre-defying book.
ARC sent by publisher in exchange for honest review
reviewed for http://inthehammockblog.blogspot.com
November 26, 2016
1.5
well, this is disappointing. I couldn't even finish it.
the story was slow and less interesting than the first book. also I don't feel like the rebellion is doing much in fighting the enemy, but mostly sitting around, plotting and talking. and this goes for the first book as well but since these are heavy on the romance at least The Fire Lord's Lover was saucy enough to keep me entertained. where in this case Cecily and Giles were boring together or apart, and their lovey-dovey moments were a pure eye-rolling fest.
I missed the other characters and the only chapters I (sort of) liked were the ones with Lady Casandra and Lord Mor'ded were in. :/
well, this is disappointing. I couldn't even finish it.
the story was slow and less interesting than the first book. also I don't feel like the rebellion is doing much in fighting the enemy, but mostly sitting around, plotting and talking. and this goes for the first book as well but since these are heavy on the romance at least The Fire Lord's Lover was saucy enough to keep me entertained. where in this case Cecily and Giles were boring together or apart, and their lovey-dovey moments were a pure eye-rolling fest.
I missed the other characters and the only chapters I (sort of) liked were the ones with Lady Casandra and Lord Mor'ded were in. :/
November 22, 2020
I read The Fire Lord's Lover earlier this year (2012) and fell in love with not only the book, but the idea of this complete alternative history and world. Cecily briefly featured in that book and so it was great to see her get her own book and find out what happened to her after that daring escape from Firehame, the kingdom of the Fire Lord. Seeing her come into her own and not only understand her power, but to accept it was great. It was easy to like her. Giles, was also easy to like, but more so because of his noble attitude and behavior. Even knowing how much he desired and cared for Cecily, he didn't cross any boundaries until she gave the all-clear sign.
I will admit as much as I enjoyed the book, the beginning was difficult for me. I didn't particularly like Cecily or Giles. It felt like they were both too much. And then there were serious moments where the both of them acted like fools or with levity that belied the situation at hand. I did enjoy seeing them mature and get better, but it was a journey for sure.
There is another book in the Elven Lord Series, and I hope to read it soon. If you're skeptical about paranormal romances, I would suggest you try this series. It has magic, suspense, passion, and of course romance, but it's presented in a way that just it entrances and captures your interest.
I will admit as much as I enjoyed the book, the beginning was difficult for me. I didn't particularly like Cecily or Giles. It felt like they were both too much. And then there were serious moments where the both of them acted like fools or with levity that belied the situation at hand. I did enjoy seeing them mature and get better, but it was a journey for sure.
There is another book in the Elven Lord Series, and I hope to read it soon. If you're skeptical about paranormal romances, I would suggest you try this series. It has magic, suspense, passion, and of course romance, but it's presented in a way that just it entrances and captures your interest.
August 11, 2011
Yet another good book in this series, I absolutely LOVED it. This series is historical but what make's it so good is that the paranormal elements are fantastic. The heat level also was good for me and the love scenes while not erotic where still hot enough to make me happy.
I have to mark February 2012 for the next book, Lord Of Illusion will be a must read book for me and I look forwards to seeing just what Kathryne Kennedy has in store for us next.
I have to mark February 2012 for the next book, Lord Of Illusion will be a must read book for me and I look forwards to seeing just what Kathryne Kennedy has in store for us next.
August 20, 2011
Kathryne Kennedy definitely keeps me guessing. When I first read The Fire Lord's Lover I was blown away. The world building was amazing, I loved the characters and the story was intriguing. Then I read Beneath the Thirteen Moons which was painful. So I wasn't sure what to expect from this one but had high hopes since it was a sequel to The Fire Lord's Lover and while I knew it would focus on new characters I hoped it would contain the same level of world building and character development that the previous book contained. Unfortunately the book just left me feeling ho hum. As a disclaimer it might just be because like I mentioned in my review of The Fire Lord's Lover the world building was so good I would have preferred this series to be a fantasy series with a little bit of romance thrown in rather than a romance series with some fantasy aspects thrown in. So I felt like we lost a little bit of that in this book. It focused more so on the romance which as with a lot of romance books was predictable.
I did not feel strongly one way or another about either Cecily or Giles so I did not feel very invested in their romance. I think what caused the most disappointment for me was that we were given so many more tantalizing glimpses into the Elven world, how they came to settle in England and the intricacies of their relationship with magic, the dragons and each other but then we would always veer back to the romance. So for those who view this series as pure romance then you will probably enjoy it. If you are like me and more fascinated with the world Kennedy created and wanting to see more of the story behind the elves and humans then you might be a tad disappointed that we didn't get more. This book really hasn't pushed me one way or another into the like or dislike camp of Kennedy's books so I will probably pick up the next book before making my final decision on whether or not to keep up with the series.
I did not feel strongly one way or another about either Cecily or Giles so I did not feel very invested in their romance. I think what caused the most disappointment for me was that we were given so many more tantalizing glimpses into the Elven world, how they came to settle in England and the intricacies of their relationship with magic, the dragons and each other but then we would always veer back to the romance. So for those who view this series as pure romance then you will probably enjoy it. If you are like me and more fascinated with the world Kennedy created and wanting to see more of the story behind the elves and humans then you might be a tad disappointed that we didn't get more. This book really hasn't pushed me one way or another into the like or dislike camp of Kennedy's books so I will probably pick up the next book before making my final decision on whether or not to keep up with the series.
January 31, 2016
The Lady of the Storm (and the whole The Elven Lords series, for that matter) is the kind of fantasy romance story I love. There's a solid relationship, but it doesn't overpower the world and the stories going on outside of the relationship.
This second installment in the series expands quite a bit on the lore of The Elven Lords, a Georgian England where mad elven lords rule over parts of the country and wage war for control of the King of England.
I felt that both Cecily and Giles matured during their journey (and even more so into the third book) and I loved that they weren't getting it on in chapter 2. Because really, getting it on after speaking three words to another person is just poor manners.
This second installment in the series expands quite a bit on the lore of The Elven Lords, a Georgian England where mad elven lords rule over parts of the country and wage war for control of the King of England.
I felt that both Cecily and Giles matured during their journey (and even more so into the third book) and I loved that they weren't getting it on in chapter 2. Because really, getting it on after speaking three words to another person is just poor manners.
August 2, 2011
Kathryne Kennedy is one of those authors whose books I anxiously await to hit the shelves. She builds the most exciting, unusual, and alluring worlds for her stories. Her characters also exude the same qualities, and then some, with such emotional pull surrounding them, all because of their circumstances and, ultimately, their unconditional measure to love. She weaves a spell around her readers just as her characters cast their spells of magic in and around a London that will surprise you at every turn.
In this book we return to the sovereignties of the elven lords with the ultimate action taking place in Dewhame, from which our heroine hails - well, in a roundabout way. Cecily is the daughter of the Lord of Dewhame, but she’s been hidden away ever since it was discovered her powers are just as great as her father’s. It’s been nine years she’s lived in her peaceful seaside cottage, a place where she can cavort to her heart’s content in the water that lives within her. But suddenly her world is upended when her village is attacked and those she loves lose their lives.
Protecting Cecily all those years has been done from the shadows as much as possible, but now Giles must come out in the open and face his feelings for the woman she’s become, power and all. But he goes through minefield after minefield on their journey to Firehame Palace, where they will meet up with the Fire Lord and others who are helping in the Rebellion against the other elven lords. Giles loses his fight for control where Cecily is concerned, especially once she realizes the man does care for her, even though he rejected her years ago when she was young and much more naive, and she embraces her new-found allure to make Giles confront his feelings.
While the characters in these Elven books are some of the best written, along with their unusual powers, it’s also the world Ms. Kennedy has once again created that brings these books to life. The scenes in which Giles and Cecily return to the Seven Corners of Hell - that point in England where all seven sovereignties connect, a forest of terrifying creatures and nature, along with their destructive powers and fetes - to find her missing father glue you to the page to find out what’s going to happen next. It’s the unusualness of Ms. Kennedy’s imagination that keeps me coming back again and again to read her stories, along with the emotion her characters must go through for what they want and need the most.
We also get to meet up with the Fire Lord and his heroine from the previous book to see how their lives are progressing under the guise of an ingenious deception to hopefully bring long-awaited peace to England. I was hoping for a little more with that lord, because his story so touched me. But it’s enough to go along with the hope that we may see more of him in future books.
Have you read any of Kathryne Kennedy’s books? If not, you need to. Get lost in her magical, spell-binding worlds, meet characters you’d truly like to know, and triumph with them, just as romance readers have come to expect, when love wins the day against the wrongs of the worst evils for the betterment of mankind. Then you, too, will come back to her stories again and again.
See my complete review at http://www.goodbadandunread.com
In this book we return to the sovereignties of the elven lords with the ultimate action taking place in Dewhame, from which our heroine hails - well, in a roundabout way. Cecily is the daughter of the Lord of Dewhame, but she’s been hidden away ever since it was discovered her powers are just as great as her father’s. It’s been nine years she’s lived in her peaceful seaside cottage, a place where she can cavort to her heart’s content in the water that lives within her. But suddenly her world is upended when her village is attacked and those she loves lose their lives.
Protecting Cecily all those years has been done from the shadows as much as possible, but now Giles must come out in the open and face his feelings for the woman she’s become, power and all. But he goes through minefield after minefield on their journey to Firehame Palace, where they will meet up with the Fire Lord and others who are helping in the Rebellion against the other elven lords. Giles loses his fight for control where Cecily is concerned, especially once she realizes the man does care for her, even though he rejected her years ago when she was young and much more naive, and she embraces her new-found allure to make Giles confront his feelings.
While the characters in these Elven books are some of the best written, along with their unusual powers, it’s also the world Ms. Kennedy has once again created that brings these books to life. The scenes in which Giles and Cecily return to the Seven Corners of Hell - that point in England where all seven sovereignties connect, a forest of terrifying creatures and nature, along with their destructive powers and fetes - to find her missing father glue you to the page to find out what’s going to happen next. It’s the unusualness of Ms. Kennedy’s imagination that keeps me coming back again and again to read her stories, along with the emotion her characters must go through for what they want and need the most.
We also get to meet up with the Fire Lord and his heroine from the previous book to see how their lives are progressing under the guise of an ingenious deception to hopefully bring long-awaited peace to England. I was hoping for a little more with that lord, because his story so touched me. But it’s enough to go along with the hope that we may see more of him in future books.
Have you read any of Kathryne Kennedy’s books? If not, you need to. Get lost in her magical, spell-binding worlds, meet characters you’d truly like to know, and triumph with them, just as romance readers have come to expect, when love wins the day against the wrongs of the worst evils for the betterment of mankind. Then you, too, will come back to her stories again and again.
See my complete review at http://www.goodbadandunread.com
January 31, 2012
*Le Sigh* and the magic is gone
I came into this story already expecting that I would not to enjoy it as much as its predecessor, The Fire Lord's Lover, and unfortunately it didn't exceed my expectations. Kathryne Kennedy's Lady of the Storm has all of the pieces, but I was honestly left wanting to simply go read The Fire Lord's Lover all over again.
We have a new hero and heroine in this tale, both elf/human half-breeds. The story centers around Cecily, who we meet as a child in the first book, and Giles, her sworn protector. In the first book we learn that Cecily inherited exceptional power from her Imperial Lord Elven father of Dewhame to control water and weather elements. This made her a target, so she had to flee into hiding in order to remain safe. At the start of this book we see that she's managed to live in secrecy for about ten years until the Imperial Lord's soldiers show up at her door. She is forced to go on the run again, but there's no more running away. It's her time to fight back with Giles at her side.
Everything that felt new and fresh with Fire Lord's Lover felt a bit bland here. I don't doubt Kennedy's imagination and world building abilities, but I guess her story-building abilities come into question. There were times where the plot felt completely formulaic:
Beautiful elves? Check
Virgin heroine? Check
5+ love scene quota? Check
1 super magical love scene? Check
A silly development for relationship conflict that you know will be resolved? Check
I felt like this book had more love scenes than the first one and it took a lot longer to get to that point, so it was a bit condensed. Also, whereas I liked the magical love scene in the first book, this one wasn't nearly as interesting, though the author tried to be creative and original. I think this series would have benefited from focusing on Dominic and Cassandra instead of shifting to new characters. Dominic and Cassandra do make appearances a few times in this installment, but it only served to make me wish the POV would switch to them every time.
There's nothing particularly likable about Giles or Cecily. I didn't feel a lot of personality with them like I did with their book 1 counterparts. They are heavy on the angst and emotionally weak. I was also disappointed with the lack of development for her Imperial Lord father as opposed to the first book. I like for the villains to be well-developed. The final showdown was really anti-climatic and I wasn't invested in it at all; it only sealed this book's fate as forgettable. I just wanted it over so that I could skip to the preview for the next book. I hope that the author rebounds, but I won't be quick to read this next one, which sounds like it could potentially be the last one. I haven't heard one way or another as to whether this series will be a trilogy, but if she can't turn things around then the sooner she ends it, the better.
*Review also posted to Amazon
I came into this story already expecting that I would not to enjoy it as much as its predecessor, The Fire Lord's Lover, and unfortunately it didn't exceed my expectations. Kathryne Kennedy's Lady of the Storm has all of the pieces, but I was honestly left wanting to simply go read The Fire Lord's Lover all over again.
We have a new hero and heroine in this tale, both elf/human half-breeds. The story centers around Cecily, who we meet as a child in the first book, and Giles, her sworn protector. In the first book we learn that Cecily inherited exceptional power from her Imperial Lord Elven father of Dewhame to control water and weather elements. This made her a target, so she had to flee into hiding in order to remain safe. At the start of this book we see that she's managed to live in secrecy for about ten years until the Imperial Lord's soldiers show up at her door. She is forced to go on the run again, but there's no more running away. It's her time to fight back with Giles at her side.
Everything that felt new and fresh with Fire Lord's Lover felt a bit bland here. I don't doubt Kennedy's imagination and world building abilities, but I guess her story-building abilities come into question. There were times where the plot felt completely formulaic:
Beautiful elves? Check
Virgin heroine? Check
5+ love scene quota? Check
1 super magical love scene? Check
A silly development for relationship conflict that you know will be resolved? Check
I felt like this book had more love scenes than the first one and it took a lot longer to get to that point, so it was a bit condensed. Also, whereas I liked the magical love scene in the first book, this one wasn't nearly as interesting, though the author tried to be creative and original. I think this series would have benefited from focusing on Dominic and Cassandra instead of shifting to new characters. Dominic and Cassandra do make appearances a few times in this installment, but it only served to make me wish the POV would switch to them every time.
There's nothing particularly likable about Giles or Cecily. I didn't feel a lot of personality with them like I did with their book 1 counterparts. They are heavy on the angst and emotionally weak. I was also disappointed with the lack of development for her Imperial Lord father as opposed to the first book. I like for the villains to be well-developed. The final showdown was really anti-climatic and I wasn't invested in it at all; it only sealed this book's fate as forgettable. I just wanted it over so that I could skip to the preview for the next book. I hope that the author rebounds, but I won't be quick to read this next one, which sounds like it could potentially be the last one. I haven't heard one way or another as to whether this series will be a trilogy, but if she can't turn things around then the sooner she ends it, the better.
*Review also posted to Amazon
August 11, 2011
A WONDERFUL STORY FROM A REMARKABLE AUTHOR!
There's a thin line between duty and desire...
Giles Beaumont is stuck in a role he never wanted, trying to safeguard a woman of incendiary powers who doesn't think she needs a protector.
Cecily Sutton has no idea of the enormity of her true task and no inkling of the effect she's having on Giles. But somewhere along their perilous journey together, they'll have no choice but to uncover the deep, dark connection that binds them one to the other...
MY THOUGHTS:
Kathryne’s ability to take history as we know it and add a twist to create an alternate world is amazing.
The setting is Georgian in timeline, king, and court, but with seven powerful elves that have chosen to leave Elfhame and relocate to Georgian England, the world is forever changed. They have all the power and have divided England into seven kingdoms reflecting each Lord’s power base—fire, water, etc. King George is reduced to being a pawn and battles are waged between each Lord’s armies (usually commanded by a champion of his bloodline) to possess the King and his court. It’s all a game to the Elven Lords and the common people of England are the true losers because they’re seen as little more than slaves. Times are tough for them; the economy is bad, their freedom to develop is hindered; they’re cut off from the rest of the world of their time by a magical barriers; their children who reflect strong magical powers are taken from them by uncaring, often cruel, Elven Lords.
In typical human fashion when subjugated, there is a rebellion brewing to rid themselves of the Elven Lords. This organized rebellion reaches from the common people to many of the landed lords of the land—many of which have a measure of magic. A life and death battle fraught with very real danger. Each of Kathryne’s stories plays out against this backdrop.
I read Fire Lord’s Lover and enjoyed it, but THE LADY OF THE STORM is even better. The world is already set up and Cecily Sutton and Giles Beaumont is the focus of the story about a hunted young girl of power, hidden from her powerful birth father, Lord of Breden, who wants her dead. Even as a young girl she demonstrated enormous power. She is the great hope of The Rebellion. But she doesn’t care about a rebellion; all she wants is to live a simple life with her mother and adoptive father in her village refuge—until her village comes under attack. Giles Beaumont is a young warrior of The Rebellion who wants a more active role in the fight for freedom and instead is relegated to the role of nursemaid to Cecily—who develops a crush on him and he rejects her. Ah, a young woman scorned and a reluctant protector must overcome their hurts and work together with the rebellion to find Cecily’s adoptive father, capture Breden’s power scepter and destroy him. It becomes a tempestuous love story between two strong-minded people set against the backdrop of intrigue, magic, and incredible danger.
THE LADY OF THE STORM is a great read for those who love epic fantasy romance.
There's a thin line between duty and desire...
Giles Beaumont is stuck in a role he never wanted, trying to safeguard a woman of incendiary powers who doesn't think she needs a protector.
Cecily Sutton has no idea of the enormity of her true task and no inkling of the effect she's having on Giles. But somewhere along their perilous journey together, they'll have no choice but to uncover the deep, dark connection that binds them one to the other...
MY THOUGHTS:
Kathryne’s ability to take history as we know it and add a twist to create an alternate world is amazing.
The setting is Georgian in timeline, king, and court, but with seven powerful elves that have chosen to leave Elfhame and relocate to Georgian England, the world is forever changed. They have all the power and have divided England into seven kingdoms reflecting each Lord’s power base—fire, water, etc. King George is reduced to being a pawn and battles are waged between each Lord’s armies (usually commanded by a champion of his bloodline) to possess the King and his court. It’s all a game to the Elven Lords and the common people of England are the true losers because they’re seen as little more than slaves. Times are tough for them; the economy is bad, their freedom to develop is hindered; they’re cut off from the rest of the world of their time by a magical barriers; their children who reflect strong magical powers are taken from them by uncaring, often cruel, Elven Lords.
In typical human fashion when subjugated, there is a rebellion brewing to rid themselves of the Elven Lords. This organized rebellion reaches from the common people to many of the landed lords of the land—many of which have a measure of magic. A life and death battle fraught with very real danger. Each of Kathryne’s stories plays out against this backdrop.
I read Fire Lord’s Lover and enjoyed it, but THE LADY OF THE STORM is even better. The world is already set up and Cecily Sutton and Giles Beaumont is the focus of the story about a hunted young girl of power, hidden from her powerful birth father, Lord of Breden, who wants her dead. Even as a young girl she demonstrated enormous power. She is the great hope of The Rebellion. But she doesn’t care about a rebellion; all she wants is to live a simple life with her mother and adoptive father in her village refuge—until her village comes under attack. Giles Beaumont is a young warrior of The Rebellion who wants a more active role in the fight for freedom and instead is relegated to the role of nursemaid to Cecily—who develops a crush on him and he rejects her. Ah, a young woman scorned and a reluctant protector must overcome their hurts and work together with the rebellion to find Cecily’s adoptive father, capture Breden’s power scepter and destroy him. It becomes a tempestuous love story between two strong-minded people set against the backdrop of intrigue, magic, and incredible danger.
THE LADY OF THE STORM is a great read for those who love epic fantasy romance.
July 31, 2011
The Lady of the Storm by Kathryne Kennedy
Paranormal Romance- August 1st, 2011
4 stars
The Lady of the Storm is the second book in Kathryne Kennedy’s Elven series. This series has wonderful world building and features dark terrifying elves that use humans as their playthings. It is the humans and part humans who make up the Rebellion to free themselves from the Elven tyranny who drive this fascinating series.
Cecily Sutton is a half-breed - the daughter of the Imperial Lord Breden and a human woman. Lord Breden is a powerful and vicious Elven lord who controls water and air. Cecily escaped when she was very young and is unaware of all her heritage. She does know that Lord Breden’s genes give her extraordinary powers but she knows first hand how destructive they can be and denies their use. However, Cecily’s untapped powers make her a person that the Rebellion would love to use. When Cecily’s adopted father Thomas goes missing while on a mission for the Rebellion and their village is attacked, Cecily fears the worst. She vows to find Thomas but discovers she must make a pact with the Rebellion. In exchange for helping them, they will give her the information on Thomas’s last location. She finds unlikely aid in Giles, a beautiful part Elven male who rejected her infatuation with him when she was younger.
Giles wants glory but was assigned by Thomas to guard and protect their most precious resource, the powerful Cecily. Giles finds that Cecily fires his lust but her noble heritage means that she can never be his. When Cecily recklessly decides to find her adopted father no matter what the cost, Giles vows to defend and care for her.
Their journey brings them into deep danger as Cecily’s is hunted and their growing attraction makes it difficult to remember why a relationship between them is so wrong.
This is a wonderful fantasy romance. I love how many of the part Elven humans have some very interesting powers and how the author uses them in the story. I was caught up in the drama between Cecily and her need for acceptance (She longs to be normal.) and a simple life. Cecily fears what her powers can do, and I like how she mature she is for someone so young. Giles wants the glory of serving the Rebellion but his need to protect Cecily and strike out on his own are in constant turmoil. The relationship between Cecily and Giles is sweet. It was enjoyable to read them learning to trust and understand each other. The author has some interesting twists to the story but this story didn’t quite have the drama or tension of her first book, The Fire Lord’s Lover. Those who loved the first book will be happy to discover familiar characters return for short cameos in this book, too.
The sweet love between two young lovers as they race to find their mentor and save humankind makes for a thrilling read.
Reviewed by Steph form the Bookaholics Romance Book Club
Paranormal Romance- August 1st, 2011
4 stars
The Lady of the Storm is the second book in Kathryne Kennedy’s Elven series. This series has wonderful world building and features dark terrifying elves that use humans as their playthings. It is the humans and part humans who make up the Rebellion to free themselves from the Elven tyranny who drive this fascinating series.
Cecily Sutton is a half-breed - the daughter of the Imperial Lord Breden and a human woman. Lord Breden is a powerful and vicious Elven lord who controls water and air. Cecily escaped when she was very young and is unaware of all her heritage. She does know that Lord Breden’s genes give her extraordinary powers but she knows first hand how destructive they can be and denies their use. However, Cecily’s untapped powers make her a person that the Rebellion would love to use. When Cecily’s adopted father Thomas goes missing while on a mission for the Rebellion and their village is attacked, Cecily fears the worst. She vows to find Thomas but discovers she must make a pact with the Rebellion. In exchange for helping them, they will give her the information on Thomas’s last location. She finds unlikely aid in Giles, a beautiful part Elven male who rejected her infatuation with him when she was younger.
Giles wants glory but was assigned by Thomas to guard and protect their most precious resource, the powerful Cecily. Giles finds that Cecily fires his lust but her noble heritage means that she can never be his. When Cecily recklessly decides to find her adopted father no matter what the cost, Giles vows to defend and care for her.
Their journey brings them into deep danger as Cecily’s is hunted and their growing attraction makes it difficult to remember why a relationship between them is so wrong.
This is a wonderful fantasy romance. I love how many of the part Elven humans have some very interesting powers and how the author uses them in the story. I was caught up in the drama between Cecily and her need for acceptance (She longs to be normal.) and a simple life. Cecily fears what her powers can do, and I like how she mature she is for someone so young. Giles wants the glory of serving the Rebellion but his need to protect Cecily and strike out on his own are in constant turmoil. The relationship between Cecily and Giles is sweet. It was enjoyable to read them learning to trust and understand each other. The author has some interesting twists to the story but this story didn’t quite have the drama or tension of her first book, The Fire Lord’s Lover. Those who loved the first book will be happy to discover familiar characters return for short cameos in this book, too.
The sweet love between two young lovers as they race to find their mentor and save humankind makes for a thrilling read.
Reviewed by Steph form the Bookaholics Romance Book Club
September 30, 2011
In the past I've liked everything I'd read by Kathryne Kennedy, some more than others. But for the most part I've always at least been interested enough to finish all of them so far.
Unfortunately that streak ended for The Lady of the Storm. And funny thing is that the world building is still good in here for a fantasy romance series. What sort of let me down here is the characters. They weren't bad people or make stupid decisions.... they were mostly just booooring. I tried and tried to make it through hoping things get interesting but around halfway through I just gave up. The special abilities of the main leads are interesting but their personalities just made me want to ZZZzzzzZZZzzzzzzzzzzzz........
Unfortunately that streak ended for The Lady of the Storm. And funny thing is that the world building is still good in here for a fantasy romance series. What sort of let me down here is the characters. They weren't bad people or make stupid decisions.... they were mostly just booooring. I tried and tried to make it through hoping things get interesting but around halfway through I just gave up. The special abilities of the main leads are interesting but their personalities just made me want to ZZZzzzzZZZzzzzzzzzzzzz........
June 30, 2011
Kathryne Kennedy creates a complete and imaginative world that pushes the boundaries of the world we know. Although it was a little too much fantasy for me, I still enjoyed it. The characters were very well developed, and the attraction between Giles and Cecily was noticeable from the very start. I enjoyed that there was a consistency in the relationship. Overall, I liked this book although it wasn’t necessarily my cup of tea.
March 1, 2016
Took me a long time to WANT to finish this book. I, unfortunately, found it boring and somewhat hokey. Nothing like the first book in this series. I'm disappointed.
December 31, 2012
The only reason why I'm reading this book was wanting to know what happen in Fireham and so that i could associate physical pain of wisdom tooth with this book. Review later.
June 8, 2013
I am not sure why Kathryne Kennedy is not more popular.
Great story and review to come.
Great story and review to come.
December 12, 2022
I just realized that this series is incredibly underrated in how it deals with colonialism in fantasy. Fantasy colonialism what ifs are always very tricky because they usually involve white people speculating about what if the sun never set in a different empire that wasn't Britain, and the people are usually coded as people of color. This is problematic on a number of levels because it just doesn't ring true with our reality, and also westerners don't really have a lot of familiarity with non-western philosophy, so the methods of imperialism are the same, but the people are just brown now, which also doesn't ring true. This series side steps this by having England, (and apparently only England Wales is exempt and I am assuming so is Scotland) be colonized by magical creatures who are pretty unambiguously coded European so of course the methodology is explained. They have a Rebellion like in Star Wars, they don't like colonialist rule, but the story acknowledges that stealing some powerful scepters isn't going to undo colonialism, nor is telling the colonizers to go back to where they came from, and also what do we do with miscegenated peoples. The book acknowledges that there is nuance to this issue, but it is not a question that needs to be dealt with in this particular story because it is a romance, it is not within its purview.
July 18, 2017
I saddens me to say this, but I have given upon this series.
It held a lot of potential however, the writer preferred the easy path: instead of continuing with the story of the two main characters of the first book, developing the story and eventually overthrowing the “pure elves” government, she turned the story into a “wank series”.
(Yes, you know what I am talking about… there are several of those “on sale” and “viral” in our bookstores and amazon….)
Going to spoil this one for you: every book is a different couple that falls in love in slightly different and unlikely situations and have a small part into the major storythat was undeveloped by the writer of overthrowing the government. There is sex involved (and not even it is well written), stupid drama (
cannot marry you because I am ugly, yada yada yada
), and overall disappointment.
Quite tired of wasting my time with these kind of booksI try to spend less money buying cheaper things, and this is how it turns out e-ve-ry time…
It held a lot of potential however, the writer preferred the easy path: instead of continuing with the story of the two main characters of the first book, developing the story and eventually overthrowing the “pure elves” government, she turned the story into a “wank series”.
(Yes, you know what I am talking about… there are several of those “on sale” and “viral” in our bookstores and amazon….)
Going to spoil this one for you: every book is a different couple that falls in love in slightly different and unlikely situations and have a small part into the major story
Quite tired of wasting my time with these kind of books
August 27, 2017
This story is a follow up to Fire Lord's Lover (if you haven't read that book, you must before you read this one). The writing was very descriptive and great character development. It made you feel like you were in a fairy tale with some hot romance thrown in.
November 4, 2025
Lady Cecily has spent most of the life in a little village on the seaside. When she helps the villagers fight the soldiers of the elven lord, she must run before he can find and kill her. On her journey she is accompanied by Giles as a watchman.
April 3, 2018
This series is a fascinating romp through an alternative England... and they’re building on each other more than the Merlin’s Relics books did. I really appreciate that, ha.
July 16, 2018
Too repetitive. Took too long to tell the story. Lost interest early. Gave up at 80%.
October 30, 2019
Okay, it's more than a little bit smutty, but the story is decent and easy to leave and come back to, which makes it a pretty good "walking at the gym" book.
January 24, 2020
I didn’t like how the heroine’s grief lasted only a few seconds. Twice.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 6, 2011
Originally posted at: http://longandshortreviews.blogspot.c...
If a reader appreciates a book filled with pictures painted with words, and details that animate a world within your mind, then look no further than the amazing book by the talented Ms. Kennedy.
The Lady of the Storm is a book worth spending the time with. I was first introduced to this alternate and fantastical England with The Fire Lord’s Lover. The world building astounded me then and I couldn’t imagine how much more could be added; it was already so rich. Ms. Kennedy had it covered. In this latest adventure, the author introduced me to a new quest, new characters, and new obstacles for the hero and heroine to overcome. I can also assure readers that this is a terrific stand alone read.
Readers of the first book will understand the references to ‘being tested” and know that it’s not a good thing. For those who are visiting for the first time with this story, enough gets shared during character dialogue to understand why it’s to be feared. The explanations of why there is a rebellion are, again, naturally presented in the due course of events.
The author first sets up the relationship between Giles and Cecily by delving into their past and sharing the things that made them the people they are. By the time the tale begins in earnest, I understood the internal conflicts that tore them apart inside, and the external conflict that affected not just them but all of their English countrymen. It’s a fight for independence and reclamation of their life and lands.
Cecily is delightfully stubborn yet is a tender hearted lady. She only allows herself to accept the magic inside of her that helps others or causes no harm. There’s a reason for that and it’s believable. Her magic also gets employed as a tool to move the plot along. I liked how the author molded a young sheltered girl into a woman that’s a force to be reckoned with. The transition was detailed in such a way that I felt like I was shadowing the heroine every step of the way. Cecily inadvertently trained herself for her future and only after reading this book will readers understand what I mean. Magic is the world she was born into, but not all that she knows.
Giles’s character is so sweet. I don’t mean he’s a pansy. I refer to him being a man who fell in love when he was but a kid and didn’t or couldn’t recognize the emotion for what it was. His actions speak loud and clear to what is in his heart. Ms. Kennedy put him through the wringer that sorely tested his resolve and his love by having something happen to him that crushed his spirit. Yet, though his words, harshly and firmly spoken, and his chilling and isolationist silence made his choice clear, his actions eventually speak louder than the storms his lady can call.
I sensed a bit of a Beauty and the Beast theme being interwoven through this fantasy. It’s a classic element and I enjoyed the author’s unique way of breathing new life into an old but treasured storytelling idea. Certainly it’s romantic and emotional and it touched me right where the author intended. It was well written and effective and again proved just how special Cecily was.
The romance is at the heart of this book but it’s tempered with the intrigue, suspense and light drama that the hero and heroine have to deal with before they can reach their happy ever after. The villain wasn’t a specific all encompassing target like it was in the first book. In The Lady of the Storm, there are villains and there are confrontations, bloody ones at that, but this tale is more about Cecily and Giles coming to an understanding about each other in spite of it all. Realizing they love each other in the midst of everything and battling for that love to survive against evil magical odds made for an entertaining read.
Secondary characters play vital roles in helping the hero and heroine get to where they need to be and do what had to be done. Some of them I wanted to toss into a smelly moat and others I wanted to hug. They were all well developed and brought the story into more vivid life. The writing was superb; the author paid close attention to detail without letting the story stagnant and it never gets bogged down. The pace was crisp, the dialogue true to the character’s personalities, and every now and again, a spot of humor and tenderness smoothed away any rough edges.
The Lady of the Storm is another whirlwind ride into the magical chaos that is England – a world that is fascinating as well as dangerous. Thanks to the stellar writing talents of Ms. Kennedy, I have a new series that will be an auto-buy for me. As real as the story seems when I’m in the midst of it, I am so glad no fire demons will actually jump out at me. However, I wouldn’t mind a Giles of my own, without that spooky sword of his, that is. Thank you, Ms. Kennedy, for a wild reading experience and for introducing me to a heroine and hero I enjoyed getting to know
If a reader appreciates a book filled with pictures painted with words, and details that animate a world within your mind, then look no further than the amazing book by the talented Ms. Kennedy.
The Lady of the Storm is a book worth spending the time with. I was first introduced to this alternate and fantastical England with The Fire Lord’s Lover. The world building astounded me then and I couldn’t imagine how much more could be added; it was already so rich. Ms. Kennedy had it covered. In this latest adventure, the author introduced me to a new quest, new characters, and new obstacles for the hero and heroine to overcome. I can also assure readers that this is a terrific stand alone read.
Readers of the first book will understand the references to ‘being tested” and know that it’s not a good thing. For those who are visiting for the first time with this story, enough gets shared during character dialogue to understand why it’s to be feared. The explanations of why there is a rebellion are, again, naturally presented in the due course of events.
The author first sets up the relationship between Giles and Cecily by delving into their past and sharing the things that made them the people they are. By the time the tale begins in earnest, I understood the internal conflicts that tore them apart inside, and the external conflict that affected not just them but all of their English countrymen. It’s a fight for independence and reclamation of their life and lands.
Cecily is delightfully stubborn yet is a tender hearted lady. She only allows herself to accept the magic inside of her that helps others or causes no harm. There’s a reason for that and it’s believable. Her magic also gets employed as a tool to move the plot along. I liked how the author molded a young sheltered girl into a woman that’s a force to be reckoned with. The transition was detailed in such a way that I felt like I was shadowing the heroine every step of the way. Cecily inadvertently trained herself for her future and only after reading this book will readers understand what I mean. Magic is the world she was born into, but not all that she knows.
Giles’s character is so sweet. I don’t mean he’s a pansy. I refer to him being a man who fell in love when he was but a kid and didn’t or couldn’t recognize the emotion for what it was. His actions speak loud and clear to what is in his heart. Ms. Kennedy put him through the wringer that sorely tested his resolve and his love by having something happen to him that crushed his spirit. Yet, though his words, harshly and firmly spoken, and his chilling and isolationist silence made his choice clear, his actions eventually speak louder than the storms his lady can call.
I sensed a bit of a Beauty and the Beast theme being interwoven through this fantasy. It’s a classic element and I enjoyed the author’s unique way of breathing new life into an old but treasured storytelling idea. Certainly it’s romantic and emotional and it touched me right where the author intended. It was well written and effective and again proved just how special Cecily was.
The romance is at the heart of this book but it’s tempered with the intrigue, suspense and light drama that the hero and heroine have to deal with before they can reach their happy ever after. The villain wasn’t a specific all encompassing target like it was in the first book. In The Lady of the Storm, there are villains and there are confrontations, bloody ones at that, but this tale is more about Cecily and Giles coming to an understanding about each other in spite of it all. Realizing they love each other in the midst of everything and battling for that love to survive against evil magical odds made for an entertaining read.
Secondary characters play vital roles in helping the hero and heroine get to where they need to be and do what had to be done. Some of them I wanted to toss into a smelly moat and others I wanted to hug. They were all well developed and brought the story into more vivid life. The writing was superb; the author paid close attention to detail without letting the story stagnant and it never gets bogged down. The pace was crisp, the dialogue true to the character’s personalities, and every now and again, a spot of humor and tenderness smoothed away any rough edges.
The Lady of the Storm is another whirlwind ride into the magical chaos that is England – a world that is fascinating as well as dangerous. Thanks to the stellar writing talents of Ms. Kennedy, I have a new series that will be an auto-buy for me. As real as the story seems when I’m in the midst of it, I am so glad no fire demons will actually jump out at me. However, I wouldn’t mind a Giles of my own, without that spooky sword of his, that is. Thank you, Ms. Kennedy, for a wild reading experience and for introducing me to a heroine and hero I enjoyed getting to know
August 7, 2011
Redonk Nutshell: Bodyguard falls for his magically inclined client and reluctantly agrees to help her cross enemy territory to find her adoptive father
Kathryne Kennedy is an author who's books eventually end up on my shelves come hell or high water. I anxiously await her latest releases, especially this one in particular. The Fire Lord's Lover is the first book in her Elven Races series, and it remains a fall back favorite of mine. You can only imagine how anxious I was to get my hands on numero dos, The Lady of the Storm.
Many years have passed between TFLL and TLOTS. Our heroine, Cecily, was only a child in book one and now she's all grown up and on the cusp of being a vital player to The Rebellion against England's Elven lords. In TFLL, she is smuggled out of London for her own safety and was settled in a sea side village with her mother and adoptive father, Thomas. Thomas enlists the help of fellow Rebellion participant, Giles, to keep an eye on Cecily and protect her from harm. Giles agrees and spends the next decade watching her grow up from a knobby adolescent to a beautiful young woman. The two of them fall in love with each other, but Giles keeps his feelings unknown to her, feeling himself well below her station. Not to mention the fact that Cecily's magic is kick-ass powerful, so powerful that the Elven Lord of her home town (also her biological father) would kill her in an instant if he knew she existed.
When an attack on their quiet village kills Cecily's mother, she takes it upon herself to track down her father, who had traveled to whereabouts unknown several years prior. Giles accompanies her, and together the adventure toward London to meet with The Rebellion leaders. In the process, the two of them come to find their attraction near impossible to ignore. One adventure after another eventually leads Cecily into the lion's den of danger, and Giles follows against his better judgement after vowing to leave her be.
I very much enjoyed the second installment in The Elven Races series. Cecily's ability to manipulate water and storms is downright epic. She is a strong woman, though untried out in the big bag world. She knows what she wants and she's unafraid to go after it, though she may stumble around at first until she gets her footing. Giles is a beautiful man who is constantly fighting with himself (and his sword that has a mind of its own). He wants Cecily but feels unworthy of her. He is a vain man, though kind at heart. When a spell scars his beautiful face, he withdraws into himself, very much like The Beast in Beauty and The Beast. Cecily wants him regardless, but he pushes her away.
Once more, the world building of Ms. Kennedy is top notch. TLOTS picks up in that sense right where TFLL left off and continues to build upon it. The book could stand on its own, though it would be better to read TFLL before to get the backstory of The Rebellion and where Cecily came from.
Epic, adventurous and romantic, The Lady of the Storm is an excellent next step in this magical series.
The Lady of the Storm by Kathryne Kennedy, 384 pgs
Rating: B
Romance: 2.5/5 Raunch: 3.5/5
Kathryne Kennedy is an author who's books eventually end up on my shelves come hell or high water. I anxiously await her latest releases, especially this one in particular. The Fire Lord's Lover is the first book in her Elven Races series, and it remains a fall back favorite of mine. You can only imagine how anxious I was to get my hands on numero dos, The Lady of the Storm.
Many years have passed between TFLL and TLOTS. Our heroine, Cecily, was only a child in book one and now she's all grown up and on the cusp of being a vital player to The Rebellion against England's Elven lords. In TFLL, she is smuggled out of London for her own safety and was settled in a sea side village with her mother and adoptive father, Thomas. Thomas enlists the help of fellow Rebellion participant, Giles, to keep an eye on Cecily and protect her from harm. Giles agrees and spends the next decade watching her grow up from a knobby adolescent to a beautiful young woman. The two of them fall in love with each other, but Giles keeps his feelings unknown to her, feeling himself well below her station. Not to mention the fact that Cecily's magic is kick-ass powerful, so powerful that the Elven Lord of her home town (also her biological father) would kill her in an instant if he knew she existed.
When an attack on their quiet village kills Cecily's mother, she takes it upon herself to track down her father, who had traveled to whereabouts unknown several years prior. Giles accompanies her, and together the adventure toward London to meet with The Rebellion leaders. In the process, the two of them come to find their attraction near impossible to ignore. One adventure after another eventually leads Cecily into the lion's den of danger, and Giles follows against his better judgement after vowing to leave her be.
I very much enjoyed the second installment in The Elven Races series. Cecily's ability to manipulate water and storms is downright epic. She is a strong woman, though untried out in the big bag world. She knows what she wants and she's unafraid to go after it, though she may stumble around at first until she gets her footing. Giles is a beautiful man who is constantly fighting with himself (and his sword that has a mind of its own). He wants Cecily but feels unworthy of her. He is a vain man, though kind at heart. When a spell scars his beautiful face, he withdraws into himself, very much like The Beast in Beauty and The Beast. Cecily wants him regardless, but he pushes her away.
Once more, the world building of Ms. Kennedy is top notch. TLOTS picks up in that sense right where TFLL left off and continues to build upon it. The book could stand on its own, though it would be better to read TFLL before to get the backstory of The Rebellion and where Cecily came from.
Epic, adventurous and romantic, The Lady of the Storm is an excellent next step in this magical series.
The Lady of the Storm by Kathryne Kennedy, 384 pgs
Rating: B
Romance: 2.5/5 Raunch: 3.5/5
August 3, 2011
In the prologue, we learn that long ago seven elves opened the gate between Elfhame and the human world, divided England into seven sovereign territories, and treated the humans as their personal slaves. They mated with humans, creating hybrid humans with magical powers; however if a child showed any potential magic that could be used to defeat one of the elven lords, the child was destroyed. This brings us to our heroine, Cecily.
Cecily is the half-human daughter of Lord Breden of Dewhame, one of the elven lords, but she has been hidden from her father and protected by the Rebellion for her entire life. When Lord Breden’s armies attack Cecily’s village, she is forced to use her powerful water magic to defeat the soldiers.
Giles Beaumont has a bit of elven in him as well. He is a loyal member of the Rebellion who as played the village blacksmith for 9 years while secretly protecting Cecily. When she uses her powers, Giles reveals his true identity to Cecily, and they leave at once to find out what happened to Cecily’s adoptive father (and fellow Rebellion member).
Ms. Kennedy does a marvelous job generating a fanciful rewrite of Georgian England, integrating her own creations into this historical setting. The combination of the fae-based mythology and the English countryside made for a delightful read. Although a little predictable at times, the story was exciting and adventurous.
Cecily and Giles have great passion for one another, each hiding it from the other for many years. Due to circumstances, neither were willing to express his/her true desires until Giles thinks he has lost Cecily forever. Once this happens, their passion ignites and they are ready to marry and live happily ever after. I have to admit I was a bit put off by their sudden and immediate attitude changes, but I suppose since they had all those years of unrequited love, they were ready to explode.
Of course, things don’t go so smoothly and the pair have to deal with many hurdles to find peace. Giles “sacrifices” his love for Cecily when he feels her future is doomed with him... doing what he feels is best for her (even though she disagrees). I’m never a big fan of this type storyline; however, I like that although Cecily realizes what is going on, she continues on with her life rather than trying to continually change Giles’ mind.
The hero and heroine finally reconcile near the conclusion, and the story picks up pace to climax with a fairly exciting scene involving a dragon. As the story ended, I felt like there was unfinished business for both our main couple and a few minor characters that were introduced within the story. I hope that Giles and Cecily have a future helping the rebellion and would like to know what happens next. I look forward to read the next book in the series, The Lord of Illusion, coming February 2012.
My Rating:
3.5 stars: Liked it a lot - recommend (B+)
Cecily is the half-human daughter of Lord Breden of Dewhame, one of the elven lords, but she has been hidden from her father and protected by the Rebellion for her entire life. When Lord Breden’s armies attack Cecily’s village, she is forced to use her powerful water magic to defeat the soldiers.
Giles Beaumont has a bit of elven in him as well. He is a loyal member of the Rebellion who as played the village blacksmith for 9 years while secretly protecting Cecily. When she uses her powers, Giles reveals his true identity to Cecily, and they leave at once to find out what happened to Cecily’s adoptive father (and fellow Rebellion member).
Ms. Kennedy does a marvelous job generating a fanciful rewrite of Georgian England, integrating her own creations into this historical setting. The combination of the fae-based mythology and the English countryside made for a delightful read. Although a little predictable at times, the story was exciting and adventurous.
Cecily and Giles have great passion for one another, each hiding it from the other for many years. Due to circumstances, neither were willing to express his/her true desires until Giles thinks he has lost Cecily forever. Once this happens, their passion ignites and they are ready to marry and live happily ever after. I have to admit I was a bit put off by their sudden and immediate attitude changes, but I suppose since they had all those years of unrequited love, they were ready to explode.
Of course, things don’t go so smoothly and the pair have to deal with many hurdles to find peace. Giles “sacrifices” his love for Cecily when he feels her future is doomed with him... doing what he feels is best for her (even though she disagrees). I’m never a big fan of this type storyline; however, I like that although Cecily realizes what is going on, she continues on with her life rather than trying to continually change Giles’ mind.
The hero and heroine finally reconcile near the conclusion, and the story picks up pace to climax with a fairly exciting scene involving a dragon. As the story ended, I felt like there was unfinished business for both our main couple and a few minor characters that were introduced within the story. I hope that Giles and Cecily have a future helping the rebellion and would like to know what happens next. I look forward to read the next book in the series, The Lord of Illusion, coming February 2012.
My Rating:
3.5 stars: Liked it a lot - recommend (B+)
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