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Warrior (The Blades of the Rose, #1)

Zoe Archer

Start date: September 1, 2011

Finish date: September 30, 2011

Discussion: Group Reads

Discussion leader: SandyC

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By Danielle The… , Loves 'Em Lethal · 6 posts · 136 views

last updated Dec 19, 2012 08:46AM

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last updated Jan 06, 2012 03:40PM

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What Members Thought

May 11, 2010 Danielle The Book Huntress rated it it was amazing

Shelves: historical-romance, favorite-or-autobuy-author, warrior, hot-and-steamy-romance, asian-setting, soldier-or-military, owned-copy, heroine-i-adore, action-adventure, favorites

It's very true that if you do something well, people will notice. That's how I feel about this book. Zoe Archer did a fine job with Warrior. If I were to imagine a dream book based on my favorite historical action/adventure movies, with the romance ramped up, then this is a very good example.

Warrior has a couple that I totally loved. Gabriel is a man's man, and I adored him for it. He's not macho and overbearing. Nope. He's just a rough and tumble guy who's spent his life as a soldier, and it's It's very true that if you do something well, people will notice. That's how I feel about this book. Zoe Archer did a fine job with Warrior. If I were to imagine a dream book based on my favorite historical action/adventure movies, with the romance ramped up, then this is a very good example.

Warrior has a couple that I totally loved. Gabriel is a man's man, and I adored him for it. He's not macho and overbearing. Nope. He's just a rough and tumble guy who's spent his life as a soldier, and it's made one heck of a man of him. He worries about his lack of social polish--but his worries are groundless as far as I am concerned, and Thalia too. I adored him. I liked his confidence as a warrior, his ease with dealing with very hostile situations, his deep sense of honor. I liked how he committed himself to protecting Thalia and seeing her fulfill her mission. He was willing to stand up for a cause that didn't even make sense to him. And he showed a remarkable ability to adapt and to react to the very strange situations he found himself in. I loved how he adored Thalia for who she was, and didn't feel the need to change her into the average Englishman's ideal woman. She was his ideal, instead. Gabriel might consider himself rough and unpolished, but he definitely knew how to take care of his woman.

Thalia was an awesome heroine. I liked that she wasn't the typical English rose. She'd been raised in Outer Mongolia, and was a woman of that world. She'd yearned most of her life to take up her father's work with the Blades, and when she got her chance to prove herself, she was determined to do so. Thalia respected Gabriel for who he was, admired his strength, and the innate essence of him. She realized that he was the man she'd been waiting for, but couldn't believe that he'd want her and not a perfect English lady. Seeing their love affair unfurl like a blooming flower was such a pleasure. This book is very steamy, and wildly romantic. A perfect combination. There are many sigh-worthy scenes between Gabriel and Thalia. I was very invested in this couple, and I was cheering for their happy ending together.

On top of the great romance, this is a fantastic historical adventure. I loved the setting and the way that it was as much an integral part of this story as the romance. I think Ms. Archer did a great job of bringing this rollicking, good old-fashioned (in the vein of Indiana Jones and Stephen Sommers' the Mummy movies) story to life. Ms. Archer showed a respect for the Mongolian culture and its people. Before this book ended, it felt so familiar to me, I could have been on the Mongolian steppes myself.

The action and adventure aspects were fantastic. There is a sense of risk throughout this story, right from the beginning. I loved the fact that although Gabriel was a formidable warrior, he was not blood-thirsty. He respected life, but was more than willing to fight and kill for a worthy cause. Conversely, he went out of his way to save others. (Sigh break required) I liked the fact that Thalia could more than defend herself. I loved how things unfolded in the final confrontation in this book. Thalia didn't get shut out of the action, just because she was a woman. In fact, she plays an integral role in fighting the Heirs.

I think that Ms. Archer handled the multi-cultural aspects deftly. There is no preachiness here, but she addresses the imperialistic drives of the British Empire, using it as a backdrop in which there is a struggle between two groups who differ in their attitudes about how the British Empire will succeed. One group, The Heirs, wants to use the magical treasures of various cultures around the world to expand Britain's influence. The Blades of the Rose want to protect the cultural heirlooms and preserve the heritages of the various countries. I loved the fact that there were major players of various ethnicities in this story, and none stereotypically portrayed. I am already enamored of Catullus Graves, who is the intellectual giant of the Blades, constantly inventing nifty instruments to assist them in their endeavors. And the best part is he's black (and very British). I love to see the breaking of cultural stereotypes that portray people of color as intellecutally inferior (when the truth is that people of black heritage have been responsible for many scientific advancements in society although they typically remain unacknowledged for it). I remember talking to Ms. Archer on an Amazon forum about multicultural characters in urban fantasy. She posted about Catullus having a book of his own, and I put this series on my wish list right away, not just for that reason, but because I love historical adventure, especially with fantasy elements. She is my heroine!

The magic was very grand in this novel. There were some very novel elements, and I loved how the magic of the Sources was such an intrinsic, naturalistic force, tied to the people and their lands. It was beautiful. Ms. Archer has a great imagination, and she put it to very good use in this book.

I must say that the praise for this new series is well-earned. I had to think long and hard about what I was going to say in this review, because I hate being repetitive. I want my words to count here. A great book deserves a well-written review. It's the best tribute to an exceptional author and her work. I am a huge fan of Ms. Archer now, and I cannot wait to read more of her books. ...more

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Oct 18, 2010 Lynsey A marked it as did-not-finish

Shelves: paranormal-romance, historical-romance, library-book

Zoe Archer lovers don't hate me! I just couldn't get into this book and well, as I've said before I have plenty of other books I would rather read. Who knows, I may pick this up again sometime in the future but right now I just don't have the interest. ...more

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Oct 02, 2010 Sarah rated it really liked it

Shelves: traded, reviewed, romance-paranomal-fantasy

Gabriel Huntley, you may follow me across the desert any time you wish. Too bad you showed up at Thalia's door first.

This was one of the most fun romances I have read in a while. I absolutely love adventure in my romance so I was thrilled when I saw the description of this book, not to mention when I learned more in this series would be being published monthly.

Warrior introduces us to The Blades of the Rose right along with Captain Huntley, just retired from the British military and considering Gabriel Huntley, you may follow me across the desert any time you wish. Too bad you showed up at Thalia's door first.

This was one of the most fun romances I have read in a while. I absolutely love adventure in my romance so I was thrilled when I saw the description of this book, not to mention when I learned more in this series would be being published monthly.

Warrior introduces us to The Blades of the Rose right along with Captain Huntley, just retired from the British military and considering working in textiles and settling down with a proper English miss. To Huntley's relief he comes across a mission that will take him away from that dreary future and to the outreaches of Mongolia to meet a woman that, while English, has never graced a drawing room or strangeled her waist with a corset. Huntley, who never quite got the hang of talking to a woman with delicate sensibilities, is intrigued by Thalia from the start. And what soldier wouldn't be? Thalia kicks butt with the best of them, and can shoot even better. I liked her a lot and thought she was a perfect match for Gabriel. And that's just the romance. Can't forget about the setting. Mongolia and the Gobi desert, in a romance? You bet, and the author pulled it off so well. You can tell she really did her homework.

Okay, I've made it this far in the review without mentioning the cover. But I have to. Wowza, what a cover. Thank god the publishers didn't have some half-undressed couple pawing eachother on this one. Smart folks. Instead of hiding embarrassing images of naked, shaven man-chests and ladies with hair blowing everywhere and their dresses falling off I get to stare at Indiana Jones' long-lost cousin and I couldn't be happier. In fact I'm not sure how I read the story so fast when I kept flipping back to the cover image to do some staring...and adding adventurous theme music in my head (my husband would think I was crazy if I was humming Indiana Jones theme music out loud while gazing at a book cover).

I will definitely be reading more from this author. I love brainy men so I am especially looking forward to Catullus's story. ...more

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Jul 05, 2011 Ally rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: ebook, 2011, paranormal-romance

To most people, the realm of magic is the stuff of nursery rhymes and dusty libraries. But for Capt. Gabriel Huntley, it's become quite real and quite dangerous... The vicious attack Capt. Gabriel Huntley witnesses in a dark alley sparks a chain of events that will take him to the ends of the Earth and beyond—where what is real and what is imagined become terribly confused. And frankly, Huntley couldn't be more pleased. Intrigue, danger, and a beautiful woman in distress—just what he needs. Rais To most people, the realm of magic is the stuff of nursery rhymes and dusty libraries. But for Capt. Gabriel Huntley, it's become quite real and quite dangerous... The vicious attack Capt. Gabriel Huntley witnesses in a dark alley sparks a chain of events that will take him to the ends of the Earth and beyond—where what is real and what is imagined become terribly confused. And frankly, Huntley couldn't be more pleased. Intrigue, danger, and a beautiful woman in distress—just what he needs. Raised thousands of miles from England, Thalia Burgess is no typical Victorian lady. A good thing, because a proper lady would have no hope of recovering the priceless magical artifact Thalia is after. Huntley's assistance might come in handy, though she has to keep him in the dark. But this distractingly handsome soldier isn't easy to deceive.

As soon as Warrior cropped up as September’s group read for Dangerous Hero Addict Support Group on Goodreads I jumped at the chance to read it. I’d been interested in the series since Julie aka Yummy Men and Kick Ass Chicks had reviewed the series and wanted to give it a go, yet I knew The Blades of the Rose series was slightly out of my comfort zone as I’m not a huge fan of Historical Romance books. I find that a lot of Historical book’s are dedicated to the history of the time and tend to get a little boring however Warrior is meant to be a sort of blend of historical and paranormal that I thought it really would be worth a try. And I’m glad I did try it. Ms Archer comes up with a really interesting spin on the old world and I did enjoy the characters and the blend of the historical and paranormal, I think the correct term for the genre is steampunk? But I’m not 100%. And however much I enjoyed Gabriel and Thalia I did occasionally get a little bored with the background and want a bit more action and a little less history but that’s one of the reasons why I’m not a fan of Historical. It wasn’t anything against Ms Archer’s writing because quite frankly I really enjoyed her writing style and plan to try and find something else she’s written in a different genre than Historical Romance. I think if you are a fan of Historical Romance and fancy trying a Historical with a little twist to it I would recommend giving Warrior and this series a definite try.

Favourite Quotes:
“You aren’t taking another step on this journey of yours without me. Someone’s got to knit the socks.”

“If he wasn’t so battle-trained, he would have pissed himself for certain.”

Overall, it was interesting to read a different type of genre and book from my standard but sadly I don’t think I’ll be continuing with the series.
...more

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