#Review - Bright Raven Skies by Kristina Pérez #YALIT #Fantasy #Historical

Series: Sweet Black Waves # 3
Format: Hardcover, 464 pages
Release Date: August 25, 2020
Publisher: Imprint
Source: Library
Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy / Historical

Inspired by the legend of Tristan and Eseult, Bright Raven Skies is the third book in a lush fantasy series about warring countries, family secrets, and star-crossed lovers.

Branwen has given herself over to the darkest parts of her magic in order to protect her kingdom, but in doing so, she may have lost herself—and the two people she loves most.

Tristan and Eseult are missing. As Branwen searches for them, she must also hide the truth of her terrible actions from the night they disappeared.

But there are those who don’t want the Queen and her champion to be found; enemies who plot to bring a new reign into power and destroy the fragile peace Branwen has sacrificed everything to secure.

Bright Raven Skies is the thrilling conclusion to the lush and soaring romantic fantasy trilogy.

 

Bright Raven Skies is the third and final installment in author Kristina Pérez's Sweet Black Waves series. This is a story inspired by Tristan and Iseult but created in the author’s own unique way. It is a world is inspired by medieval Ireland (Iveriu), Cornwall (Kernyv) and Brittany (Armorica). It has been one year since Branwen saved Tristan's life after his ship was allegedly attacked by pirates. It has been 14 years since her parents were murdered by Tristan's people who had been invading and stealing people away. But now all she wants is peace between Iveriu and Kernyv.

To that extent, Branwen has done some not so good things in hopes of bringing the countries to peace. One of those things still hangs over her head every time she is anywhere near Tristan and her cousin, True Queen Eseult. Following the attack by Armorican's, led by Princess/Captain Eseult on Kernyv Castle, Branwen used primordial magic to turn back the tide of defeat by asking for help from the Old One Dhusnos. As the story picks up, Branwen is struggling to come to terms with what happened, and Dhusnos' looming deadline that she must sacrifice someone to him before a year is out for the aid he provided her or someone she loves will die. To make matters worse, Eseult, and Tristan, are missing, presumed abducted, or even dead. But Branwen believes they ran away to be together. So do others.

A note to the reader: this book is broken into (3) parts. The first part is Branwen's struggle to find Eseult and Tristan, understand her magic which instead of healing, now kills, and trying hard not to get herself killed in the process for not revealing what she knew about the escapades of the couple. This brings her in direct conflict with Ruan who has become her lover in lieu of what might have been with Tristan had she not messed up big time. One of the more interesting twists is that the King of Armorica wants a 3-way alliance between his country, Kernyv and Iveriu. This means that Tristan and Princess Alba must marry.

The second part of this book is mostly political. Branwen must wade through difficulties that compound each other time and time again. Branwen and Eseult seem to find more common ground than being mad at each other for something that Branwen did before arriving in Kernyv. Branwen is struggles with her magic, while Eseult seems to have found a calling, and is turning out to be a decent Queen for the people. The second part also consists of a war on the pirates, some revealing twists and betrayals, and a shocking.

The third part is probably the best of the book. Branwen travels to Armorica after receiving word of a confrontation between her former lovers Ruan and Tristan. What unfolds broke my heart! But it was also a kind of perfect ending for a pair of characters, while Branwen finally understands her own calling without having to darken her soul any further. After reading the letter her Aunt sent to her, Branwen begins to understand that she must make herself happy before she can move forward. 

 

"Life’s most closely guarded secret, my darling niece—my darling daughter—is that we fail more than we succeed. We must learn to love ourselves, and each other, in our failures."

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#Review - Wild Savage Stars by Kristina Pérez #Historical #Fantasy

Series: Sweet Black Waves (#2)
Format: E-Galley, 448 pages
Release Date: August 27, 2019
Publisher: Imprint
Source: Publisher
Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy / Historical

Inspired by the legend of Tristan and Iseult, Wild Savage Stars is the second book in a lush fantasy series about warring countries, family secrets, and star-crossed lovers.

When Branwen used magic to save her country's future, she never expected to destroy her dreams for her own.

Now, the love she and Tristan built is destroyed and her relationship with her cousin Essy is shattered. But Branwen does not have time to dwell on her heartbreak. Essy’s betrothed, the king of a rival nation, must never discover Tristan and Essy’s affair, or it could mean war.

Branwen goes to desperate lengths to stop the king from discovering the truth, but the price may be even more terrible than she could have imagined.

Can Branwen master her magic before it becomes her own undoing?

Wild Savage Stars is the second installment in author Kristina Perez's Sweet Black Waves trilogy. Sweet Black Waves is a retelling of the star-crossed tale of Tristan and Iseult, from the perspective of Branwen. The story is a tragedy about the adulterous love between the Cornish knight Tristan and the Irish princess Iseult who either on purpose or by mistake, drank a love potion. Wild Savage Stars begins shortly after the events of Sweet Black Waves.  

Branwen, Tristan and Eseult have landed on the Island of Albion (Kingdom of Kernyv) with trouble on the horizon. Essy is less than thrilled to meet her future husband, especially after what happened on the ship over. Tristan is heartbroken that he would do what he did to Branwen, and Branwen is livid at both of them and is blaming herself for putting others in the path of treason. Although Eseult marries Mark, she and Tristan are forced by the potion to seek one another, as lovers over and over again.

I realize that this series is based on Tristan and Iseult, but I really want a happy ending for Branwen. Branwen deserves more than what she's gotten from this world and from both Tristan and Eseult. Yes, yes, let's put the world on her shoulders because she wanted to cease the cycle of war between her country and Kernyv. Yes, she did use some magic in order to ensure that her beloved cousin would fall in love with King Marc. But, she's not responsible for Essy stealing something that didn't belong to her, or her and Tristan's shenanigans. 

Her desperation and pain was tangible throughout the book and I was rooting for her so hard to find a solution and her own love if possible. The connection between Branwen and Marc, as well as Prince Ruan who really isn't a bad character at all, was pretty good. Ruan isn't the perfect beau, but I liked him much more than Tristan who was broody, whiny, and frustrating always finding himself trying to make up for his mistakes and his desires for Essy.  

Marc is trying to do the impossible. Marc, like Branwen, wants peace and no more pirates stealing people from Branwen's country. He has his own crosses to carry for his own actions as part of the invasion force. Branwen also has to stop fearing her own magic and learn how to deal with it if she wants to keep her new country from war, or for her to lose control and hurt the wrong people.

For the of preventing spoilers, I will only say this: Essy and Tristan continuously made stupid decisions throughout the novel that very easily could have comprised their nations. If not for Branwen fixing messes over and over again, so much more pain and suffering would have happened. There's a point in the book where I finally gave up on any hope of Essy's self-absorption, and Tristan's puppy dog behavior. I wanted Branwen to end them both, but then there wouldn't be another book. 

There is a pivotal moment in the book that I almost stood up and cheered. Branwen finally decides to put herself ahead of everyone else. She's tired of cleaning up Tristan & Essy's messes which will lead them all to being hanged for treason when/if discovered. But, that cliffhanger ending tore me apart. If you hate cliffhanger endings, might I suggest reading all three books once the final one is released?

 

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Sweet Black Waves by Kristina Pérez #ARC #Review #YALIT #Historical

Series: The Sweet Black Waves Trilogy
Format: E-Galley, 448 pages
Release Date: June 5, 2018
Publisher: Imprint
Source: Publisher
Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy / Historical 

For fans of Graceling and The Mists of Avalon, this lush fantasy about warring countries and forbidden romance will have readers entranced.

As best friend and lady-in-waiting to the princess, Branwen is guided by two principles: devotion to her homeland and hatred for the raiders who killed her parents. When she unknowingly saves the life of her enemy, he awakens her ancient healing magic and opens her heart. Branwen begins to dream of peace, but the princess she serves is not so easily convinced. Fighting for what's right, even as her powers grow, will set Branwen against her best friend and the only man she's ever loved.

Kristina Pérez's debut features star-crossed lovers who changed the fate two nations. Inspired by the legend of Tristan and Iseult, this is the story of the legend’s true heroine: Branwen.

Sweet Black Waves is the debut novel from author Kristina Pérez. While this trilogy is a retelling of Tristan and Isolde, it is 19-year old Branwen Cualand of Laiginzir that is the series protagonist. Branwen is a character who puts everyone's happiness ahead of her own. That includes her cousin Princess Eseult of Iveriu, daughter of King Oengus and Queen Eseult, who is beyond spoiled unlike her mother. The Queen is renowned for her skills with herbs and healing which she has passed onto Branwen. Branwen's world was rocked to the core when her parents, the Lord and Lady of Castle Bodwa, were murdered by ravaging pirates when she was a child. They continue to invade Iveriu relentlessly killing indiscriminately and leaving families shattered. 

By the way, when I say Iveriu, I actually mean Ireland. When I say Kernyv, I really mean Cornwall. While Branwen manages to do things for everyone except herself, she makes a number of questionable choices. Choices that will leave no doubt that her main motivation is to protect the people she loves as well as bring peace to Iveriu. But, when a strange man (who just happens to be Prince Tristan, heir to the protectorate of Liones) washes up on the shore badly hurt, she makes the choice to save his life in secret. This one moment in time is just the beginning of Branwen's becoming more than just the niece of the King and Queen, and the lady's maid to her cousin Essy. Branwen explores her hidden magical abilities as well as giving her the opportunity to expand on her desire to protect her home by aligning herself with a man who should be her enemy. 

Tristan has similar goals in mind; peace between Iveriu and Kernyv. He chooses to participate in a champions tournament for the right to marry Eseult and unite the countries in a long desired peace. Meanwhile, Branwen is inching closer to making a life changing choice in order to give her cousin the love and happiness she desires. The fact that much of the story seesaws back and forth between Tristan and Branwen's feelings for the other, and Essy's desire to be her own woman, throws things into disarray when you get to the ending.

I am basing my review on the shocking and soul shattering ending that just was mean spirited. Yes, I do know and have read the story about Tristan and Isolde.Tristan and Isolde weren't that far behind Gweniever, Arthur and Lancelot for the most twisted love story in history. I even watched a really awful remake not too long ago. However, I'm not quite sure what the point was of having the so called heroine of the story, Branwen, be involved if the author was going to stick close to the original tale. My favorite part of this story is the relationship between Branwen and Queen Eseult. There is so much to gather from their conversations about magic, and the old ones, and Branwen becoming much more than just a role player in a romance that has been retold numerous times over the ages.  

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