Wednesday, September 7, 2022

#Review - Honor by N. M. Zoltack #Fantasy

Series: Battle Among Crowns # 2
Format: E-Book, 278 pages
Release Date: July 30, 2022
Publisher: N.M. Zoltack
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Genre: Epic Fantasy

Kaviel has fallen into enemy hands, and Queen Frida has no choice but to flee to one of her few remaining allies.

But her thoughts are not honorable. Not at all. She has lost far too much and no longer has anything else to lose.

Even if she has to turn her back to everything she has ever known and believed, she will do whatever it takes to reclaim her crown.

Even if she has to forsake the Sacred Mother for that of the other gods.

Even if she risks her life and her soul to access a magic that is forbidden.

Frida will not fail the battle among crowns. She can’t afford to.

Failing equals death.



Honor is the second installment in author N.M Zoltack's Battle Among Crowns series. This story definitely has the feeling of being a knock-off of the Games of Thrones. In this world, Queen Frida was the queen of Kaviel after her father died. Everyone thought she was weak and vulnerable after her coronation. She was threatened numerous times by those like King Marco of Tarragon who has united the berserkers under his rule. 

Shockingly, it was not Marco and his berserkers that Frida lost Kaviel to. It was the combined efforts of humans, elves, and dragons under Queen Eliana and Queen Britta that led to Frida and her people fleeing the country. Only King Rodin of Neapolis and his barbarians have not gone to war against Frida or any other Kingdom. He has his own goals and truly believes that the Gods will stand with him once he does go to war. 

The one thing that Frida did right, was invade and kill King Sigurd of Narva thus making her the Queen of Narva. Although Frida knows that nothing is settled, and there's no time for celebrations. Narva is a kingdom that is filled with shapeshifters. Shapeshifters who believe in the Devine which gives them elemental magic, telekinesis, and ability to fly. Frida's goals are not just to survive and gain allies, but to use whatever abilities she seems to have when she uses her elemental blade which was made with black magic. 

Black magic that demands sacrifices and blood. Once upon a time in this world, there were witches, like elves, who possessed magic. They did not believe in the Sacred mother and later were slaughter by the shapeshifters. There were druids in this world once. There are allegedly only two remaining. There were fairies once. They disappeared and nobody knows if they are still alive or not. One person, no spoilers, knows exactly where they are. He also knows the location of the man who created Frida's blade and likely killed her mother. 

This story doesn't just focus on Frida. There are chapters that alternate between Marco, Eliana, Britta, and Rodin. Frida also gets an education from the Giants who are isolated and have no reason to go to war with anyone. Honestly, this was more or less information dump since Frida gets a earful as to who the Giants pray to. I am also eager to see how this series plays out now that Frida has some curious avenues to travel from here on out.  




No comments:

Post a Comment