#Review - Within Ash and Stardust by Chani Lynn Feener #YALIT #Romance

Series: The Xenith Trilogy (#3)
Format: Hardcover, 336 pages
Release Date: July 16, 2019
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Source: Publisher
Genre: Young Adult / SyFy / Romance

Having gone from kidnapped faux princess to the legitimate heir to an intergalactic throne, an impulsive, sarcastic teen must take charge of her own destiny in this epic YA novel, the conclusion to the Xenith Trilogy.

On Earth, Delaney is a normal teenager who recently graduated high school with a fantastic best friend and a loving boyfriend.

But Delaney isn’t on Earth. She’s on Xenith, a war-torn planet half a galaxy away. Originally mistaken for an alien princess, Delaney has gone from kidnapped imposter to the recognized heir to an alien throne. Oh, and she’s engaged to the prince of an enemy nation whose ruthless father is on the warpath.

Torn between two planets, two fates, and two loves, Delaney is finally ready to choose her own destiny in this stunningly epic conclusion to Chani Feener’s Xenith Trilogy.

 

Within Ash and Stardust is the third and final installment in author Chani Lynn Feener's The Xenith Trilogy. This story begins right where Between Frost and Fury ended on a cliffhanger. Delaney Grace has survived several attempts at killing her, now she must choose her fate as well as save Earth from being destroyed. Even though she is supposed to be heir to the Basilissa (Uprisen Heir), she has two men in her life that has split her attention. 

Ander Ruckus is the man who made a mistake and brought her to Xenith thinking she was someone else. Zane Trystan Wux is man who ended up being more than just his father's heir, and someone who has fallen for Delaney. Ander, who fell in love with Delaney in the first book, wants to grab Delaney and bring her back to Earth where she will be out of reach of the Rex, and Trystan. Trystan finds that he will do almost anything to keep Delaney and Earth safe from his father who has much more dangerous goals ahead if he is allowed to get his way.

This book actually explores more of the world this story is set in. In fact, readers will finally get a look at the capital of Vakar, Varasow, and all that it has to offer. I think there was more to explore between Ruckus and Sanzie. There is a story there that could be picked up and explored. Readers will also get a deeper look in the machinations of Rex and what his real plans are for Kint and Vakar. And, even though there is a tentative peace treaty, people are still on edge waiting for the other shoe to drop. Can Delaney, Ruckus, and Trystan put aside their issues and ensure that both worlds are safe?

What held me back in my rating was the twisted love triangle. As someone who has been reviewing for 10 years now, it is one of my weaknesses. I had to hold my rating because there was a whole lot of jealously and little fights that could have been put aside to focus on plans to defeat the Rex, save Xenith, as well as Earth from destruction. I am also not a fan of the final choice, and nope, I won't spoil it for you. I will say that I kind of sort of understand it, but then again, I kind of sort of don't understand why it had to be this choice.  I do believe the author did a pretty good job with Delaney. She went from a sarcastic high school graduate with parental issues and a chip on her shoulder, to someone who makes really hard choices. 

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#Review - Between Frost and Fury by Chani Lynn Feener #YALit #SyFy #Romance

Series: The Xenith Trilogy (#2)
Format: Hardcover, 368 pages
Release Date: July 24, 2018
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Source: Publisher
Genre: Young Adult / SyFy / Romance

Snarky, sarcastic, and definitely not happy about being back in space, our faux princess returns in this YA sequel to Amid Stars and Darkness.
Delaney has been kidnapped by aliens. Again. After only a month back on Earth with her hot new alien boyfriend Ruckus, the deadly and devastatingly handsome prince Trystan has dragged her right back to his planet.

While some girls may dream of winning a prince’s heart, Delaney just wishes this one would leave her alone. Instead, she finds herself at the center of both a tense political battle between two alien kingdoms and Trystan’s romantic attentions, both of which are absolutely ruining the life she’s built on Earth. Not to mention the fact that she’s about to be crowned queen of a planet she’s barely even visited. Just another day in the life of an ordinary human girl.

Readers won’t want to miss Between Frost and Fury, the compelling, fast-paced sequel to Chani Lynn Feener’s Amid Stars and Darkness.

 

Between Frost and Fury, by author Chani Lynn Feener, is the second installment in the authors The Xenith Trilogy. It is pretty much imperative that you read the first installment, Amid Stars and Darkness, in order to understand the characters, and the world that our protagonist Delaney, has been dragged into and can't seem to escape. For the second time in her life, and after only a month of being home from her previous excursion off planet, Delaney has been kidnapped, and taken away from Earth.

This time it is Prince Trystan who does the kidnapping. This time, it is for high stakes political maneuvers that could end up with her dead if she fails and Earth conquered by a brutal dictator. All Delaney wants is a normal life and to be with her new boyfriend Ruckus and not worry about intergalactic politics, and the threat of constant war. She doesn't want to have to impersonate Princess Olena any more like she did in the first installment. But, fate, and Trystan have other ideas.

Ideas that include Delaney being herself. Her true self with her red hair and her very human characteristics, not as Olena. Ideas that include Delaney marrying Trystan and becoming the heir apparent to the Vakar crown. Trystan demands that Delaney accept her role as Lissa Delaney representing the Vakar & Earth, especially since she voluntarily took an oath in the first installment. Delaney finds herself in the odd position of being able to protect Vakar and Earth because she’s technically a representative of both.

As Delaney's spouse to be, Trystan would be honor-bound to protect the home(s) of his spouse thus keeping his father from invading and conquering Earth. After Ruckus fails to rescue Delaney, and ends up in a prison cell instead, Delaney is forced to go through the betrothal protocol for her new planet. She thinks she has made a deal with Trystan that will allow her to do enough to satisfy his father but ultimately be allowed to return home. Only Trystan's father - the Rex - has his own plans and Delaney's happiness doesn't matter to him at all. 

Rex appears to be several steps ahead of Trystan, and even knows things that he shouldn't have access to. Rex, my dear readers, is a real bastard and a villain who needs to be taken down by any means necessary. But, I have to say he makes a marvelous villain.  The thing that stuck out to me the most was Trystan's solid character growth in this story. By the end of the book, he didn't have me wanting to choke him to death for the way he treated Delaney. I dare say that I wanted to see Trystan and Delaney in a better place than she was with Ruckus.

My rating is based on the fact that Delaney and Trystan spend the whole book together and there are only minor glimpses of Ruckus, and that's only when she gets a visit with him. Throughout the book, Delaney and Trystan have to go through things like facing a bonding coordinator who needs to find out if there is any compatibility between the two, or having Delaney realize that she did, in fact, take the Uprising oath and there's no getting away from her new responsibilities as the presumed new ruler of Vakar. While Delaney and Trystan are spending time together, Delaney frets over Ruckus and her own personal freedoms. Is it any wonder that I found the ending the absolute best in the entire story? There was so much emotion, and pain, and Delaney making a choice that will definitely have lasting impact on what happens in the final chapter.    

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#Review - Amid Stars and Darkness by Chani Lynn Feener @TempestChani #YALit #SyFy @SwoonReads

Series: The Xenith Trilogy # 1
Format: Hardcover, 368 pages
Release Date: July 18, 2017
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Source: Library
Genre: YA / Science Fiction / Romance

A high-stakes space opera that combines science fiction and romance, this debut novel features plenty of action and a heroine whose unique brand of humor and tenacity make her easy to root for.

Delaney’s entire world is thrown into chaos after she is mistaken for Lissa Olena, an alien princess hiding out on earth in order to escape an arranged marriage. Kidnapped by the princess’ head bodyguard, Ruckus, and imprisoned in an alien palace, Delaney is forced to impersonate the princess until Olena can be found. If she fails, it will lead to an alien war and the eventual enslavement of the entire human race.

No pressure or anything.

Factor in Trystan―the princess’ terrifying betrothed who is intent on unraveling all her secrets―and her own growing feelings for Ruckus, and Delaney is in way over her head.

Chosen by readers like you for Macmillan's young adult imprint Swoon Reads, Chani Lynn Feener’s debut novel Amid Stars and Darkness is a thrilling space adventure complete with perfectly detailed alien planets and a super sexy secret romance.

Chani Lynn Feener's Amid Stars and Darkness is the first installment in the authors The Xenith Trilogy. Hello universe! My name is Delaney Grace, and I'm a recent High School Graduate now sharing an apartment with my best friend Mariana. During a night out for a bit of fun, & dancing, I was taken away by an alien named Ander Ruckus and ended up in a life or death adventure on Xenith. Aliens? Are you high? Oh wait! I forgot that part. Sorry! You see, 3 years ago, aliens visiting and living on Earth revealed themselves to the humans. 

There are two kingdoms on the planet Xenith. The Vakars and the Kints. Think of the Amish when thinking about the Aliens on Earth. Why, you ask? Because Aliens have their very own Rumspringa (Denzeration). It's a period in every Vakar's life when they come of age and are allowed to explore Earth. To get to know the planet, the primitive lie-forms, and decide if they'd like to say as an analyst, or return home to Xenith. For one particular Vacar, Princess Olena Lissa, she has been on her Denzeration for 5 years, and it was supposed to be her time to go home. But, she had other ideas.

Guess what? The dirty little minx did something to me that made me look exactly like her. In fact, when Ruckus appears, he actually thought I, of all people, I, who had no inclination or love for aliens unlike my best friend Mariana, was actually Olena!! How rude! Oh, you think that's cool do you? Do you think being kidnapped and taken to another planet is cool? Do you think having to pretend to be a Princess from another Planet is cool when everyone, and I mean, everyone hates her? Do you think it's cool that I have to pretend to be Olena so that war doesn't break out, or Olena's betrothed, Trystan Zane, doesn't go mad? Do you think it's cool that the Tars have repeatedly tried to kill me? Well, I am telling you that is exactly what happened and you can't get me to change my story!

For those who have made it to this point, I adore you all. Thank you for sticking with me. I thought I would have a bit of fun with this review because I loved this story so very much. If you are a fan of Melissa Landers' Alienated, you will love this story as well. I absolutely loved Delaney. She doesn't go quietly with Ruckus, she fights back. She's the anti-Olena. She's not spoiled, or childish, or arrogant. Instead, she's quick witted, strong willed, likable, and she knows that she is in a terrible position of having to avoid making an enemy out of Trystan for fear of setting of a war between alien races. 

Ruckus won me over early in the story despite his huge mistake of taking Delaney, and despite having to be careful not to let anyone know about their growing feelings towards each other. I loved their connection. On the other hand, I found myself struggling with Trystan. He's overpowering one moment, and likable the next. He seems to want to kill Delaney one minute, and ends up saving her life the next. I mean, then again, he finds this new Olena some much more appealing that the old version who was on Earth for 5 years. The ending of this book took my breath away, and I don't normally like cliffhangers. In fact, I loathe them. This cliffy is so brilliant and heart breaking at the same time. GIVE ME THE NEXT BOOK! 

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