Favorites From... LJ McDonald

L.J. McDonald

The other day, Jen asked me if I’d be interested in writing a 500 word blog recommending either a book or series of books and why. Sure I was interested. Nobody’s asked me to write a blog about that before.

Coming up with one thing to recommend was the hard part. I like a whole lot of books and a whole lot of authors. This isn’t a long piece however, and in a nod to the fact that Red Hot Books is a romance blog and if you’re reading this you’re likely a romance reader, I decided that I’d go for a book which is in my beloved field of fantasy, but that also has romance in it.

My favourite series when it comes to fantasy with romance is Jacqueline Carey’s Kushiel series. The three books in the first series (there are more) are KUSHIEL’S DART, KUSHIEL’S CHOSEN, and KUSHIEL’S AVATAR. These books are set in a fantasy world that is geographically a mirror image of ours with the story starting in Carey’s remade version of France. There the similarities don’t quite end, but they do become very subtle (to someone as bad at geography as me) in the face of the way she remakes the world and its peoples. There is magic in this land and there are gods, and they influence everything.

Phèdre nó Delaunay is a girl sold into indentured servitude in the land of Terre d’Ange, where sexuality is sacred and what is taboo in other places is celebrated instead as a gift to the gods. Phèdre is unique because she is an anguisette, and the scarlet mote in her eye marks her as the chosen of Kushiel, the harshest of the gods.

I love this series because of the richness of the writing and the honesty of the characters. The author’s voice is very different from mine and the books are very deep. These aren’t quick reads but they’re worth it. They get into the concepts of sacrifice and courage and the pure concept of love truly overcoming all.

This isn’t a romance in the traditional sense. There is a love story in it and a man who Phèdre loves and is loved by very deeply but, well, give up on that whole concept of monogamy. In Terra d’Ange, the gods are honoured with sex and Phèdre is devoted to the service of Naamah, servicing clients in her name. I didn’t have a problem with that concept. Carey pulled it off beautifully.

There’s more to the books than this, of course. There’s betrayal and adventure and treason and war. Love and death and failure and success. There are gods to serve and gods to fight and both men and women to love and free. It absorbs you. It takes hold of you and keeps you entranced and fascinated as Phèdre faces more in the service of her goddess than anyone else in her world could ever survive. I mean that quite literally in a few spots. Phèdre is unique, but at the same time she’s never unbelievable.

If you want a light and fluffy read, this isn’t likely the series for you, but if you want serious depth with a healthy dose of sex, then the Kushiel series might just be right up your alley. Speaking as a writer, I give it the highest compliment that I personally can give.

I wish I’d thought of it first.

Thank you to LJ McDonald for sharing her recommendations today. I asked LJ to participate in this feature because I really enjoy her Sylph books. I don't read a lot of fantasy but there is just something about these books that grips me.  The most recent book, Queen of the Sylphs, really put me through the wringer.  Click here to learn more about the Sylph series.

In the meantime, here's your chance to try out one of LJ's recommendations. Just fill out the Rafflecopter form below to enter to win Kushiel's Dart. US/CAN only please. 

Be sure to check out all of the Favorites From My Favorites posts and giveaways this month, by clicking here.
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Review: Queen of the Sylphs

Wow.  This book had me on the edge of my seat from the very beginning to the very last page. It is somewhat of a departure from the previous installments in the series. Each of the first two books focused on the love story of an individual couple with the backdrop of the rich complicated world the author has created. But not this book. This book features all of the characters we already know and have come to care for, without a central love story. It feels a little different, but I still loved it.

The beginning of the story slightly overlaps with the end of The Shattered Sylph. Leon, Ril and Lizzie have not yet returned to Sylph Valley. The sweet, but slightly dim couple that Leon and Ril rescued early in the last book, are now settling in. Gabralina is so happy that she writes to her old friend Sala to share her happy news about falling in love with Wat and finding a new home. Sala appears in the valley shortly after, ready to share in Gabralina's new life.

Leon, Ril, and Lizzie return with an angry Justin in tow. And it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that there is going to be serious trouble from that guy. Especially since he has the power to control Ril and he is still in love with Lizzie. While we wait for that shoe to drop, it's really Sala who reveals herself to be the villain. And what a villain she is. Sociopath is too kind of a word. She orchestrates deaths, rape, and misery, all for her own selfish gain. Watching the destruction of poor Claw is heartbreaking. Gabralina's eventual devastation actually made me cry. Sala isn't traditionally malicious; she is a pit of evil... a soulless void. And in that, she is frightening and gruesome.

The story doesn't only center on the mayhem surrounding Sala. We see the continuing repercussions from the events in the last book, with the rise of a new queen and her new hive. We see Solie and Heyou grow as a couple and deal with their inability to have children. We lose some people we've grown to love and we gain new characters who will no doubt become beloved as well.

This book took my emotions on a roller coaster ride and I honestly had no idea what would happen. Which was awesome. The world building is fascinating and consistent. The characters are many, but are clearly defined and emotionally resonant. The story builds beautifully on the previous installments, making it a treasure for fans of the series. But I don't know how clear it would all be to a newcomer to the books. I suggest checking the series out from the beginning. It's worth it. I can't wait to see what happens next. 5 stars.

*ARC Provided by NetGalley

Queen of the Sylphs

by LJ McDonald

Release Date: September 15, 2011

Publisher: Dorchester Publishing

Review: A Midwinter Fantasy

A Midwinter Fantasy is a mixed bag of short stories from the fantasy romance genre with a Christmas theme. Here's a look at the novellas included:

"A Christmas Carroll" - This story serves as wrap-up for the Percy Parker series by Leanna Renee Hieber. And I understand fans of the series loved it.  Speaking as someone who has never read these books, the story wasn't so great.  Obviously the world-building in this series is pretty complicated and while the bare bones are laid out here, it was painfully apparent how much I had missed. 

Basically, the novella is set up in the framework of the Dickens story of the same name.  But here, the spirits are trying to teach the heartbroken Rebecca that she has had true love at her fingertips for 20 years. In a series of flashbacks, she learns how much Michael has always loved her and that all she needs to do is reach out to him to find happiness.  This is all set up in the context of a world of ghosts and a secret Guardian society set in Victorian London.  The story was ok. But I had the unmistakable feeling I was reading the last chapter of an unfamiliar book. 

"The Worth of a Sylph" - This was the story I read the anthology for --as I am a big fan of LJ McDonald's Sylph series. I was a little confused when I first heard that this was a love story for Mace. After all, he bonded with Lily back in The Battle Sylph.  But a whopping 19 years have now passed since the events of that book.  And Lily is an old woman. She knows that she doesn't have much time left, so she encourages Mace to find a new master... a woman he can love.

Meanwhile, Jayden, one of Lily's orphan children has run away and she asks Mace to find him. On his journey, he reconnects with Sally, a woman who he shared a tumble with in the first book.  They instantly reconnect and it's quickly apparent that she will be the woman who has his heart.  The people in her village have ostracized her for her affair with Mace and their cruelty extended to her son... who seems to be traveling with the bandits who have Jayden. Now Mace is on a mission to save both boys, while he hopes for a future with the woman who could finally be his soul mate.

Be aware that this story is a peek into the future.  The series jumps back 13 years for the next full length book, Queen of the Sylphs. 

"The Crystal Crib" - Sonja has traveled to Iceland to broker a business deal for her aunt. But when she arrives in Vidar's office, instead of her aunt, he is shocked to see her.  It turns out that Vidar has been the guardian angel tied to Sonja's soul her whole life. He saved her life as a baby and has been linked to her ever since.  But with her return to Iceland, she is drawn back in the feud between her father and Vidar's.  At first she seems to be just a pawn, but it's slowly revealed that she is much more.

The connection between Sonja and Vidar is sweet and sexy.  The story is set on the backdrop of Norse mythology, which is fun and a little off the beaten path.  Nothing too deep, but entertaining.

As a fan of the Sylph series, obviously the McDonald selection was my favorite. Taylor's wasn't bad.  But I think Hieber's story may be a miss for readers unfamiliar with the previous books.  Almost 4 stars.

*ARC Provided by NetGalley

A Midwinter Fantasy

by Leanna Hieber, LJ McDonald, Helen Scott Taylor

Release Date: November 23, 2010 

Publisher: Dorchester Publishing

Review: The Shattered Sylph

The more I read of this series, the more I like it. 

Six years have passed since the events of The Battle Sylph, but the transition feels seamless.  Solie is still queen of what is now known as Sylph Valley.  Heyou (**cringe**) is still at her side. Lizzie, Leon's daughter, is now 18 years-old. She is still in love with Ril, her father's battle sylph. But he closed himself off to her emotionally after he was injured at the end of the last book. And she believes he has no feelings for her beyond friendship.

Of course, she's wrong. Completely, utterly, wonderfully wrong. When Lizzie is kidnapped by slavers, Ril joins her father and Justin (a young suitor of hers) on a mission to find her. Ril is the only one who can track her, because years ago, he imprinted himself on her in secret. He made her his master out of his love for her.

The slavers put Lizzie in a harem for battle sylphs who need an outlet. But when none of them wants her, she discovers that it is because they see her as mated to Ril. And when the two of them are reunited, it's just spectacular.

The world-building in this series is just enthralling. The sex and sexual tension are awesome, but the book is also wonderfully romantic. There is plenty of action, great secondary characters, and impressive continuity. Ril is a fantastic tortured hero... and I have such a weak spot for those (especially when they're done right.) My only niggling complaints are the same ones I had for the last book... dumb names for the sylphs and the youth of the heroines. Even aging Lizzie six years, leaves her only at 18. These are not YA books... would it kill the author to make the girls 20 or 21?

Again, these complaints are small ones. I really, really enjoyed this book --and I love this series. Almost 5 stars.

The Shattered Sylph

by LJ McDonald

Release Date: March 30, 2010 

Publisher: Leisure Books

Review: The Battle Sylph

Imagine a world filled with elemental beings, subjugated to human masters. These beings are called sylphs. Each female sylph has a special gift: power over healing, water, air, fire or water. The males are warriors... battle sylphs. Humans can open a portal to the sylph world and if the sylph sees someone worthy of being a master, they'll cross over. But the battle sylphs are being tricked. They see lovely young women in the portal... but when each battler crosses over, the humans kill the female lure and force the battle sylph into the service of a man.

The king's men planned that very scenario to lure a battler for the prince. But the young woman they kidnapped for the sacrifice was more resourceful than they expected. Solie turns the tables and manages to claim the sylph for her own. And instead of subservience through a bond of hatred... her sylph worships her... wants nothing more than to please her.

They make their way out of the kingdom and band with others wishing to live in a new way. In this makeshift community, the sylphs are tied to humans, but they are otherwise free. The many constraints of the kingdom don't exist. And as Solie and her battler grow closer, it creates lasting repercussions not only for them, but for all the sylphs around them.

The author has constructed a rich and complicated fantasy world. But I didn't have any trouble following it. And the more I read, the more I liked it. The secondary characters were every bit as interesting and engaging as the leads, maybe more so... and there were no points that I felt bored or anxious to get back to another POV.

I had only two complaints about the entire thing.  Primarily, I wish Solie were older. She's only 17 and while it's very common for 17 year-olds to be sexually active, it was hard for me to think of her as a woman or a romantic lead. This is even more true with Lizzie --a side character who is even younger and clearly the intended love interest for the next book. (I pray there is a serious time jump.) --The second minor complaint... the battler's name. I never could get past her calling him "Heyou." I get it, but it annoyed me.

Please know that both these peeves amounted to very little in the grand scheme of things. I liked the book a lot --and I'm off to read The Shattered Sylph to see what happens next. 4 1/2 stars.

*ARC Provided by NetGalley

The Battle Sylph

by LJ McDonald

Release Date: March 28, 2010

Publisher: Leisure Books 

Series Reading Order: Sylph

This is the reading order for the Sylph series by LJ McDonald:

• The Battle Sylph
• The Shattered Sylph
• *The Worth of a Sylph (A Midwinter Fantasy)
• Queen of the Sylphs
• Alphabet Soup for Sylphs (Free on Smashwords)

*Denotes short short/novella. Takes place years after Queen of the Sylphs.