Thursday, April 18, 2013

Astarte's Wrath (Kythan Guardian #0.5) by Trisha Wolfe ~ Review & Giveaway

Available for $.99 for a limited time! 

Source:  Received eARC from author in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Book Description:

A tragic love story.

Two thousand years before Dez Harkly developed her secret powers, Guardian Astarte was vowed to protect by the binds enslaving her to the Egyptian pharaohs. Discover the prophecy that originated from a very different time, and spans generations to link two very different girls.

This is the beginning.

Set against the backdrop of the Battle of Actium, in the city of Alexandria, Star struggles with her guardian duties as her feelings for the newly named pharaoh of Egypt grow deeper. Not only is Caesarion her duty, he’s the son of Cleopatra, and he’s human. All of which makes their love forbidden.

But when a conspiracy linked to Caesar creeps into Alexandria, Star must choose between helping her fellow Kythan free themselves of their servitude, and protecting her charge—the last pharaoh—while Egypt burns around her.

New Adult/Mature YA: sexual content, drinking, drugs, violence, language, death, and other mature content intended for readers 17 and older. Astarte's Wrath is a companion novel to Destiny's Fire, but can be read as a standalone novel.


My Thoughts:

 

4 stars - A beautiful and tragic love story that I found enchanting.

I loved Destiny's Fire.   It's fresh story is a welcome change from the common reads lately.  It's so fabulous to see the back story with Astarte's Wrath.  I loved the rich history and full characters in Star's story.

Star is strong, loyal and determined to save the man she loves.  Her spunk is years ahead of her time and I loved her for it.  She can fight.  She can strategist.  She can out think.  And she stands with pose and wrath as her story is told.  The man she loves, the last pharaoh is human.  Their relationship is forbidden.  But forbidding it doesn't stop the feelings.  I so love Xarion.  He's strong and those Star is his protector, he chooses to protect her.  He demonstrates the best kind of love and he truly is a king.

The story is richly woven amongst the true story of Cleopatra and the fall of Alexandria.  I love how the magic enriches this story, melting it into a fabulous tale.  

Sweet passion and fierce battle keep the pages flying past.  I didn't want to put it down and only my incredible schedule forced me to.

While I knew this story was tragic, I so loved the ending.  It was perfect.  I cannot even hint at it but I totally loved it.  Reading this book has awakened the desire to reread Destiny's Fire and to hope that book two is planned for soon.

If you've enjoyed Destiny's Fire, then this is a must read.  If you haven't started this awesome series, then start here.




Sneak Peek: Bath Scene from Xarion’s POV

Star narrows her eyes at me, her full, bottom lip puckering out the way it does when she’s in serious thought—and though I’m listening to her words, all I want to do is trap that bottom lip between my teeth. Nip it and caress it with my tongue.
    “I knew you’d say that,” she says. “And that is precisely why I didn’t want you to know.” She raises her hand from my chest and swipes the wet hair from my forehead. Her body subtly moves against me with this action, and it drives me wild. “A possible retaliation by the guardians is just one more weighted burden on top of the many you already carry. You don’t need the added strain. Let me deal with Candra and the Kythan. They’re my kindred. As long as I’m their equal—in both power and status—I can protect you.”
    This woman—the woman I’ve loved my entire life—is my protector. She not only guards against physical threats, but watches over my mental wellbeing. But I cannot allow her to carry all my problems alone anymore. I want to be her guardian, to be the one to comfort her when she’s fearful, and protect her against this world.
    I tilt my head and suck in a deep breath. “This is why you won’t be with me.” I want her to admit it. If she finally confesses that our titles and her battle with the right course of action have been the only reasons for her kept affections, then by Gods…help me from laying her out on this tile and taking her—making her mine. I won’t stop.
    She nods.
“This is the only reason.” She nods again, and that is all the conformation I need. “Then I refuse to let them keep us apart for one more moment.” I grasp her face between my hands and claim her lips with mine.
    Her lips are soft and warm as I achingly coax them into a fevered kiss, unable to hold back my desire for her. I had planned for our first kiss many times, imagined it over and over. The way I would caress her lips slowly and lovingly, conveying my affections. But every emotion I have ever felt for Star rushes to the surface all at once, and I can’t slow. I won’t. I won’t allow her a moment to question our actions, to reconsider us. I’m going to kiss her senseless—kiss the reason right out of her infuriatingly rational head.


~~~~~~~


Help Trisha and the Tuff Girl Legion get to 50 reviews on Amazon for the full scene release of the “Bath Scene” on Trisha’s blog! You can bookmark the bonus material here!



Bio: Trisha Wolfe is the author of the YA Steampunk DESTINY'S FIRE (Omnific Publishing), the NA Historical/Supernatural ASTARTE'S WRATH, and the upcoming YA Utopian FIREBLOOD from Spencer Hill Press, October 2013. Her NA Dark Fantasy OF SILVER AND BEASTS available May 2013.


She’s the creator of YA Bound, a promotional site for the Young Adult genre. Also a member of SCWW and The Apocalypsies. 





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12 comments:

  1. I really really need to read this one.

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  2. Thanks for the giveaway. Hope you have a wonderful day! :)

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  3. I really like books with a strong female saving her guy. This book sounds awesome. Thank you. Vicki

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  4. I have loved the other things I have read by Trisha and looking forward to reading this one as well.

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  5. I really really need to read this one.

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  6. Haven't read anything by Trisha....this sounds great! Thanks for the giveaway and the chance to win :)

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  7. Great giveaway can't wait to read this

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  8. Lovely simply lovely! thanQ!
    redz041@yahoo.com

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  9. I thought Astarte's Wrath was great, too! And that ending!!! My heart....
    Maybe we should reread Destiny's Fire at some point, together? That's an incredible book and I hope we get the second book eventually!

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    1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    2. Try again.

      Yes we so should read Destiny's Fire together!

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  10. The book sound like a good read, and it probably is since you gave it 4 stars(:

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