I really liked how the author focused on the relationship and trust building between these two. However there were several spots that seemed to jump unexpectedly and I had to page back to see if pages had stuck together. The transitions were very choppy, not sure if it was due to editing or intentional but it happened several times. The story takes place prior to the Convocation of Gods and Man and during. Overall, I liked it. While not a kink book there was a slightly unusual fetish.
( )

Nice! The second book of the new Destiny series - it overlaps in time, and somewhat in place, with the end of Sons of Destiny. Saleria is one of the priests chosen to go to the Convocation - we get to see how she's found, and convinced to go. The Witch-priest who selects her, Aradin Teral, also stays to help her with her normal tasks, dealing with a holy grove that was a portal, and was shattered like all the rest. The Grove-keepers since the Shattering have barely held their ground, keeping the twisted magic of the Grove from spreading - Aradin Teral, with his different viewpoint, sees some of the ways the rules they've lived by have made their jobs harder. He and Saleria are beginning to be able to deal with the Grove when she has to leave for the Convocation; trouble rises in her absence, but it's dealt with. Seeing the Convocation from a new point of view was fascinating. There's a lot of godly interference here - Kata and Jinga meddle on several levels with the Grove and the Convocation, and the Darkhanen gods also take a direct hand. And of course Aradin Teral and Saleria end up together (though not married yet, not until the Grove is stabilized). It's a great story as part of the new arc, and as illumination of the World of Destiny; on its own, it's a little flat. The characters are a bit simplistic, and events arrange themselves very conveniently. Still, a fun read, and I suspect I'll reread it once the whole series is out and I can read it all at once. ( )

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: A new convocation of the gods has been prophesied. To help ensure a good outcome, a dual-natured witch travels to a new land to beseech the Keeper of the Grove to speak for her people at the convocation. Little does he know this visit will change his life forever.

Opening Sentence: Aradin Teral eyed the priest tottering with uneven steps from altar to altar in the Westraven Chapel, located int he heart of the Katan continent.

The Review:

In my opinion, there are two kinds of 3-star books: those that you really didn’t enjoy, but there were one or two things that kept it from being really bad, or those that are so close to being really good, but there are one or two things that keep it from that 4 star mark. This book is one of the latter category. It is very well written, taking place in an incredibly intricate world that’s very intriguing, but the characters and romance fall a little flat.

Many years ago, the first Convocation of Gods and Man took place and ended in disaster. Now, a prophecy has been discovered, saying that another Convocation will be taking place. Those who’ve heard the prophecy are determined to ensure that this Convocation is not the disaster the first one was. To that end, Aradin Teral is sent to speak with Saleria, the Keeper of the Grove, to entreat her to act as her country’s representative at the Convocation. As the sole person responsible for tending the often dangerous area of the Grove, Saleria does not feel she can leave it unattended for the length of time the Convocation would require. Due in part to his growing attraction to Saleria, Aradin agrees to lengthen his stay so that he can learn to tend the Grove in her stead.

For such a long book, little time is actually given to character development. I find myself struggling to find the words to describe Saleria because she really didn’t make that much of an impression on me. I can say that I admired how confident she was in her faith. She never once faltered in her steadfastness to her gods. That is something to admire.

I found the concept of Aradin Teral’s dual existence very interesting and unique. They are two people in one body. Teral is technically dead, but if Aradin allows it, Teral can take control and manifest his former body. This obviously can make courtship a little awkward, and I really wish the book had delved more thoroughly into that. The subject is brought up and discussed, but the potential conflict was resolved too easily. It also seemed to me that Teral had slightly more personality than Aradin, which isn’t a good thing when Aradin is the main character of the duo.

My last complaint is that there really wasn’t much romance for a book that is labeled as a fantasy romance on some sites, including the author’s. Readers wanting a love story set in a fantasy world are probably going to be disappointed.

That being said, the fantasy world Johnson has created is amazing. I found myself wanting to know more about every country. I want to know what life is like for people who worship gods other than Saleria’s. This curiosity alone will bring me back to the series in hopes that I’ll connect better to the next set of main characters. I definitely want to see where this prophecy is going!

Notable Scene:

“Good morning, Teral. And good morning to your Host, too,” she added politely, guessing that either Aradin was somewhere inside the older man, watching and listening, or that he would return shortly. Oddly enough, the scent of mint wafted into the hall, mixing with the spiced fruit sausage and the egg-toast Nannan had made. “How did the morning round go?”

“Some sort of horned, rabbity thing with willow leaves instead of fur,” he recited, counting off on his fingers, “a swarm of bees acting rather agitated in what turned out to be a patch of rage-inducing bleeding hearts, a new species of ambulatory orchid-beetles, and a rather aggressively friendly cross between a fern and a mint plant. Either that, or it was attempting to copulate with me. For our sanity’s sake,” the older Witch muttered, “Aradin and I have agreed to think of it as just being aggressively friendly, and not amatory.”

FTC Advisory: Berkley/Penguin provided me with a copy of The Grove. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. ( )

Our Review, by LITERAL ADDICTION’s Vivacious Valkyrie – Marta:

*eARC received from the Publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

This is my first book by this author and follows on from her previous offering in this series The Tower (Guardans of Destiny). This is a fantasy with a sprinkling of romance and is set to delight fans of her previous Sons of Destiny series.

In a land full of magic we meet the Witch Priest Aradin Teral, he has been sent on a quest to locate a suitable representative of the Kingdom known as Katan to meet with the Gods and Goddesses at the upcoming Convocation of Gods and Man. The Gods that have helped to protect mankind have been missing since the world splintered and now it's vital that humanity entreat them to save the world from the things that live in their Hellworld. Prophecies are starting to come true and the Seers in the world are beginning to see changes that could herald vast destruction.

Aradins journey takes him to Saleria the woman who as a priestess is Guardian of The Grove, a famed, magical garden where a God and Goddess once united. Left far too long the magic the land is imbued with has begun to run wild and strange and dangerous hybrids run amok threatening nearby homes and lives. Saleria struggles on a daily basis to contain the deadly creatures and drain the fearsome magic. Charged with the prayers and petitions for her Gods her life is full of toil and sorely lacking in peace.

Her world begins to change the day she meets Aradin Teral for he is a priest unlike any who have ever crossed her path. The young man Aradin carries the soul and consciousness of Teral and together they form a formidable Witch Priest. Not truly convinced that her path lies away from the Grove Saleria nevertheless allows Aradin access to the Grove in order to learn its secrets. As she slowly begins to trust the unusual pairing her feelings for Aradin grow but leaving the Grove could be deadly. Surrounded by dark magic and at the mercy of those with political ambitions Aradin and Saleria must find a way to control the threat before it's too late.

Wow such an unusual world. A society that follows their Gods and the teachings of their priests. Although a simple outlook in many ways the author manages to imbue her work with a strong sense of humanity and it's petty feelings of jealousy and greed. I loved that Saleria although truly dedicated to her calling still managed to find it possible to fall in love, it would have felt dry and boring without the two(should that be three?) main characters as their personalities lifted this tale .Absolutely adored the conversations between Aradin and Teral as at times they were hilarious but for me Saleria's love of life shone through.

A complicated story that is sure to delight Ms Johnson's fans and a good read for all those who enjoy fantasy and a romance for those like me who are just old fashioned romantics at heart. ( )