jbronderbookreviews

What if…

your best friend started a rebellion in the middle of a war?

your lover awakened a deep evil and helped it grow?

your people were too cowardly to face a battle?

you stole an ancient power source?

you gambled with the fate of the world?

Join five powerful warriors each with a unique ability and magical
weapons. Their quest is to discover where the transformed creatures
are coming from and put a stop to it.

Along the way they run into treacherous immortals, sea monsters,

powerful beasts of the air and talking animals.

Each has their own reasoning for joining the quest, but one carries a
deadly secret which just might be the destruction of them all.

“Angela’s imagination has brought these characters to life and the

worlds they live in.”

An immortal evil has risen and it is up to five warriors from the four worlds to fulfill a prophecy. Alaireia, Marklus, Legone, Starman, and Crinte have their own battles and wounds. They are not a perfect group but they are going to learn to work together. But are they all really going to fulfill the prophecy. It seems that someone in the group is going to do everything they can to stop their little group.

You have a world of diverse people that are going to have to come together to save the Western World. All of the characters are strong and have that little spark that keeps them fighting. I love that Alaireia is a strong female lead. I love strong women and think that she is my favorite person.

This is a classic epic story where you jump right in with a battle and go on the adventure from there. You won’t get bogged down with a ton of world building, you are going from one adventure to another and learning on the way.

I loved this story and cannot get enough of this world. I can’t wait to see what happens in book two.

The Five Warriors. Excerpt 1.

PROLOGUE

“Are there beings with the ability to shift forms?” he asked.

She reached out a hand to caress his serious face and laughed lightly. “Why would you ask me that?”

“Tell me, would I know if I saw one?” “You are serious.”

She stood, letting the moonlight filter through the waves of her waist-length hair. “Changers are old beings from the beginning of time, the last scraps of the creator’s spark which formed this World. You would be unlikely to meet one, for they are above us; too distinguished to flirt with the people groups, and too haughty to lower themselves to live with the immortals.” Her long fingers rested on the balcony, gripping it tightly as she continued. “If you ever met one it would be unexplainable. They have two forms which makes them indestructible. One is physical and another is spirit.”

“Would you know if you met a Changer?” he pressed. “Are they dangerous?” She laughed again, her voice rippling gently through the air like the tinkling of silver bells on a crisp night.

“Dangerous? There are no creatures in the World more powerful or dangerous.”

“What if I met a Changer? What should I do?”

She turned back to him, bending to take his face in her hands. Her intense gaze met his questioning eyes. “Run as fast as you can and never stop.”

It has been a few years since The Five Warriors. The worlds have come together and the different people have started blended families. But these children are dangerous and many are killed as babies. Phyllis and Ilieus are two of these blended children. But Ilieus is starting to have dark visions and Phyllis decides that the best thing for them to do is to find the Order of Wise.

The sisters are joined by Cuthan, the son of treasure hunters that doesn’t take things too seriously. There is also Pharengon, an upcoming king that tried to turn the war in his favor but ended up with his own army turning on them. He is going to the Lost Ones to help save this world.

The Blended One is a change from The Five Warriors. The Five Warriors were ready for battle and willing to jump into the fight. The Blended One has the feel of a reluctant quest with everyone being the last person that should have gone. But the group has to succeed, if they don’t the Eastern World will fall.

I have to say at first it was a little disappointing going from a strong, kick butt, female warrior to twin sisters that are not really adventure material. Although this felt more of the ragtag group, they do come together to fight.

This is a great sequel to The Five Warriors but could easily have been read as a standalone novel.

Excerpt: Cuthan

The Blended Ones – The Four Worlds Series Book Two

By Angela J. Ford

Cuthan the Cron stood in front of the Dezzi queen, arrogantly holding his blond head high. Heavy iron shackles bound his wrists in front of him, and linked chains reached down to connect to the iron circlets around his bare feet. The sharp features of his tanned face were marred under streaks of mud and dirt, but his green eyes gazed out almost lazily, already bored with his sentencing. His tunic was ripped from the scuffle, and his pants were too short, cropped off at mid-calf. Generally, he liked his appearance to be impeccable, but this time it couldn’t be helped. He made a mental note to acquire new clothes as soon as the ordeal was over. The butt of a whip punched into his shoulder blades, forcing him to move. He shrugged and shuffled two steps forward. He was slim and fast, standing at just over five and a half feet tall, but his movements weren’t his strength. As the queen gave him a chilling glare, he cocked his head and smiled at her.

“Cuthan the Charmer.” Her deep voice rang out. “Cuthan the Adventurer, whatever you call yourself these days.” She waved a hand as if flicking his insignificant names off into a distance pile of rubbish. “We know you are a spy, yet you have been brash enough to enter our lands. Explain.”

Cuthan arched his eyebrows and continued to smile as he held out his bound hands. “I would like to explain.” He looked down at his shackles and then back up at the queen. “But your hospitality is a bit lacking. I was not expecting chains; will you release me?”

Two of the painted guards stepped closer to him in warning while the queen frowned. “No.” She rose. “Not until you have proven you mean us no harm.”

Cuthan sighed, but his mocking smile remained stamped on his grubby face. “As you command.” He shook a lock of blond hair out of his eyes. “I come from the North Forests, but I am one of the Lost Ones. I am on my way to Wind Fresh, but the wild lands are haunted with the Riders. I need safe passage as, on my own, I cannot hold them off.” He shifted in his chains, moving forward and dropping his voice. “I understand you have a message to send to Wind Fresh, but one of your own cannot take it across the Sea. I propose,” he held up his hands, “you send me to Wind Fresh with the message and an escort of warriors for protection across the wild lands. Once I reach the coast, your warriors may return to you, and I will deliver the message.”

The queen’s eyes narrowed as Cuthan finished with a flourish and attempted to bow, but the jingling irons restricted his movements. “Why,” her voice was hard and sharp like a dagger, “do you think there is a message?”

Cuthan’s lazy smile grew wider. “Aha! So, there is.” He laughed. “I have seen the shadows of the forest; the world is ending, war is coming, and we must choose our allies wisely.”

The queen stared into his green eyes for a long moment, looking past the spells that lay there that distracted her from his true desires. She crossed her arms, ripped her gaze away from his, and turned to her painted warriors. “Release the prisoner, but watch him. He is free to roam with a guard at his back.” She turned her head to address Cuthan directly. “There is a message. It has not arrived yet. You will stay with us until it does.”

The flirtatious grin slid off of Cuthan’s face, and his brow wrinkled in confusion. “What do you mean?”

But the queen waved her hand and turned away, effectively ending his audience.

“Wait!” Cuthan begged as the guards dragged him away. “What do you mean?”

Eliesmore is a Blended One, growing up on the edge of the forest of the
creatures of the wood. Young, headstrong, and inspired by magical
rituals, he spends his time between his overprotective mother and
sneaking out to dance with the wild things.

His courage is tested when Eliesmore discovers that he is the One who is
meant to save the Four Worlds from the Changers. Unwilling to accept
his fate, he turns his back on the prophecy and the futile quest to
dissolve the Green Stone.

But Eliesmore will soon learn he cannot escape his destiny. Beset by
creatures of the deep and hunted by servants of the Changers,
Eliesmore finds his task will test the loyalty of his companions and
help him answer the ultimate question:

Can he trust the immortals – or are they the reason the Changers

have come to power?

Eliesmore is a blended one. He spends his days with his mother but sneaks out to dance with the creatures in the forest. But he is going to learn that he is the One from the prophecy and is going to stop the evil in the land. But like most people, he doesn’t want to accept his fate. Eliesmore turns his back on the prophecy and goes on a quest to dissolve the Green Stone. But the Changers are hunting for the Green Stone and Eliesmore is going to learn that you can’t avoid fate.I loved Eliesmore and his night time dances. You can tell that he is a free spirit yet he is going to have to grow up quickly. He doesn’t want to accept his role in this world and finds it easier to go on the quest for the Green Stone. He doesn’t realize that it is truly about him the whole while.

I love this land and the world created by Angela Ford. You feel like you just stepped into this book and don’t want to leave. This is another great addition to the Four Worlds Series. I was cheering Eliesmore on and hoping that he would come out ahead. This is an addicting series and one that you won’t want to put down.

Myran has lived a sad life as she witnessed her parents killed in front of her. But the Green People have taken her in and she has made a new life for her. Things are not always easy but there is a greater purpose for her.

Reading this short story after the last three books threw me off a little. Plus as I read I didn’t realize that this book would come before Eliesmore and the Green Stone. I loved the story and I liked Myran. She has risen and will become such a pivotal person.

The ending blew me away. It is that missing piece to the puzzle of this series. Many questions from the other three books will be answered and will draw everything together for the final book.

I can’t wait to get my hands on Eliesmore and Jeweled Sword.

Angela originally finished the series when she was sixteen. After college,
Angela began to rewrite The Four Worlds Series, bringing it from a
child’s daydream to an adventure young and old can enjoy. Since it
is inspired by fairy tales, high magic, and epic fantasy, Angela
knows you’ll enjoy your adventures within the Four Worlds.

If you happen to be in Nashville, you’ll most likely find her at a
local coffee shop, enjoying a white chocolate mocha and furiously
working on her next book. Make sure you say hello!

 I received The Five Warriors, The Blended One, Eliesmore and the Green Stone, and Myran from Silver Dagger Book Tours for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of these books.