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annastarlight's review
2.0
I enjoyed the idea of this novel, but the execution is horribly repetitive. Vanza, a core concept of this series, is a sort of secret society that focuses on collecting this mystical kind of scholarship, including fighting skills. This in itself is quite fun, but Vanza becomes a blanket term for anything in this story without any nuance or detail. There are Vanza herbs, Vanza fight moves, Vanza mazes, Vanza books, Vanza people, and they are referred to every page. The word lost all meaning to me.
The romance wasn't my cup of tea either. The first sex scene is horrifying:the hero doesn't know the heroine is still a virgin, and basically just thrusts his way in there like a storm ram. How romantic. The hero is patronizing in stressful situations, which is one of my least favourite tropes. Meh.
The romance wasn't my cup of tea either. The first sex scene is horrifying:
kiwicoral's review
4.0
Amanda Quick books are always a fun time. This one had moments that reminded me of the Da Vinci Code (yes really). The hero is a master of a ~*secret society*~ from an imaginary country, which at least manages not to be racist (how many white historical suspense heroes are also trained ninjas or some other nonsense). Anyway, he’s engaged in a revenge plot, but is distracted by the titular widow she totes killed her husband, but it was self defence and he deserved it being haunted by her husband’s ghost. Hijinks ensue, as well as excellent banter and carriage sex.
It loses a star for too much focus on the secret society (seriously if I heard “Vanza” one more time...) but generally a delight.
It loses a star for too much focus on the secret society (seriously if I heard “Vanza” one more time...) but generally a delight.
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