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lolasreviews's review against another edition
4.0
I am really enjoying this series, so much in fact that I am basically binge reading these and I am not a binge reader usually. I thought after reading book 1 and 2 in a row, I needed a break before I came back for book 3. Well that nearly got me in a book slump, until I got back to this series and my slump disappeared immediately. There's just something about this series that makes me want to keep reading. And now I am almost finished with the horse mistress books of this series, only one more book left and I am not ready to say goodbye to these characters yet.
The Horse Mistress Book 3 deals more with the plot line surrounding the Empire, the threat of invasion and the political tensions. Which was great. This plot line has been important since the start of the series, but in this book things escalate a lot more. I really enjoyed seeing how this developed and we get to more of Eburos and also of the Empire and how they act. There is even more danger and I was just hoping the characters I cared about stayed alive. There's also a development surrounding a side character, Favian, that's quite interesting and he's quite the interesting character.
And next to the that plot line we still have the awesome romance going on. I just can't get enough of these three. Carivel, Senovo and Andoc are just so awesome together. And this book again shows the depth of their feelings and emotions. The events of this book put them all through a lot and we get to see how they deal with it. I don't want to spoil too much, but one of them goes through something difficult in this book and it was great to see how the other two were there. And how they resolve and handle things.
Their romance is one of my favorite parts of this book, the author wrote their relationship so well. There are a bunch of hot sex scenes again in this book, the author can certainly write them well and there's a lot of variety in the sex scenes as well, which is great. And the way they care about each other only enhances the depth and feeling in the sex scenes as well.
I also loved how we get to see a bit more of the island Eburos in this book. I feel like I got a better understanding of the island, the different tribes that lived there and also how solidarity all the tribes are. The threat of the empire also comes in stark focus in this book. And we learn more about how they operate and also how in contrast it is to the Draebardi people and the other tribes. I liked how seeing the city they visited tells us more about their own village and also how other people live in this world.
And something I forgot to mention in the previous books is how I liked the role of religion and the priests and their role in the community. In this book we get introduced to another religion, which also brings more in focus how their current religion works and how different the religion of the Empire is.
To summarize: Another awesome book in this series. I just love this series and reading about these characters. This book focuses on the threat of a possible invasion by the Empire, we get to see more of the island Eburos and see some of other tribes too. The relationship between Cairvel, Senovo and Andoc is probably my favorite part of this series as it just so well done. It's awesome how much these three care for each other and are there for each other. The sex scenes are hot and well written with quite some variation as well and the depth of their feelings for each other only makes the sex scenes even better. It was great to get a better insight in Eburos and how the different tribes lived and also how the Empire did things in this book. There's also an interesting contrast between the religion of the Eburosi and the Empire. I can't wait to read book 4!
The Horse Mistress Book 3 deals more with the plot line surrounding the Empire, the threat of invasion and the political tensions. Which was great. This plot line has been important since the start of the series, but in this book things escalate a lot more. I really enjoyed seeing how this developed and we get to more of Eburos and also of the Empire and how they act. There is even more danger and I was just hoping the characters I cared about stayed alive. There's also a development surrounding a side character, Favian, that's quite interesting and he's quite the interesting character.
And next to the that plot line we still have the awesome romance going on. I just can't get enough of these three. Carivel, Senovo and Andoc are just so awesome together. And this book again shows the depth of their feelings and emotions. The events of this book put them all through a lot and we get to see how they deal with it. I don't want to spoil too much, but one of them goes through something difficult in this book and it was great to see how the other two were there. And how they resolve and handle things.
Their romance is one of my favorite parts of this book, the author wrote their relationship so well. There are a bunch of hot sex scenes again in this book, the author can certainly write them well and there's a lot of variety in the sex scenes as well, which is great. And the way they care about each other only enhances the depth and feeling in the sex scenes as well.
I also loved how we get to see a bit more of the island Eburos in this book. I feel like I got a better understanding of the island, the different tribes that lived there and also how solidarity all the tribes are. The threat of the empire also comes in stark focus in this book. And we learn more about how they operate and also how in contrast it is to the Draebardi people and the other tribes. I liked how seeing the city they visited tells us more about their own village and also how other people live in this world.
And something I forgot to mention in the previous books is how I liked the role of religion and the priests and their role in the community. In this book we get introduced to another religion, which also brings more in focus how their current religion works and how different the religion of the Empire is.
To summarize: Another awesome book in this series. I just love this series and reading about these characters. This book focuses on the threat of a possible invasion by the Empire, we get to see more of the island Eburos and see some of other tribes too. The relationship between Cairvel, Senovo and Andoc is probably my favorite part of this series as it just so well done. It's awesome how much these three care for each other and are there for each other. The sex scenes are hot and well written with quite some variation as well and the depth of their feelings for each other only makes the sex scenes even better. It was great to get a better insight in Eburos and how the different tribes lived and also how the Empire did things in this book. There's also an interesting contrast between the religion of the Eburosi and the Empire. I can't wait to read book 4!
bunnerz's review against another edition
4.0
Ratings - completed series:
#1 The Horse Mistress: Book 1: ★★★★☆
#2 The Horse Mistress: Book 2: ★★★★☆
#3 The Horse Mistress: Book 3 (this book): ★★★★☆
#4 The Horse Mistress: Book 4: ★★★★☆
#1 The Horse Mistress: Book 1: ★★★★☆
#2 The Horse Mistress: Book 2: ★★★★☆
#3 The Horse Mistress: Book 3 (this book): ★★★★☆
#4 The Horse Mistress: Book 4: ★★★★☆
kaa's review against another edition
4.0
This series continues to be fantastic. I really appreciate that the plot continues to escalate, with higher stakes each book.
In this book specifically, I was glad that the story actually dealt with the psychological repercussions of the trauma Carivel experienced in the last book. It was especially great that Carivel goes to talk to someone as a counselor, which I'm not sure I've ever seen in a historical-ish fantasy before. I have a personal and professional interest in caring for emotional trauma, and I wish more books in this genre addressed it.
In this book specifically, I was glad that the story actually dealt with the psychological repercussions of the trauma Carivel experienced in the last book. It was especially great that Carivel goes to talk to someone as a counselor, which I'm not sure I've ever seen in a historical-ish fantasy before. I have a personal and professional interest in caring for emotional trauma, and I wish more books in this genre addressed it.
kparrbooks's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed the continuing saga of Carivel, Andoc, and Senovo. It was great to see Andoc's emotional journey as the focus of the book and get a wider scope of the world, and I loved the plot developments that not only set the book up for the series, but showed the characters' ingenuity and cleverness - developments that will have wide impacts on these characters and future events. I'm excited to see where it goes from here!
foxclouds's review against another edition
4.0
I received an unproofed ARC of this book for free from the author in exchange of an honest review. (And I couldn't be more happy as I could read books 2 & 3 in quick succession!)
Personal rating: 4 stars
I thoroughly enjoyed book 3, as much as I did book 2. It takes off exactly where book 2 left off and progresses quite well. I feel as if the story expanded well throughout the series - we are being introduced to more characters and more action is happening, including the beginnings of war.
Nevertheless, I do admit that I am particularly enamoured with the relationship between Carvel, Andoc, and Senovo. I did mention in my review of book 2 that I enjoy how the author explores the relationships between characters, making them multi-dimensional and therefore more real, with their own insecurities and fears. I was glad to see some of those fears to be resolved in book 3, only to be replaced by other problems that the characters had to face. There was a big challenge that they had to face by the end of the book, and even though I had a feeling as if it was resolved a bit too quickly and easily (I am a sucker for angst, so I expected to be left suspended longer as a reader), but it was still quite believable and well done.
One of my pet peeves as a reader, is how often in adult (especially, queer) romance novels the characters, who claim to be inexperienced in some aspects of sex, seem to know what they are doing right off the bat, when they get in bed with "the love of their life". That does not happen in real life, folks! Humans are not born with knowledge of all!
What I love about The Horse Mistress series is that everything that happens between characters happens gradually, as they explore each other and make mistakes (or discoveries) in the process. It is very easy to make a "menage a trois" relationship misbalanced by creating a preferred pairing within a trio, and at some point in Book 2, I did fear that it might happen, but I am happy to report that the author once again didn't let me down. There is no power imbalance in their relationship - on the contrary, everyone seems to be playing to their strengths.
I don't know what else to say, without giving away the plot, but I loved this book, and I can't wait to read the final book, when it comes out.
If you are looking for a well-written series with diverse queer characters, I highly recommend you pick this one up.
(After reviewing the ARC, I purchased this ebook in Kindle Store, when it came out.)
Personal rating: 4 stars
I thoroughly enjoyed book 3, as much as I did book 2. It takes off exactly where book 2 left off and progresses quite well. I feel as if the story expanded well throughout the series - we are being introduced to more characters and more action is happening, including the beginnings of war.
Nevertheless, I do admit that I am particularly enamoured with the relationship between Carvel, Andoc, and Senovo. I did mention in my review of book 2 that I enjoy how the author explores the relationships between characters, making them multi-dimensional and therefore more real, with their own insecurities and fears. I was glad to see some of those fears to be resolved in book 3, only to be replaced by other problems that the characters had to face. There was a big challenge that they had to face by the end of the book, and even though I had a feeling as if it was resolved a bit too quickly and easily (I am a sucker for angst, so I expected to be left suspended longer as a reader), but it was still quite believable and well done.
One of my pet peeves as a reader, is how often in adult (especially, queer) romance novels the characters, who claim to be inexperienced in some aspects of sex, seem to know what they are doing right off the bat, when they get in bed with "the love of their life". That does not happen in real life, folks! Humans are not born with knowledge of all!
What I love about The Horse Mistress series is that everything that happens between characters happens gradually, as they explore each other and make mistakes (or discoveries) in the process. It is very easy to make a "menage a trois" relationship misbalanced by creating a preferred pairing within a trio, and at some point in Book 2, I did fear that it might happen, but I am happy to report that the author once again didn't let me down. There is no power imbalance in their relationship - on the contrary, everyone seems to be playing to their strengths.
I don't know what else to say, without giving away the plot, but I loved this book, and I can't wait to read the final book, when it comes out.
If you are looking for a well-written series with diverse queer characters, I highly recommend you pick this one up.
(After reviewing the ARC, I purchased this ebook in Kindle Store, when it came out.)
vailynst's review against another edition
3.0
Mini-Review:
Several important plot developments happen in this book but it's a filler that sets up for the next. By itself, the book would be incomplete. The relationship between the three lovebirds is still my favorite part of the series. Character development has slowed down and not as apparent.
Several important plot developments happen in this book but it's a filler that sets up for the next. By itself, the book would be incomplete. The relationship between the three lovebirds is still my favorite part of the series. Character development has slowed down and not as apparent.
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