#married to magic

[erionmakuo]

Cover illustration for A Duet with the Siren Duke by Elise Kova

[riamiloray]

"To this world. To the next. To the people we meet between and the bonds we share."

(digital drawing made with #ibispaint)

[shirewalker]

           The love of a mother for her children, the love between friends, the love of a husband and wife, love for who we are and all those who strove before us to hand us the world we have now—love is why we live, why we fight, why we carry on when things get tough…it is not always easy. But it is our reprieve from true hardship, not the hardship itself.”                                                ―  Elise Kova, A Dance with the Fae Prince

[cassianandfenrysaremyboyos]

Book dedication for fantasy readers

[jessread-s]

✩🩸🗡Review:

Elise Kova’s latest book in the Married to Magic series is fang-tastic!

“A Duel with the Vampire Lord” centers around Floriane, a forge maiden who is kidnapped by her worst enemy—the vampire lord Ruvan. In order to survive, she becomes his blood sworn. But the longer Floriane stays at Castle Tempost, the more she realizes that the vampires are not the monsters she thought they were.

Floriane is a strong female protagonist and compelling character. She finds great joy working beside her mother as a blacksmith. As someone who is not familiar with this line of work, I loved learning about how metal is forged into weapons and how much strain the body goes through during this process. To accurately portray smithing, Kova worked with an iron artist to make her own dagger, which makes this book extra special!

Due to the long hours Floriane spends in the smithy, she has an “untraditional” figure—one that is curvy and stout. The way she is described made me love her all the more because Floriane provides representation of women of different body types to readers.

Though she is self-conscious about her appearance at the beginning of the novel, comparing herself to other women in the town, those feelings go away the moment she realizes that Ruvan burns for her. Of the three books in the series, “A Duel with the Vampire Lord” has the best relationship development. Ruvan and Floriane naturally start off as enemies, but they are forced to put their differences aside in order to break the curse plaguing Ruvan’s people. Their attraction for each other heightens the more time they spend with each other until it reaches a fever pitch (arguably Kova’s spiciest scene to date). I absolutely love Ruvan and Floriane’s chemistry and the sacrifices that they made each other towards the end of the novel truly made me feel things.

Another aspect of the novel I appreciated is how Kova was able to create something new about vampires. In her world, blood is used to enhance magic rather than quench thirst. Their blood based magic system is both complex and unique, informing the reader of the vampire’s customs and abilities.

In past books, a majority of the time is spent in Midscape (Kova’s magical land). Kova switches it up in this novel, dividing the protagonist’s time between Midscape and Hunter’s Hamlet, Floriane’s home in the Natural World. I enjoyed getting the opportunity to learn about the social structure of Hunter’s Hamlet (complete with a Master Hunter, Hunters, a Forge Maiden, and farmers) while still being able to venture into the Vampir mountains.

I cannot wait to continue on in the Married to Magic series with “A Duet with the Siren Duke” next year! Fingers crossed that Ruvan and Floriane make a cameo!

➤ 4.25 stars

Cross-posted to: Instagram | Amazon | Goodreads | StoryGraph

@elisekova​

[shsenhaji]

📚 August Reading Round-Up 📚

I'm very happy that I was able to read (and finish) quite a few books this month! My reading selection was also perhaps a bit more varied, with a non-fiction book thrown in. I began reading the Tea Princess Chronicles by Casey Blair (very good, so lovely), continued with the next volume of Spy x Family, and read books newly published as well as older.

- The Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka Ann Older (very good, loved the worldbuilding, interesting plot)

- Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey (really enjoyed it, definitely cried a bit toward the end, a lot of interesting tropes and themes, good worldbuilding, liked how many of the themes were handled)

- Batman: Wayne Family Adventures Volume One by Payne and Starbite (lovely, so happy I get to have a physical copy, can't wait for volume two)

- A Dance with the Fae Prince by Elise Kova (liked it a lot, loved the themes and the romance, good character growth)

- Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann (re-read, well-written, interesting and illuminating, difficult subject matter, felt the narration treated the subject material well for the most part, interested in seeing the movie adaptation)

- A Coup of Tea by Casey Blair (amazing, lovely, binged it in almost one sitting, loved the themes and characters and how it was all put together, as well as the focus on tea, diverse in a good and welcoming way)

- The Physicians of Vilnoc by Lois McMaster Bujold (loved it, tough subject matter however, Penric and Desdemona as lovely as always, enjoyed the philosophical themes and questions)

- Ancillary Sword by Ann Leckie (great, loved it, missed Seivarden a bit though, great themes and characters, made me want to re-read the first book)

- Spy x Family Volume 6 by Tatsuya Endo (Cute, funny, engrossing, more of a tight one-arc story which I liked, has the famous lullaby Yor and Loid scene, Nightfall was hilarious, a key moment finally occurred!)

- Tea Set and Match by Casey Blair (loved it, a lot of communication, loved the themes and how it was handled, cathartic, interesting understanding of the MC's privilege (and how she can use it)

- The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison (re-read, interesting, the narration was amazing and really sold the story, liked the back half of the book more, some very dry and funny and witty parts, wanted more things to be fixed/dealt with, Maia's internalized racism is never really questioned by him)

- Outlaw Mage by KS Villoso (had backed the Kickstarter, very good, read it in a few sittings, enjoyed the characters and themes, tried to figure out how the book connected to the other series in that world, enjoyable and thought-provoking, not too subtle, want to know what happens next)

[booktineus]

When they’re just as pretty under their jacket 😍

[caitie-potatie]

If you haven’t read the Married to Magic novel series and you’re a fan of fantasy romance, what are you doing with yourself?? 

But no really, when it was revealed at the end of DwtFP that Katria and Luella will eventually meet, I got more excited than any other point in the novel. I NEED these two to have tea and sass their husbands at least once a month.

[readinthedarkpod]

Not every book you read has to change your life or be the worst book you've ever read. Sometimes books are just "alright" and there's nothing wrong with that! In this episode, we chat about these "just fine" books. If you stick around, you'll hear us talk about the most interesting woman in the world, our lack of self control in thrift stores, and our crystal meth reads.

Don't have BGE and skip this episode because you're too busy pouting that your crush doesn't like you back... have BPE (Big Peeta Energy) and show up for us no matter what!!

Follow the hosts at @figonas @laequiem @adxmparriish @hazelsheartsworn

Books Discussed: The Hour of the Rose by Christina Skye A Deal with the Elf King by Elise Kova

Books Mentioned: Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly Dark Rise by C. S. Pacat Ghost of the Forbidden by Leanna Renee Hieber Uprooted by Naomi Novik The Cruel Prince by Holly Black The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins The North Wind by Alexandria Warwick Twilight by Stephenie Meyer 50 Shades of Gray by E. L. James Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas All for the Game by Nora Sakavic Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir Johannes Cabal the Necromancer by Jonathan L. Howard A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

Join our book club, WORNPAGELIBRARY!

Sign up for our newsletter to get teasers for the next episode, get the inside scoop, and much more!

[housebaylor]

A Duel with the Vampire Lord cover is here!! [August 18th,2022]

 Cover illustration by Marcela Medeiros

[maepolzine]

So Many Books, So Little Time | What's On My TBR?

Sharing all the books I plan on reading next.

There are so many books that I need to read. And being a mood reader is not helping matters when it comes to tackling the list. So, since I’m being indecisive on what I’m going to read next, I figured I would just share what I have lined up to be read next. Will I actually end up reading those next? We’ll see. But this is everything I have on the docket at least for this month. These aren’t in…

[riamiloray]

"I finally did realize that destiny is like metal—seemingly unbendable until you put it under heat and pressure. You can forge it into the shape you want."

Elise Kova, A Duel with the Vampire Lord (Married to Magic, #3)

(Digital drawing made with ibispaint by hand)

[shirewalker]

    “Let them know.” He shrugs. “This world is dark and the night is unyielding; the least we can do is fill it with sweet, forbidden dreams.”                                                 ―      Elise Kova, A Duel with the Vampire Lord    

[cassianandfenrysaremyboyos]

Upcoming sequel book releases for the second half of the year

Glow (The plated Prisoner book 4) - Raven Kennedy, 18th June 2022

These Twisted Bonds (These Hollow vows book 2) - Lexi Ryan, 19th July 2022

To Snap a Silver Stem (Crystal Bloom book 2) - Sarah A Parker 8th August 2022

A Duel with the Vampire Lord (Married to Magic book 3) - Elise Kova, 18th August 2022

A Clash of Three Courts (An Heir Comes to Rise book 4) - Chloe C Peñaranda, 6th September 2022

A Light in the Flame (Flesh and Fire book 2) - Jennifer L Armentrout, 15th November 2022

Queen of Myth and Monsters (Adrian x Isolde book 2) - Scarlett St Clare, 27th December 2022

[jessread-s]

✩👑🎶Review:

“A Dance with the Fae Prince” is the best “Married to Magic” book yet!

Inspired by “Cinderella,” “A Dance with the Fae Prince” is told from Katria’s perspective. The daughter of a once prosperous merchant, Katria is forced to occupy the role of her step-family’s servant when her father falls prey to the sea. That is, until the money funding their lavish lifestyle runs out. In a bid to return their estate to it’s former glory, Katria’s step-mother sells her hand in marriage to the mysterious Lord Fenwood—a man that refuses even his new bride the pleasure of seeing his face. Little does she know that her husband is actually Davien Aviness, a fae prince looking for a way to reclaim his throne.

It is important to note that “A Dance with the Fae Prince” is set in the same universe as other “Married to Magic” books. I really enjoyed the complexity of the world Kova created and how it is divided into different parts: the Natural World (inhabited by humans), Midscape (inhabited by elves, fae, vampir, lykin, and mer), and the Great Beyond (inhabited by the dead). Because Davien hails from the fae wilds, the reader gets to fully explore a region that was only touched upon in “A Deal with the Elf King” when he returns to take up his crown. Kova’s imagery is fantastic, detailing how vibrant the fae wilds are in comparison to the Natural World.

Through Katria, we learn of the Boltovs and the Aviness, two families competing for control over the fae. In order to reign over the wilds, an heir of the Aviness bloodline must possess the magic of the old kings, be anointed, wear the crystal crown, and rule from the high court. All of these qualifications contribute to Kova’s worldbuilding and the intrigue surrounding the identity of the true heir, no matter that the obvious hinting took away the element of surprise.

The romance in this novel is subtle and slow to develop, which I personally did not mind, but some may find it underwhelming considering that the book is advertised as having “the right amount of steam.” The few spicy scenes that are present are well-written, but not as impactful as they could have been because of Katria and Davien’s surface level connection. Regardless, I enjoyed how the two started out as enemies and ended as lovers—I truly am a sucker for this trope.

➤ 4 stars

Cross-posted to: Instagram | Amazon | Goodreads | StoryGraph

@elisekova​

[ash-and-books]

A Duel With the Vampire Lord by @elise.kova inspired look 🩸🗡📕🥀 I’ve definitely been in a vampire mood and this book is the dark reimagining of Snow White, meets inspiration from Beauty and the Beast, with vampires, in an epic fantasy world of enemies to lovers, found family, and deep lore. I was lucky to read an arc and ITS SO GOOD!!! Definitely add it to your TBR! “Then let’s hate each other until we can’t stand it.” I meet his eyes. This is the moment before we break. The last breath we take on our own. “Let’s hate each other so we can forgive ourselves for wanting each other.” . — A DUEL WITH THE VAMPIRE LORD Out August 18th, 2022.