cover image A Heart of Blood and Ashes

A Heart of Blood and Ashes

Milla Vane. Jove, $7.99 mass market (560p) ISBN 978-0-425-25507-0

Combining the scope of an epic fantasy with the scorching sex scenes of erotic romance, Meljean Brook (the Iron Sea Series), writing as Vane, makes a splash with this enemies-to-lovers romance that kicks off her A Gathering of Dragons series. All that barbarian Maddek knows about Princess Yvenne when he captures her is that she’s the daughter of his greatest enemy and thus will be the means of his vengeance. He doesn’t expect the weak but courageous woman to offer an alliance, agreeing to aid him in bringing down her family as she’s burning with her own hatred against her controlling, power-hungry father. Their perilous journey back to Maddek’s homeland to enact their revenge is studded with pain and hardship, but also with sexual tension that develops into an erotic relationship. Warrior Maddek proves himself to be honorable and honest, and Yvenne, though no match for him in strength, demands his respect from the very beginning with her wit and fortitude. Though their trek, which takes up the bulk of the novel, occasionally drags, it offers plenty of tantalizing glimpses into Vane’s richly imagined dark fantasy world. Fans of Jacqueline Carey’s Kushiel trilogy will be hooked. Agent: Nephele Tempest, the Knight Agency. (Feb.)