King of Battle and Blood: 1 (Adrian X Isolde)

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For her as a writer, centering Isolde’s perspective and grounding the story in the changes her character is going through was always paramount. And, in a way, the book’s steamier interludes are just another kind of worldbuilding. St. Clair’s most popular work has been “Touch of Darkness,” the first of the “Hades & Persephone” series of novels. She tapped into her love for Greek mythology to retell the classic story in this work. As a college student, she had taken several literature classes on Roman and Greek literature such as “The Aeneid” and “The Orestes.” The story of “Hades & Persephone” is one that she always loved ever since she was a child and she thought why not put her own spin on it. She started to think about what the world would be like if the gods in Greek mythology were real beings that came down to Earth. Her imagination took over from there and she proceeded to create a whole new world. He knew there was no need in fighting because they would be demolished if they tried, so he sought a more peaceful approach to save his people – to surrender. Different nationalities. This would be the second time I found a book that has different nationalities that introduce readers that there is a whole world out there that isn’t consist of one nationality. Not only that, interracial marriage is beautiful.

If I were to compare it to her Hades & Persephone books, King of Battle and Blood was written competently. I liked that it was such a fast-paced and easy reading. Clair came out with a political conflict in the worldbuilding which made it all enthralling. Bonus point — because as far as I am not concerned, there were no typing/spelling/grammar errors like how it used to be so apparent in her previous books. I'm not a grammar nazi, I just expected better from an author who is publishing their books that I paid for it. Everything is finally falling into place. Why is Adrian being a one-dimensional character? All I know about him is that he is blonde hair, blue eye super handsome vampire that has a past and that is about it. Hell, I don’t even know the description of the other characters besides the five or six of the side characters that only appear once or twice, and that is it. Four are Lara’s father’s post guards and Adrian’s blood human that his wife, Lara, didn’t like.His decision had been met with mixed emotion. Some wished to fight rather than succumb to this monster’s reign. Others were uncertain—had my father traded death on the battlefield for another kind? My pace lessened as the smell of decay permeated the air. At first, it was faint, and for a brief moment, I thought I was imagining things. The Blood King is a monster among men. His name is whispered in fear. His reputation as a ruthless, bloodthirsty monster spans villages. And Isolde isn't excluded from the list. So when the vampire who is demanding surrender from her kingdom, is willing to trade protection of her people in exchange for her as his bride, she accepts. She would do anything for her people. Even walk willingly into the arms of a monster who she's been taught to hate and fear all of her life.

Considering that I'm not a big fan of the author's previous works, I really delve into this with zero expectation. A surprise it was when I found myself feeling okay as I read further, though a few things still irked me. But let me be fair in my review by starting with what I enjoy and like first. ISOLDE WAS GREAT and I thought she was written as a strong and interesting morally-grey character. You could tell from her mannerisms and the way she spoke that she was actually raised to lead and be a queen. Then he bent, and his tongue swept across the wound on my chest. I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t move, I couldn’t speak. The worst part was that this felt good. It felt possessive and sinful, and I found myself no longer trying to stab him, but clinging to him as he worked.

I see Isolde as a true morally gray character,” she says. “But you have to take it in the context of her world, like what she’s willing to do to survive. Where’s the balance? What lines are you willing to cross?”