The LUV'NV is thrilled to join the Tuff Girl Legion in presenting Astarte's Wrath, a wonderful New Adult Fantasy by Trisha Wolfe. Tuff Girls love heroines who kick ass, and Trisha Wolfe and her character Astarte definitely rock. Check out our review, get an exclusive sneak peek of bonus material not found in the book, and enter to win a $10 gift card and signed swag. Hoo-rah!
Astarte's Wrath
by Trisha Wolfe
Book #1 of Kythan Guardians
Publication: March 2nd 2013 by Trisha Wolfe
Genre: New Adult Fantasy
Genre: New Adult Fantasy
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A tragic love story.
Two thousand years before Dez Harkly developed her secret powers, Guardian Astarte was vowed to protect by the binds enslaving her to the Egyptian pharaohs. Discover the prophecy that originated from a very different time and spans generations to link two very different girls.
This is the beginning.
Set against the backdrop of the Battle of Actium, in the city of Alexandria, Star struggles with her guardian duties as her feelings for the newly named pharaoh of Egypt grow deeper. Not only is Caesarion her duty, he’s the son of Cleopatra, and he’s human. All of which makes their love forbidden.
But when a conspiracy linked to Caesar creeps into Alexandria, Star must choose between helping her fellow Kythan free themselves of their servitude, and protecting her charge—the last pharaoh—while Egypt burns around her.
New Adult/Mature YA: sexual content, drinking, drugs, violence, language, death, and other mature content intended for readers 17 and older. Astarte's Wrath is a companion novel to Destiny's Fire, but can be read as a standalone novel.
"Everything is against us .. But I have something they don't.
A love that will stop at nothing to defend the true heir to Egypt and Rome."
A love that will stop at nothing to defend the true heir to Egypt and Rome."
Wow. I've never read Trisha Wolfe's works before picking up this novel and must say I'm astounded by her talent. Poignant and sensual, Astarte's Wrath is a beautiful story of an all-encompassing love, with the perfect blend of history and paranormal elements. Trisha Wolfe obviously did her research and knows how to capture sexy and heartbreaking romance with deep characters, a rich plot, and a world full of documented and original details.
From the very first scene, I was pulled into the setting and storyline, as if I stepped back through time and into a living dream. The tension of Ancient Egypt at the cusp of both a historical and paranormal war was palpable. The characters were distinct, admirable, and real. With the dialog natural and the dynamics apparent (and without an info dump), the fantasy was easy to grasp. Soon enough, I couldn't tell what was fiction and what wasn't. I was fully submerged in the original world and characters Trisha Wolfe weaved with the true events and people.
The Romance ... talk about swoon and gut-wrenching. Not only were Astarte and Xarion individually strong and lovable as characters, but together they made me smile, get tingly warm all over, and then bleed for them too. I could feel the warring emotions, the longing and devotion, as well as their desperation and devastation. I really appreciated how they knew their priorities and duties, could focus on them, but would also work to keep each other in mind. It made them and their relationship mature, realistic, and stand out even more.
Then there was the smexing. It was explicit yet tasteful. We get just enough details to satisfy but also pant for more. *cough* Bath scene. *cough* And I absolutely love how it didn't dominate the story. Astarte's Wrath is about love but of all different types: between soul mates, best friends, a parent and child, as well as for one's country, race, and heritage. The theme of freedom and loyalty, choice and duty, greed and betrayal, especially in that actual setting and time in history, made such an amazing love story that was far from typical.
Trisha Wolfe completely surprised me with this novel. I laughed. I cried. I fell in love and had my heart broken before she stitched it back together. Filled with well-rounded characters, engaging action, and a world that I couldn't help but believe in, Astarte's Wrath is going on my favorites shelf. It's a must-read-now, especially if you're a fan of Urban Fantasy or Paranormal Romance with substance.
eBook provided by Trisha Wolfe in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you!
Thank you!
Favorite lines (out of many):
"I would give up my crown if it meant finding a way to free you, Star.” He releases my hand. “But you have to want that freedom. Not fear it."
****
"Live freely and love deeply, my daughter."
The Bath Scene from Xarion's POV
Star narrows her eyes at me, her full, bottom lip puckering out the way it does when she's in serious thought--and though I'm listening to her words, all I want to do is trap that bottom lip between my teeth. Nip it and caress it with my tongue.
“I knew you'd say that,” she says. “And that is precisely why I didn't want you to know.” She raises her hand from my chest and swipes the wet hair from my forehead. Her body subtly moves against me with this action, and it drives me wild. “A possible retaliation by the guardians is just one more weighted burden on top of the many you already carry. You don't need the added strain. Let me deal with Candra and the Kythan. They're my kindred. As long as I'm their equal—in both power and status—I can protect you.”
This woman—the woman I've loved my entire life—is my protector. She not only guards against physical threats, but watches over my mental wellbeing. But I cannot allow her to carry all my problems alone anymore. I want to be her guardian, to be the one to comfort her when she's fearful, and protect her against this world.
I tilt my head and suck in a deep breath. “This is why you won't be with me.” I want her to admit it. If she finally confesses that our titles and her battle with the right course of action have been the only reasons for her kept affections, then by Gods ... help me from laying her out on this tile and taking her--making her mine. I won't stop.
She nods.
“This is the only reason.” She nods again, and that is all the conformation I need. “Then I refuse to let them keep us apart for one more moment.” I grasp her face between my hands and claim her lips with mine.
Her lips are soft and warm as I achingly coax them into a fevered kiss, unable to hold back my desire for her. I had planned for our first kiss many times, imagined it over and over. The way I would caress her lips slowly and lovingly, conveying my affections. But every emotion I have ever felt for Star rushes to the surface all at once, and I can't slow. I won't. I won't allow her a moment to question our actions, to reconsider us. I'm going to kiss her senseless—kiss the reason right out of her infuriatingly rational head.
Help Trisha and the Tuff Girl Legion get 50 reviews on Amazon
for the full scene release of the “Bath Scene” on Trisha's blog! Bookmark the bonus material here!
for the full scene release of the “Bath Scene” on Trisha's blog! Bookmark the bonus material here!
Want another peek? Read an excerpt of Astarte's Wrath that was featured here on The LUV'NV
Trisha Wolfe is the author of the YA Steampunk/Paranormal Destiny's Fire (Omnific Publishing) and the upcoming YA Sci-Fi/Utopian Fireblood (Spencer Hill Press, October 2013). Her published short stories have appeared in YA literary journals, Fantasy magazines, and anthologies. She has written five books in the past three years and is currently working on a new YA Dark Fantasy series, Of Silver and Beasts, releasing June 2013.
She's also the creator of YA Bound, a promotional blog for the Young Adult genre. Also a proud member of YALITCHAT.ORG, SCWW, and The Apocalypsies. She's also a business owner, partnered with her partner, her husband. When she's not busy doing all of the above, she's a wife and the mother of a gorgeous teen boy who's the sounding board for her male characters.
Check out her website for more on her books and short stories. Follow her on Twitter or like her Facebook page for updates.
She's also the creator of YA Bound, a promotional blog for the Young Adult genre. Also a proud member of YALITCHAT.ORG, SCWW, and The Apocalypsies. She's also a business owner, partnered with her partner, her husband. When she's not busy doing all of the above, she's a wife and the mother of a gorgeous teen boy who's the sounding board for her male characters.
Check out her website for more on her books and short stories. Follow her on Twitter or like her Facebook page for updates.
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This sounds like such an interesting book with a unique and rich setting and lots of drama going on!
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