Enjoy!
Sanctuary by Ilona Andrews
#1 Roman Chronicles
Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Self Published
Published: 7.30.24
Pages: 152
Rating: 4 stars
Format: ebook
Source: Purchased
Sellers: Amazon
ADD TO: GoodReads
GoodReads Synopsis:
It’s not easy serving the Chernobog,
the God of Destruction, Darkness and Death…especially during the holidays; and
especially when you’re out of eggnog and one of your pesky, freeloading mythic
creatures has eaten your last cookie.
Roman would like nothing more than to be left alone, but
when a wounded boy stumbles into his yard and begs for sanctuary, Roman takes
him in. Now elite mercenaries are camped out on his property, combat mages are
dousing the house with fire, and strange priests are unleashing arcane magic.
They thought Roman was easy pickings, just a hermit in the woods, but they
chose the wrong dark priest to annoy. For while Roman might be patient, he is
the Black Volhv, filled with the love of his terrible god. For his adversaries,
it's a fight to the death, but for him, it's just another day in the
neighborhood.
Sophia Rose's Review:
Readers encounter a certain Black
Volhv priest to Chernabog early on in the Kate Daniels’ series who then becomes
the occasional recurring character.
Ilona Andrews writes an amazing world, plot, and characters and this is
especially true because readers like me fall for the minor characters right
along with the main talent. Roman is
just such a one and I was jazzed as can be to see him get his own story
beginning with this Sanctuary novella.
Slavic mythology and the
post-apocalypse urban fantasy world of Kate Daniels blend for the backdrop for
an engaging dark priest-style adventure.
Roman, avoiding the winter holidays with family and fretting about not
getting some well-earned time off from his godly boss, gives sanctuary to a
mysterious teen boy who arrives in his back woods just before a cocky group of
mercs show up demanding Roman hand over the kid.
Roman’s got his own magic, his own
menagerie posse, and a grumpy attitude so the demand doesn’t set well and he
digs in for a good scrap with all the mercs and their magical support throw at
him.
When all is said and done, readers get
a fabulous insight into Roman’s entertaining perceptions, his way of mentoring
the young man who turns out to need the sort of guidance that only one like
Roman can give, and the revelation of Roman’s past which gets some strong
resolution through the quirk of a god.
Sanctuary wraps up in a good place,
but leaves space for further adventures for Roman and his new-old acquaintances
along with his adopted crowd of unusual pets.
Roman is a wonderful nuanced character I look forward to knowing better
as his chronicles progress.
Incidentally, there is a bonus short story at the end following up on a
small portion of the novella. Kate
Daniels’ fans are the primary target for this book since it would be a hard
place for new readers to jump in though I suppose it could be done.
Author Bio:
“Ilona Andrews” is the pseudonym for a husband-and-wife writing team. Ilona
is a native-born Russian and Gordon is a former communications sergeant in the
U.S. Army. Contrary to popular belief, Gordon was never an intelligence officer
with a license to kill, and Ilona was never the mysterious Russian spy who
seduced him. They met in college, in English Composition 101, where Ilona got a
better grade. (Gordon is still sore about that.)
Gordon and Ilona currently reside in Texas with their two children and many
dogs and cats.
They have co-authored several bestselling series, including the #1 NYT
bestselling urban fantasy of Kate Daniels, rustic fantasy of the Edge,
paranormal romance of Hidden Legacy, and Innkeeper Chronicles, which they post
as a free weekly serial. For complete list of their books, fun extras, and
Innkeeper installments, please visit their website at Ilona-andrews.com.
Sophia’s Bio:
Sophia
is a quiet though curious gal who dabbles in cooking, book reviewing,
piano-playing, and gardening. Road trips and campouts, museums and monuments,
restaurants and theaters are her jam. Encouraged and supported by an incredible
man and loving family. A Northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes
Region of the US. Lover of Jane Austen, Baseball, Cats, Scooby Doo, and
Chocolate.
As a lifelong reader, it was inevitable that
Sophia would discover book blogs and the joy of blog reviewing. Sophia is a
prolific reader and audiobook listener which allows her to experience so many
wonderful books, authors, and narrators. Few genres are outside her reading
tastes, but her true love is fiction particularly history, mystery, sci-fi, and
romance. Though, sorry, no horror or she will run like Shaggy and Scooby.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sophia.rose.7587
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sophiarose1816
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13418187.Sophia_Rose
I really enjoyed this also. Great review!
ReplyDeleteAnne - Books of My Heart
Now, to patiently wait for the next one. :)
DeleteI need to give this author another chance. I've only read one book by this author and I didn't love it.
ReplyDeleteThat is true. Sometimes trying again will work for me, too.
DeleteOh! I didn't know there was a novella at the end since I listened to the story through Netgalley. I did by an e-copy, too, so I'll have to load it and check it out! Happy to see you loved this too!
ReplyDeleteWell, its more of a short story piece that connects to a side incident in the story, but I think you'll get a kick out of it, Rachel. :)
DeleteI am listening right now 😊
ReplyDeleteRoman for the win! :)
Delete