A Heart of Blood and Ashes (A Gathering of Dragons) [2020, PDF/EPUB, ENG]

by Milla Vane

(1,574 ratings)
Book cover
A generation past, the western realms were embroiled in endless war. Then the Destroyer came. From the blood and ashes he left behind, a tenuous alliance rose between the barbarian riders of Parsathe and the walled kingdoms of the south. That alliance is all that stands against the return of an ancient evil—until the barbarian king and queen are slain in an act of bloody betrayal.
 
Though forbidden by the alliance council to kill the corrupt king responsible for his parents’ murders, Maddek vows to avenge them, even if it costs him the Parsathean crown. But when he learns it was the king’s daughter who lured his parents to their deaths, the barbarian warrior is determined to make her pay.
 
Yet the woman Maddek captures is not what he expected. Though the last in a line of legendary warrior-queens, Yvenne is small and weak, and the sharpest weapons she wields are her mind and her tongue. Even more surprising is the marriage she proposes to unite them in their goals and to claim their thrones—because her desire for vengeance against her father burns even hotter than his own…
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Book details


  • Retail price : from $7.99
  • Author : Milla Vane
  • Publisher : Berkley
  • Published : 02-03-2020
  • Language : English
  • Pages : 560
  • ISBN-10 : 0425255077
  • ISBN-13 : 978-0425255070
  • Reader Reviews : 1,574 (4.3)

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  • File Formats : PDF, FB2, DOC, EPUB, TXT
  • Status : available for FREE download
  • Downloads : 3548

About the Author


Milla Vane


Milla Vane suckled at the plump teat of 80s fantasy movies and was never properly weaned. Under a pen name, she is also an award-winning and New York Times bestselling author of steampunk and paranormal romance. Milla currently resides in Oregon.

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Reader Reviews

J
Sheila M
Great Enemies to Lovers Story
Reviewed in the United States on 08-07-2022
FINAL DECISION: This book was amazing. The world-building supported the romance, which is the center of the story. This is the story of vengeance and passion. Vane (aka Meljean Brooks) knows how to weave romance, plot, and incredible overarching storylines and world-building in a way that this cohesive and compelling.

THE STORY: Forbidden from killing the king responsible for his parents' murders, Maddek intends to find a way to get revenge. When he is told that the king's secret daughter was instrumental in his parents' deaths, Maddek intends to get revenge through her. Yvenne is not what Maddek expects. Although she comes from a line of warrior-queens, she is weak. But when she offers Maddek an opportunity for revenge through a marriage, allowing them to claim her family's throne, Maddek is willing to take the chance to satisfy his desire for vengeance.

OPINION: This book has one of the most memorable introductions of a hero and heroine ever. Their first moments together signal to the reader that this book will be something new. Now some people might not be able to handle how different this book is, but for readers who persevere, the romance and the story are powerful and compelling.

Yvenne is a heroine that I just adored. She has suffered such trauma in her life, yet she has strength and gentleness. She is a queen, as she explains to Maddek. The progression in the story is that she learns to be a warrior as well. At the same time, Maddek begins the story as a warrior and he learns to be a king as the story progresses.

This book is certainly not for everyone. It is graphic and violent and deals with war and pain and abuse. At the same time, it has at its center a beautiful love story of two people who begin as enemies and have to reconsider themselves and their world view. There is a lot of plot in this book but what is done so well is that the relationship between Yvenne and Maddek is always centered. The book is about them. Sometimes these big fantasy books are about the world and the drama of the plot. While this book has all those elements, the relationship between these two characters drives the story.

Well-crafted, this book is filled with adventures, romance, memorable characters, drama. I didn't love it as much as Brooks' steampunk novels, but this one is a great start to a new series.

WORTH MENTIONING: There is an ongoing story that is not resolved in this book. The entire relationship between the main characters is done, but the series has a 'big bad' who isn't defeated in this book.

CONNECTED BOOKS: A HEART OF BLOOD AND ASHES is the first book in the A Gathering of Dragons series. There is a novella prequel, but that only exists in the same world and doesn't need to be read before this book.

STAR RATING: I give this book 4.5 stars.
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J
Leyns
Reviewed in Australia on 04-12-2020
It was a bit slow to get going, but once the story really kicked into gear, it was really good reading. The heroine was so impressive! (Thank you author!!). Clever, determined and she had such a strong yet tender heart. She suffered and overcame so much. She was even strong enough to forgive when many would have given up. The hero - he made so many mistakes! But the heroine didn’t hold them against him, so how could I?
I very nearly stopped reading this book in the early stages, but I’m very glad I persisted. Plenty of action, angst and clever plot lines.
I’m still so stoked to have read about a heroine who was strong and clever. Unfortunately too rare a find these days.
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J
Retired-Rose56
Barbarians yum
Reviewed in Canada on 06-06-2021
I truly wish I could give this book more than 5 stars it is that good. For those reviews that say it’s boring and nothing happens I whole heartedly disagree! It is the evolution of two people coming together as one! It is an amazing story with villains, monsters and a horrible evil who’s story continues. I absolutely loved Maddek the barbaric commander who would be King and and Yvenne is one of my favourite heroines, she is no warrior but she has a strength born of determination and hope. Do not pass up this book. It is worth every penny..
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