HEART OF BRIAR by Laura Anne Gilman

Book One of The Portals Series

Harlequin Luna

July 31^st, 2013

978-0-373-80355-2

Fantasy

Electronic Advance Reading Copy

Reviewed by Dawn (love2read28@gmail.com)

Obtained by Publisher via Netgalley

3 Hearts



Jan never expected to hear that her boyfriend was kidnapped and taken to Elfland. Yeah, it boggles the mind that there is such a place. But when she is rescued by shifters, well let’s just say Jan’s world just went to weird-ville. Now with time racing against her, Jan needs to find her courage and get her boyfriend back because she doesn’t have to save just Tyler but also humanity as well.

Laura Anne Gilman is a talented writer but with her first book in the Portals series, it was a hit or miss for me. I understand she is setting up the story and whatnot but there was a lot of information dumping at times as well as a predictable storyline that had me bored at times. The story moves along at an okay pace though at times I was hoping it would speed up somewhat. The characters are diverse yet I never felt a connection with any of them. Jan and Tyler’s romance was done mainly through some flashbacks which I enjoyed immensely but the reader never gets to the meat of the story…that one aspect that lets you root for them. The villain is a character that could have been so much better if they were fleshed out a bit more. As it was, I could take them or leave them after finishing HEART OF BRIAR.

Meet Jan. She wakes up to find her world is changed forever. When her boyfriend, Tyler is kidnapped and she is told she is the only person to save him, well let’s just say the world as Jan knows it just got complicated. Now she has to navigate between supernaturals and preternaturals. I liked how Jan struggled with the knowledge that her world also has creatures from story tales and myths. The scenes with the Supers and the Preters are well written but the characters could have been a bit more fleshed out to make the story a bit more complete in my opinion. The dynamics between Jan and the rest of the cast of characters are at times a bit rushed and one dimensional but overall, an okay read.

HEART OF BRIAR delivers a story that could be better with just a little more tightening of characters and storyline but overall, is a satisfying read in the end if a bit predictable. The author is a fairly good storyteller who takes the story, ‘Tam Lin’ and turns it upside down and inside out. I normally enjoy this author’s work immensely but after finishing HEART OF BRIAR, I am on the fence in reading the second book. If you enjoy a little intrigue with your paranormal, then you might enjoy HEART OF BRIAR.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement

FLESH AND FIRE The Vineart War book 1 by Laura Anne Gilman

Publisher: Pocket Books
Publishing Date: October 2009
ISBN: 978-1-4391-0141-4
Fantasy
Hardcover
Reviewed by Dawn
Obtained by: Library

Wine is the magic in the world and the Vineart’s are the ones who coax it along and produce the magic in all the wines. When slave boy Jerzy, finds himself taken from the fields and brought to his master for training into being a Vineart, his entire world changes within a blink of an eye. Possessing a rare ability to sense the magic in the wines, Jerzy sets out to learn all he can about the magic in the spell wines when mystery strikes the reclusive Vinearts. Someone is sabotaging the fields and Jerzy is to set out for his master to find out why and who is doing this. Slave-Student-Spy, Jerzy will have to be all three in order to get to the bottom of the mystery that isn’t just plaguing the Vinearts but the entire world as more mysterious events occur.

FLESH AND FIRE is the first book of an intriguing series by prolific author Laura Anne Gillman. I have to admit, I wasn’t sure about this one as I have read this author’s other books and loved them. This starts out slow and plods along as the author introduces you to the art of making spell wines and the magic within the wines. It is a unique story idea that appealed to me and once you get to the middle of the book, the pace picks up quite a bit. The author delves into a world where magic is in the wines and she does an admirable job in letting the reader into this world. With some interesting characters, an interesting land to explore and more, Ms. Gillman delves into a story that will keep you entertained till the end.

FLESH AND FIRE introduces you to the slave Jerzy, a boy with a secret gift- he can sense the magic in the grapes. This is a very rare gift that Vinearts have, the ones who craft the spell wines that everyone uses. Coming to the attention of his master, Jerzy finds his life is about to change and it is for the better- or so he thinks. I liked the character Jerzy as he tried to make his master happy even as he struggled with the art of wine making and magic. The dynamics between the characters kept me intrigued, especially as the mystery of the plagues against the Vinearts and other parts of the world land on Jerzy’s master’s door. Ms. Gillman also introduces some really interesting secondary characters that brought a smile to my face as well.

Overall, FLESH AND FIRE is a satisfying start to a new series by Ms. Gillman. It does start slow but it speeds up as you find yourself thrust in a world of politics, mystery and magic. I have to admit, the ending left me feeling eager to know what happens next. I just hope I don’t have to wait to long for the next installment of THE VINEART WAR. If you enjoy a different fantasy story, then grab FLESH AND FIRE and settle in for a highly enjoyable reading adventure.

THIS IS NOT AN ENDORSEMENT OF THIS BOOK. THIS IS AN OBJECTIVE UNBIASED REVIEW