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Relics of Merlin #1
Enchanting the Lady
Little-noticed Felicity Seymour is a woman with a problem: she can't take control of her parents' lands until she can prove her magical abilities, of which she's never had the slightest hint. When she meets a handsome were-lion baronet, Terence Blackwell, she's surprised at his interest; what she doesn't know is that Terence smells the taint of relic-magic on her, the same magic that killed his brother. Resolving to learn her secrets, Terence courts the worried wallflower and is as surprised as anyone when he falls head over heels. Soon after they marry in secret, Felicity discovers that people she's trusted all her life are conspiring to steal her magic, her title and her land. Now she's got to stop them with the help of her new husband-but how much does she really know about her mysterious mate?
292 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
86 people are currently reading
1973 people want to read
About the author
Kathryne Kennedy
19books213followersAs a college grad, business owner, and writer, Kathryne has published nearly a dozen short stories in the SFF/Romance genre, receiving Honorable Mention twice in the 'Writers of the Future' contest. Being a self-proclaimed "Air Force brat," Kathryne has traveled a great deal, and over the years has lived in Guam, Okinawa, and several states in the U.S
She currently resides in Arizona with her husband, two sons, and the rest of her family (including two chihuahuas named Precious and Baggins (think Lord of the Rings) who she's rather fond of).
She currently resides in Arizona with her husband, two sons, and the rest of her family (including two chihuahuas named Precious and Baggins (think Lord of the Rings) who she's rather fond of).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 244 reviews
April 3, 2013
4.0 for this steamy, spooky, and suspenseful lion-shifter romance. I enjoyed it. It's kinda sweet 'n scary. But also sad, and I even chuckled a time or two. My few quibbles are listed last.
Third-person POV shifts from heroine to hero. Fairly strong prose. Few typos. Explicit sex, minimal swearing, violence.
Set primarily in London in 1881, this book brings to mind Soulless, by Gail Carriger (). Like Soulless, it includes nobility, magic, and shifters in Victorian England. All kinds of shifters, from rabbits and rats to lions and cats. (Loved Bentley, butler, spy, rat shifter).
Premise: About 1700 years ago, Merlin the wizard created a magical aristocracy: Royals are the most magical. Dukes are next, having the ability to transform matter. Lesser nobles have weaker magic. Merlin also created the shifters. No magic works on them, because they ARE magic. He also created 13 powerful relics. Whoever possesses a relic gains enough magic to overwhelm even a Royal. Only six relics have been found so far. The shifters are spies for the Crown, charged with sniffing out and destroying relics.
Main Characters:
I think of Sir Terence Blackwell as Lion-Heart. Not only golden and gorgeous, this shifter loves to nuzzle his mate (awww). Wealthy and powerful, invulnerable to magic, hated and feared by all nobles except Prince Albert himself, his job is to find relics, but along the way he falls in love. However, she smells faintly of vile relic magic! His lion knows what's what, but the man has a few qualms. In the end, our spy sees beyond his baggage (brother was killed by a relic-obsessed lover) but along the way, I muttered "idiot" more than once.
Kennedy created a sympathetic character in Felicity Seymour. Her loving and extremely magical parents, the Duke and Duchess of Stonehaven, died when she was a toddler. Since then, she has been living an unpleasant life with Aunt Gertrude, Uncle Oliver, and Cousin Ralph. (Harry Potter-ish).
Felicity does not live below the stairs, but she may as well, because she's all but invisible. People just overlook her! And when they finally do notice her, they see how plain she is. Folks, our heroine is almost homely. If you can believe that.
Even worse, in a world where magical ability is needed to hold your title and lands, this drab can barely generate a spark. Despite the vast magical power her parents once wielded, she only feels a faint buzz.
Unnatractive, unnoticeable, and un-magical. You'd think Felicity would feel sorry for herself. And she does, but never for long. This gal is not a weeper. You'd think she'd suffer from low self-esteem. Yes, of course she does, pondering how anyone as wonderful as Sir Lion-Heart could possibly love her. (Does this get a little old? Almost.)
Plot Teasers (no spoilers):
Early in the book Felicity undergoes the ceremony of magical testing, presided over by none other than Prince Albert himself at Buckingham Palace. Unless our brave girl can muster magic, the duchy will pass to Cousin Ralph (that cretin). At the ceremony she meets Sir Lion-Heart (droll scenes).
And with that, we go from Buckingham Palace to a mansion in Mayfairy (yes, fairy) with excursions to Pall Mage and Trickside, at some point visiting a VERY creepy mansion near the sea and taking a few trips into London's Underground.
Things get tense at times, with Merlin's relic in the wrong hands. Action involves knives and knuckles, potions and plants, fangs and claws, and some pretty spooky things that go bump in the night. Various slithering monsters that only awaken when Felicity sleeps.
But the lion watches over her rest. And when he cannot be there, she's guarded by a fierce dragonette, the adorable Daisy. So how could any harm befall her?
Bottom line: It was good! Better than expected, given the reviews. Solid action scenes, hot sexy scenes, sweet times (the peas -- hah!). I was surprised to find out what Felicity's nightmares and illusions really were. I was glad to see Felicity find her feet and felt satisfied with the HEA ending -- which included a few surprises. Nicely done!
Quibbles:
I was annoyed when someone acted outside of character, towards the end. It just did not fit and felt contrived. I am talking about when
I sometimes got impatient with how dense the H and h were. They should have figured things out sooner. Felicity stupidly put herself in peril because of blindness to reality. Grr!
Flaw in the logic: Given that dukes and duchesses have the power to change matter, it's a fallacy to say viscounts are less magical because their powers are limited to alchemy (and herbs). Changing iron to gold (e.g., alchemy) IS changing matter.
Third-person POV shifts from heroine to hero. Fairly strong prose. Few typos. Explicit sex, minimal swearing, violence.
Set primarily in London in 1881, this book brings to mind Soulless, by Gail Carriger (). Like Soulless, it includes nobility, magic, and shifters in Victorian England. All kinds of shifters, from rabbits and rats to lions and cats. (Loved Bentley, butler, spy, rat shifter).
Premise: About 1700 years ago, Merlin the wizard created a magical aristocracy: Royals are the most magical. Dukes are next, having the ability to transform matter. Lesser nobles have weaker magic. Merlin also created the shifters. No magic works on them, because they ARE magic. He also created 13 powerful relics. Whoever possesses a relic gains enough magic to overwhelm even a Royal. Only six relics have been found so far. The shifters are spies for the Crown, charged with sniffing out and destroying relics.
Main Characters:
I think of Sir Terence Blackwell as Lion-Heart. Not only golden and gorgeous, this shifter loves to nuzzle his mate (awww). Wealthy and powerful, invulnerable to magic, hated and feared by all nobles except Prince Albert himself, his job is to find relics, but along the way he falls in love. However, she smells faintly of vile relic magic! His lion knows what's what, but the man has a few qualms. In the end, our spy sees beyond his baggage (brother was killed by a relic-obsessed lover) but along the way, I muttered "idiot" more than once.
Kennedy created a sympathetic character in Felicity Seymour. Her loving and extremely magical parents, the Duke and Duchess of Stonehaven, died when she was a toddler. Since then, she has been living an unpleasant life with Aunt Gertrude, Uncle Oliver, and Cousin Ralph. (Harry Potter-ish).
Felicity does not live below the stairs, but she may as well, because she's all but invisible. People just overlook her! And when they finally do notice her, they see how plain she is. Folks, our heroine is almost homely. If you can believe that.
Even worse, in a world where magical ability is needed to hold your title and lands, this drab can barely generate a spark. Despite the vast magical power her parents once wielded, she only feels a faint buzz.
Unnatractive, unnoticeable, and un-magical. You'd think Felicity would feel sorry for herself. And she does, but never for long. This gal is not a weeper. You'd think she'd suffer from low self-esteem. Yes, of course she does, pondering how anyone as wonderful as Sir Lion-Heart could possibly love her. (Does this get a little old? Almost.)
Plot Teasers (no spoilers):
Early in the book Felicity undergoes the ceremony of magical testing, presided over by none other than Prince Albert himself at Buckingham Palace. Unless our brave girl can muster magic, the duchy will pass to Cousin Ralph (that cretin). At the ceremony she meets Sir Lion-Heart (droll scenes).
And with that, we go from Buckingham Palace to a mansion in Mayfairy (yes, fairy) with excursions to Pall Mage and Trickside, at some point visiting a VERY creepy mansion near the sea and taking a few trips into London's Underground.
Things get tense at times, with Merlin's relic in the wrong hands. Action involves knives and knuckles, potions and plants, fangs and claws, and some pretty spooky things that go bump in the night. Various slithering monsters that only awaken when Felicity sleeps.
But the lion watches over her rest. And when he cannot be there, she's guarded by a fierce dragonette, the adorable Daisy. So how could any harm befall her?
Bottom line: It was good! Better than expected, given the reviews. Solid action scenes, hot sexy scenes, sweet times (the peas -- hah!). I was surprised to find out what Felicity's nightmares and illusions really were. I was glad to see Felicity find her feet and felt satisfied with the HEA ending -- which included a few surprises. Nicely done!
Quibbles:
I was annoyed when someone acted outside of character, towards the end. It just did not fit and felt contrived. I am talking about when
I sometimes got impatient with how dense the H and h were. They should have figured things out sooner. Felicity stupidly put herself in peril because of blindness to reality. Grr!
Flaw in the logic: Given that dukes and duchesses have the power to change matter, it's a fallacy to say viscounts are less magical because their powers are limited to alchemy (and herbs). Changing iron to gold (e.g., alchemy) IS changing matter.
November 23, 2016
Cute and sweet + magic and a were-lion. Were-lions for the win!
August 16, 2011
This was a really nice story. I don't read a lot of historical romances but the fantasy elements within really held my interest. The character development and world-building is really great and even though I figured out what was going on way before Felicity did, I still enjoyed the story.
Felicity Seymour doesn't have any magic and she's dull and forgettable. She's so forgettable that servants run into her and she's sat on at parties. Both of her parents died and now her Uncle and Aunt look after her, but Felicity has to take a test in front of the Prince to prove she can do the magic of a Duchess to keep her title and property.
At this test is the Prince's Baronet, Terrence Blackwell, who is also a shape-shifting lion. Terrence is a relic hunter, he hunts the relics of Merlin, jewels that give the user dark powers. A relic-user killed Terrence's brother so he hunts them at all costs. Shape-shifters are immune to magic, but Terrence uses his keen senses to sniff out the smell of the relics. Once he meets Felicity at her test, he's drawn to both her beauty and the acrid smell of a relic. Terrence courts her to get to the bottom of the mysteries surrounding her.
Felicity is a character that could have been annoying with her naivete, but she's humble and sincere and it's very believable that she's just that innocent. She led a very sheltered life and had hardly anyone to socialize with. Most of the people around her forgot she was even in the room! A lot of times I have a problem with the guy deceiving the girl by dating her with an ulterior motive. Terrence has good intentions though and he's never really that devious when it comes to Felicity. And the romance between them is really hot! The sex scenes are not overly graphic but not just whispered and implied. They really fit in with the story and the characters as well, with an ample amount of sexual tension early on.
I really enjoyed the magical elements of the world, they were well-developed and didn't just feel like something tacked on to take advantage of the fantasy genre to sell books. I'm definitely going to read the rest of this series and I'm going to check out this author's other books. This was a really great entry in the historical romantic fantasy genre!
Felicity Seymour doesn't have any magic and she's dull and forgettable. She's so forgettable that servants run into her and she's sat on at parties. Both of her parents died and now her Uncle and Aunt look after her, but Felicity has to take a test in front of the Prince to prove she can do the magic of a Duchess to keep her title and property.
At this test is the Prince's Baronet, Terrence Blackwell, who is also a shape-shifting lion. Terrence is a relic hunter, he hunts the relics of Merlin, jewels that give the user dark powers. A relic-user killed Terrence's brother so he hunts them at all costs. Shape-shifters are immune to magic, but Terrence uses his keen senses to sniff out the smell of the relics. Once he meets Felicity at her test, he's drawn to both her beauty and the acrid smell of a relic. Terrence courts her to get to the bottom of the mysteries surrounding her.
Felicity is a character that could have been annoying with her naivete, but she's humble and sincere and it's very believable that she's just that innocent. She led a very sheltered life and had hardly anyone to socialize with. Most of the people around her forgot she was even in the room! A lot of times I have a problem with the guy deceiving the girl by dating her with an ulterior motive. Terrence has good intentions though and he's never really that devious when it comes to Felicity. And the romance between them is really hot! The sex scenes are not overly graphic but not just whispered and implied. They really fit in with the story and the characters as well, with an ample amount of sexual tension early on.
I really enjoyed the magical elements of the world, they were well-developed and didn't just feel like something tacked on to take advantage of the fantasy genre to sell books. I'm definitely going to read the rest of this series and I'm going to check out this author's other books. This was a really great entry in the historical romantic fantasy genre!
December 24, 2023
The world-building is fun. Victorian England if the nobility was based on magic. Magic is passed down through generations but each son or daughter of noble houses must pass tests to receive their title. Sort of a twist on being presented to court.
This is safe. I usually say "safe" in a derogatory manner, particularly in the context of purportedly dark romances, but in this context I say this happily. However, heroine may be too passive for some folks.
SPOILERS AHEAD.
The two major sources of conflict do not, for the most part, stir up strong feelings. If you don’t want to feel heavy emotions then this is good.
One major source of conflict is how Terence is a shapeshifter whose brother was betrayed by a woman who used relic magic. Now he has fallen for Felicity, a noble woman who has relic magic around her. As a were-lion to the prince, it is his aim in life to protect the kingdom by finding the rest of the relics, for these relics are the only sources of magic that can challenge the king's power (who has the most magic out of all). Terence decides to get close to Felicity in order to get to the bottom of the mystery. Not only that, but were-species are considered outsiders due to their immunity to magic. He is not welcomed at court by other nobles, so there is a suggestion that Terence feels Felicity would only love him because she has no other suitors.
How this unfolds is quite safe and never becomes the crux of the issue. It is acknowledged and talked about but never any scenes of heat-in-the-moment jealousy or lingering angst etc.
It is clear Terence protects and adores Felicity. There is such a cute scene when he gives her a gift, and it's actually a little funny how they both speak in hushed tones in front of the gift, which is an egg that will hatch a dragonette, a mini-dragon, that Felicity will name Daisy. He never has to deceive her or lie to her. Even when Felicity has to trust in his love for her at a critical juncture, there is no major conflict. She does the right thing.
The second conflict was the one that made me feel a little disturbed. Her uncle and aunt are interestingly characterized. They speak so rationally but are the villains. There was a moment when they lead her down the maze, an underground city of sorcerers and black market magic, and she has been drugged, the way they talk to her, convincing her that Terence doesn't love her, while she is trying to get control over her body and her mind was disturbing. A little Get Out for me.
Felicity comes off naive, but she has also been overlooked over her whole life, due to a spell placed on her where it makes people not notice her� literally servants walking past her or people at parties sitting on top of her� This is a pet peeve of mine, actually. When heroines are drop-dead-gorgeous but not know it, and the hero loves that the heroine is 1) not aware of the affect of her physical appearance on people, and 2) shows she is “down-to-earth� or whatever. This trope was not uncommon when I read romance novels in the early to mid 2000s. It just felt like a woman couldn’t be beautiful without being humble or insecure about it. It’s much more realistic to me if a woman who is conventionally attractive is aware of it. Otherwise, she comes off as naive. Which again, is what this novel is going for, so I did not mind it here.
I did not find this particularly sexy or sensuous read, but I really liked how charming and pleasant this romance was. Although there are like 2 explicit scenes, this feels Clean to me.
This is safe. I usually say "safe" in a derogatory manner, particularly in the context of purportedly dark romances, but in this context I say this happily. However, heroine may be too passive for some folks.
SPOILERS AHEAD.
The two major sources of conflict do not, for the most part, stir up strong feelings. If you don’t want to feel heavy emotions then this is good.
One major source of conflict is how Terence is a shapeshifter whose brother was betrayed by a woman who used relic magic. Now he has fallen for Felicity, a noble woman who has relic magic around her. As a were-lion to the prince, it is his aim in life to protect the kingdom by finding the rest of the relics, for these relics are the only sources of magic that can challenge the king's power (who has the most magic out of all). Terence decides to get close to Felicity in order to get to the bottom of the mystery. Not only that, but were-species are considered outsiders due to their immunity to magic. He is not welcomed at court by other nobles, so there is a suggestion that Terence feels Felicity would only love him because she has no other suitors.
How this unfolds is quite safe and never becomes the crux of the issue. It is acknowledged and talked about but never any scenes of heat-in-the-moment jealousy or lingering angst etc.
It is clear Terence protects and adores Felicity. There is such a cute scene when he gives her a gift, and it's actually a little funny how they both speak in hushed tones in front of the gift, which is an egg that will hatch a dragonette, a mini-dragon, that Felicity will name Daisy. He never has to deceive her or lie to her. Even when Felicity has to trust in his love for her at a critical juncture, there is no major conflict. She does the right thing.
The second conflict was the one that made me feel a little disturbed. Her uncle and aunt are interestingly characterized. They speak so rationally but are the villains. There was a moment when they lead her down the maze, an underground city of sorcerers and black market magic, and she has been drugged, the way they talk to her, convincing her that Terence doesn't love her, while she is trying to get control over her body and her mind was disturbing. A little Get Out for me.
Felicity comes off naive, but she has also been overlooked over her whole life, due to a spell placed on her where it makes people not notice her� literally servants walking past her or people at parties sitting on top of her� This is a pet peeve of mine, actually. When heroines are drop-dead-gorgeous but not know it, and the hero loves that the heroine is 1) not aware of the affect of her physical appearance on people, and 2) shows she is “down-to-earth� or whatever. This trope was not uncommon when I read romance novels in the early to mid 2000s. It just felt like a woman couldn’t be beautiful without being humble or insecure about it. It’s much more realistic to me if a woman who is conventionally attractive is aware of it. Otherwise, she comes off as naive. Which again, is what this novel is going for, so I did not mind it here.
I did not find this particularly sexy or sensuous read, but I really liked how charming and pleasant this romance was. Although there are like 2 explicit scenes, this feels Clean to me.
November 8, 2008
This was a sweet book with a sexy hero who was a shapeshifter, and an endearing heroine who thought she had no powers, but actually had them stolen away. I love the mix of Victorian and magic. Great job on the author's part.
October 16, 2010
Definitely a 4.5 read. This was a Kindle freebie and I was very pleasantly surprised by the engaging story and the likable leads.
Lady Felicity should have inherited magic to spare but she has none. In fact, nobody ever even notices this would-be duchess. Orphaned, living with her aunt and uncle and her jackass cousin, she has near zero confidence and fewer prospects.
Until she meets Sir Terrence Blackwell, one of the loathed shapeshifters who are particular favorites of the prince. He is gorgeous, kind, and he keeps rubbing up against her and making growling noises in the back of his throat. Hmmm.
I read a lot of PNR and urban fantasy, so books with magic are nothing fresh or new for me. However this one was a bit different from my usual in its atmosphere. It was whimsical in places and dark in others. It reminded me very much of Dianna Wynne Jones's worlds where magic is a way of life and part of the caste system. Less of the overwrought, over thought UF style of PNR and more of the fanciful.
Sometimes I'm very disappointed in the freebies I get for my Kindle. That's pretty hard to do when they're free. But this one was delightful and I recommend snapping it up if you have a Kindle or a Kindle reading app. It's free, fer gosh sakes!
Lady Felicity should have inherited magic to spare but she has none. In fact, nobody ever even notices this would-be duchess. Orphaned, living with her aunt and uncle and her jackass cousin, she has near zero confidence and fewer prospects.
Until she meets Sir Terrence Blackwell, one of the loathed shapeshifters who are particular favorites of the prince. He is gorgeous, kind, and he keeps rubbing up against her and making growling noises in the back of his throat. Hmmm.
I read a lot of PNR and urban fantasy, so books with magic are nothing fresh or new for me. However this one was a bit different from my usual in its atmosphere. It was whimsical in places and dark in others. It reminded me very much of Dianna Wynne Jones's worlds where magic is a way of life and part of the caste system. Less of the overwrought, over thought UF style of PNR and more of the fanciful.
Sometimes I'm very disappointed in the freebies I get for my Kindle. That's pretty hard to do when they're free. But this one was delightful and I recommend snapping it up if you have a Kindle or a Kindle reading app. It's free, fer gosh sakes!
February 4, 2010
I really liked this book a lot. It was a romance with really strong fantasy elements that didn't seem just thrown into the mix to add interest. I especially liked the hero and couldn't put it down once I started reading. It'd didn't necessarily blown me over, but it definitely impressed me and has me looking forward to more from the author.
July 30, 2012
I found this book to be adorable, it was just so cute and fun. Not to mention that I liked the society that in this alternate England.
Magic is still around and English society is infused by it. The Royals have the most powers and then the Dukes and so forth. If you are without then you are stripped of titles and lands. Magic rules and different titles have different magic. I really liked what she created and it was interesting.
Our heroine is truly naive, but that is the only way she could be. No one ever notices Felicity and she believes she is a grey little mouse. But there lives a fighter in her that wants to peak her head out. She was sweet and innocent.
While the hero Terrance is something else entirely. There is one class of nobility that has no magic and that magic can't touch and that are the shapeshifters. But the Royals use them as spies since they can sense relic magic. And Terrance, well I wanted to be angry at him for using sweet Felicity, but at the same time he was falling for her so I forgave him. His beast knew better than he did.
A relic of evil magic must be found, a couple fall helplessly in love and all is not well in the country of England.
Such a sweet story that I devoured in a day. Easy to read, easy to fall in love with.
Magic is still around and English society is infused by it. The Royals have the most powers and then the Dukes and so forth. If you are without then you are stripped of titles and lands. Magic rules and different titles have different magic. I really liked what she created and it was interesting.
Our heroine is truly naive, but that is the only way she could be. No one ever notices Felicity and she believes she is a grey little mouse. But there lives a fighter in her that wants to peak her head out. She was sweet and innocent.
While the hero Terrance is something else entirely. There is one class of nobility that has no magic and that magic can't touch and that are the shapeshifters. But the Royals use them as spies since they can sense relic magic. And Terrance, well I wanted to be angry at him for using sweet Felicity, but at the same time he was falling for her so I forgave him. His beast knew better than he did.
A relic of evil magic must be found, a couple fall helplessly in love and all is not well in the country of England.
Such a sweet story that I devoured in a day. Easy to read, easy to fall in love with.
April 9, 2012
After reading the Drowning City, I needed something light and easy to read. Enchanting the Lady defiantly falls into this category. It is a paranormal historical romance, which for me is what I tend to drift towards when I do read a romance book.
The book takes place in London in the late 1800s and is centered on a Lady Felicity who is next in line to Duchess of Stonehaven (her parents died when she was young). However, in this day and age, the only way to achieve status within the monarchy is to possess a certain amount of magical ability. Felicity has gone unnoticed for her entire life, even so far as the servants will forget her or some people even sit on her at balls, she is convinced that she is not a very memorable person either in personality or looks. The great magic within her family has also seemed to have skipped a generation as Felicity seem to have inherited no magic at all but her cousin seems to have inherited magic above the status his parents, which he likes to flaunt in Felicity’s face by sending her scary illusions. So the day comes when Felicity is forced to take a test to prove she has the magic to hold the position of Duchess, but she fails, badly. She is now striped of her lands, title, everything and further humiliation, she is forced to attend the ball to celebrate all those who have passed. Enter Barnet Sir Terence Blackwell, a were-lion who is in service to the king. He immediately notices Felicity and smells something strange on her, relic-magic. Relic magic is deadly and forbidden within the kingdom. Weres are immune to all magic therefore, they are the perfect hunters of these relics, and Blackwell’s family have been relic hunters for the King for generations. Blackwell decides that the only way to discover the relic that Felicity possesses is it to court her and get her to trust him. It starts out of him just going to use her, but the more he is with her the more his beast side tells him Mate. But there is trouble, and it is set on these two not being together, and this force will stop at nothing to possess the relic.
This book is cute and full of whimsy. Kennedy defiantly has a sense of enchantment when she writes. From having carriages driven by sea horses, to the balls that Felicity attends there is defiantly a sense of fantasy. My favourite part in the book, and also part of the fantasy aspect, is the Dragonette, Daisy, I thought she was a unique addition that I had not read before. It was also different that weres do not change into a bigger version of their animal but to the exact size. Therefore, if someone was a were-bunny, when they changed into their animal size they would be an actual bunny (not too sure how safe that would be). It was also funny that weres did have some feature or habit that was associated with their were creature, Felicity was ever trying to figure out what an individual would turn into. For example Blackwell’s hair looked like a mane.
This was a good easy read, I would say another filler book, for me, compared to what I usually read, but I think those people who do like paranormal historical romance books will enjoy this trip back to the 1800s.
Enjoy!!!
The book takes place in London in the late 1800s and is centered on a Lady Felicity who is next in line to Duchess of Stonehaven (her parents died when she was young). However, in this day and age, the only way to achieve status within the monarchy is to possess a certain amount of magical ability. Felicity has gone unnoticed for her entire life, even so far as the servants will forget her or some people even sit on her at balls, she is convinced that she is not a very memorable person either in personality or looks. The great magic within her family has also seemed to have skipped a generation as Felicity seem to have inherited no magic at all but her cousin seems to have inherited magic above the status his parents, which he likes to flaunt in Felicity’s face by sending her scary illusions. So the day comes when Felicity is forced to take a test to prove she has the magic to hold the position of Duchess, but she fails, badly. She is now striped of her lands, title, everything and further humiliation, she is forced to attend the ball to celebrate all those who have passed. Enter Barnet Sir Terence Blackwell, a were-lion who is in service to the king. He immediately notices Felicity and smells something strange on her, relic-magic. Relic magic is deadly and forbidden within the kingdom. Weres are immune to all magic therefore, they are the perfect hunters of these relics, and Blackwell’s family have been relic hunters for the King for generations. Blackwell decides that the only way to discover the relic that Felicity possesses is it to court her and get her to trust him. It starts out of him just going to use her, but the more he is with her the more his beast side tells him Mate. But there is trouble, and it is set on these two not being together, and this force will stop at nothing to possess the relic.
This book is cute and full of whimsy. Kennedy defiantly has a sense of enchantment when she writes. From having carriages driven by sea horses, to the balls that Felicity attends there is defiantly a sense of fantasy. My favourite part in the book, and also part of the fantasy aspect, is the Dragonette, Daisy, I thought she was a unique addition that I had not read before. It was also different that weres do not change into a bigger version of their animal but to the exact size. Therefore, if someone was a were-bunny, when they changed into their animal size they would be an actual bunny (not too sure how safe that would be). It was also funny that weres did have some feature or habit that was associated with their were creature, Felicity was ever trying to figure out what an individual would turn into. For example Blackwell’s hair looked like a mane.
This was a good easy read, I would say another filler book, for me, compared to what I usually read, but I think those people who do like paranormal historical romance books will enjoy this trip back to the 1800s.
Enjoy!!!
October 11, 2008
The novel is set in an alternate Victorian England where your social position is determined by your magical abilities. Felicity Seymour is a daughter of a duke and should be swimming in magical ability but isn’t. In fact, she spends most of her life ignored and forgotten. Really. Since she was a child people have had a difficult time noticing or remembering her - until she meets Sir Terence Blackwell, a werelion who can actually see her. Shifters are a necessary evil in Victorian society, immune to magic and illusions, shifters hunt down relics that threaten the crown, but they are disliked and feared by the polite world. Felicity and Terence, both outcasts, are naturally drawn to each other. Their courtship is made difficult by family, social position, and a dangerous relic.
It’s hard to say if this is a fantasy novel with a lot of romance or a romance with a lot of fantasy. Finding out what’s happened to Felicity and what’s causing it is as much of the focus as the growing relationship between the two leads. That isn’t a criticism, but if you want a straight forward romance with some sizzling - hot werelion sexing, this isn’t it.
It’s hard to say if this is a fantasy novel with a lot of romance or a romance with a lot of fantasy. Finding out what’s happened to Felicity and what’s causing it is as much of the focus as the growing relationship between the two leads. That isn’t a criticism, but if you want a straight forward romance with some sizzling - hot werelion sexing, this isn’t it.
February 12, 2019
The book is enjoyable and an interesting take on magic. It’s set in I want to think 1800’s maybe? I loved it. It was engaging and the h was very naive but it’s to be expected due to the era. Some parts were predictable but for the most part I really enjoyed the story. It’s a small, light, pretty easy to read book.
July 31, 2016
Loved it! Old London with a were-lion :)
April 2, 2009
Lady Felicity lost her parents when she was a young girl, and since then she’s lived with relatives (her aunt, uncle, and cousin). She’s the heir to Stonehaven, but when she faces her testing � to determine whether she has enough magic to keep her title � she fails and is demoted to “Miss� Felicity, of commoner status. As if that isn’t enough humiliation, Felicity has her coming out celebration the very evening of her defeat where everyone treats her as if she doesn’t exist. After nearly colliding with a serving man, Felicity is rescued by a most unexpected person � the Baronet, Terence Blackwell. He can see through any magic � it doesn’t affect him because he’s a werecreature (a lion, to be exact). He and Felicity are immediately attracted to one another, although in Blackwell’s case, what draws him to Felicity initially is the relic magic he can smell all around her. Blackwell decides to court Felicity, even though she has no prospects, in order to find the relic that either she or someone close to her is using.
Because this is a supernatural paranormal romantic suspense mystery (whew!), we find out that Felicity has been under a spell for most of her life � placed on her by her scheming relatives who want her estates for their own. Her aunt uses one of the missing relic stones (made by Merlin) to keep Felicity practically invisible and to transfer her powers to herself and her son (so that he can pass the tests). Blackwell and Felicity end up together (after Blackwell admits to some deceit on his part) and she regains her magic (although, not her estates) and learns how to transform herself into a lioness (to match her leonine husband) and devote her energies to helping him track down the other relic stones.
Although the magical world isn’t all that well-developed (the magic seems mostly illusion-based, but there are references to Merlin, and a dangerous Underworld), and some of the were-lion characteristics were laughable (he makes a lot of silly noises in his throat), and there were entirely too many references to the “swell� of Felicity’s bosom, this was still quite entertaining. It moved along apace, Felicity’s cluelessness was more adorable than annoying, and the scenes between Felicity and Blackwell were deliciously convincing. I kind of rolled my eyes at the end when Felicity shows off her new transformative powers (puh-lease), but overall I had fun with this.
Because this is a supernatural paranormal romantic suspense mystery (whew!), we find out that Felicity has been under a spell for most of her life � placed on her by her scheming relatives who want her estates for their own. Her aunt uses one of the missing relic stones (made by Merlin) to keep Felicity practically invisible and to transfer her powers to herself and her son (so that he can pass the tests). Blackwell and Felicity end up together (after Blackwell admits to some deceit on his part) and she regains her magic (although, not her estates) and learns how to transform herself into a lioness (to match her leonine husband) and devote her energies to helping him track down the other relic stones.
Although the magical world isn’t all that well-developed (the magic seems mostly illusion-based, but there are references to Merlin, and a dangerous Underworld), and some of the were-lion characteristics were laughable (he makes a lot of silly noises in his throat), and there were entirely too many references to the “swell� of Felicity’s bosom, this was still quite entertaining. It moved along apace, Felicity’s cluelessness was more adorable than annoying, and the scenes between Felicity and Blackwell were deliciously convincing. I kind of rolled my eyes at the end when Felicity shows off her new transformative powers (puh-lease), but overall I had fun with this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 9, 2010
I downloaded this book for my nook as a Free Fridays book from B&N. So far, I've really enjoyed their Free books--even if I don't like a title, they've helped me discover which authors to ignore in the future. When the only thing I have to sacrifice to try a new book/author is time (rather than money--or dignity by asking that my library find a copy for me!), I'm often willing to take the chance.
Thankfully, I picked up this book when I was in the perfect mood for it. I wanted a light-hearted romance without too much graphic sex. And that's what I got.
Light-hearted is perhaps a strange way to describe this book. It's not funny. It's not even silly. But it is a fun, involving sort of read, one that didn't make me angry (as bad romance novels often do . . .) That's enough for me to call a book light-hearted.
I think my favorite aspect of the book is the world that Kennedy built. It's an alternate Victoria England (where apparently Victoria has a sense of humor . . .), and rather than pass down titles purely through primogeniture, they also pass through magic. Basically, the nobility are ranked according to their degree of magical prowess, and their children only inherit their titles upon proving that they also have the same level of magic. As the novel opens, Felicity is about to take the test to determine if she will be a duchess, and she knows that it's going to go badly. Despite her uncle's faithful teaching, she's never been able to master the smallest of magics, and the thought of losing her late parents' estates terrifies her.
At the testing, only one man seems to notice how beautiful Felicity is. His name is Terrance, and he's a baronet. In this world, the lowest rank of nobility is reserved not for magic-users, but for those immune to magic--shapeshifters. He can see that there is magic of some kind surrounding the woman, but he'll have to get to know her in order to discover if he's a villain or a victim, a friend or enemy to the throne he's sworn to protect.
I will definitely seek out the other two books in this series when I need something fun. This title was not so enchanting that I must read them today, but I believe that they'll be a good read when I need one.
Thankfully, I picked up this book when I was in the perfect mood for it. I wanted a light-hearted romance without too much graphic sex. And that's what I got.
Light-hearted is perhaps a strange way to describe this book. It's not funny. It's not even silly. But it is a fun, involving sort of read, one that didn't make me angry (as bad romance novels often do . . .) That's enough for me to call a book light-hearted.
I think my favorite aspect of the book is the world that Kennedy built. It's an alternate Victoria England (where apparently Victoria has a sense of humor . . .), and rather than pass down titles purely through primogeniture, they also pass through magic. Basically, the nobility are ranked according to their degree of magical prowess, and their children only inherit their titles upon proving that they also have the same level of magic. As the novel opens, Felicity is about to take the test to determine if she will be a duchess, and she knows that it's going to go badly. Despite her uncle's faithful teaching, she's never been able to master the smallest of magics, and the thought of losing her late parents' estates terrifies her.
At the testing, only one man seems to notice how beautiful Felicity is. His name is Terrance, and he's a baronet. In this world, the lowest rank of nobility is reserved not for magic-users, but for those immune to magic--shapeshifters. He can see that there is magic of some kind surrounding the woman, but he'll have to get to know her in order to discover if he's a villain or a victim, a friend or enemy to the throne he's sworn to protect.
I will definitely seek out the other two books in this series when I need something fun. This title was not so enchanting that I must read them today, but I believe that they'll be a good read when I need one.
May 14, 2025
The heroine feels like such a disappointment to her family when it becomes clear that not only is she not beautiful but she inherited nothing of her parents magic abilities. As such, she's stripped of her title and without the good charity of her aunt and uncle she was be out in the streets. Then she catches the eye of a baronet- a lion shifter. She's astonished that not only can he see her, he also makes his intentions to court her known. The hero is on the hunt for a relic and when he smells the evil magic on the timid but stunning young woman, he's intrigued. He lies to himself about only courting her to get close to the artifact when in fact he's deeply attracted to her. His lion is crying mate and he knows that every second he spends in her company makes it harder and harder to keep himself from falling in love with her. This was a great story. The heroine has had a 'don't notice me' spell put on her as a child but doesn't know it. All her life she's felts inadequate and rather useless. She's lost her partners, her title and everything that makes one relevant in the world. But the hero makes her feel special. His kind aren't welcome in society because of the fact that they aren't affected by the magic that rules their world. As such, he's an outcast and considered nothing more than an animal. But she's enraptured by him. Not only does he pay her attention, but he's protective and kind and everything she wants in a man. With her low self-esteem, she's hesitant to truly belief one such as him would want a magic less, destitute spinster but her heart yearns for him. The hero feels extremely guilty over the fact the he started out their courtship as a lie but he's more angry at himself because it's soon becomes apparent he's falling in love with her. Honestly it wasn't much of a leap for the reader to see through him. I thought the aunt and uncle were extremely creepy from the jump so it came as no surprise when their true motives came to light. I liken the fact that the cousin-once painted the villain- actually turned out to be a decent enough guy. This was a lovely story set in a very magical and unique setting. I loved the tale of the lion man and his timid innocent lady.
December 12, 2010
I'm having a historical shape-shifting bonanza of books all of a sudden. It's fantastic! Guys, I had no idea I was missing out on this whole subset of books. No idea. None. And now that I know I can't un-know it. It's there. I'll have to seek out more of these books. And I'll have to read them. And I'll be daydreaming about hunky shapeshifters who flout society's rules and live large. I love it!
I liked that magic was out in the open in this book. In fact, the degree of magic one possesses is directly related to how far up the nobility ladder they get to climb. The one exception to this rule are the shapeshifters, who are immune to magic and can't actively work magic being that they're magic themselves. This immunity is what makes them so well suited to hunting for the Relics of Merlin and what gives them a place among the magical nobles.
The spell that Felicity was put under, the one that made her unnoticeable to most everyone, made her a very sympathetic character. I mean, we've all had times where we think no one notices us. It's just that in her case it was that they literally didn't notice her. That just... sucks. To have someone walk into you because they didn't see you? To have them look past you like you're not there? Talk about a way to kill someone's self esteem. Yikes.
So, yeah. I liked the book. The world felt very well developed and the action was fast paced. The sexy shenanigans were, umm, sexy. I'm totally on board with the historical shapeshifters now that I know about them.
-Kelly @
I liked that magic was out in the open in this book. In fact, the degree of magic one possesses is directly related to how far up the nobility ladder they get to climb. The one exception to this rule are the shapeshifters, who are immune to magic and can't actively work magic being that they're magic themselves. This immunity is what makes them so well suited to hunting for the Relics of Merlin and what gives them a place among the magical nobles.
The spell that Felicity was put under, the one that made her unnoticeable to most everyone, made her a very sympathetic character. I mean, we've all had times where we think no one notices us. It's just that in her case it was that they literally didn't notice her. That just... sucks. To have someone walk into you because they didn't see you? To have them look past you like you're not there? Talk about a way to kill someone's self esteem. Yikes.
So, yeah. I liked the book. The world felt very well developed and the action was fast paced. The sexy shenanigans were, umm, sexy. I'm totally on board with the historical shapeshifters now that I know about them.
-Kelly @
January 7, 2011
Seriously embarrassing, but felt this one had to make it onto the ŷ shelf.
While I've read a book about reading romance novels (Reading the Romance, by Janice A. Radway--GREAT book), I've never actually read a romance novel. And didn't mean to start when I downloaded Enchanting the Lady (for free) on my Kindle. From the description it sounded like a fun fantasy book.
So I start reading and all is well for about two chapters. The writing isn't stellar, and I'm starting to think that maybe this is YA fantasy, but that's cool, I like YA. Kennedy sets up a society in which the aristocratic order is based on one's level of proficiency in magic (the King is the most magically talented and so on down). In order to hold her standing in society, our heroine must pass a magical examination. Pretty standard fantasy stuff.
At the end of her less-than-stellar exam, the hero of the story, who has been watching her struggle to perform the magic properly, starts describing the heroine. He's remarking to himself how pale she is, then, out of nowhere, he wonders: "What would she look like with a blush to her cheeks from a round of fevered lovemaking?"
And I'm like, "Huh? That's not appropriate for a YA novel!"
Needless to say, I read the entire book in two sittings;)
Still, I don't think I'll make romance novels part of my normal reading routine. If it hadn't been for a decent fantasy element, I would have been bored, as well as more annoyed with the writing. But, yes, I admit it: I liked it.
While I've read a book about reading romance novels (Reading the Romance, by Janice A. Radway--GREAT book), I've never actually read a romance novel. And didn't mean to start when I downloaded Enchanting the Lady (for free) on my Kindle. From the description it sounded like a fun fantasy book.
So I start reading and all is well for about two chapters. The writing isn't stellar, and I'm starting to think that maybe this is YA fantasy, but that's cool, I like YA. Kennedy sets up a society in which the aristocratic order is based on one's level of proficiency in magic (the King is the most magically talented and so on down). In order to hold her standing in society, our heroine must pass a magical examination. Pretty standard fantasy stuff.
At the end of her less-than-stellar exam, the hero of the story, who has been watching her struggle to perform the magic properly, starts describing the heroine. He's remarking to himself how pale she is, then, out of nowhere, he wonders: "What would she look like with a blush to her cheeks from a round of fevered lovemaking?"
And I'm like, "Huh? That's not appropriate for a YA novel!"
Needless to say, I read the entire book in two sittings;)
Still, I don't think I'll make romance novels part of my normal reading routine. If it hadn't been for a decent fantasy element, I would have been bored, as well as more annoyed with the writing. But, yes, I admit it: I liked it.
March 30, 2011
This book was total cute fluff. I knew that from the beginning and thus totally enjoyed it. I think if I had gone into it hoping for more intense characters or more twisted plot I would have been disappointed, but I didn't so I wasn't!
The good characters were adorable and pure, while the villains were evil and extremely crazy. They were all a bit cheesy but I think that was part of the books charm.
The plot while predictable was set in a pretty unique world. Magical ability is due to birth, and the amount of power you have determines your rank within the ton. Without magic the main female character loses her rank as duchess, her lands, her position - basically everything.
If you like historical romances and paranormal romances and fluff this is definitely a book for you!
The good characters were adorable and pure, while the villains were evil and extremely crazy. They were all a bit cheesy but I think that was part of the books charm.
The plot while predictable was set in a pretty unique world. Magical ability is due to birth, and the amount of power you have determines your rank within the ton. Without magic the main female character loses her rank as duchess, her lands, her position - basically everything.
If you like historical romances and paranormal romances and fluff this is definitely a book for you!
November 24, 2010
Well, this is an interesting twist, Victorian romance in a Harry Potter world. I'm not sure I was ever able to buy into the carriages that resembled sea shells drawn by sea horses, the magical illusions of gingerbread houses in Grosvenor Square or Prince Albert conducting magic testing but the story itself was delightful and very well written.
February 9, 2016
Felicity has always gone unnoticed her entire life. Not just unnoticed, but totally unseen. She has had people sit on her, walk straight into her, and not even see her when she's in the same room. She always thought it was the fact that she was not beautiful enough to be noticed or remembered, but when she shows up to the Prince's annual magic testing, Terrance instantly notices the relic-magic surrounding her. To him, she is the most beautiful woman he has ever seen and he is determined to not only get to the bottom of the relic-magic but to make Felicity his as well... only he is unaware of the latter. With the danger of the relic-magic, Terrance must find not only the relic hosting the power but the person behind this evil magic and destroy them. He just hopes that that person isn't Felicity herself.
Poor Felicity is always overlooked and it is sad to see how low her self-esteem is because of it. However, when she walks into her testing room and sees Terrance looking at her, she is instantly drawn to him. Later at the coming out party for everyone who had their testings, Terrance saves her from a near collision with other party goers who clearly doesn't see her. She is elated that not only does Terrance see her but he seems truly interested in courting her as well. Something that she felt would never happen for her.
Terrance is a were-shifter. A lion to be precise and almost everyone either is afraid of him or is disgusted with him for what he is. He is also a relic hunter and hunts the jewels that wields dark magic. Were's are immune to magic and therefor he's able to see through whatever spell that has been placed on Felicity. When he notices the relic magic around Felicity he sets out a plan to court her in order to get to the bottom of the magic. However, the more time he spends with her the more he comes to care for her.
The story flows very well at a consistent pace. At first you are thrown into Felicity's testing and watch as Terrance and Felicity start their new relationship. About halfway through you start to get more action as Terrance starts to get to the bottom of the relic magic. I was a fan of the fantasy that the author portrayed in the story. Everyone has magic and something was always going on, whether it was cool light displays or fancyfighting techniques. I would almost say that the world the author created was like Harry Potter. It was just very magical. I also just want to add that I absolutely adored the Dragonette, Daisy. ;) She was but a little thing... but a fiesty thing that is not to be messed with.
Favorite part...
Felicity asks Terrance if there's a difference between when he shifts with clothes versus without. So, the next time he goes to shift he strips down to see if there's a difference. His fellow shifter friend see him in his lion form, circling around checking out his pelt, and is baffled at what he's doing. I just thought the whole thing was funny because 1) he didn't know if there was a difference, and 2) after their first encounter, Felicity had already gotten inside of his head.
Poor Felicity is always overlooked and it is sad to see how low her self-esteem is because of it. However, when she walks into her testing room and sees Terrance looking at her, she is instantly drawn to him. Later at the coming out party for everyone who had their testings, Terrance saves her from a near collision with other party goers who clearly doesn't see her. She is elated that not only does Terrance see her but he seems truly interested in courting her as well. Something that she felt would never happen for her.
Terrance is a were-shifter. A lion to be precise and almost everyone either is afraid of him or is disgusted with him for what he is. He is also a relic hunter and hunts the jewels that wields dark magic. Were's are immune to magic and therefor he's able to see through whatever spell that has been placed on Felicity. When he notices the relic magic around Felicity he sets out a plan to court her in order to get to the bottom of the magic. However, the more time he spends with her the more he comes to care for her.
The story flows very well at a consistent pace. At first you are thrown into Felicity's testing and watch as Terrance and Felicity start their new relationship. About halfway through you start to get more action as Terrance starts to get to the bottom of the relic magic. I was a fan of the fantasy that the author portrayed in the story. Everyone has magic and something was always going on, whether it was cool light displays or fancyfighting techniques. I would almost say that the world the author created was like Harry Potter. It was just very magical. I also just want to add that I absolutely adored the Dragonette, Daisy. ;) She was but a little thing... but a fiesty thing that is not to be messed with.
Favorite part...
Felicity asks Terrance if there's a difference between when he shifts with clothes versus without. So, the next time he goes to shift he strips down to see if there's a difference. His fellow shifter friend see him in his lion form, circling around checking out his pelt, and is baffled at what he's doing. I just thought the whole thing was funny because 1) he didn't know if there was a difference, and 2) after their first encounter, Felicity had already gotten inside of his head.
March 29, 2015
Reading the synopsis above, what on earth is a duchy??
I generally don't read paranormal romance like this, but it was sent through a book club I'm in (her premier into Dorchester). Although it was a bit heavy on the fantasy I was able to enjoy the book for what it's worth; the characters were easy to get into and the writing style was descriptive and smooth. Scenes ran together quickly, not lagging to allow dull moments, while there was plenty of tension (particularly on Blackwell's side) to keep suspense in the air at all times.
I had begun to suspect one of the culprits before the hero seemed to, and am a bit surprised he didn't catch on earlier. The side sub-plot of Cousin Ralph dished out a surprisingly juicy tidbit, and the story began with a dreadfully tense moment where she was revealed as being powerful. I literally bit my lip through the entire scene, practically feeling her humiliation. I found the heroine's preoccupation with Blackwell's sisters a little too much on the melodramatic side, but hey, whatever floats the characters boat. The ending where she shows a new talent toward her mate was also almost too convenient and slightly cheesy, but in another way warm and the only way it could be. (I don't almost make sense here, folks.) I haven't read Kennedy before, but the woman has a wonderful way with words that manages to convey emotion admirably.
The world is much different than others typically penned; titles are granted not on money and esteem and family name, but on the amount of magic descendants prove. There are relics to be used for dark magic, which the court cannot defend themselves against, and these relics are why I think this is borderline fantasy. I never would have envisioned a seductive lion, but Blackwell is done in a way to where it works. I'm more of a vamp gal than a shifter fan, but nevertheless it was still a rewarding reading experience.
This Victorian-type fairy tale is laden with beautiful settings, an almost mystical enemy (have to love the plants), funny sidekicks, and a blissfully happy ending. I especially enjoyed how Blackwell threw everything out the window eventually, even deciding that if the magic were being used by Felicity for evil purposes, that he would still love her. There's enough of a mystery present to keep the reader wondering about various aspects and in the dark to the true intent of many; in the end it all wraps together and leaves no loose weavings that would ultimately unravel this wondrous tale.
If you are into paranormal romance with a bite of fantasy, this is sure to please. At 292 pages, it's a shorter novel, and with Kennedy's writing style, it goes even quicker.
I generally don't read paranormal romance like this, but it was sent through a book club I'm in (her premier into Dorchester). Although it was a bit heavy on the fantasy I was able to enjoy the book for what it's worth; the characters were easy to get into and the writing style was descriptive and smooth. Scenes ran together quickly, not lagging to allow dull moments, while there was plenty of tension (particularly on Blackwell's side) to keep suspense in the air at all times.
I had begun to suspect one of the culprits before the hero seemed to, and am a bit surprised he didn't catch on earlier. The side sub-plot of Cousin Ralph dished out a surprisingly juicy tidbit, and the story began with a dreadfully tense moment where she was revealed as being powerful. I literally bit my lip through the entire scene, practically feeling her humiliation. I found the heroine's preoccupation with Blackwell's sisters a little too much on the melodramatic side, but hey, whatever floats the characters boat. The ending where she shows a new talent toward her mate was also almost too convenient and slightly cheesy, but in another way warm and the only way it could be. (I don't almost make sense here, folks.) I haven't read Kennedy before, but the woman has a wonderful way with words that manages to convey emotion admirably.
The world is much different than others typically penned; titles are granted not on money and esteem and family name, but on the amount of magic descendants prove. There are relics to be used for dark magic, which the court cannot defend themselves against, and these relics are why I think this is borderline fantasy. I never would have envisioned a seductive lion, but Blackwell is done in a way to where it works. I'm more of a vamp gal than a shifter fan, but nevertheless it was still a rewarding reading experience.
This Victorian-type fairy tale is laden with beautiful settings, an almost mystical enemy (have to love the plants), funny sidekicks, and a blissfully happy ending. I especially enjoyed how Blackwell threw everything out the window eventually, even deciding that if the magic were being used by Felicity for evil purposes, that he would still love her. There's enough of a mystery present to keep the reader wondering about various aspects and in the dark to the true intent of many; in the end it all wraps together and leaves no loose weavings that would ultimately unravel this wondrous tale.
If you are into paranormal romance with a bite of fantasy, this is sure to please. At 292 pages, it's a shorter novel, and with Kennedy's writing style, it goes even quicker.
February 26, 2016
I was debating between 3-4 stars but after careful consideration, feel 3 is about right.
It was pretty good. Entertaining, but a bit predictable. It dragged a little at about 50%.
This is a story involving magic, evil, shifters, and romance.
We have heorine Felicity who is daughter to two powerfully magical parents who died and left her to be raised by her aunt and uncle. Felicity goes to be "tested to see how much or if any magic abilities she has. In this world, the level of your magic abilities denotes your noble standing in society.
Her cousin has some ability with illusions, her uncle with herbs, wards and potions, her aunt claims to have none. Felicity also feels she has no ability as well.
In this world, shifters have no magic but are also immune to magic as well, therefore it is why the Prince has chosen their kind to act as spies, and locate Merlins 13 evil and powerful relics.
Terrance Blackwell is a lion-shifter who is close with the Prince. It is at Felicity's testing in front of the prince where Terrance sniffs some relic-magic and is drawn to Felicity, both by her beauty and her possible connection to one of the relics.
I really like this beautiful world the author has created. The story is pretty good although it does drag at one point, the last half makes up for it with wonderful tension.
The characters are relatively developed, but not as much as they could be. I wanted to know more about Terrance and was hoping to see the series continue with these characters, but I read the summary of the next few and find they move on to different stories with new characters. Disappointing.
I lowered the stars for a few reasons. One being that I would have liked to see Terrance as more of an alpha with a more possessiveness. I did like that he was not a manwhore, or at least it is left unsaid about his past women. His character should have been more developed, and I found he was a bit flat. The h was weak, and at times annoying, I wanted her to be stronger. She wasn't whinny, or TSTL, but bordered on it. Still she was likable enough to continue.
The romance was irritating and I didn't feel the passion and need for each other as I would have liked. The steam level was meh. One loving scene and it contained too much talking.
I don't think I will continue the series.
It was pretty good. Entertaining, but a bit predictable. It dragged a little at about 50%.
This is a story involving magic, evil, shifters, and romance.
We have heorine Felicity who is daughter to two powerfully magical parents who died and left her to be raised by her aunt and uncle. Felicity goes to be "tested to see how much or if any magic abilities she has. In this world, the level of your magic abilities denotes your noble standing in society.
Her cousin has some ability with illusions, her uncle with herbs, wards and potions, her aunt claims to have none. Felicity also feels she has no ability as well.
In this world, shifters have no magic but are also immune to magic as well, therefore it is why the Prince has chosen their kind to act as spies, and locate Merlins 13 evil and powerful relics.
Terrance Blackwell is a lion-shifter who is close with the Prince. It is at Felicity's testing in front of the prince where Terrance sniffs some relic-magic and is drawn to Felicity, both by her beauty and her possible connection to one of the relics.
I really like this beautiful world the author has created. The story is pretty good although it does drag at one point, the last half makes up for it with wonderful tension.
The characters are relatively developed, but not as much as they could be. I wanted to know more about Terrance and was hoping to see the series continue with these characters, but I read the summary of the next few and find they move on to different stories with new characters. Disappointing.
I lowered the stars for a few reasons. One being that I would have liked to see Terrance as more of an alpha with a more possessiveness. I did like that he was not a manwhore, or at least it is left unsaid about his past women. His character should have been more developed, and I found he was a bit flat. The h was weak, and at times annoying, I wanted her to be stronger. She wasn't whinny, or TSTL, but bordered on it. Still she was likable enough to continue.
The romance was irritating and I didn't feel the passion and need for each other as I would have liked. The steam level was meh. One loving scene and it contained too much talking.
I don't think I will continue the series.
May 13, 2011
Books frequently get paired in my head, based on similarity of theme or setting or some other imponderable that causes me to shelve my books in scales of what they make me feel like. This book's "sister from another mother" is Soulless by Gail Carriger.
I bought it as an ebook, because it sounded fun and charming, in the vein of Sorcery and Cecilia. It's a Victorianish romance, with bustles, gaslight and railroads. It also has shapeshifters, magical artifacts, and dastardly deeds. The premise is that magic is hereditary, and the nobility and gentry hold their estates by virtue of their ability to perform different levels of magic. Shapeshifters are immune to magic. My little monkey brain spent far more time than it should have trying to figure out what happens to an estate if the magical heir (and there is usually only one) should happen to die off. This may not be a problem for people less steeped in the contemplation of primogeniture.
Our heroine is in a bad spot. She can't work enough magic to hold onto her title and now she has come of age, and must be presented at court and magically tested. If she fails, the title will fall to her odious cousin. At her presentation ball, she meets a tall, attractive stranger. Because she is used to people ignoring or forgetting her, she has an unusually blunt and honest way of expressing herself, which impresses Our Hero.
In the finest of traditions, he courts her to get something from her. He wants both the usual something and a lead on the artifacts. There is a lot of hot and heavy making out, and she is really pretty assertive for a sheltered maiden. I thought, though, that her habitual self-doubt and second-guessing was just this side of annoying. And sometimes that side of annoying.
I thought the society was very interesting, the sense of place was negligible, the historiography suspect, the story engaging, and the characters middlin'.
Read if: you like magical costume-drama romances, you've run out of Gail Carriger, and you will not be convulsed in giggles every time she contemplates his "shaft".
Skip if: you are looking for chewy alternate history, you care about how magical systems can be consistent, you are not into books that are primarily romance.
I bought it as an ebook, because it sounded fun and charming, in the vein of Sorcery and Cecilia. It's a Victorianish romance, with bustles, gaslight and railroads. It also has shapeshifters, magical artifacts, and dastardly deeds. The premise is that magic is hereditary, and the nobility and gentry hold their estates by virtue of their ability to perform different levels of magic. Shapeshifters are immune to magic. My little monkey brain spent far more time than it should have trying to figure out what happens to an estate if the magical heir (and there is usually only one) should happen to die off. This may not be a problem for people less steeped in the contemplation of primogeniture.
Our heroine is in a bad spot. She can't work enough magic to hold onto her title and now she has come of age, and must be presented at court and magically tested. If she fails, the title will fall to her odious cousin. At her presentation ball, she meets a tall, attractive stranger. Because she is used to people ignoring or forgetting her, she has an unusually blunt and honest way of expressing herself, which impresses Our Hero.
In the finest of traditions, he courts her to get something from her. He wants both the usual something and a lead on the artifacts. There is a lot of hot and heavy making out, and she is really pretty assertive for a sheltered maiden. I thought, though, that her habitual self-doubt and second-guessing was just this side of annoying. And sometimes that side of annoying.
I thought the society was very interesting, the sense of place was negligible, the historiography suspect, the story engaging, and the characters middlin'.
Read if: you like magical costume-drama romances, you've run out of Gail Carriger, and you will not be convulsed in giggles every time she contemplates his "shaft".
Skip if: you are looking for chewy alternate history, you care about how magical systems can be consistent, you are not into books that are primarily romance.
August 8, 2012
I downloaded this from Discover a new love since I read and liked The Firelord's lover a couple of years ago.
This is a light paranormal, set in an alternate Victorian London. I had a lot of fun trying to guess which parts of London the different neighborhoods was based on. The alternative place names felt right and reflected the neighborhoods status. How the magic system was set up appealed a lot too me. I liked that you ( and your family) could raise or fall in status, depending on which kind of magic you had. I also liked that no one could do everything.
The thing I liked most about this book was Terence and Felicity. Both of them were shaped by their backgrounds. Terrence just lost his brother, and is fiercely protective of his remaining family. And I liked the lengths he went to protect Felicity.
Felicity has spent her life being ignored. And her adaptions to that made me smile. But the first scenes made my heart ache as well since they showed very clearly how her life must have been.
Too me the plot was very predicable. From the way they met, to their courtship and then their HEA. The thing that kept me reading was Terence and Felicity's relationship, but when I stopped reading yesterday I wasn't sure if I would finish this. In fact, it wasn't until the last 70 pages or so that I felt that I was interested in what happened next.
A lot of that stemmed from my main problem with this book: I had a lot of problem connecting with the characters. I liked Terence and Felicity, but I didn't love them. It felt like their feelings were just hinted at, and never truly shown. Which is too bad, since I felt that there was a lot of promise in the worldbuilding, and in parts of the plot.
This is a light paranormal, set in an alternate Victorian London. I had a lot of fun trying to guess which parts of London the different neighborhoods was based on. The alternative place names felt right and reflected the neighborhoods status. How the magic system was set up appealed a lot too me. I liked that you ( and your family) could raise or fall in status, depending on which kind of magic you had. I also liked that no one could do everything.
The thing I liked most about this book was Terence and Felicity. Both of them were shaped by their backgrounds. Terrence just lost his brother, and is fiercely protective of his remaining family. And I liked the lengths he went to protect Felicity.
Felicity has spent her life being ignored. And her adaptions to that made me smile. But the first scenes made my heart ache as well since they showed very clearly how her life must have been.
Too me the plot was very predicable. From the way they met, to their courtship and then their HEA. The thing that kept me reading was Terence and Felicity's relationship, but when I stopped reading yesterday I wasn't sure if I would finish this. In fact, it wasn't until the last 70 pages or so that I felt that I was interested in what happened next.
A lot of that stemmed from my main problem with this book: I had a lot of problem connecting with the characters. I liked Terence and Felicity, but I didn't love them. It felt like their feelings were just hinted at, and never truly shown. Which is too bad, since I felt that there was a lot of promise in the worldbuilding, and in parts of the plot.
August 17, 2012
Kennedy brings just the right amount of fantasy to Victorian London. Enchanting the Lady has magic, shifters, and even dragons.
Felicity is a stunningly beautiful and powerful young woman. But she doesn’t know it. Having lived her life under a powerful spell and hidden away in the country she thinks very little of herself. So when the King’s right hand man (shifter) lays eyes on her she is very unprepared.
Terrence works for the King as a relic hunter. Relics are remnants of Merlin’s time and hold so much magic in them it corrupts the user. Having had close experience with relic users he is committed to ridding the world of the dark magic. So when he scents it on the intriguing Lady Felicity he is torn between his mission and the call of his mate.
Felicity is very innocent, at times too much. But it does fit the storyline. Terrence is an impressive lion, very alpha. They each fall fast and hard, no question there. The part that keeps you reading is the mystery of the relic, where it is, who is using it, and how is Felicity wrapped up with it?
This series has promise. It is a sweet fantasy with well written characters. It will be fun to see who Kennedy features in the second book.
Review posted at Reading Between the Wines blog:
(copy courtesy of NetGalley)
Felicity is a stunningly beautiful and powerful young woman. But she doesn’t know it. Having lived her life under a powerful spell and hidden away in the country she thinks very little of herself. So when the King’s right hand man (shifter) lays eyes on her she is very unprepared.
Terrence works for the King as a relic hunter. Relics are remnants of Merlin’s time and hold so much magic in them it corrupts the user. Having had close experience with relic users he is committed to ridding the world of the dark magic. So when he scents it on the intriguing Lady Felicity he is torn between his mission and the call of his mate.
Felicity is very innocent, at times too much. But it does fit the storyline. Terrence is an impressive lion, very alpha. They each fall fast and hard, no question there. The part that keeps you reading is the mystery of the relic, where it is, who is using it, and how is Felicity wrapped up with it?
This series has promise. It is a sweet fantasy with well written characters. It will be fun to see who Kennedy features in the second book.
Review posted at Reading Between the Wines blog:
(copy courtesy of NetGalley)
September 12, 2014
เฟลิซิตี้ คือสาวน้อยที่ไม่มีความสามารถอะไรเลย เธอรักษาบรรดาศักดิ์ของพ่อแม่เธอเอาไว้ไม่ได� เพราะเธอไม่มีพลังอำนาจเวทมนตร์ใดๆ
เซอร์เทอเรนซ์ สิงโตหนุ่มรูปงาม เห็นว่าเฟลิซิตี้สวยงามเพียงใดในสายตาของเขา เขาไม่สนใจว่าหล่อนจะไม่มีเงินติดตัวหรือไม่มีเวทมนตร� นอกจากนั้นแล้วเทอเรนซ์ยังทำหน้าที่ตามหาหินอาคมโบรา� เขาได้กลิ่นของมันทันทีที่เขาพบเจอหล่อ�
เซอร์เทอเรนซ์เข้าถึงตัวเฟลิซิตี้ด้วยการพยายามจีบหล่อ� เขาได้เบาะแสของหินอาคมโบราณทั่วบ้านของหล่อน เขาเปลี่ยนร่างเป็นสิงโตในยามราตรีเพื่อปกป้องหล่อนและสัมผัสหล่อนอย่างเร่าร้อ�
จนกระทั่งทั้งคู่ตกหลุมรักกันและแต่งงานกั� ความรักมีความสำคัญเหนือการตามล่าหินอาคมโบรา� เฟลิซิตี้ถูกน้าสาวและน้าขายของหล่อนจับตัวไป เซอร์เทอเรนซ์จึงออกตามหาหล่อนจนเจอและค้นพบว่าตามหลายปีที่ผ่านมาเฟลิซิตี้ถูกหินอาคมโบราณถึงพลังเวทมนตร์ของเธอไปจนหม� นั่นเลยทำให้เธอไร้ความสามารถใดๆตลอดระยะเวลาที่ผ่านมา และน้าสาวของเธอคือคนร้ายที่ครอบครองหินอาคมโบราณนั่น
เฟลิซิตี้จัดการทำลายอาคมที่ครอบงำตัวหล่อนได้ในที่สุดและกลับมาใช้ชีวิตกับเซอร์เทอเรนซ์อย่างสงบสุขโดยไร้ซึ่งบรรดาศักดิ์ใดๆในบ้านอันแสนอบอุ่นของเขา ...
โครงเรื่องน่าสนใจดีสำหรับเรื่องนี้ แถมเรายังชอบนิสัยของเซอร์เทอเรนซ์มาดๆด้วย แต่เนื้อเรื่องไม่ค่อยละเมียดละไมเลยเวลาอ่า� เหมือนมันเร่งๆยังไงก็ไม่รู� ทำให้ไม่ค่อยอินตามเท่าไ� แถมเรายังแอบรำคาญด้วยเวลาตอนที่เฟลิซิตี้เรียกมังกรของเธอว่าลูกอย่างนั้นลูกอย่างนี้
เนื้อเรื่องน่าจะมีเยอะกว่านี้ แล้วก็เพิ่มประเด็นเข้าไปอีกสักหน่อย น่าจะทำให้หนังสือเล่มนี้สนุกขึ้นก็ได้น�
เซอร์เทอเรนซ์ สิงโตหนุ่มรูปงาม เห็นว่าเฟลิซิตี้สวยงามเพียงใดในสายตาของเขา เขาไม่สนใจว่าหล่อนจะไม่มีเงินติดตัวหรือไม่มีเวทมนตร� นอกจากนั้นแล้วเทอเรนซ์ยังทำหน้าที่ตามหาหินอาคมโบรา� เขาได้กลิ่นของมันทันทีที่เขาพบเจอหล่อ�
เซอร์เทอเรนซ์เข้าถึงตัวเฟลิซิตี้ด้วยการพยายามจีบหล่อ� เขาได้เบาะแสของหินอาคมโบราณทั่วบ้านของหล่อน เขาเปลี่ยนร่างเป็นสิงโตในยามราตรีเพื่อปกป้องหล่อนและสัมผัสหล่อนอย่างเร่าร้อ�
จนกระทั่งทั้งคู่ตกหลุมรักกันและแต่งงานกั� ความรักมีความสำคัญเหนือการตามล่าหินอาคมโบรา� เฟลิซิตี้ถูกน้าสาวและน้าขายของหล่อนจับตัวไป เซอร์เทอเรนซ์จึงออกตามหาหล่อนจนเจอและค้นพบว่าตามหลายปีที่ผ่านมาเฟลิซิตี้ถูกหินอาคมโบราณถึงพลังเวทมนตร์ของเธอไปจนหม� นั่นเลยทำให้เธอไร้ความสามารถใดๆตลอดระยะเวลาที่ผ่านมา และน้าสาวของเธอคือคนร้ายที่ครอบครองหินอาคมโบราณนั่น
เฟลิซิตี้จัดการทำลายอาคมที่ครอบงำตัวหล่อนได้ในที่สุดและกลับมาใช้ชีวิตกับเซอร์เทอเรนซ์อย่างสงบสุขโดยไร้ซึ่งบรรดาศักดิ์ใดๆในบ้านอันแสนอบอุ่นของเขา ...
โครงเรื่องน่าสนใจดีสำหรับเรื่องนี้ แถมเรายังชอบนิสัยของเซอร์เทอเรนซ์มาดๆด้วย แต่เนื้อเรื่องไม่ค่อยละเมียดละไมเลยเวลาอ่า� เหมือนมันเร่งๆยังไงก็ไม่รู� ทำให้ไม่ค่อยอินตามเท่าไ� แถมเรายังแอบรำคาญด้วยเวลาตอนที่เฟลิซิตี้เรียกมังกรของเธอว่าลูกอย่างนั้นลูกอย่างนี้
เนื้อเรื่องน่าจะมีเยอะกว่านี้ แล้วก็เพิ่มประเด็นเข้าไปอีกสักหน่อย น่าจะทำให้หนังสือเล่มนี้สนุกขึ้นก็ได้น�
August 20, 2012
As someone who doesn’t like a lot of historical romance, I decided to read Enchanting the Lady mainly because of the paranormal aspect of the story. I am so happy I did! I love how Ms. Kennedy created a Victorian world that has magic in it. The fact that your magical ability is what determines your social position is a wonderful twist.
Felicity Seymour is the orphaned daughter of a Duke and Duchess. She should have the magical ability to retain her parent’s title and lands but it appears she doesn’t. Instead she is penniless and must live with her Aunt, Uncle and cruel cousin. Then she meets Sir Terence Blackwell.
While he may hold a title, Terence is at the bottom of the social ladder because he is a shapeshifter. Magic doesn’t work on him and as a spy for the Crown his job is to find magical relics that were crafted by Merlin himself. He can sense that Lady Felicity has been near one and believes she may be in possession of it.
This is a wonderful start to a series and I can hardly wait to get my hands on Double Enchantment!
Felicity Seymour is the orphaned daughter of a Duke and Duchess. She should have the magical ability to retain her parent’s title and lands but it appears she doesn’t. Instead she is penniless and must live with her Aunt, Uncle and cruel cousin. Then she meets Sir Terence Blackwell.
While he may hold a title, Terence is at the bottom of the social ladder because he is a shapeshifter. Magic doesn’t work on him and as a spy for the Crown his job is to find magical relics that were crafted by Merlin himself. He can sense that Lady Felicity has been near one and believes she may be in possession of it.
This is a wonderful start to a series and I can hardly wait to get my hands on Double Enchantment!
October 20, 2015
I enjoyed this historical romance, mostly because it had huge amounts of magic in it and the writer really fleshed out the major characters very well. There was too much old fashioned homebody attitude for my taste, but I can understand the pull of it. Otherwise, there is plenty of action from Sir Terence, lively thinking from Lady Felicity, and timely contributions from others make it interesting.
It's hard to describe anything in the story without giving away the beautiful surprises waiting for the reader. But Lady Felicity faces many magical challenges every day and survives them, while Sir Terence is saddled with non-acceptance by his peers because he is a shapeshifter (and therefore, an animal) and impervious to magic (the royals main line of defense). But he is an excellent protection for His Royal Highness and a great hunter of the Merlin shards, powerful magical gems that can do great harm. When Sir Terence and Lady Felicity meet, the world changes for both of them, and the story begins. I recommend this book.
It's hard to describe anything in the story without giving away the beautiful surprises waiting for the reader. But Lady Felicity faces many magical challenges every day and survives them, while Sir Terence is saddled with non-acceptance by his peers because he is a shapeshifter (and therefore, an animal) and impervious to magic (the royals main line of defense). But he is an excellent protection for His Royal Highness and a great hunter of the Merlin shards, powerful magical gems that can do great harm. When Sir Terence and Lady Felicity meet, the world changes for both of them, and the story begins. I recommend this book.
February 1, 2010
The very cotton candy of books, this delightful little treat was a welcome read, especially after the hardcore horror and sci-fi reading I've been doing lately. A friend described it to me as Harry Potter for Adults and I have to admit that the whimsical nature of the prose, the magical descriptions of an alternate universe-London, were astounding. In Kennedy's world, titles and wealth are held and kept by magical prowess and Felicity, has none or so she believes. Virtually unnoticed by everyone, humilitaed by her lack of magic, Felicity encounters Sir Terence, a lion shifter who notices Felicity quite well. Immune to magic, Terence can see right through the spell that has been cast on the young woman...Telling himself that it is the source of that spell that he hunts, he does his best to deny his growing feelings for Felicity...needless to say he fails, but in sexy, warm way.
Really a treat.
Really a treat.
October 2, 2010
I got this free from Amazon Kindle. I wasn't expecting much although I was intrigued by the summary so I decided to give it a go.
It had all the classic elements that make up a story like good vs. evil, the love interest rescuing the heroine and an antagonist(s) that eventually gets defeated. I liked how the heroine was flawed and the perfect hero is only really perfect in Felicity's eyes. I also liked that Felicity decided that she didn't want to retake her test and become apart of high society again, but I did find her a tiny little bit coneited near the end.
There wasn't really much development with the backstory to Terence's brother Thomas. It felt like a key part in Terences' initial actions towards Felicity being that she smelled like relic-magic and I think it would have been better if there was more explanation on Thomas' death and the thirteen relics.
I ended up reading this in one sitting and actually enjoyed it, although some of the place names were a bit weird.
It had all the classic elements that make up a story like good vs. evil, the love interest rescuing the heroine and an antagonist(s) that eventually gets defeated. I liked how the heroine was flawed and the perfect hero is only really perfect in Felicity's eyes. I also liked that Felicity decided that she didn't want to retake her test and become apart of high society again, but I did find her a tiny little bit coneited near the end.
There wasn't really much development with the backstory to Terence's brother Thomas. It felt like a key part in Terences' initial actions towards Felicity being that she smelled like relic-magic and I think it would have been better if there was more explanation on Thomas' death and the thirteen relics.
I ended up reading this in one sitting and actually enjoyed it, although some of the place names were a bit weird.
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