Review: Bonds of the Forsaken (Forbidden Flight Book 3) by H.G. Chambers

Rating: 4.5⭐️

Bonds of the Forsaken brings the Forbidden Flight fantasy series to a satisfying conclusion. 

H. G. Chambers takes Kiva, and Noor, her bonded kiraeen , and Kahalil, a sage, on a thrilling adventure to save her people and Medina Basin from the Red God. 

Already so many from Medina Basin have perished. Kiva taking for herself the burden of their loss, rightly or wrongly,  because of the last battle. Layered on top of which is the devastating death of Noor’s mate and her fiancé’s kiraeen bondmate. With deeply cutting emotional consequences. 

To find the necessary power and magic to defeat the Red God, Kiva must fly through lands to find people she’s never seen before to accomplish her goals and return home safely in time. 

It’s an emotionally charged and satisfying journey. Kiva’s full of anger and grief and realistic fears about herself and her own personal struggles here and abilities to achieve her goals. Chambers crafts new and exciting landscapes and cultures for Kiva and Noor to experience, in every way possible. Ones that will challenge them and their bond in surprising ways and their own will to survive. 

The final result and battles are epic. The resolution for Kiva and Noor and Medina Basin one that’s feels realistic for all sides, grounded in the events, the growth and development of the individuals. 

And Chambers leaves it open ended enough so that he can revisit it and see where Kiva and Noor’s journey’s takes them. 

As I said, highly satisfactory. And a series I definitely recommend reading for all ages. 

Cover Design: vividcovers

Windwalker Series: 

Forbidden Flight #1

Order of the Red Sons #2

Bonds of the Forsaken #3

Buy link

        Windwalker: Bonds of the Forsaken

    

Blurb 

A city under siege. A god’s wrath. One woman’s fight to save everything she loves.

Madina Basin is under relentless attack from the sharun sand-warrior demons. Determined to stop them once and for all, Kiva leads a daring offensive—only to discover the true power behind the sharun is far more dangerous than she ever imagined.

Now, her only hope to save her people is an ancient artifact with the power to challenge a god. To claim it, she must embark on an epic journey across shifting deserts, perilous forests, and towering mountains. But the weight of her past threatens to destroy her from within, and if she can’t overcome her anger, guilt, and grief, it may consume her first.

Can Kiva conquer her inner demons and secure the artifact in time, or will she return home to find everyone she loves lost forever?

Grab your copy now and join the adventure!

August 18, 2020

Language

‎English

Print length

358 pages

Book 3 of 3

Windwalker

A Free Dreamer Review: Luck in the Shadows (Nightrunner #1) by Lynn Flewelling

Rating: 5 stars out of 5  ★★★★★

Luck in the Shadows cover“A new star is rising in the fantasy firmament…teems with magic and spine-chilling amounts of skullduggery.”–Dave Duncan, author of The Great Game

When young Alec of Kerry is taken prisoner for a crime he didn’t commit, he is certain that his life is at an end. But one thing he never expected was his cellmate. Spy, rogue, thief, and noble, Seregil of Rhiminee is many things–none of them predictable. And when he offers to take on Alec as his apprentice, things may never be the same for either of them. Soon Alec is traveling roads he never knew existed, toward a war he never suspected was brewing. Before long he and Seregil are embroiled in a sinister plot that runs deeper than either can imagine, and that may cost them far more than their lives if they fail. But fortune is as unpredictable as Alec’s new mentor, and this time there just might be…Luck in the Shadows.

I absolutely loved this. I’m always looking for great fantasy novels with very low key romance and this had the added bonus of Seregil enjoying the company of men as well as women.


The romance was as good as non-existent, really, but there’s definitely hope for Alec and Seregil. I loved both of them. Seregil the ever mysterious spy/thief who won’t talk about his past and Alec, who starts out so naive and then turns out to be so very clever.


The world building was excellent. Religion, language, history, culture, politics – it was all there. The map could have been a little more detailed, though. There were a lot of places I couldn’t find that were mentioned in the book. Or maybe I just seriously suck at map reading.


The plot had me hooked from page one, with lots of unexpected twists and turns. Very addicting and definitely not boring!

There was always some new intrigue to uncover or some new mystery to solve, while still having an underlying ultimate goal.

Usually, I read my m/m romance on my Kindle, but I decided to go with the paperback version for “Luck in the Shadows”. And I’m glad I did. I’m of the very firm opinion that any halfway decent fantasy novel deserves to be read in paperback and I just love my old, battered copy that I got off the internet for very little money. I’m old fashioned like that. And skipping back and forth between map and story is definitely easier with a paperback than with the Kindle.


If you’re looking for a great love story with decent fantasy, then you’d better keep looking. There is no love story here. If, however, you find yourself craving amazing fantasy with a hint of romance, then this is just the book for you.

The cover by Gary Ruddell looks like so many other 90s fantasy covers. Nothing mind-blowing, but definitely fitting.

Sales Link:  Amazon Paperback   | Amazon Kindle

Book Details:

ebook, paperback, both versions available in both languages

ebook, 476 pages
Published November 3rd 2010 by Spectra (first published September 1996)
Original TitleLuck in the Shadows
ISBN 0307774996 (ISBN13: 9780307774996)
Edition LanguageEnglish
SeriesNightrunner #1
CharactersAlec í Amasa of Kerry, Seregil í Korit Solun Meringil Bôkthersa