Rebel's Blade (The Aermian Feuds) Paperback – March 7, 2017

I realize that this is the first of seven books but for me, there was no chemistry and really no romance between the two main love interests in this book. If anything, I feel like she had more of a connection with Gavriel than she did with Tahl. So hopefully, the romance will develop more in the next book because I didn’t feel it in this book, and could really care less if they get together. Personally, I don’t find him to be very interesting, but she is utterly fascinating. Sage is the main reason I will be continuing with this series.

The story was good for how short it was. I wanted more character depth, more distrust, and more interaction to build trust. The FMC trusted almost right after healing. She just had flashbacks, and that's why she didn't feel safe. Which is fine if they had leaned into a bit more.However, for the length of the book, there was a good storyline, flow, and character arc. I am interested to see where the story goes.*This book is rated a mild PG. There was no swearing. The kisses were mild. There is blood violence and talks of torture, mentions of mature themes. However, even that is very mild.

I'm now obsessed with this series! I didn't even finish reading this one before I bought book 2 and pre-ordered book 3. The writing is so close to Sarah Maas' style that if you love her books then you'll love this book. One of the only differences is the lack of overused adjectives like "vicious, lethal, wicked, deadly" in the storyline. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love Maas' books. I have all of them and preorder everything I can before there are even names or covers but the over use of "vicious" is one of the only downfalls I find about her writing. Thankfully Frost Kay knows how to use a thesaurus so I didn't experience any of that from Rebel's Blade. I absolutely loved the characters, the writing in this book. The imagery, and the character development/growth was on point. There was never a time when this story became slow or difficult to get through. In fact, my biggest problem was stopping reading so I could take care of my responsibilities.It's not often that I read a series one after another because it becomes too easy to mix up the storylines but I can't help myself, I have to start Crown's Shield right away. I definitely recommend this book! I hope you love it like I do.

Frost Kay first Debut Rebel's Blade was fantastic! 👏If you're hoping for a sappy love story, book one of the Aermian Feud is not that book. Instead you get to know a beautiful young fierce women named Sage. She Loves deeply with her whole heart, and carries complete loyalty to her home and people. She does not waver in any parts of her life, even when it comes to her men, and Sage seems to attract a lot of men into her life.Sage's Men 👇🏻There is good old player player Sam, with his extremely handsome looks, yet every ounce of him still hardcore. Rafe, mysterious, deadly, and yet so alluring. Tehl, with his secretly big heart, who is constantly too serious, and with his hands always too full. King Marq, with his broken heart and his sad lost mind. Finally beautiful broken hearted Gav with his breathtaking eyes and his kind kindred spirit.Frost leaves you pulling out hair trying to choose who is more lovable. She does an excellent job of making you fall in love with each and every one of her characters. Mainly for me it's Tehl and Gav, all hearts there for me. 💙 💜 Though there is also something about Rafe, hence why hes so alluring, but can't put a finger on it yet! 💛Truthfully there were a few slower parts in there for me, but Frost's transitions from character to character was as smooth as pudding.And that ending.......Have to say I am biting my nails and counting down days until she gives us more and Sage's story continues.

This book would be 2 1/2 stars for me. I like the concept, and I think the author shows promise, but there are definitely problems. The main plus points for this book are that there are some good, if not original, characters and some nice dialogue sequences. Additionally, I like the idea that there are (at least) two sides to the story of a kingdom in trouble and revolution brewing (although this aspect has - so far - not been explored to the extent I would find interesting and the signs are that one side is going to be reduced to villain status which would be a shame).However, for me, the main problem with the book is that it is too shallow and doesn't feel real. (Mild spoilers ahead)Firstly, there are Princes trying to run a kingdom while their father, the King, is ill but the things they do are child-like: planning festivals and being spies. Running a kingdom requires more than this and I think if you want to create any realism you need to know something about government and show that in writing.Secondly, the female lead is not realistic. She has somehow managed to be proficient in sword fighting, become the best sword maker around and been trained as an uber-spy-fighting-machine but there is never any real sense of how any of this is possible. She doesn't appear to train in anyway or do anything except excel at everything she does. We are simply told how great she is or hear people talking about her besting four elite guards in a fight (whilst in prison no less). For me there was no sense of depth to her. She is a list of proficiencies (including being amazingly attractive to all the male characters, if you count that as a proficiency) without much more. To be invested in a character I need to get a chance to journey with them as they develop, not be presented with the finished product.Thirdly, some of the relationships in the book are just too convenient to be true. For example, the heroine's family seem remarkably unconcerned with her being taken prisoner, tortured and having been missing for weeks on end and yet still continuing to work for the resistance. That was all fine because she's such a great and caring person with a beautiful soul that they trusted that she is doing what she should/must to make the world a better place. And all of this is covered in a couple of pages. Seriously? I don't think so. Setting aside the issue of the saccharine-sickness such sentiments induce, no family is going to act in that way. It seemed that the author, having given the heroine a family, knew she had to deal with their reaction to her tribulations, but didn't really have the time or patience so just said "oh, look, it's all fine".My overall impression was that there are some scenes the author wants to write, and relationships she wants to engineer, but the foundations are lacking. You cannot jump to the emotional pay-off pieces without putting in the emotional groundwork. That just doesn't work. Or, to the small extent it does, I feel cheated because I know there should be more. Get me invested in the characters and I care about the pay-off. Skip the investment process and things feel flat.So, not great but worth a try if your prepared to wait for things to get better.

I was expecting a nice but classical story but not at all. It is an enemy to lover story but with a reversed harem hint and most of all, quite a psychological aspect that gives depth to it all. A tiny bit too slow to get the fifth star, but I will definitely read number 2!

This story is told with such vivid clarity that you can picture everything as it unfolds. It was totally captivating. It took everything I had to put it down and go to bed. I recommend this book to anyone and everyone who appreciates a great story. I can hardly wait to start the next volume. Thank You for a great story!

Frost Kay hat mit ihrem Roman eine Welt erschaffen, aus der ich nicht mehr auftauchen wollte. Von Beginn an mochte ich die verschiedenen Blickwinkel, aus denen die Geschichte erzählt wurde - alle Handlungen und Entscheidungen der Charaktere fand ich sehr menschlich und auch nachvollziehbar. Die Handlung ist nicht gehetzt, trotzdem stand ich permanent unter Spannung und konnte das Buch nicht mehr aus der Hand legen. Die Beziehung zwischen Sage (Rebellin) und Tehl (Kronprinzen) entwickelt sich auch sehr gemächlich über die Bücher, was sich sehr realistisch anfühlt.Von nun an warte ich sehnsüchtig auf den vierten Teil der Reihe - sie ist nur zu empfehlen!

Fantasy is one of my favourite genre’s and is one of the reasons I love books so much - I read ALOT of fantasy! So of course as an avid reader I had to pick up this book!The main character is Sage and she is brought into a rebellion because she loves her country and wants to help keep those she loves safe - but equally without harming anyone unnecessarily to reach their goals! What an interesting character she is - bold and strong in a male dominated world. She works secretly as a blacksmith, creating beautiful weapons of war! Her family allow her to do this, however selling her works under her fathers name! Secretly Sage has also trained with the weapons of war she has created - as her father told her that she can’t make a perfect weapon without learning how its moves and how to use it (smart man her dad). The rebellion have been watching her - and realise her potential as a swordsman, spy and and sword maker!Sage is a beautiful, snarky and sharp female lead - thank god - because if I get one more sappy, skirt wearing, damsel in distress ‘heroine’ in the fantasy Genre I will cry! Sage has the sassy vibes of Celaena Sardothien from Sarah J Maas’ Throne of Glass series! She is feisty even under torture and capture - however does suffer for what is done to her, which of course makes her so much believable! I love a broken but strong character - she doesn’t let it cripple her!The book is set in two POV - which flips between Sage’s and Prince Tehl - so we get to see from a commoner outside the castle walls and also through the Royal’s point of view. These work alongside and then meld together to tell a very similar story as Sage begins to learn what the Royal are keeping from their people. Never once did I get confused between who was speaking and totally felt that each character had there own voice and personality!Prince Sam, second in line to the throne after his brother is a sexy, smart ass spy. Gavriel, a big Bear with a heart of gold is part of Sam’s spy network The Elite and also is a cousin to the Princes - I LOVE me some Gav and want a hug from him!I love that Frost has written all her women to be strong and sassy, who know there own worth - Mara the healer and even Sage’s Mother! What a breathe of fresh air, from the usual mother-daughter fraught relationship and simpering ladies of the court.The back story of the King and his wife is simply stunning and the little hint of the myths of Aermia are so intriguing and beautiful for example the Sirenidae (think mermaids). The view of love and what it stands for melts my heart, not a weapon to use to their advantage like many other authors do!I wasn’t able to predict at all what would happen next, which as a massive fantasy reader you begin to see the patterns! I couldn’t put it down and was up until the late hours reading - yay!THE MEN - all yummy and intriguing - although we have no real love interest in this book I can feel the simmers of some romance between a few of the men and Sage - PLEASE, PLEASE give me romance in the next one eeeeekkkkk.I forgot that this is a first debut story from Frost - because it read like any other massively successful authors on my shelf - lets hope that the way this series goes! Frost Kay Author World Book tours - yayI feel like there is so much in this story and I can’t wait for the story and character development.Okay so thats It - Love it - from cover to cover! Please read it - you won’t be disappointed!This review will appear on my blog:pageswithpaola.wordpress.comIf you enjoyed this book, I think you will also enjoy;Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass series 1) by Sarah J MaasGraceling (Graceling Realm 1) by Kristing CashoreForbidden (Tempted Series 1) by Selene CharlesFirst Year (The Black Mage 1) by Rachel E CarterFighting Destiny (The Fae Chronicles 1) by Amelia HutchinsWicked (Wicked Saga 1) by Jennifer L Armentrout

I think it must be a difficult task to produce work that has emotion and depth, without being maudlin or depressing. The book was great - exciting, some humour, a lot of tension. Also, we know who is going to be romantically involved, but there is a loooong way to go to reach that goal.The people in this book are amazing. Each one is unique, with no lazy cliches used. Each seems to have some mental challenge - PTSD, asperges, alzimers, bullying/peer pressure (also called court politics), grief, etc.Our leading lady, Sage, is heroic, smart and deeply traumitized. Tehl, the Crown Prince, has trouble dealing with others, but adores math (as Gav puts it - “he is what I like to refer to as a very smart-dumb person”). His brother, Sam, plays so many characters that he is loosing sight of his own. Also, we have the ailing king, the cousin (I adore Gav), the rebel leader, and the healer - all of whom are a complex delight. Together, these men and women can heal or balance each other and save a nation on the brink of war.The sequel continues to be equally as impressive.