Exile of the Seas by Jeffe Kennedy

The Chronicles of Dasnaria, Book 2

Synopsis: Around the shifting borders of the Twelve Kingdoms, trade and conflict, danger and adventure put every traveler on guard . . . but some have everything to lose.

ESCAPED
Once she was known as Jenna, Imperial Princess of Dasnaria, schooled in graceful dance and comely submission. Until the man her parents married her off to almost killed her with his brutality.

Now, all she knows is that the ship she’s boarded is bound away from her vicious homeland. The warrior woman aboard says Jenna’s skill in dancing might translate into a more lethal ability. Danu’s fighter priestesses will take her in, disguise her as one of their own—and allow her to keep her silence.

But it’s only a matter of time until Jenna’s monster of a husband hunts her down. Her best chance to stay hidden is to hire out as bodyguard to a caravan traveling to a far-off land, home to beasts and people so unfamiliar they seem like part of a fairy tale. But her supposed prowess, in combat is a fraud. And sooner or later, Jenna’s flight will end in battle—or betrayal . . .

Review: I really enjoyed the first volume and I was curious to discover what happened to Jenna after so many events! But now, even if she managed to escape, the problems do not stop there and even far from it.

Discovering a culture that is not hers, Jenna will befriend a priestess who will help her escape her husband. This is how she will discover new lands, things she did not think she would see one day, and the animals she craved to discover one. So many new things for her during this trip. But now, this journey will not be so easy, and her husband did not wait long before looking for her. And this time Jenna will have to choose between running away again or confronting him.

It was a nice second volume even if I have to admit that I have a preference for the first one but also because the action was more present too. It was however very interesting to see the evolution of the young woman, to see her become more assertive and above all more determined in her choices even if her past is still there to pursue her.

New possibilities and a different future are proposed to Jenna who now lives under another identity and I can not wait to discover what the author has in store for the future!

Exile of the Seas de Jeffe Kennedy (VO)

The Chronicles of Dasnaria, Tome 2

Résumé (traduction personnelle) : Autour des frontières changeantes des Douze Royaumes, le commerce et les conflits, le danger et l’aventure mettent chaque voyageur en garde. Mais certains ont tout à perdre.

ÉCHAPPÉE
Elle a été autrefois connue sous le nom de Jenna, princesse impériale de Dasnaria, éduquée dans la danse gracieuse et la soumission avenante. Jusqu’à ce que l’homme que ses parents l’ont forcée à épouser la tue presque avec sa brutalité.

Maintenant, tout ce qu’elle sait, c’est que le vaisseau où elle a embarqué est lié à sa patrie vicieuse. La femme guerrière à son bord dit que l’habileté de Jenna à danser pourrait se traduire par une capacité plus meurtrière. Les prêtresses combattantes de Danu la prendront, la déguiseront comme l’une des leurs – et lui permettront de rester cachée.

Mais ce n’est qu’une question de temps avant que son monstre de mari la traque. Sa meilleure chance de passer inaperçue est de louer ses services comme garde du corps à une caravane voyageant sur une terre lointaine, maison de bêtes et de gens si peu familiers qu’ils semblent faire partie d’un conte de fées. Mais sa prouesse supposée au combat est une fraude. Et tôt ou tard la traversée de Jenna se terminera dans la bataille ou la trahison. . .

Avis :  J’avais beaucoup apprécié le premier tome et j’étais curieuse de découvrir ce qu’il advenait de Jenna après tant d’évènements ! Mais voilà, même si elle a réussi à s’enfuir, les problèmes ne s’arrêtent pas là et voir même loin de là.

Découvrant une culture qui n’est pas la sienne, Jenna va se lier d’amitié avec une prêtresse qui l’aidera à échapper à son mari. C’est ainsi qu’elle découvrira de nouvelles contrées, des choses qu’elle ne pensait pas voir un jour, les animaux qu’elle attendait tant de connaitre un jour. Tant de nouvelles choses pour elle pendant ce voyage. Mais voilà, cette fuite n’est pas si facile, et son mari n’a pas attendu longtemps avant de se lancer à ses trousses. Et cette fois-ci Jenna va devoir choisir entre la fuite et l’affrontement.

C’était un second tome très sympa même si je dois avouer que j’ai une préférence pour le premier mais aussi peut-être parce que l’action y était plus présente aussi. C’était toutefois très intéressant de voir l’évolution de la jeune femme, de la voir devenir plus affirmée et surtout plus déterminée dans ses choix même si son passé est toujours là pour la poursuivre.

De nouvelles possibilités et un avenir différent se proposent à Jenna qui vit maintenant sous une autre identité et je suis impatiente de pouvoir découvrir ce que l’auteure nous réserve pour la suite !

Prisoner of the Crown by Jeffe Kennedy

The Chronicles of Dasnaria, Book 1

Synopsis: She was raised to be beautiful, nothing more. And then the rules changed . . .
 
In icy Dasnaria, rival realm to the Twelve Kingdoms, a woman’s role is to give pleasure, produce heirs, and question nothing. But a plot to overthrow the emperor depends on the fate of his eldest daughter. And the treachery at its heart will change more than one carefully limited life . . .
 
THE GILDED CAGE
Princess Jenna has been raised in supreme luxury—and ignorance. Within the sweet-scented, golden confines of the palace seraglio, she’s never seen the sun, or a man, or even learned her numbers. But she’s been schooled enough in the paths to a woman’s power. When her betrothal is announced, she’s ready to begin the machinations that her mother promises will take Jenna from ornament to queen.

But the man named as Jenna’s husband is no innocent to be cozened or prince to charm. He’s a monster in human form, and the horrors of life under his thumb are clear within moments of her wedding vows. If Jenna is to live, she must somehow break free—and for one born to a soft prison, the way to cold, hard freedom will be a dangerous path indeed…

Review: Jeffe Kennedy is now offering us a new fantasy series and as I usually enjoy her stories, I could not wait to get into this one.

The author presents us with a world where women are only an incarnated object. Besides, they have pushed the vice to the point where, from birth, they are locked up in a place where they will not leave until the day when they are to be married. It is an extraordinary place where everything is done so that they are as content as possible, thus avoiding that they develop a critical spirit. Everything is done to make them beautiful and docile. They have never met a man other than their brothers or half-brothers when they were very young. Even their father is excluded. But here, Jenna is a little different from the others. She always wanted to go out and discover the world, see what all can not. Unfortunately for her, when she discovers her future husband, he is far from what she had hoped for. It could even be her worst nightmare.

I really liked this first novel. It’s very different from what we usually find. It’s a pretty dark story, quite difficult even if not everything is shown and that the author has kept the most violent scenes for her, leaving us to put words on what she does not say. We discover a heroine who changes, who evolves, who wants a freedom that she can not have. We hope, we cross our fingers very hard so that Jenna finds a solution, so that she gets out of this infernal cycle, that she realizes that there is a whole world to discover.

Yes, it was an interesting first volume and I can not wait to see what will happen to the young woman afterwards.