Flames of Auriel

I am normally a chick lit reader however I found myself enjoying the world of fantasy. I never thought fantasy would be so hot and steamy and it is actually similar to the world of chick lit with the love aspects of the story. <br /><br />Zoe is a strong woman and in her world she is as important and strong as any man. Asher is also strong but in his world women are women and men are men. <br /><br />Their marriage was arranged when they were young and is paramount for the survival of the kingdoms. However the two are not compatible in love and this gives rise to a different type of battle. <br /><br />Asher wants Zoe to be a wife and want him, but he also wants to play around. Zoe on the other hand has other ideas. <br /><br />Its a great into in to the world of fantasy and I’m glad I read it.<br />

Check out <a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="https://alovelylibrary.wordpress.com/">https://alovelylibrary.wordpress.com/</a> &amp; <a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="http://betterbooks.tumblr.com/">http://betterbooks.tumblr.com/</a>!<br /><br />Disclaimer: I received a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.<br /><br />** Please note that the final version of the novel has significant changes to the ARC version**<br /><br />"Are you getting it, Zoe? No matter how much you fight me, in the end, you will be mine."<br /><br />Asher and Zoe have never been the best of friends. An arranged marriage only adds more fuel to the fire. They can hardly be around one another without fighting. However they soon start discover that their fiery fights may come from a passion of a different kind. Before they can truly discover each other Zoe goes missing and Asher is left to search for his lost princess. To save his heart, and her kingdom.<br /><br />Zoe is a very common archetype. The princess who’s a tomboy and a hot head. Stubborn and uncooperative she’s still incredibly beautiful and leaves almost every man wanting after her. Despite this the story starts with a lot of potential. It hints at a lore that has good potential. each kingdom has a patron angel that watches over them and effects them. The book hardly expands on that subject however, we get little glimmers of lore which are pushed aside to make room for the focal point of the novel.<br /><br />Which of course is the lovely romance. I am a sucker for good romance, especially when the partners start out as rivals/enemies. Asher and Zoe’s relationship developed...very uncomfortably however. There is very rarely any interaction between them that doesn’t involve lust. In fact it was hard to see them as in love, and not just two people who wanted to get down to business. They go from hating each other to realizing their love in very few interactions.<br /><br />The interactions that they do have are rape-y. Now, I’m always very hesitant to refer to anything as rape-y in literature. However this book features scenes with Zoe refusing Asher and him forcing her into submission, including a scene with him literally prying her mouth open so he can kiss her.<br /><br />Roughly half the novel focuses on Asher and Zoe figuring themselves out with quite a few awkward sex scenes. It’s a lot of set up to get to the main conflict of the plot. The ending half of the novel picks up speed, it gets exciting, and then ends far too quickly and conveniently. All the build up feels like it was towards nothing.<br /><br />It does have quite a few sex scenes, and not all of them are as uncomfortable as the others. It’s a good sexually-charged fantasy novel, but the sex doesn’t leave much room for anything else.<br />

I was given an arc of this book for an honest review. I would recommend this book 100%. This book is in my top ten books that I have read this year and I have read about 200! This story starts with Princess Zoella meeting Prince Asher her betrothed. I love how Zoe just wants to fight and wear breeches but has to wear dresses that she hates. Asher and Zoe meet as children. Neither likes the other and this is shown in laugh out loud ways. Several years later Asher had me disliking him! But then I found myself falling in love with him and routing for them. <br />The other people in this book are a great addition. Although there is something about Bryce that I don't like. I feel like he's sneaky! When Zoe becomes a gypsy, she meets her best friend Rebekah. I loved the relationship between them and got to see another side to Zoe, not just the princess but the girl. Garrett, Zoe's 'bodyguard'. Gosh sometimes I felt sorry for him and then there were times I wanted him to go away! I hope that garrett and Rebekah's relationship is explored more in the next book.The spark between Asher and Zoe was evident and the sex scenes are well written, although not too explicit which I found appropriate in the style of this book. I'm really looking forward to book 2! Can't wait to find out what happens between Garrett and Rebekah, and the battles that are ahead for Zoe and her kingdom.

A fiery princess, an arrogant prince, and a kingdom to uphold makes for a truly enjoyable read. Erin Bedford does a wonderful job in weaving together a heated and complicated romance during medieval times.<br /><br />Zoella (Zoe), an anger-filled princess, is set to be married to Asher, an arrogant womanizer, ever since they were young. Constantly fighting, arguing, and never being able to be in the same room together without ending in shouts, it seems the two will never be able to truly love each other. As time goes the fire that burns in Zoe and Asher may turn into something more than pure hatred for each other. After some time, an unsettling goodbye makes for an intriguing journey that in the end true feelings come out and a need to save the kingdom.<br /><br />Flames of Auriel wasn't what I expected when I first picked it. Fortunately, this book has slowly become one of my favorites! I am a sap for love stories no matter what time period. My favorite parts of the story were the descriptive love scenes and seeing how these two immature young royals grow into something more. The characters were well-developed and the plot held my interest the entire length of the read.<br /><br />A definite 5-star rating and would highly recommend this well-written read to those who enjoy love stories with strong/stubborn characters!<br />

I really enjoyed this book. Our main character, Zoe, is a fiery princess who has combat training to match her temper. Better not get in her way! She is betrothed to a prince of another kingdom named Asher. Truthfully, he seems like a womanizing jerk right from the beginning.<br /><br />The book progresses with Asher and Zoe being constantly at odds with one another, and doing one hurtful or spiteful thing after another to try and get under each other's skin, but underlying it all is a strange attraction as well. There is another plot unfolding throughout as well, where Zoe's uncle is trying to take over her kingdom while she is away, but it comes later in the story. Essentially, Zoe and Asher realize they are in love, and then all hell breaks loose around them and they are separated.<br /><br />I did think some of the actions taken by the characters were rather extreme, and I'm not sure the reactions were always believable, but they did suit the characters and their social stations. Character development was quick, but mostly thorough, and although I started off disliking Asher, he wasn't so bad by the end of the book. All in all, I would recommend this book to fantasy romance enthusiasts who enjoy steamy sex scenes and complicated love triangles.

Zoe isn’t like other princesses – she’s tough and a strong fighter. She’s also promised to Asher, for the sake of keeping peace among the kingdoms. The problem is that Asher is a womanizer and a complete jerk. But with chaos and war looming, they need to set aside their hatred of each other to protect their kingdoms. <br /><br />This book had so much going for it. Holding my attention was not one of them. There wasn’t really anything “wrong” with this book (aside from some editing errors that need to be cleaned up – once it was stated that some characters were “aquatinted” instead of “acquainted”, for example), but I just couldn’t get into it. I didn’t like any of the characters – Zoe was supposed to be all strong and tough, yet I found her to be weak and prissy whenever Asher showed up and “wooed” her with his totally disgusting, un-charming ways. I really did NOT want to two of them to end up together, and I didn’t find anything about their relationship exciting or sexy. <br /><br />Anything outside of this relationship stuff just felt like it dragged the story down. I feel like I could have read the first couple of chapters and the last couple of chapters and not missed out on anything. I guess I just wasn’t the target audience for this book.

When i first started reading this book I didn't expect to be drawn into this world, and these people. But Zoe is a spitfire that makes you realize you would want to be around her in real life. Asher is hard headed and determined to make her life miserable. What he didn't know was Zoe was not one to sit ideally by as he did as he pleased. A woman raised in a kingdom where woman can fight right along side men, a man raised in a kingdom where he does as he wishes but women do as they are told. How could this arranged marriage go wrong? They can not stand to be around each other but will that change? What happens when you hate someone as much as you love them?<br />Grab a copy of this book and find out. It will make you wish you could see it first hand. Erin Bedford writes in a way that brings you into the story, like you are right there with them. She brings the characters to life.<br /><br />I received this book as an early reviewer in exchange for my honest opinion. My honest opinion would be one of the best books i have read lately.

I love this book. Flames of Auriel has you hooked from the first page on. It has the perfect balance of romance and adventure, and the main characters are relatable and down to earth individuals with whom you will instantly connect. It keeps you thinking throughout and there is never a down moment; the characters always keep it interesting. It is hard to put it down and walk away without wanting to know more and learn what happens next. I highly recommend this book!

I enjoyed reading the book. Well written. Four stars.

Gypsies, fire starters, and dark magic, under the questionable protection of the angels. Welcome to the bespelling kingdoms in this world with celestial presence. <br />Princess Zoella has been betrothed to prince Asher for eleven years, out of political reasons and the need for alliance between Aldabel and Aurelia. However, their relationship was far from easy, and their clashing personalities did the alliance no good. Zoe is a warrior, easy to flare with rage and restore to physical violence when angry, and Asher loves nothing more than to screw every woman around and taunt his betrothed. This summer, when Zoe comes for her regular visit to spend some months with her future husband, the situation changes, though. They both have grown up, no more children in appearance, and Zoella even tries to impress the royals with her attempted ladylike attitude. Even Asher notices, and the discovery of their mutual feelings takes them both by surprise. This situation does not last long, though. Upon Zoe's departure, her father is found dead, she and her entourage are ambushed and she must flee with the gypsies to save her life. The strategic game for Aurelian throne may begin. <br />Interesting and easy going story, simply written so that it flows to the reader naturally, not with many detours and sidelines in the plot. There aren't too many surprising twists, but nevertheless, the plot developes nicely. <br />I liked the world building and the magical abilities appearing in this book. Zoe holds great potential in her hands, and once she learns how to control her powers, she will be a formidable force and great asset to her country's defenses (well, offensive forces too). I absolutely loved Zoe's character, she is exactly the kickass heroine with fiery temper and bravado that is needed to settle the troubling events occuring in the world she lives in. Rebekah with her curious and daring nature is adorable, too, and Garrett is a friend one deserves to have. Who am I not sure about is Asher - a womanizer prince not caring about the situation in the kingdom and behaving like a spoiled brat is not my type of hero, even though he started to come around eventually. But still, leaving without a word with Zoe, with no one in his kingdom caring about his whereabouts as it seems, and he did not even spare a thought to the situation back home... well, questionable character, this one. We will see what will come out of this fantasy tale in the next book.