Customer Reviews

22 Nights (Emperor's Brides, Book 2)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

General Merin, a loyal soldier, is dispatched by his emperor to retrieve a headstrong potential bride for the ruler's appraisal, but it will be the supreme test of his fealty: Belavari Haythorne guilefully seduced the handsome soldier six years before. More complicating than a mere former liaison, however, is new knowledge that Bela also married him. To dissolve the marriage, they must be bound together for three weeks, which may not be the worst of their problems when fearsome, magic-driven enemies appear.

Woven into their tale is the related story of Sayvn, a craftsman, and Leyla, the noblewoman he loves - who is another of the emperor's potential brides. No less enjoyable than the main plot, this subplot is simply beautiful.

This stunning fantasy romance is absolutely fantastic. I adored the adventures and development of both plotlines, and I wondered how I possibly could have missed reading this wonderful author before. The characters develop very fluidly and realistically, and the internal dialogue is excellent.

Linda Winstead Jones is an exceptional storyteller who knows how to construct a delicious worlds to set her stories in, and her characters are genuinely compelling. I intend to find the rest of her novels -- I love this writer! An A-plus rating for this book, not to mention five stars.

(Originally written for Bitten by Books)

Usually I am not a fan of fantasy novels, but 22 Nights had me hooked from the first chapters. This novel is well written with vivid descriptions, interesting characters and a touch of magic too.

Emperor Jahn is searching for a wife and six beautiful women from the kingdom are to be escorted to the capital for his review. When General Merin learns one of these ladies is Bela Haythorne he offers to escort her himself since the Turis, her tribal group, do not welcome outsiders and he does have a history with the clan and with Bela.

Six years earlier Bela drugged Merin and lost her virginity to him. Merin remembers only parts of the evening but certainly not the whole story. Bela is a warrior and quite opinionated and spoiled; I did not like her in the first few chapters. She admits to doing more than drugging Merin, she in fact married him in the Turi tribal custom six years earlier and now to divorce they must be roped together for 22 days, only after completing the 22 days and tasks assigned by the clan can they dissolve their marriage.

Bela possesses a magical sword which speaks and can move of its own volition. This sword convinces her that general Merin is needed in their lives. As Bela spends her days and night with Merin she respects him and recognizes the fine man that he is. For his part, Merin is seeing the tomboyish Bela in a new light.

They must work together not only in the assigned tasks but also they must return the sword back to the magical mountain from whence it came. This will require hard work and trust. It is on this arduous journey that the two really discover their feelings for each other and they expereince the magic of the mountain.

There is also another storyline involving one of the other prospective ladies for the Emperor. Leyla possess the ability to make others obey her commands with her whispered words. She is thirty-four and has a younger lover named Savynn who is 25. Realizing that Savynn should find a younger wife she commands that he not remember their time together.

Savynn accompanies Leyla on the trip to the capital and saves her from an assassin. Now the two must escape on foot working together to outwit the hired killer. Savynn is very drawn to Leyla and wonders about his strong feelings for her. Leyla is having a hard time keeping her distance from the man who has been so very loving and kind to her in the past and exhibits the same traits even without his memories.

Original and romantic with two imaginative and well written stories, this novel is a sure winner.

Six years ago in an act of desperation to keep her freedom Princess Bela Haythorne of Turis drugged General Merin who was leading a local military force; while he was not fully aware of his situation she bedded and wedded him. He left going off to fight for the newly crowned Columbyanan Emperor Jahn moving up the ranks through blood and sweat to the point where he is the next in line as Minister of Defense while she hid in her Turis village in the Eastern Province.

Now Emperor Jahn is choosing a bride from candidates being brought from the corners of the empire. Merin volunteers to his superior General Hydd to escort Bela to the court in Arthes as almost anyone else would end up losing their head; he admits he might too. In Turis he is greeted by Bela ready to slice off his head. Her brothers and papa want his head too as they know what he did to her. Bela admits the truth including that they are married; stunning her family and her husband. They agree to divorce, which in Turis custom means bound together for 22 days and nights. Her mother believes they will either kill each other or realize they are in love.

The sequel to UNTOUCHABLE is a terrific Emperor's Bride romantic fantasy with a superb premise of having two enemy combatants bound together while fighting enemies who want one or the other dead. Her mystical "talking" sword Kitty adds uniqueness to the caper as the couple follows her sword into the Forbidden Mountain. Subplots involving other key characters enhance the saga as mom is right with her immediate assessment that the General and the barbaric princess will either die or love in a wonderful sword and sorcery romance.

Harriet Klausner

In Jones' Fyne Witches trilogy a pair of twin sons are born to Emperor Sebestyen of Columbyana. Now adults, Emperor Jahn and his moments-younger twin, Prince Alixandyr have begun an adventure to find a bride for the Emperor. There is to be a contest, six women of worth from varying lands are to be brought to the palace to be offered the chance to be Empress. Messengers are sent to the far places at the height of the Spring Festival to return with the ladies in time for the Summer Festival where Jahn will choose his bride. Already Alix has returned with Princess Edlyn of Tryfyn and has found a bride for himself in the exotic Sanura.

Sending General Merin to the Turis to bring back the Chieftain's daughter, Belavalari, seems a logical choice. Six years ago, during the war, Merin spent time fighting alongside the Turi people. It was during this time that an impulsive young Bela chose Merin to take her maidenhead. After drugging the General she performed the Turi matrimonial rights and attempted to consumate the marriage. Thinking Merin would die in the war leaving her a widow her only interest in him was how his death (and the loss of her maidenhood) would allow her more freedoms as a woman. When Merin rides back to the Turis to bring Bela to his emperor he has no idea that he is returning to his wife!

When the truth of the union is revealed the two agree to the process of ending the marriage; twenty-two days and nights bound together with a short rope. For the next twenty-two days the two must do everything together, including chores and tasks set down for them by members of the clan. When a dangerous outsider comes to claim Bela and her mysterious magical sword, Kitty, the two must work together to unravel the mystery of where the sword came from and why it chose Bela and Merin to be its keepers.

If you've been a fan of Jones' previous books (The Fyne Witches, Children of the Sun and the first in this trilogy, Untouchable) this one may be a little bit dissappointing. While it still has some of the elements one can expect, epic storytelling and sensuality, it is lacking in one of the elements Jones usually shines in, strong character development. Bela is fleshed out far more than Merin, which I found to be frustrating because I couldn't understand his motivations much of the time. Though having explanations for her manly ways and atittudes Bela was very one-dimensional and the turn from her rejection of all things sensual to full acceptance seemed forced.

Overall the story was very predictable and I felt as if the side romance (Leyla and Savyn) was more interesting and enjoyable than the book's main story. I wanted to like this one, but there were just too many cliched plot devices for my tastes. As an addition to the trilogy it's not one to be passed over but I suspect it will be the weaker of the three. If you don't mind a predictable story and the use of overused plot devices this one isn't bad by any means, it just didn't impress me. With this one tied up the stage is very well set for the conclusion of the bride hunt in Bride by Command.

I came across this book quite accidentally and hesitated to purchase it because I am not into paranormal romance, but I have to say that this book was gripping from beginning to end. The protagonists were very well matched; at first I thought the heroine to be a bit too immature and self-centered, but she matures throughout this book into a more likeable character. The hero was all wonderful and had the traits to a well-rounded character. The author included a background subplot that I found myself skipping over here and there, but nonetheless, it was still catchy; it's just that this particular backdrop story would continue in the oddest of places within a given chapter resulting a bit tedious. I loved the turn of events and identity of the hero in the backdrop story and appreciated how the author brought these two stories together to conclude in one common happy ending.

I am not much of a fan of paranormal romance, but this author really developed a good romance without it being so extremely far-fetched and too way out there for my taste. I look forward to reading more books of this genre from this author.

Years ago, young Bela of of Turis tricked Tearlach Merin into taking her maidenhead. Now Merin is a general, and charged with bringing Bela back to the palace as a potential bride of Emperor Jahn. But when he arrives at the village he is appalled to learn that Bela is already married; to him.

When she was younger, Bela wanted to be free of the burden of her maidenhead, so she drugged Merin and performed the Turi ritual that would bind them together. Since she was no longer a maid, she could fight as a warrior, which was what she desired.

To get out of the marriage the couple must perform another ritual. They must be bound together with a rope for twenty-two days and nights before the marriage can be dissolved. During that time they search for the origin of "Kitty" the magical sword that Bela carries. Will their marriage end, or will they rediscover a passion that once existed between them?

22 Nights is the second book in the Emperor's Brides series, and although I have not read the first book I enjoyed the second one a great deal. Bela is a headstrong woman who matures during the book and becomes a woman not afraid to love. Watching her and Merin together was entertaining.

Merin's reaction to his wedding was also interesting to watch, and his obvious growing love for Bela rang true to me.

There is a second story line in this book, of another bride, Lady Leyla Hagan, who has also been summoned as a potential bride, and Savyn, the wheelwright who is part of her escort group. Their storyline is deep, and is spread throughout the book, so much so that I really wanted them to have their own story so we could explore them more.

22 Nights is a fast-paced, entertaining read. I have to admit I was a little disappointed in the ending. It provides the opening for the third book, true, but I felt as if the characters in this one had not done all they could do, and would have like to see Bela and Merin, and Leyla and Savyn meet. It would have provided me with more closure for these characters in my mind.

Still, I am looking forward to book 3, and will now go on the search for book 1. Ms. Winstead Jones has penned an interesting tale and I will be watching to see how it plays out.

Amelia
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

First I just want to take up this whole paranormal romance genre, well ok, this is fantasy, with romance. I would just rather have it called fantasy romance then. Because to call it paranormal gives it the wrong feeling, in most fantasy I haev read there is magic, sometimes hidden and sometimes not. Nothing parano0rmal about that. When it takes place in this world then yes do call it this. But here I always gets confused, is it set in our world or not. Here it is not. Therefore my little fantasy speech.

Second, this blurb is misleading and it made me not care for the second storyline. I wished she had not made it like that. There is Bela and Merin. And suddenly there is a woman called Leyla who is having sex with this guy Savvyn. Why I thought, and read past that to get back to Bela. But Leyla kept coming back and then I understood that this book is actually 2 books in one in a way. They are about the same thing though so that is what they have in common.

I wished that could have been mentioned so that I would have cared more for Leyla. As for the cover that is Bela and Merin.

But ok, the story is that the emperor wants a bride, and he sends out sentinels to get him 6 brides so he can choose. Bela, is one of them. But when general Merin arrives he gets a surprise. He sure remember the woman who jumped him and then left. But he did not know they were married. A divorce is in other so he can bring the bride to his emperor.

The second story is about Leyla, a widow who has been called forth as a bride too. A bit older, and with a younger lover who she now must leave. She sets out but it's a dangerous journey to the capital.

Bela is a bit spoiled now and again. She wants to be a warrior and she dresses and act likes a man. The she suddenly goes soft, and I don't know about that whole thing. But I still liked her. Merin too. As for the whole lovestory, well yes I knew they would be together but I don't know if I cared.

Leyla and Savvyn was different. I did not care for them at first, though I wish I had. But their lovestory was more intense, and I longed for these too. They had more obstacles to get trough and that made them real.

There was also much focus on something that I guess will happen in another series. I then hope she writes that one cos else it will be strange.

But it was a good little story. I just wish tI would have known about the two storyline plot. I did get caught by surprise about the whole sex thing with two strangers that did not seem to have anything to do with Bela and Merin. Oh and yes it was a lot of sex too. But it fitted the mood and what happened trough the book.

It is a book that I am sure lovers of romance in a little fantasy world can like. Cos there is plenty of that. Some hardships, and danger too. This is book 2 in the trilogy Emperor brides, but you can read any of them in any order really. Well perhaps not book 3, but we all know who people will fall for in the beginning with these books anyway.

i have read basically every book that she has ever written...she is awesome...it all begins with The Sun Witch...if you haven't read that, go read it first and get sucked in right away...

22 NIGHTS
LINDA WINSTEAD JONES
Fantasy Romance
Berkley Sensation

Rating: 5 Enchantments

General Tearlach Merin has been ordered by the emperor to retrieve one of the empress candidates, Belavalari Haythorne, from the village of the Turis. This poses a problem for Merin because Bela and he have a history together and the last time he had seen her was right after he had taken her maidenhead. What a reunion this is going to be.

Bela Haythorne never could understand why the women around her would want to be tied down to a man. A lot of good they are. What could they offer her except a painful romp on the sack? She would much rather battle than have to bed down with a man. This is why she decided to offer herself to General Merin all those years ago. She needed to get her pesky virginity out of the way. Her innocence would only hold her back. Of course no proper girl would bed a man without wedding him first. Okay maybe he did not know that the drunken dance they shared actually bound them together as husband and wife. But hey it is not like she will ever see him again right?

Merin has the privilege of retrieving Bela from the Turis and taking her to Arthes so she may compete in the competition for Empress. This was the plan until he learned that Bela cannot be taken to Arthes until her marriage has been voided. The problem is that she is married to him. According to Turis customs the two must be bound together for 22 nights. If the rope that binds them is cut or severed they must remain married for another 3 years. This sounds like a not so difficult a task, that is if he was bound to anyone other than Bela the most infuriating woman alive. Bela and Merin must work together if they want to dissolve their marriage and figure out the mystery behind Kitty, the magical sword.

Mrs. Jones has once again proven herself! 22 NIGHTS has earned its spot on my bookshelf of keepers along with its companion books such as the Sisters of the Sun series, the Children of the Sun series, and Untouchable book one of the Emperors brides' series. 22 NIGHTS is the latest addition to the magical land of Columbyana. I was not sure who book two was going to be about so I was surprise to see that it was General Merin. I belive he was in the last book of the Children of the Sun series. Merin is everything I want in a man, oh why can't he be real? While I did not understand Bela's desire to be so unfeminine I was very happy with the way her character turned out in the end. I am incredibly intrigued by the twist that this story has taken. I want to know all about the Mountain, and the crystals. Finding out a little bit of what Bela and Merins destiny is makes me curious to see if there will be another series after this trilogy is complete. One created, one born and one hatched. Oh my the possibilities. Another great thing that I love about Ms. Jones' writing is her side stories. The story of Leyla and Savyn was just as enjoyable as Merin and Bela. I am dying to know what happened with Trinity, but I am sure we will find out in Mrs. Jones next book Bride by Command, out March 2009.

Linda Winstead Jones has written numerous stories under many different pen names. To find a complete book list please visit her website at [...]

Jennifer
Enchanting Reviews
November 2008

I really enjoy Linda's novels. I especially like how there are two story lines in each book; one for the two main characters and a separate but somehow tied in story of another couple. I thought this book was fantastic and unique. Bela and Merin definitely do not have a standard romance. She married him without him even knowing it and the story is about his return years later to her lands and the evolution of a real relationship between them. There is also a magical sword named Kitty that Bela has in her care that adds some twists to the novel. The secondary story line of Leyla and Savynn is very emotional and wonderful. All in all I have completely enjoyed the Emperor's Bride's series and can't wait to read the next book!