Customer Reviews

Kismet's Kiss: A Fantasy Romance

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

What a fabulous, provocative romance that breaks all the old-fashioned rules of the genre!

The conflict between the Sultan Kuramos and the healer he summons from a rival realm, Varene, is so rife with tension, I had to keep turning the page until I began to see the subtly promised inevitable--a slow-growing, inexorable love affair.

The relationship between ruler and healer builds at an exquisitely torturous rate: first grudging respect as Varene stands up to Kuramos in ways that perplex and humble him, then trust, as Varene proves herself an able healer to the sultan's stricken household and Kuramos shows himself to be a just ruler and deeply devoted father; and lastly, the greatest passion--only to throw the reader into that wonderful roller coaster ride as Kuramos and Varene find their relationship unraveling because of his unyielding cultural traditions. A surprising twist toward the end propels them toward grave peril and adds a jaw-clenching suspense until the truly satisfying and electric finale.

In short--I LOVED THIS BOOK!

As a general rule, I was never a fan of polygamy, but within the constraints of the story it makes for a stronger read. I'm a fan of romances, but they all seem to follow a general formula. This one was unique and I really had to focus to recall the names of characters etc. so I was constantly engaged in the story. I found it a little hard to get into in the beginning (but I'm currently a stay at home mom so distractions occur), but once the story started rolling along I was hooked! Strong characters, with good descriptions and back stories. Highly recommend this read, well done Cate Rowan!

3.5 Stars!

My Review:

The Plot:

Kuramos, the Great Sultan of Kad, is in the midst of a nightmare when a deadly illness strikes his palace killing his trusted mentor and threatening the lives of his wives and children. After a freak accident takes the life of his Royal Physician, robbing Kuramos of a cure, the sultan's desperate need forces him to seek help from the rival realm of Teganne. A culture steeped in vile magic, the Tegannese people are scorned by Kaddites but when left with no other options Kuramos will subject himself to the scourge magic users if it'll save his precious family.

Wanting to distract herself from the recent and painful loss of the man she loved, a man who tragically never knew that he held her heart, Varene na Seryn grudging accepts Kuramos's demand the she attend to his family. Amplifying Varene's phycisians' knowledge is her kyrra, a soul magic that allows her the power to heal her patients. Given only a handful of details from the Kad messenger, Varene warily knows that she's facing an illness completely unknown to her and while the Kaddites themselves culturally disturb her, Varene is a healer and she'll not let anything prevent her from saving lives if it's in her power to do so.

Two radically opposing cultures clash violently as a battle of wills erupts the very moment Kuramos and Varene meet yet a grudging respect blooms early between them both as well despite their attempts to remain guarded. Disturbed by the renowned culture of Kad, a culture that venomously hates Teganne, Varene begins her journey already on the defense. Like a fantasy romance feminist, Varene is deeply disgusted by the disrespect shown to women, most importantly she's deeply disturbed by the fact that Kuramos has six wives. Knowing that each woman claims only one-sixth of their husband while he gets them all grates heavily on her morals and strong belief that a marriage exists between two souls not seven.

In contrast, Kuramos's people have gripped the boundaries of their realm through sheer human force. Shunning magic out of a deeply revered respect for their gods, the true and rightful users of magic, Kad rejects the Tegannese empowered mages and sorcerers. And while their matrimonial arrangements may disgust neighboring realms, harems are a long standing cultural aspect of Kad. Kuramos's wives have secured much needed alliances and peace amongst the powerful families of Kad.

With their cultural differences blazing between them, Kuramos and Varene pull and push at each other, peeling back layers of their souls with each turbulent encounter. With his family near death, Kuramos grants Varene all the power she needs within his palace to cure his beloved. Watching her work with mesmerizing intensity, Kuramos begins to admit a lust filled longing within himself for the unconventional Tegannese healer. Varene's wits and sharp intellect engages his mind and his body. Likewise, Varene begins to feel a deep seeded but unwanted yearning for the man that already has six wives. Berating herself for her vile lust, she does what she can to maintain distance but when a skillful hunter such as Kuramos senses prey in its sights, he'll not give up until he's claimed every piece of her soul.

The Heroine:

A wounded soul who reminds herself constantly with a worn ring upon her finger that to dally with love can only lead to heartache and death, Varene staunchly clings to the past and the lessons it wrought upon her life. For decades she loved a man from afar because to stick her neck out and declare her affections would have meant that she learned nothing. So Varene allows herself the safety of a crush only to feel acute despair with the fact that he dies never knowing she loved him. Fresh from that heartache, Varene encounters the magnetic force that is Kuramos and for the first time in her life she feels passion and a boundless love. Sadly, she falls once again for a man that she can't have. He's married, to six women no less and the last thing that Varene would ever do is destroy the lives of the women the way she had once been destroyed so long ago.

Shielding her heart and locking her true self beneath the mask of the Tegannese Royal Healer, Varene gifts only herself to her patients and her active feminist views. Rash and impetuous, Varene rushes headlong into many a disaster in Kad because of her strong belief that she should be treated as an equal. This same heedless behavior overflows into her dealings with Kuramos but lucky for her, he's in love with her and her spunk.

The Hero:

Charismatic and fierce as his sultanate demands, Kuramos is a force that's felt throughout the realm of Kad. Strong and muscular with piercing green eyes, he's both angered and enamored with Varene's constant rebellion that he as Sultan of Kad demands as his very right. The woman won't even bow to him! She infuriates him but instead of igniting his ire she only serves to fan the flames of his desire.

Yet like Varene, Kuramas masks his true self from the world. He's a family man full of compassion. He takes excellent care of his wives whom he respects and cherishes. At his core is a man of spartan needs but yet he holds court in the lavish appointments his sultanate dictates. The only true blight on his soul is the guilt and despair for the children he's lost. He's a good man, a caring man and while he wants Varene, never once does he force her to submit to his needs or his sultanate.

My Final Thoughts:

KISMIT'S KISS, while an enjoyable read, I must admit to having a difficult time staying engaged with the characters and their plight. The book never grabbed me, it never took me along for the ride within its clutches. Funnily enough, I like Varene and I like Kuramos. They're well told, multi-dimensional characters. The setting is lavish and richly detailed painting a clear picture of Kad's colorful vegetation, clothing and architecture. Even the sand of the deserts surrounding Kad glittered in my mind's eye as it did for its inhabitants. In addition, the author wrapped up every single plot arc with no stone left unturned. So why didn't this book work for me? I'm narrowing it down to Varene's feminist attitude and Kuramos's six wives.

Contrary to what most modern day women of today represent - equal rights, equal pay, equal respect, in a romance novel it's the last type of attitude I want to read about in a heroine. Hypocritical for sure but while I desire a strong and self assured heroine, I don't enjoy one that flings ingrained customs and culture out the window to make a point that she is above that. Varene's antics get old and while I enjoyed the bi-play between her and Kuramos as a result of her actions, at times I just found her to be downright childish.

However, I did agree fully with Varene's disgust over Kuramos and his harem no matter that it is the custom of Kad but the outcome of Varene's disgust and the result of Kuramos's love simply felt wrong. It's a known fact that romance readers don't always receive a cheating husband well and while Kuramos's situation is rather unconventional, I'm of the feeling that the rule still applies to him. He has six wives, children with each of them. Having a harem is the Sultan's right as well an ingrained aspect of Kad culture yet he'll throw it all away simply because Varene won't share? What if he falls in love with someone later? It's safe to reason that he could for he's a man used to getting everything he wants. I just don't find him trustworthy and likewise I'm somewhat sickened that Varene would demand what she does of Kad's Sultan and its culture. It seemed selfish and unfair that she would want him to give up his family as the requirement to claim her heart.

And finally, I don't necessarily understand the whole point of the fantasy elements used in this novel. For one, they take a complete backseat to the romance. And to get right down to my whole dilemma, I honestly don't see the point in having these characters live centuries-long lives. Fine, let them be magic users, at least that aspect had a role in the plot, but the immortal lives just felt like an additive for genre sake.

Despite my own misgivings with this read, I can easily understand why others will and do receive it in a better, more favorable light. A powerful and charismatic ruler bends to the will of a foreign woman, a woman who defies and overturns centuries long customs, all in the name of love. Its romantic for sure. I just can't let go of my own hang ups....

Culture/religion/magic use/love clash in this beautifully written fantasy romance. I don't think I've ever read a romance where I was as intrigued as to HOW the author would get the hero and heroine together. Cate Rowen found an unusual way to make it work. A wonderful sequel to Source of Magic! I LOVED it! I can't wait to read more books in this series.

As an avid romance reader, I was skeptical that I would enjoy this story since the hero is a sheik with several wives, but the author pulled the HEA off in a very satisfying way. I loved both the heroine and hero. They were smart, strong and compassionate. I would definitely recommend this book.

What a fun read! Stir in some science fiction, Arabian Nights, a sexy sultan, a female Healer with magic powers, and Ms. Rowan has concocted a delicious tale that will fill all your romantic fantasies. Kismet's Kiss captured me from the first page. Ms. Rowan's excellent prose and her unique story held my attention throughout. With all the twists and turns, I had to keep reading to see how it ended. And to see how Ms. Rowan resolved the issues with the sultan's six wives. Ms. Rowan didn't disappoint. A truly satisfactory read and a true romantic ending.

Cate Rowan charmed me with her fantastic worldbuilding about the kingdoms of Kad and Teganne, where people lived hundreds of years and where science co-existed with magic. The setting brought to mind the movie Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, nevertheless, it is her vivid descriptions of the place and the people and their varied customs that brought the story to life, making the main characters' ultimate conflict real and palpable.

Sultan Kuramos of Kad was in despair, as a deadly plague swept through the palace. Soon, the Grand Vizir fell dead, and his son and four wives were stricken with the strange malady. When the Royal Physician died from an accident, he had no choice but to heed the Grand Vizir's words, which was to call for help from the Royal Healer of Teganne, a land renowned for magic and healing.

Royal Healer Varene didn't want to leave the life of peace she had built in Teganne at first, but what choice did she have? Even if Kad and Teganne weren't on good terms, lives were at stake and as a healer, she couldn't turn her back on anyone. She also wanted to keep busy to hold sorrow at bay, but little did she know something else awaited her in Kad, for the Grand Vizir had prophesied her coming...

Varene has a healthy respect of herself and she didn't bow to any person, even if he was sultan. Kuramos's arrogance only goaded her into speaking her mind and treating him not with subservience, but as something of an equal. This both infuriated and intrigued Kuramos, who was used to obsequiousness and to getting his way always. Especially when his seduction attempts more often than not resulted in Varene pushing him away.

As for Varene, she was attracted to Kuramos and her experience with a lover who'd died too soon taught her never to wait for the important things in life. Yet, how could she give in to the attraction when Kuramos already had six wives? Especially when she came from a culture where marriage is between one man and one woman.

As foretold by the Grand Vizir, "Will you bend, or will she? Perhaps neither."

Ms. Rowan displayed delicate skill as she navigated the treacherous waters that is the relationship between the sultan and his harem and a potential love interest. I admit to having a problem at first with Kuramos's having six wives and I have to keep reminding myself that Kad has a culture different from our own.

However, soon, I was caught up in the story because of Varene herself. I like that Varene is a good woman and healer. She genuinely cared for others, even at the expense of herself. But more than that, Varene held on to her principles. That though she may have changed in some ways, in the matter of important things, especially the things that make up the essence of who she was, she remained the same. She didn't give up who she was for the chance of a life with the man she loved, though she was tempted. Very tempted. And more than once at that. I have to admit that one factor that had me turning the pages (or pressing the next page button on my Kindle) was the resolution of Varene's dilemma. And I admit to being satisfied with the outcome.

Kuramos is certainly different from the other heroes I've encountered, primarily because he has six wives. Wooh, male fantasy here. With the spread of the plague, I thought the author was going to let all six wives die to make way for Varene, but I'm glad that didn't happen. I like that Kuramos is also an honorable man. Having six wives or more is allowed in Kad, especially for sultans who usually need to marry for political reasons such as to cement alliances. But though Kuramos desired Varene, he respected her wishes and he also didn't want to forsake his wives, because of the affection that has been nurtured between them and because they were the mother of his children. Which left him in a quandary.

I also have to mention Sulya, Kuramos's sixth wife and "sort of" a villain, certainly Varene's rival for Kuramos's affections. Even though she only has short air time, Sulya is delightfully three-dimensional and, whatever else she may be--ambitious woman, concerned mother--she has honor.

Interwoven into the romance and near tragedy in the palace is a suspense/mystery element that I didn't see coming, but which the author has provided for with clues and hints throughout the entire story. I would've wanted more sexual tension between Kuramos and Varene before the scene at the stake, but aside from that, Kismet's Kiss is a must-read for all fantasy romance lovers.

Reviewed by Ashia
for The Romance Reviews

Kismet's Kiss is a fantastic story of foreign, exotic lands, proud cultures, and characters you'll remember for days to come. And best of all, the romance!

From the moment the Sultan Kuramos and Healer Varene meet, there's no doubt of their attraction and draw to one another. But as a reader of mostly traditional romances, I went into this story with serious reservations about whether the author could truly make me believe in their love. After all, the story opens with Kuramos having six wives!!!

Even with my doubts, though, I couldn't stop turning the pages! I simply loved Kuramos and Varene. They were both proud, determined to do the right thing, and unwilling to go against their beliefs. The fact he couldn't quite figure out how to maintain his normal level of arrogance with her--when she routinely ignored what was "expected" of her--baffled him and made him endearing to me. And I simply adored the fact that, not matter how much the desire sparkled between the two, Varene was unwilling to lower her standards and become what she considered just "one of his women". Only when she knew wihtout a doubt what they felt was real would she succumb to the power between them. By that time, I was a believer too! These two were meant for one another, and never once did I feel like the honor and respect Kuramos showed his first wives took anything away from the honest and deep love growing between him and Varene.

I equally loved the secondary characeters. In fact, as I read toward the end I was worried about what would become of the first six wives! The way Rowan wove these women into the story and into our hearts impressed me on a level of the caliber of someone multi published for many years. Though I expected a well-writtern story (based on previous contest wins and author quotes), I was floored by how much I cared for and was rooting for all the characters by the end of the story.

Overall, it was one of the most enjoyable and well written books I've read. I'm very anxious for the next Cate Rowan book!

I'm not usually a reader of fantasy romance, but a friend recommended this book and I ended up staying awake until 1 am two nights in a row to finish it. This is a lovely story. It's structured like a romance (and it sizzles like one!), but it's not only about romantic love. It's about friendship, family, and loyalty--and all these rich emotions play out against a background of jewels, shimmering silks, and a palace so vividly drawn that I'm ready to move in.

I was also impressed by how well Rowan brought the many characters to life. The book is about far more than just one man and one woman, and each of the secondary characters has an individual personality and a carefully thought out history.

I see the official book description doesn't mention the special twist in this story, so I won't reveal the secret... but I will say that wondering how in the world they would work things out kept me turning pages to the end!

I just finished reading Kismet's Kiss and highly recommend this interesting story. The setting and the characters are alive and draw you right into what is happening. Actually, I had a difficult time putting it down and if life hadn't gotten in the way, I would have read it straight through. I look forward to more of Cate Rowan's stories. She is a great story teller and is definitely on the top of my list as a favorite author.