Customer Reviews

Master of Swords (Berkley Sensation)

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The first book I read by Angela Knight was "Master of the Night." I was extremely disappointed and thought that I would never read another book written by her again. Yet, I ended up with "Master of Wolves," which I liked and "Master of Swords" was by far the best book I've read by her to date. Although, I have to admit, it was definitely "Kell's Show."

The plot: Lark McGuin, a newly formed majae has just survived a vampire attack. Her self-confidence is seriously shattered. Still, she is paired with one of the original knights of King Arthur's Round Table, Gawain. Gawain is her mentor and originally feels that the only reason he would need Lark is to train her, feed from her and......well, you know what the other thing that Magus requires from the Majae. Plus, Angela Knight has proven to be quite adept at great love scenes. But I digress.

Anyway, Gawain is proved wrong, when in the process of defeating one of Geirolf's evil sorcerers, he finds himself falling in love with Lark, and eventually true-bonding with her. However, the real hero had to be Kell. As we know from Knight's earlier stories, Kell is Gawain's dragon friend who has been ensorcelled into his sword.

In the process of Gawain and Lark finding true love, Kell is finally released from the sword. He has been an enchanted sword for 16 centuries. Because of Kell's bravery, King Arthur made him a knight of the round table (a great honor.)

We find out that Master of Dragons is Kell's story, and quite frankly, I eagerly wait it's release. Angela Knight seems to improve with each story written. With that said, Kell's story promises to be a WINNER!

Instead of talking about the plot, which other people have done here, I'll describe why I like Angela Knight's writing. That way, you know what to expect from her books in general and this one in particular. I think it is best to read this series in order, but you could read this one without having read the others.

I have read every book in this series, and every book by Angela Knight for that matter, and her writing keeps getting better. I can always count on the fact that if I buy one of her books, I will love it. She always has good characters, a well-developed and interesting plot, and lots of steamy sex scenes. The sex scenes also carry the plot forward rather than being gratuitous. I like the witty and sexy verbal interactions between charcters, just as much as the physical interactions. The characters grow with the book and don't just all of a sudden fall in love with each other. However, what keeps them apart in the begining is realistic unlike some romance books. For example, in this book Lark fears that Gawaine only wants her for physical reasons because that is the way it has been for him with every other woman. That is a very common fear, unfortunately.

I love every book in the series, but I think this one is best because we get more of the guy's point of view. She uses first person with Gawaine so we get an idea of what he is feeling. I like it when you can see more than one perspective. But, it doesn't detract from the story.

To sum up, Angela Knight writes intriguing plots, well-developed characters, and fun/sexy dialogue that makes for a great book. I recommend any book by her, especially this one.

In 510 Avalon in the mageverse, Gawain of the Round Table sees six hellhounds have trapped a dragon. He intercedes and saves the dragon's life, who uses a spell so they can communicate. Kel and Gawain become friends. One year later, Kel finds he likes being in human form where he seduces the magae, but his hanging with Gawain and company upsets the other dragons. Kel's Uncle Dragon Lord Tegid fearing him casts a spell that reduces his nephew to a silver sword with his only escape being the death of his best friend Gawain.

In the present, after an attack left four tyro defenders dead, King Arthur announces a new pairing. A relative newcomer will be paired with a veteran. Gawain becomes Lark's mentor. At his home, Gawain and Lark make love and he takes a bite as vampires do when they are with magae. Afterward Morgana assigns Gawain and Lark to investigate a murder. They find strong magic, but finally with Kel's help they arrive to find the sorcerer dead. They track that kill to a more powerful sorcerer Richard Edge, son of Avalon parents; but he was rejected by the community as unworthy. Now Richard has a powerful ally and owns the last of the three Black Grails.

Though this delightful Camelot tale can stand alone, the tale has threads left from previous Mageverse novels like MASTER OF WOLVES and the novella "Galahad" from BITE. The strong support cast especially Kel and the Camelot crowd adds depth to the mageverse and enhances either by combat or friendship the terrific relationship between the lead couple that changes over time. A fabulous final twist involving the hero and his father add to a terrific romantic fantasy that spins the Arthurian legend into a different unique direction.

Harriet Klausner

Of all Knight's books, this had the best plot and side characters. It was great to see into the Magekind's world, after getting glimpses into it in her past novels.
Where I had a problem with this book, was in Knight's dramatic change in focus. This book was maybe 20% romance and 80% fantasy/suspense. Where in the past they were at least 50/50. Not good when people buy Angela Knight for her steamy love stories. The main characters were underdeveloped and I could not figure out how they ended up in-love and happy about being Truebonded. Gawain, after 1600 years of sleeping with gorgeous women, didn't act like Lark was anything special. If you think my opinion is harsh, you should read Jane's Warlord and Master of the Night, some of her earlier works.

I clearly enjoyed this book so Much better than Master of the Moon and Master of Wolves. I have nothing against fairies and the Werewolves but Knight clearly enjoys her Magekind characters more than her other species characters in this universe.
This novel focuses on the knight Gawain and Tristan's great-granddaughter Lark. Lark is a newly turned Maja who had recently survived and attack from a vampire of the Dark Grail. Her further training is to be accomplished by mentoring with Gawain, who is a legendary Player in the Mageverse. While training Gawain and Lark hunt a powerful Dark Grail Vampire. A side story is Gawain's friendship with a Dragon, Kel, who is trapped in his sword.
This is definitely a return to Knight's trademark Alpha hero and smart heroine. There is also terrific chemistry between the character, a return of smart, snappy dialogue and better, sizzling love scenes. As seen in the books and novellas that focus on her "Secrets Anthology vampires and sci-fi", the Warlords and Warfem, and the Magus and Maja.

Lark McGuin is the great grand daughter of Tristan of the Round Table. She has been inducted into the Maje and to fight against the black magic that threatens to take over. After a particularly vicious vampire attack, Lark is left feeling fear and not terribly good about her abilities as a warrior. She is then paired off with Gawain and the sparks fly between them. She has never felt the instant attraction she does for him with anyone else. But, Gawain is known for his love `em and leave `em behavior. When the battle over the darkness is done, what will happen between them? Will Lark loose her heart to the knight who has deftly stolen it or will they find a happy ending together?

This is a page turning effort by one of my favorite authors. Lark and Gawain will capture the readers attention from the get go. Their attraction burns hot and readers will be totally caught up in the story. Plenty of action keeps this read from being slow and we are treated to a very intriguing preview of the next hero in this series. Run don't walk and pick up this title. You won't be sorry.

Angela Knight continues her fabulous Mageverse series with MASTER OF SWORDS.

Gawain has always been the ladies man with his only real bond being his friendship with Kel. Kel, a dragon trapped in sword form, can only return to dragon form by killing Gawain. Gawain is now assigned to newly recruited Maja, Lark McGuin. Gawain doesn't expect the deep attraction he feels towards Lark as it runs contrary to his penchant for playing the field. Meanwhile, one of Geirolf's black grails still survives- and Richard Edge has a fiendishly clever plan that will jeopardize the entire Mageverse as he seeks revenge on those he feels wronged him. Will Lark, Gawain, and Kel be able to stop Gawain in time?

Angela Knight is a master at combining a sizzling hot romance with a fascinating fantasy tale. The Mageverse is exceptionally complex and yet easily understandable even to readers whose first introduction is in MASTER OF SWORDS. The entire concept of the symbiotic relationship between the vampires and the Majae intertwined with the Camelot tale is nothing short of genius. A wide cast of supernatural creatures populate the Mageverse, keeping the series fresh and entertaining while adding an extra layer of depth more akin to fantasy novels than paranormal romance.

Angela Knight proves yet again with MASTER OF SWORDS that she can write a steamy romance while providing an incredible storyline. Fans of paranormal romances will not want to miss out on this latest Mageverse novel. Perhaps the only downside to reading MASTER OF SWORDS is that it leaves you yearning for Kel's story! MASTER OF SWORDS is easily recommended and sure to satisfy.

COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES

Lark McClure, is Tristan's great granddaughter and has not been a Maja herself for very long, and with all the recent attacks and many being new recruits that are killed It has been ordered that each new recruit be put with one of more experienced of the warriors. And Lark is team with Gawain one of the original Knights of the round table, and who also has the love em and leave them reputation. But After a recent attack from a very powerful sorcerer vampire from the dark grail where Lark almost died because she wasn't strong enough or experienced enough she knew that in principle this made sense but she wasn't to sure about being up close and personal with a vampire right now, especially one with the body a god would envy and did he have to look at her as if she was his next meal...oh wait she could be the vampires from authors court feed from the Maja blood totally OK except she's never let anyone do that yet. Oh this was not going to be easy....
But she needed to get over her fear quick because they are soon going to be faced with more then just a bunch of crazed vampires and if her doubts and fears aren't gone by then all could be lost.

Angela Knight has done it again with Master of the Swords. What and enchanting series this is and I read through each book so fast. This story has a wonderful character that soon began my favorite Gawain has befriended a dragon helping him from an attack from the hell-hounds but dragons are very slow with there wiliness to accept humans of any kind into there lives.This is not the case between Kal and Gawain, but not to many of his fellow dragons are happy about this union and want Kal to end it. This is especially true of Kel's Uncle, his hate for humans is beyond blind, and has plotted against his nephew by putting a spell on him and making him an enchanted sword and the only way this can be broken is if Kel uses himself to kill his Friend Gawain. He does not and the relationship through out this story has added just the right touch for the whole story. I am so glad that we will see more of him in Angela Knight's night next story Master of the Dragons.
Go ahead close your eyes can you see it? .....YES IT CAMELOT!!!!

Lark is actually the great granddaughter of Tristen, and when her grandfather is dying of altimisers, she digs up an old toiken her grandfather had shown her to call Tristen to her. Amazingly enough, Tristen shows up and helps her grandfather out by placing him in a retirement home/hospital for family members of his people. After doing just a great favor to Lark, he ask one in return, for her to become a maja. Lark leaves her life to do so.

There is overlapping in this story from the previous one. The battle that was fought against the vampires when they attacted the mage world when they felt the dark grail treatened. Lark, just so happened to be in that battle and was not fairing so well. She was about to be sucked dry by a vampire when the battle ended when the dark grail was distroyed. Considering how the new recruits needed extra help, Arthur comes up with the plan to pair up old with new. A spell cast by Morgana pairs up Lark with Gawain. Gawain, a known womanizer, gets more than he is bargaining for with Lark.

Great story. A new bad guy comes out to play in this one, plus Gawain's magical sword is so awesome.

If you are a fan of the erotic romance supernatural sub genre then this is for you. Lark is worried about her grandfather and magically summons her great grandfather Tristan to help. He recruits her as a Maje (powerful witch) in the war against evil vampires. The less experienced maje and magus (male vampire warriors) are getting killed so they are partnered with more experienced counterparts. Lark winds up with Gawain who has quite a love em and leave em reputation. Nice character development, very good plot with suitably villainous villains, but not stupid ones; and a number of good erotic scenes including a couple of light bondage--very well written and fun. There is some humor as when Gawain first seen Lark "Someone's recruited a Playboy Bunny"; "Hi my name is Bambi, I'm barely legal and love kittens and puppies...". But he is instantly attracted. The book stands alone but I recommend reading this series in sequence as they are all good reads and the whole thing makes more sense that way.