Customer Reviews

Scoundrel: (The Blades of the Rose)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have been enjoying this difficult to categorize series (a blend of historical romance, paranormal and action adventure) and Scoundrel is my absolute favorite so far! I love everything about this book. From the incredibly sexy Bennett, the romance, to the setting of Greece - this is one exciting ride.

Bennett is the scoundrel in question when he stumbles upon London Harcourt. He rides in to save the damsel in distress but of course as with all of Zoe's books, London can take care of herself. In fact she can be of more help to Bennett and his cause than he is to her. Bennett is smitten. They embark on a casual romance, neither wanting to be tied down but as you know that never works out very well....lol

But here's the twist, Bennett is a member of the Blades of the Rose, a group that protects the world's magic from people who would use it for evil purposes. London is the daughter of the enemy - the Heirs. Her knowledge can help the Blades but in doing so she will betray her father.

Aside from the smart, action packed, sexy tale that I have come to expect in Zoe's stories, Scoundrel gave me a relationship that I felt invested in. Bennett and London have very definite ideas going in to their relationship and have to make some tough choices if they want to take it further than just a fling. There comes a time that a decision needs to be made. Will Bennett be able to commit to just one woman? Even if she is the enemies daughter? And will London turn her back on her family to be with the man she loves? These two sizzle right off the page! They have some very hot scenes together but what differentiates this couple is the crackling emotion between them whenever they are together. I loved them.

The fact that Bennett's greatest enemy is actually evil and is also London's father adds an element of real danger that doesn't often exsist in this type of book.

Thalia from Warrior is still my favorite heroine in the Blades series so far, but London has her own strengths and is great match for Bennett. She loves him but isn't clingy and is willing to be on her own if need be. Bennett....ahhh.....I love him. Scoundrel = auto love in my book but he is upfront about his intentions with the women he is involved with and once he realizes how he feels about London he doesn't play games.

As I explained in my review of Warrior, the world that the Blades strive to protect and defend is made up of all those bits and pieces of mythology and magic we've heard stories about. They're real. The god Thor, ancient Oriental powers, all of them exist, and because of that fact - people are out to abuse them; in this story it's the Heirs. The Heirs are predominantly English gentry who want to use the magic Sources to create a global English empire. Sources are powerful magical objects. Thus, the Blades exist to protect.

Where Warrior was like an Indiana Jones experience, Scoundrel is more like watching Cutthroat Island. The setting is in the Mediterranean, around Greece and a smattering of islands. Reading the book, you can picture yourself on the sea, manning the sails because the ships crew abandoned it because of a little danger - because it's not a Blades story without a little danger!

There is an instant, easy relationship between the two primary characters in Scoundrel; London Harcourt is, from the moment of `meeting' Bennett Day in the marketplace, able to talk to him easily. This is unusual because she is female and hides her secret knowledge of languages; her own father has been kept in the dark of her secret education until recently. It's actually her command of languages that gets her into the kind of trouble that Bennett saves her from in the first place. I like London; she's the kind of character who makes the tough decisions, sticks to what she believes, and damn the difficulties those choices will bring.

I was almost expecting a similar hero to that of Gabriel from warrior, but Bennett is nothing like him! Bennett was briefly in Warrior, and from his reputation and the first page of Scoundrel you're acquainted with his randy behavior. Redeeming the playboy stories are always hard for me to buy into; why would someone want to buy the cow when they can get the milk for free? But I liked London and Bennett's story; it was a hard sell to me, but in the end not only did I like it - I believed it. London challenges Bennett each time he challenges her.

I think that in the quest to define love, Zoe Archer has written one of my favorite sentences ever. "I monkeys in hats you, too."

Bennett Day has never denied being a scoundrel. He loves women. Every single one he's ever been with. He has no expectations of them, and they none of him - except that he's sure to leave. He's spent a good portion of his life traveling the world to protect ancient sources of magic for the Blades. His quick mind solves puzzles, breaks codes and unravels riddles with ease. But in Greece he meets the woman that may take more time than he usually commits to learn...

London Harcourt has been brought to Greece in order to decipher an ancient language for her father. After years of being subjugated to her father's will London Harcourt welcomes the chance to travel and earn respect for her knowledge of languages. Brought to the Greek isles and told only that she's to decipher an ancient language for the good of England, she has no idea that her father is part of the Heirs that would dominate the rest of the world under their rule.

A chance meeting brings them together and London soon learns the truth, of the Heirs, including her father, the Blades and their mission, and of the man she's wildly attracted to. Bennett, who not only respects her quick mind, but encourages and stimulates her, and is connected to her in unimaginable ways. Now she must choose between family and her own sense of right and wrong. Between a stifled life full of lies and a future filled with truth and a chance of love.

Racing across the waters of the Aegean, Bennett and London strive to save the Source as each realizes that not only are their lives in danger...but their very hearts...

Having previously read Warrior, the first Blades of the Rose book, I was greatly looking forward to Bennett's book. His absolute joy for life was infectious and I couldn't wait for an entire book devoted to him. Bennett is a man who loves freely, and openly, but never deeply. Brave, without a doubt, he strides into situations almost without fear. He constantly made me smile because he was usually smiling. He just embraces life and I couldn't help but love that.

London has always yearned for a life of more, but that wasn't something she was likely to get back in England. A casual stroll takes her through a market in Greece where she firsts meets Bennett. The chemistry between them is instantaneous and flares bright. It was really fun to see her bloom out in the world as she fought side by side with Bennett. She has such an open heart, and a strong sense of fairness and rightness that it's easy to respect her. And it was equally easy to see why Bennett fell in love with her.

The growth of their relationship is by far my most favorite part of the novel. While the search for the Source pulls the story along, it's London and Bennett that are the heart and soul of Scoundrel

Bennett and London unravel languages and riddles throughout their action-packed journey through the waters of Greece. The story is well paced and flows nicely from the flurry of activity to more thoughtful contemplation. While I really liked Warrior, I thought this was a much better plotted book. It pulled me through and made me want to keep reading. I really loved the backdrop of Greece and her mythology. It's so fun to travel to these different places with the Blades, from what we normally see in historical novels.

Next up is Rebel, which thankfully I bought this past week so I can dive right in. Though each book very strongly stands on it's own, I think that you definitely get more of a sense of the world if you read them in order and Warrior is assuredly worth picking up.

All in all, Scoundrel is a heart-filled, fast-paced, thrilling addition to the wildly imaginative world of the Blades of the Rose. A-

Other books in this series:

1. Warrior (Blades of the Rose)

2. Scoundrel

3. Rebel (The Blades of the Rose)

4. Stranger (The Blades of the Rose) (to be release 1 Dec 2010)

4.5 Stars

This was an excellent follow up to the fabulous first book, Warrior. I was pretty stoked about that, because it gives me confidence about how the rest of the series will turn out! Sometimes an author just cannot live up to how excellent the first book in a series is, and it is such a disappointment to the reader. That's not the case here!

I think the author made an exceedingly smart choice by moving the location of this book. We aren't in Mongolia with this one, we're in Greece and the islands nearby. I loved the Mongolian scenery, but by having this one in Greece I didn't even have the slightest urge to stop and compare it to the first book.

We didn't get quite the same sense of culture and information about Greece that we did about Mongolia in the first book, but that's understandable. The characters were on a ship for most of the book and weren't visiting the islands enough to give a well developed sense of the people there. We did get a glimpse of them now and then, but they did feel more like scenery than full robust characters.

I really liked getting to watch the romance between the secondary characters on the ship. We didn't actually dwell on their relationship from their pov, we just got to watch it from Bennett and London's pov. I liked that because I never felt that it took away time from London and Bennett's relationship (as I sometimes do with secondary romances that have half of the book devoted to them) but I did look forward to a glimpse of their relationship progress now and then. I loved that they felt necessary to the book even if it wasn't their story. I especially enjoyed watching Athena come into her own with her powers. It was really nice getting a glimpse of someone who has gifts that they were born with. Although I do still wonder about Bennett's affinity with shadows...

I really enjoyed watching London move past her initial restrictions. Not only was she the daughter of the enemy trying to fit in with a group who hates her family, she was raised as the traditional delicate English rose. She didn't have adventures and she didn't know how to take care of herself in a fight. It was nice that she wasn't magically a Xena-like character right out of the gate. I enjoyed watching her become someone stronger and more confident in herself. I also liked watching the joy and verve she had for every new experience she came across. Here was a girl who had longed for life and finally she got a taste of it.

I really enjoyed the initial struggle and anger London had over the reveal of Bennett's past with her. It added some much appreciated tension. I also enjoyed watching Bennett circle around her trying to find a way to insert himself into her regard. He wanted her to look at him and see someone she wanted to spend time with. I also really liked that London did not cast aside the life that she had known at the drop of a hat. I found her behavior much more realistic and interesting than if she had known Bennett for five minutes and believe him right away. Then I would have just thought she was an idiot!

Bennett was such a fun character! I really enjoyed being in his head. Just like with the first book, his internal dialogue kept me giggling. I really enjoyed his life outlook. He was such an in the moment guy. I don't mean that he didn't have the ability to think long term, I mean that he could take pleasure from the little things that he encountered daily. He didn't need much to stay happy.

I really felt for both of the characters when they had that discussion about what love meant to them. I liked that London wasn't willing to settle for less in the long term, but didn't dismiss his view as foolish. She never dismissed his belief, she just made it clear that it didn't mean the same thing to her. My heart broke for them later when he kept saying something and she kept ignoring it. (vague on purpose to avoid spoilers!) Then when they talked about the "monkey hats..." I couldn't help but sigh. :)

The only reason I gave this .5 stars less than the first one was because I wanted a bit more struggle on Bennett's part winning London. Where I loved the first one for its lack of drama, I really would have appreciated a bit more here. I just felt that everything came easily to Bennett and I would have enjoyed watching him work for it more. Like he did when she was ticked at him on the ship originally. He kept sticking a hand out hoping for her to give him an opening and she just kept slapping it away.

Other than that tiny little niggle I enjoyed the book immensely! I can't wait to get my hands on Rebel!

Sea, Sex & Magic! This is exactly how I would sum up this book. I really enjoyed reading Warrior, the first book in the Blades of the Rose series...but Scoundrel...ohhhh Scoundrel was just fantastic! I'm thinking it has to do with the fact that the world, the magic was already known to me, so it took me less time to get into the book. But of course, I'm lying. The real reason lies elsewhere. From the first page, I fell in love with the hero.

I LOVE Bennet Day. There, I've said it. How can I not love him? We start the book with him trying to escape a very angry husband. And all the while, Bennet jokes about it. Ben is a libertine, and I have a thing for naughty libertines *grin* (nahh he's not that bad guys don't worry). And most of all I love his sense of humor. I should stop now because seriously I could go on and on and on about how I love this hero.

There is not one page I didn't like in this book. The story is fast paced and I kept being surprised by all the things happening. This is a real adventure book, I felt like a treasure hunter on a mission. It was FAN-TA-STIC! Zoe Archer mix legends and myths with her own world, and the result is gripping. I had a very hard time closing this book.

Ahem...of course I feel I should warn you...the smex is SO HOT it'll melt you down on the spot! lol Our heroine is not a pure little virgin flower, oh no she knows how to have fun lol. The smex was very steamy, there's this one scene in a temple on an altar... O_O *sits on ice* Ok I can't tell you more but seriously this book will help you stay warm throughout the Winter. *g*

The secondary characters are worth mentioning, and it was pretty funny to see Athena and the Captain always arguing. At the end of the book we meet Catullus Grave, and I can't wait to read his book. But the next book in the series , Rebel, is not about him, it's about Astrid. So I'll have to wait a little longer to read his book. *wink*

Scoundrel is a fantastic (yes I said that 3 times already!) adventure. When I finished it, I felt like I had been sunbathing in Greece with our heroes, and roaming the seas on their boat (with the advantage of not being seasick LOL). Zoe Archer has a talent for making you feel like you really visited all those exotic countries. I can't say it enough, I can't have enough of these books.

I give Scoundrel 5 Bookies

Caroline.

The HEA Lover

[...]

Most romance readers love a bad boy. An incorrigible ladies' man. A rake, if you will. Generally speaking, I don't.

But beautiful, clever Bennett Day is different. He's a complex and interesting character, and his honesty, loyalty to his cause, and generous spirit won me over.

Our heroine, London Harcourt, is fantastic. During a stifling childhood, marriage, and widowhood, her only rebellion has been to secretly learn ancient languages. When her father learns of her knowledge, he brings her along on a trip to Greece, where she's eager to experience and discover absolutely everything. However, her discoveries about her father and her late husband devastate her. The ties London has to her family and her past, and the desire and connection she Bennett feel with each other, lead to the kind of emotional scenes I like to read over and over again.

Scoundrel takes place in Greece and an outlying island as well as on ships in the Aegean sea. The author paints this world in sun-soaked, dazzling detail. I loved Athena, a Blade and powerful witch, and the flirtation between her and the ship captain was a fun counterpoint to Bennett and London's passionate and conflicted relationship. Their emotional story is realistic and believable all the way through. As with all four of the Blades novels, the action scenes are exciting and imaginative, the depictions of magic are utterly original, and the love scenes will make your toes curl.

The Blades of the Rose are the type of thing you read when you want historical romance that's more along the lines of Pirates of the Caribbean than Pride and Prejudice. After finishing the first book, Warrior, I looked forward to reading Bennet Days story. I was not disappointed.

Bennet is in Greece looking for a Source in order to prevent in from falling into the hands of the Heirs. He meets London and discovers that she is the daughter of an Heir, as well as the wife of a man Bennet was forced to kill. London knows nothing about the Heirs, mainly because they are terribly sexist. She is, however, one of very few people able to read ancient languages. Her father plans to use London's linguistic skills and then immediately marry her off to one of his comrades to get her out of the way. But when London comes to understand what the Heirs do, and the destruction they are responsible for, she changes sides to join Bennet in his quest. Naturally, this leads to them falling into bed together. Bennet is a notorious libertine, and London tries to be accepting of the temporary nature of their relationship. Helping Bennet and London along their journey are Athena the Greek witch, and Kallas the expert captain.

I loved this book. Intense action, intriguing mythology, sexy romance, and a well rounded cast of characters. Archer did a very good job with character development in this book. London starts out a sheltered heroine desperate for adventure, and grows in terms of strength and independence. Bennet, the classic playboy, goes from carefree to committed in a way that's surprisingly believable. Archer uses their relationship to help them grow and mature. On top of this, I liked Athena and Kallas and enjoyed their budding romance.

The only potential criticism I can offer about this book is that in some instances, because of the nature of the plot and the personalities of the characters, it can get a bit cheesy. Whether that will bother you or not depends on taste. For myself, I like a little cheese in a book like this.

I highly recommend this book. 4.5 stars.

The world is filled with magic, and, as one might expect, the world is also filled with people who would use that magic to fulfill their own selfish desires. That's where the Blades of the Rose come in. The Blades are a group of men and women sworn to protect objects of magical power and return them to the countries and people they belong to.

London Harcourt knows nothing of the Blades. She also doesn't know she's the daughter of a powerful member of the Heirs of Albion, a British cult bent on subjugating the world's magic for England's - and their own - benefit. A brilliant linguist, London often has to hide her intellectual pursuits, considering her father's view that women are supposed to be pretty, weak creatures and nothing more. But when her father says he needs her skills as a linguist, London jumps at the chance to travel to Greece.

Bennett Day is a scoundrel, a ladies' man, and a talented cryptologist for the Blades. He knows that the Heirs are after the legendary Greek Fire, and he'll do anything to stop them from possessing it. He just never expects the sexist Heirs to bring a woman on their mission. Nor does he count on the fact that the lady in question will capture his interest in a way no woman ever has. Unfortunately, London is the daughter of his enemy and she's also one of the very, very few people in the world who can speak a dialect of ancient Greek that's needed to solve ancient riddles and locate Greek Fire. Can the Blades' legendary Casanova convince the daughter of an Heir to work with him? In an ordinary situation, Bennett would have no doubts. Yet, London is anything but ordinary...

Zoë Archer continues her incredibly unique Blades of the Rose series with Scoundrel. There's so much thought, detail, imagination, and knowledge of the nineteenth century world in Scoundrel that it's a veritable feast for the mind. I loved the complexities of the mysteries London, Bennett, and their allies had to solve.

Bennett and London themselves are sure to charm any reader. Bennett is a rogue through and through, but he's far from heartless. In fact, he gives his heart to just about every woman he meets. What makes Bennett unusual for a rake is that his concept of love is no less valid for his spreading it than London's idea of love which is the more conventional heart belonging to only one person. Still, I adored watching Bennett discover that his love for London is something out of the ordinary. As for London, she is a woman of extraordinary intellect and bravery that, while common for Blades of any gender, is unusual for a gently-bred Victorian lady. The two of them together fit like lock and key and it wasn't difficult to become invested in their romance. And speaking of romance, there is a secondary love story in Scoundrel that I won't spoil other than to say it captured my attention from the start and I was equally, if not more interested, in it than I was in London and Bennett's romance.

The action of Scoundrel keeps the story moving at a quick clip. Ms. Archer also brings the Greek isles to life in much the same way as she did Outer Mongolia in the first Blades of the Rose book, Warrior. Aside from the fight against the Heirs that spans the series, there isn't any overlap between Warrior and Scoundrel. A reader who has not yet read Warrior could pick up Scoundrel and follow along without any problems (though I still recommend reading Warrior for no other reason than its sheer entertainment value). Overall, I continue to enjoy the complex, engaging world of the Blades of the Rose. Ms. Archer is an incredible writer and storyteller and I can't wait to read the next Blades of the Rose book, Rebel.

Shayna

Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

This introduces us to London...a young widow who gets embroiled in a magical mystery full of adventure and lost artifacts! Along the way, she finds her own true romance, after a stale marriage and surrounded by secrets she soon uncovers.Bennet introduces her to her own passion and unravels all the hidden lies she has been in her whole, sheltered life. They each find the love within each other, and the freedom to love freely and completely. A truly great story, with a down to earth heroine, and a wonderful leading man! Cant wait for more in this series of Blades Of The Rose!

Destruction is as human as apple pie; so to protect mankind from self extinction magic is hidden. Still in spite of overwhelming majorities believing magic to be a parlor trick, some Sources contain unexplained power. The Heirs of Albion want to own all the Sources to support their belief that the citizens of Britain are the master race who should dominate the lesser beings of the world. They have found the most powerful object Primal Source of Africa and now are work on learning how to use it. The Blades of the Rose oppose the Heirs.

Linguist London Harcourt is unaware that her late husband, her father Joseph Edgeworth and her brother belong to the Heirs of Albion. Joseph plans to unleash magic so Britain can rule. Thus in 1875 he takes his widowed daughter with him to Athens, Greece as she speaks an ancient dialect that will bring the wrath of the Gods to the earth. Blade Bennett Day meets London who he realizes is ignorant of the threat posed by her father. He also knows the linguist is the key to the Heirs using the Source.

The second Blades of the Rose historical romantic fantasy is a strong adventure tale as the action moves from the Mongolian setting of the Warrior to Greece. A womanizer, Bennett tries every means he knows to persuade the female to his way of thinking, but never met one as intelligent as London is; although some readers will question how smart she is when she failed to realize the nefarious activities of the three main men in her life (before Bennett). Still fans will enjoy the teaming of a refreshing woman who speaks dead languages and the suave operative as they battle her family who employ her as the expendable key to use magic to dominate the world.

Harriet Klausner