Sacrifice by Cayla Kluver

Release Date: Out now!

Publisher: HarlequinTeen Australia

Pages: 448pgs

The Story

This is not the time for the fight to end.

Now is when the fight will begin.

This is the time to regain what has been lost.

Alera. Queen of a fallen kingdom, secretly in love with the enemy.

Shaselle. Daughter of a murdered father, rebel with a cause.

One lives behind the former Hytanican palace walls and walks the razor's edge to keep the fragile peace in her beloved homeland. The other slips through the war-torn streets retribution for her family's tragedy, following whispers of insurgency.

Both face choices that will separate them from those they cannot help but love. As their stories intertwine, a conspiracy ignites that may end in slavery or death - or lead to freedom anew, if only each can face what must be sacrificed.

The Review

A big thanks to HarlequinTeen Australia for sending me an ARC copy of this book!

I've been a huge lover of Cayla Kluver's Legacy trilogy and with her final installment of her very much beloved series it had certainly not disappointed me in any way. From the way Cayla Kluver writes, to the way she creates her brilliant world, and even the way she brings these characters of hers to life, it's needless to say an absolute pleasure to have read this entire series and I'm kind of sad to see everything come to an end like with any other favourite series of mine. But one thing thing is for certain: Everyone must read this series no matter its critics!

Unlike the previous two books in the series, Legacy and Allegiance, the last installment, SACRIFICE, is written and shared between two character perspectives; Alera's and Shaselle's. Both engaging and a delight to read about, Alera was a clear winner in her own narrative and is someone I will always come to love and favour whenever she is on the page, but I have to say Shaselle-what's-her-name just didn't cut it for me in this particular book and I never really saw any importance to her character either. I had actually forgotten all about her story by the time I finished this book (sad but true) and clearly I didn't care much for her either, if not at all . . . so it's a pity about that. But let's get back to the other characters and Alera of course, who was the more important character in the book.

Alera, one of my favourite heroines throughout this series, is someone who has changed for the better and has grown up a lot from the course of the series in books one, two, and three. Once a spoiled girl born into a royalty-breed family, Alera has finally become the Queen she has always meant to be - one who is loyal, caring, compassionate, and someone who is simply a dedicated leader of her own kingdom and one of whom will go to many lengths to keep herself and her people safe. Whether readers are frustrated with her or not - no matter her flaws - she is still willing to put aside her own heart on certain matters and concentrate more on her actions. Actions that are done with so much maturity on her part. I mean, what can I say . . . I have a lot of praise and utter respect for her!

The same love and praise also goes straight to Alera's love interest, Narian. Oh Narian! Both armed with intelligence, good-looks, great leadership skills, and a heart on his sleeve, Narian is the perfect man for Alera and there's no way anyone could deny it. While I was frustrated with him in certain parts of the book, but soon everything was forgotten and I couldn't help but love Narian all over again, not to mention his relationship with Alera alone. Those two deserve each other so much and I'm really glad things started to go right for them for a change even with a ton of danger on the horizon for them both. I'm trying not to spoil here but . . . there you go!

Overall, SACRIFICE was the perfect end for the Legacy series. With all of the right elements and some pretty lovable characters - from the main ones all the way to the supportive cast roles, I have to say I'm pretty pleased with how everything was concluded and I'm very excited to see what else Cayla Kluver comes up with next, which I'm sure will rock no matter what it is about!

The Rating

4 1/2 / 5 stars

Allegiance by Cayla Kluver

Release Date: Out now!

Publisher: HarlequinTeen

Pages: 494pgs

The Story

An eighteen-year-old queen in love with the enemy as

their countries pass the point of no return . . .

He couldn't help his past any more than he could help the way those intense, deep-blue eyes pierced me and held me captive.

Bound to a man she cannot love, Queen Alera of Hytanica must forget Narian, the young man who holds her heart. For Narian is destined to conquer Hytanica at the behest of his master, the powerful magic-user known as the Overlord. Alera doesn't truly believe Narian will fight against Hytanica - until Cokyrian troops attack with Narian commanding the charge.

Faced with the greatest betrayal a heart can know, Alera must set aside personal feelings and lead her kingdom through its darkest time. And when all hope, will and courage seem lost, she must find strength and remember that even the blackest night must have a dawn.

The Review

A big thanks to HarlequinTeen Australia for sending me a review copy of this book!

ALLEGIANCE is the much anticipated sequel to Cayla Kluver's novel, Legacy. Last year when I read Legacy I fell completely in love with it, and what came as a greater surprise to me was that the author - someone a year younger than I am - had written something so beautiful and captivating at such a young age. I could hardly believe it to be honest with you! And yet here we are with a sequel and clearly the author has done it again . . . a sequel that has lived up to the hype of the first book and it was even better than the first!

ALLEGIANCE basically picks up soon after Legacy had ended, with Alera and Steldor married and becoming the new king and queen of Hytanica. Still in love with Narian, a boy who is considered a traitor to the Hytanica kingdom and trapped in a loveless marriage, Alera is forced with many impossible choices - both for herself and for her people. With her love Narian gone, Alera and her closest company of people are afraid that he has joined forces with the fearsome magic-user called the Overlord, and they have every right to be afraid of him because Cokyrians are planning to invade Hytanica very soon and all of the trails have led back to none other than Narian. With love and loyalty being tested, Alera must choose to either follow her own heart or lead what's left of her kindgom through the darkest times . . . leading to many heartbreaking decisions in her wake!

When it comes to this series alone, it's far too easy to forget how young the author actually is and I'm quite taken back by how well-developed Kluver's writing has become and how much her writing abilities has grown from book one to now! In saying that, I thought ALLEGIANCE was the perfect sequel in lines with its previous novel Legacy and there's not one single negative thing I have to say about it. After all, this sequel contained so many things I love in a historical-like novel: love, betrayal, deceit, action, friendship, heartbreak, magic, and most importantly so many epic twists that I didn't see coming whatsoever! Honestly what's not to love about this book when it has all of those elements you seek in a novel?

Now onto the characters who are my favourite part of the book. The characters in ALLEGIANCE are the characters we've met before in previous book and they're even better in this sequel - even some characters I grew to hate had proved to be worthy after all in this coming sequel! With our main character, Alera, I really loved her in Legacy and while she may frustrate you from time to time, but in this second installment she really steps up her game and show us readers once and for all what she's really capable of as a Queen. It's kind of a transformation in Alera's case. Before, she was a young child being told what to do, and after, she's now changed for the better, becoming a woman whom can hold her own and learn that power she has always possessed in her heart.

With Alera's suppose 'love interests' Narian and Steldor, I wouldn't necessarily say it was a love triangle that we readers fear of. I mean, it's hardly a love triangle - if not, at all. Narian and Steldor are two very different young men but what readers need to understand is that these two young men serve very different purposes for the storyline and for Alera's heart. Firstly, Narian is the boy Alera loves with all of her heart and nothing can change nor persuade her of these feelings for him. And, secondly, Steldor is a man Alera first despises and I can't blame of her for that because I hated him too however in this sequel she eventually grows to respect him and even care for him, because she really does care for him but not in the way a love interest cares for someone . . . only as a mere friend.

Like so many other readers, I adored Narian (always betting on his team) however he was hardly present in this book which was rather a disappointment considering he didn't have a lot of time to spend in the first book, you know . . . showing off his handsomeness and that gorgeous personality of his. But regardless of that, by the time Narian did manage to show up in the last half of the book, he only reminded me how much I loved and missed him! So yay for that! And, while Narian didn't need to prove to me how gorgeous he is, but Steldor in particular was someone that needed to impress me (like really, really impress me). In the first book I loathed him as much as Alera did, but in a complete turnaround and one I didn't see coming, not only did Steldor show off his much softer side but he's also showed us a side to him we never expected to see . . . one without that arrogance and more of that vulnerability about him. I mean, there was this scene where he gave Alera a kitten - I repeat a kitten - because he thought she would be lonely without company and it was the sweetest thing I've ever read in this series so far and boy Steldor has won me over with that darn kitten of his! Because I love cats and all. Anyway moving away from the cute kitten, both boys are definitely loved by me and I love them for making me love them even more than I first expected to!

Overall, if you loved Legacy you'll love ALLEGIANCE without a doubt! However, if you are one of those rare readers who have yet started this utterly amazing series, then I definitely think you need to put down that book you're currently reading and check out these books as soon as possible because you're seriously missing out on a great young adult series!

The Rating

5/5 stars

Legacy by Cayla Kluver

Release Date: 18th August, 2011

Publisher: AmazonEncore

Pages: 462pgs

The Story

Duty-bound to wed her father's choice in sucessor to the throne, Princess Alera of Hytanica believes that she is being forced into hte worst of all possible fates' a marriage to the arrogrant and hot-tempered suitor, Steldor. When a mysterious boy from enemy Cokyri appears bearing secrets and an entirely different view of what's appropriate behavior for a young lady, Alera learns that her private desires threaten to destroy the kingdom. When Narian's shocking past comes to light, Alera finds herself in a shadowy world of palace intrigue and ancient blood feuds, facing an uncertain future with dwindling options - and must learn to decide between right and wrong all alone.

The Review

In Princess Alera's world, duty is everything to her father's kingdom, one that will soon become her own as she is the true heir to the throne. But because she is a woman - someone who cannot rule alone without marrying - she is forced into a betrothal with a young man her father believes will become a great king and whom every girl in the country would give anything to be with, especially someone so handsome and so charming as Steldor is. Unfortunately for Alera, she despises him and his huge ego, along with his attitude towards life that she can never seem to get past. But as she buys some time for herself, in hopes of finding another suitor that her father will approve of (though there aren't many to choose from), she then meets the mysterious and alluring stranger, Narian. And as as Alera's attraction to him grows each and every day, there comes with plenty of deep and dark secrets that could - and will - change everything.

When I first heard about this book, I wasn't sure what to think of it except that a sixteen-year-old Cayla Kluver wrote it (yes she wrote this whole thing at that age) and to me that is an amazing achievement to have under your writing belt. But when I kept putting this book off and off, and coming across so many raving reviews, I knew I had to read it and boy did I LOVE every moment of it! Whether it's the characters, the setting, the storyline, or even the length of the book (which could've been shorten), I just loved it and I could see why so many readers fell in love with this first installment of a trilogy.

There's one thing I loved about this book and that was Alera, the main heroine. She had the essense of a Jane Austen character - someone who with strong beliefs and opinions, someone who understood what was expected of her, and someone who wanted to make everyone else happy despite her own unhappiness to be the end result. For her to remind me of thes likes of Elizabeth Bennett from Pride & Prejudice, it was a great way to suck me into a book and I think a lot of readers will love that aspect too. After all, Alera is constantly surrounded by bodyguards, she lives by strict rules and dress codes, and it was so very interesting to read about her, her society, and her kingdom.

As for Narian's character, I'm sooooooo in love. I was a little unsure when I first met him because he concealed himself so very well. It made him even more mysterious than he already was. However, once you get to know his character and see him opening up a little bit, it was a great change to witness and well . . . he's hot after all. I mean, he's a thief, he's sometimes disrespectful but in a good way type of thief, and he might be really shady at times, but who the hell cares when he cares so much about our Alera and respects her for who she is rather than saying, "She's a woman. We don't talk to women or care what they have to say because she's a woman." He truly cared about her. And as for Steldor, the man Alera is supposed to marry or rather being forced to marry, he was the character I wanted killed as soon as possible. Another blogger had said he reminded them of Gaston from Beauty and the Beast and that was exactly what I was thinking!? He has the looks to guide him through a man-ruling society, he's someone every girl wants, but he's also a character with so many flaws and he's oblivious to everything around him - especially when it comes to Alera. He was an idiot and I wanted Narian or at least someone with a weapon to kill him. But unfortunately for us . . . none of that happened. This saddens me.

On a whole, there's so many great things to say about LEGACY and so little blog space to write every bit of detail about it. If you're a fan of high fantasy, kingdoms, fairytales with a little bit of twist and a little bit of betrayal along the way, then LEGACY will be your right kind of book. With essences of Jane Austen and Kristin Cashore, LEGACY will leave you hanging for more and anxiously waiting for its sequel Allegiance, which is due to be released sometime this year. And I for one, cannot wait for the sequel! Talk about an ending!!!

The Rating

4 1/2 / 5 stars