Title: Ariella’s Escape
Author: Carolee Croft
Genre: Epic Fantasy Romance
Age Group: Adult (18+)
Rating: 4 stars
Purchase: Amazon
Review copy provided by Enchanted Book Promotions in exchange for an honest review.
Ariella had always believed that the life of a warrior should include indulging in wine and men whenever they were on offer… And in Chaldea, the capital of the old empire, they certainly were.
Especially the man she finds in her bedchamber, a slave provided by her hosts to entertain her in any way she wishes.
But when betrayed and surrounded by enemies in a strange land, there is only one man she can trust—the slave who was meant only for her pleasure but is much more than he seems.
Demetrius had been captured in a battle at the age of fifteen, and slavery was all he had known in his adult life. When his chance for freedom comes along, his fate is bound to the noble warrior maiden whose voice and body he cannot resist. Duty calls him to return to his kingdom, but the journey will take him places that will change him forever.
Together, they make their way through a den of thieves and an enchanted elf forest, but the biggest danger of all may be their fiery attraction to each other and the secret that will draw a dividing line between them.
In Ariella’s Escape, Ariella is a female warrior who knows what she wants, and is willing to do whatever it takes to get what she desires. She’s not afraid to enjoy the finer things of life (such as sex – beware, this is an erotic fantasy novel, and definitely NOT for young adults, strictly for adults, I’m afraid), she drinks extraordinary amounts of alcohol, and she also enjoys a good fight. In fact, she’s very skilled at fighting and she’s powerful and knows her own strengths and weaknesses.
Demetrius is a slave Ariella is introduced to early in the story. He’s love interest, and when they first meet, he’s a slave provided by Ariella’s hosts to entertain her during her stay… In any way she wishes. You can guess what that means.
But when Ariella is betrayed, Demetrius is the only one she can trust, and together, they must find a way to survive and to resist the fiery attraction between them, for it might put them in grave danger.
While the main plot was pretty good, it’s the sub stories that really made this book shine for me. They were original and imaginative, and brought forward characters I would love to get to know better. Like the scenes in the elf ofrest, I really liked those.
Recommended to adult fans of high fantasy with heavy doses of romance.
Thanks for the good review, Majanka.