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Kaydana is a feisty sorceress with a
code of honor. Lately, the jobs coming her way have been
few and beneath her skills. Competition for work in the
city is fierce and she needs a position that pays. A pretty
Sheovin female named Tati hires her to rescue her brother,
Dalu, who is being held prisoner by King Grunard, the
sorcerer-king. After a steamy bout with Tati, Kaydana takes
the job.
Grunard is a brutal man with a nasty
weapon that keeps everyone from challenging him. His son,
Prince Makreth, has plans, and is interested in using
Kaydana to accomplish his goals. Kaydana decides to play
along to complete her job but gets more than what she
bargained.
Kaydana and the Staff of Ishlun is brimming
with dark subject matter. This is not for anyone with a
weak constitution. There is non-consensual sex, BDSM,
incest, violence and gore. Kaydana and the Staff of
Ishlun is solid writing from beginning to end
but the character development is somewhat limited. Ms.
Blatchley has written a no-holds-barred story that is part
of a fantasy series featuring Kaydana the Sorceress. I
enjoy strong female protagonists but dislike when they
become willing victims. There were concerns pertaining to
Tati and Dalu that were not addressed — at least not in this
installment. The main characters were likeable and
interesting. The villains were all irredeemable and in some
instances ambivalent. Overall, this is not a romance per
se, but there are emotional connections. |
