Published: December 16, 2013
Publisher: Independently Published
Series: N/A
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Pages: 461 (Kindle)
My Rating: 5 Stars
Synopsis:
Afflicted by a centuries-old curse, a warlord slowly surrenders his humanity and descends toward madness. Ballard of Ketach Tor holds no hope of escaping his fate until his son returns home one day, accompanied by a woman of incomparable beauty. His family believes her arrival may herald Ballard’s salvation.
…until they confront her elder sister.
Determined to rescue her sibling from ruin, Louvaen Duenda pursues her to a decrepit castle and discovers a household imprisoned in time. Dark magic, threatening sorcerers, and a malevolent climbing rose with a thirst for blood won’t deter her, but a proud man disfigured by an undying hatred might. Louvaen must decide if loving him will ultimately save him or destroy him.
A tale of vengeance and devotion.
I hesitate to make declaratory statements like this, but Entreat Me may be the best Beauty and the Beast inspired work that I’ve ever read. I knew Grace Draven had talent and that her stories appealed to me thanks to a good experience with Phoenix Unbound, but this book really blew me away. I picked up the audiobook and I listened to it at every moment I had available and then some. My reading of physical books suffered for several days while I binged this thoroughly captivating tale.
Entreat Me follows Louvaen Duenda, a widow simply trying to protect the virtue of her beautiful younger sister who is swept away to a remote keep by a handsome young man with a secret. That secret being a curse that draws him back to the remote, magically hidden keep of Ketach Tor where he writhes with sickness for days as the magic surrounding the keep is in flux. His father, Ballard, is twisted by the same curse placed on the pair by his hateful wife as she lay dying in childbirth. Louvaen finds herself drawn to Ballard despite his clawed hands and beastly eyes and he finds himself drawn to her despite her whip-like tongue and shrewish nature. Ballard and his son Gavin both hope gaining the love of Louvaen and her sister Cinnia will somehow break the curse that has haunted them for four centuries.
As with many fantasy romance books, this is largely focused on the characters rather than a tremendously deep plot. That’s not to say there’s no plot, but rather the focus is on the relationships between the characters and when well done, I find myself smitten with books like this. Grace Draven did a masterful job weaving believable, wonderful characters and I also love that Louvaen and Ballard are both somewhat older (or at least have more life experience) than most main characters found in fantasy romance. The side characters like Ambrose and Magda are also well written and the rapport between everyone and the natural feel to their interactions makes this a true gem.
Overall, I’m beyond delighted by Entreat Me and will be making the time to read more of Grace Draven’s work in the near future. This book will be perfect for anyone looking for a more grown-up Beauty and the Beast retelling, especially if they like stories featuring strong women because Louvaen absolutely fits that description. She’s well known around town for displays of unladylike behaviour like threatening someone with a pitchfork. The audiobook is especially wonderful thanks to the talented narration of Stacey Holmes.
Powder & Page 