Errant Spark (The Elemental Trials, #1)

by Ronelle Antoinette

• ISBN10: 1517334934
• ISBN13: 9781517334932
• Publish Date: 19 July 2016
• Publish Status: Active
• Imprint: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 444
• Language: English

Reviews

[stacey_is_sassy]

Talk about a rocky start…

Oh boy!! Ladies and Gents, take a seat and fasten your seatbelts. This is going to be one rocky review.

Bloody Hell!!

In the nicest possible way…I did not like the first 30% of Errant Spark. We are forced to read through a mess of explanations, introductions and word creations (?!?) that made my eyes roll, when they weren’t squinting. There were times where I was scratching my head in confusion.

You know how when there’s an alternate world and you need to create words for that world? Well, I suggest you don’t modify words just for the sake of modifying words. I was completely distracted trying to work out why you would change words by two letters, just to be different. What words should you change when creating the world? Is it necessary? Maybe I’m not cut out to be a fantasy reader, because, to me, I just scrunched my nose up, thinking…WHY? I know the author is trying to be original, but it just felt unnecessary.

To be honest, I was going to give up numerous times in the first 30%, but there was this little part of me that was curious to know more. At first, I was convinced I was about to read a version of *Fantasy Porn*. The main character (the dude on the front cover with dark hair) likes to get it on with the ladies. He has a “reputation” and works hard to live up to it. I was not a huge fan of Jex (our dark haired hero) in the beginning. He comes across as flighty, irresponsible and a wee bit self-absorbed. Yeah, he's good looking and a powerful Battlemage, but talk about ego.

Let’s step to the side for a sec…I don’t know about you, but sometimes I can be reading a book and thinking, wait a sec, are you the main character? I sometimes go into a book blind. I’ve bought or picked a book, and it’s been sitting on my Kindle for a while, and I’ve forgotten what it’s about. So, in this case, I knew Jex was the hero, but every time he got it on with a woman (not THAT many, but a couple) or met a woman, I was curious if she was “the one”. I eventually found "the one".

Anyways, I have gone completely off course and I’m making absolutely no bloody sense…back to the story. So, at first I’m thinking *Fantasy Porn*. Well, I can confirm that there is plenty of shenanigans to keep you entertained but it's not *Fantasy Porn*. When we finally get past the first 30%, the introduction fog starts to clear…

---AND---

Aha, here comes the magic.

We go gangbusters from here and I AM SUCKED IN BIG TIME! Action, adventure, murder, mystery and mayhem. Who is behind all the murders that are being committed? Who will stop them? Is it magic? A curse? The enemy placing a spy within the castle walls? I admit I did guess one of the dodgy characters, but I have a feeling we're going to meet a few more in future books.

Ummm…I forgot to mention our heroine, Enari…and...well, that's all I'm giving you, her name. All I’m going to say is that I liked her. She’s original and I loved to see the changes that take place from the beginning to the end.

I was offered an ARC yonky donks ago but bought it instead. Me, being the slack ar$e reviewer that I am, I’m only getting to it now. I was prompted when the author messaged me to say that book 2 was coming out. Feeling a little guilty that I hadn’t got to it yet, I decided to get cracking. Obviously, I was less than impressed with the beginning but I absolutely loved it by the end.

Eventually, we are treated to an epic story of magic and mystery, with characters that jumped off the page. I could see them, felt I knew them and wanted to know more about them. The ending leaves us with questions unanswered, but it’s pretty safe to say that Jex and Enari ARE ON!!

If you don’t mid wading through a bit of a swampy start, Errant Spark will leave you feeling like you’ve walked through a field of wildflowers. HAHAHAHA!! Ok, not really. More like a trek to the middle earth (LOR), with a stay at Red Keep (GOT), that ends with a wee bit of sparky spark and a little hanky panky too.




I’m an Aussie chick who loves to read and review romance, drink coffee, be a Style Setter and stalk David Gandy. To see more of my reviews, fashion, food and pervathons -

[chymerra]

Before I start my review, I would like to thank Ronelle Antoinette for allowing me to review Errant Spark.

**All opinions stated in this review are mine and mine alone. I received Errant Spark from Ronelle Antoinette for free for my honest review**

Now onto my review:

I am a huge fan of fantasy. Like a huge fan, about 90% of the books I read (and don’t review) are fantasy. So, when I was approached by Ronelle Antoinette to read Errant Spark and I read the blurb, I was very excited and couldn’t wait to read this book.

I wasn’t disappointed at all.

The book starts off with us meeting Jex Xander, a battlemage, and his mentor, Eryk…the High Mage. Jex has a reputation of being somewhat of taking numerous ladies (or men) into his bed. In other words, he is a bit of a manwhore and I loved it. The threesome scene was hot.

He is pursued by Sarene, the middle daughter of the Tor and Torina of Egalion. Aggressively pursued and when they did do the dirty, it seemed painful to me (for Jex not for Sarene). To be honest, I didn’t like Sarene….at all. She was rude and a spoiled brat.

Then the book jumps to Enari Namelum, a mute orphan who lives at the Cyrilan Temple, training to be a kvinna under the tutelage of Vasi de’Curande….the Master Apothecary of the Temple. She is often shunned, even at the temple, because of her exotic looks(pointed ears, large eyes, red-gold hair and short stature) and her aversion to being touched. They say that she looks like a Vintyri (from what I read, they are like the Fae) and her muteness keeps her isolated from other people.

Vasi and Enari have been summoned to the Imperial Palace in Egalion to assist Tora Aelani with the birth of her child…which is unheard of at her age, 45. While crossing the plains, they are met by Jex, who has come to escort them across the plains. When Jex meets Enari, sparks fly and there is an instant attraction (note that I said instant attraction…not instalove…big difference!!). Unfortunately, Jex falls very ill and almost dies on the journey home and the attraction was put off while Enari and Vasi nurse him back to health.

This is where the book gets good. There are mysterious deaths happening in the palace, around the same time Jex is brought in. Jex and Enari finally have sex (after about a month or two of Jex being severely ill) and they connect on a deeper level too. I loved seeing that. The High Mage is brought into the investigation of the deaths because there is a thought that there is dark magic being used.

There is a heartbreaking death, that I didn’t see coming, a birth and a couple of revelations at the end that did surprise me. One revelation, I did guess at but the other one….well it took me by surprise. Lets just say that I think I know the who the person at the very end of the book is…but I have to read the next book in the series to see if I am right.

How many stars will I give Errant Spark? 4

Why? While a great high fantasy novel that kept my attention, I had issues with some of the titles and terms. If there was a guide, it would have been great. Other than that small issue, a great read.

Will I reread? Yes

Will I reccomend to family and friends? Yes

Age range: Adult

Why? sex scenes (including a threesome) and violence