5 stars for The Warrior Queen: Raisa by @HVanlandingham #fantasyromance #epicfantasy #norse #bookish
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5 stars for The Warrior Queen: Raisa by @HVanlandingham #fantasyromance #epicfantasy #norse #bookish



Title: The Warrior Queen: Raisa

Author: Heidi Vanlandingham

Genre: Fantasy Romance


Book Blurb:

A Russian Night Witch on a path of self-discovery. A dark elf fighting for justice. Can they stop the rampaging evil before they are all destroyed?


Raisa Sorokin is a Russian Night Witch who grew up dreaming of her grandmother’s Norse tales of valor and glory, never realizing they were true. When her plane crashes, she must come to terms with her new life and the man who saved her.


Ailuin Vakas is a dark elf forced to fuel Hitler’s war for the Norse god, Odin, but when he shares his life force to save a beautiful Russian pilot, everything unravels as their journey of discovery is wrought with more evil than they bargained for.


As the Nazi war machine continues a worldwide path of destruction, an ancient evil infiltrates its ranks, and Raisa and Ailuin must decide which path to take, stopping Hilter and his Third Reich or saving those they love—and themselves.


My Review:


A dark elf working for the great Odin merges his energy with dying night witch Raisa and the world as she knows it changes forever. Growing up, Raisa Sorokin heard stories of Norse gods and goddesses, heroic tales she never imagined were true. While flying as a night witch, her plane crashes. A man who calls himself Ailuin Vakes saves her by feeding her body a part of his magical essence. The world shifts and both Raisa and Ailuin must choose which side of the war they're aligning with. An ancient evil has woven itself inside Hitler's army, one hungry for hatred and bloodshed. Can Raisa be the warrior queen she's destined to be, or will she choose love?


The Warrior Queen is a thrilling fantasy romance I couldn't put down. I love a strong, independent heroine and Raisa is that and so much more. I connected with her right away. I also found Ailuin fascinating. As a die-hard fantasy reader, Ailuin is a dichotomy, and his conflicting desires make for a compelling read. Heidi Vanlandingham again blends historical fiction with fantasy romance brilliantly. She weaves a world so believable, you'll be sucked into the story. The romance itself was perfectly paced and didn't overtake the other parts of the story. I applaud Heidi Vanlandingham for a creepy antagonist and ancient evil subplot. It captured my attention and I enjoyed trying to figure it out before Raisa did. What makes this a must-read in my opinion is the 'duty versus love' theme. It's subtle but potent and makes for an incredible reading experience. I can't wait to read the final book in the series to see how it all wraps up. Highly recommend!


My Rating: 5 stars


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Author Biography:


Heidi Vanlandingham writes sweet, action-packed stories that take place in war-torn Europe, otherworldly magical realms, and the Wild West. Her love of history finds its way into each book, and her characters are lovable, strong, and diverse. Heidi’s stories transport the reader to a different place and time for understanding, compassion, and most of all, love.


Growing up in Oklahoma and living one year in Belgium gave Heidi a unique perspective regarding different cultures. She still lives in Oklahoma with her husband and youngest son. Her oldest son is in the autism spectrum and is working toward his own dreams. Heidi’s favorite things in life are laughter, paranormal romance books, music, and long road trips.


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Reviewed by: Mrs. N

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