Title: Bitterwood (2nd Edition)
Author: Rowan Speedwell
Genre: Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, High Fantasy, Action, Adventure, Historical, Medieval
Length: Novella (167 pages)
Publisher: Riptide Publishing (September 17, 2016)
Heat Level: Moderate – Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts
Blurb: Outrunning a winter storm in the north, Captain Faran of the King’s Guard leads his men and a young mage named Meric to shelter at Bitterwood Manor, the ancestral home of the Daenes. Faran and his troops have been searching for weeks for a mysterious, lion-like beast that reportedly haunts the uncharted northern woods. For Meric, finding that prophesied cat is a matter of life and death.
Though Faran is deeply focused on their mission, the enigmatic Joss Daene, Lord of Bitterwood, fascinates him. Strong and proud, Joss is everything Faran wants in a lover. More, if he were honest. But Joss belongs to Bitterwood, and Faran to his duty.
Together they will need to brave the oldest, darkest part of the Bitterwood in the coldest, deepest snows of winter to find the legendary cat. But time is running out—for Meric, for the kingdom, and for Faran and Joss’s fledgling love.
(Note: This is a revised second edition, previously published elsewhere.)
ISBN: 978-1-62649-433-6
Product Link: http://www.riptidepublishing.com/titles/bitterwood
Reviewer: Shorty
Review: Fantastic journey of Captain Faran of the King’s Guard and a young mage named Meric who is dire straits as he needs to find a mythical cat in the haunted woods. Getting by a storm they travel to Lord Joss Daene and his sons. It is eerie that the symbol that represents the family is similar to what the cat looks like.
Alas there are two different romances in this story. That of Joss and Faran who are hot and sexy together and then there is Meric and Eissa, Joss’ youngest son, these two hit it off right away and I thought it was sweet the way Eissa took care of Meric when he was too sick. It showed how caring and loving he was toward Meric when he needed him.
I loved all the little details throughout this story as it gave insights to certain things that helped the reader have a better understanding of the story.
The story as a whole was a magical quest I found intriguing if not a bit slow but still well worth the read.