Name: The Mark of the Tala
Rating: 4.25 (8 reviews)
ISBN: 9780758294432

Jeffe Kennedy

Andromeda, a high king's middle daughter, finds her life taking a drastic turn when the king of a supernatural land of shapeshifters and demons takes her as his queen. Original.

The Mark of the Tala

Ophelia

I'm honestly disppapointed in myself for not managing to connect with this book. 

This is all I love, princesses, magic, epic love story. And yet.

The world was really interesting, the Tala are a magical shape shifting people who are protected by a magical barriere which keeps the outside world out. And their kind pursues invisible pricess Andi because she is theur last hope and she is marked.

It's all I love but it just didn't click for me. I loved the love story but everything else I struggled with. Like she has issues shifting but then she manages to but it doesn't seem to really matter. Like she has a good relationship with her sisters but also they're pretty one dimensional and don't seen to have any link to her. And most of all, Hugh dies at the end yet the next book is about Amelia and I hate that so, it's a no go for me.

Lover of Romance 

The Mark of the Tala is the first book in the "Twelve Kingdoms" series. I was completely drawn into this book immediately, the narrator for this one was so talented and really got me hooked so easily with this story. I loved the style in which the author set up the series, there was some world building information dumped in, but not the point that it was overwhelming, just in a solid way in getting the story set up for the reader that I do feel was essential to really get a solid grasp on the circumstances. 

I will say that I have been wanting to read more epic fantasy romance, and this book came to me by a recommendation through Instagram, and I am so happy about it, because this is definitely my cup of tea and I need more epic fantasy books just like this one here. I was so fascinated with this world, the bond that the three sisters have for each other, and the romance was perfection!! I honestly couldn't get enough of these two. 

The romance is slowly built up but in a way that really worked for the characters. There is a sense of mystery and intrigue surrounding their romance. I was hooked on the hero though, he is such a bad boy in some ways, full-on alpha male and has such an intensity surrounding his characters, I became so intrigued by him. He fights for what he wants and I love his passion for Andi. Andi was such a heartwarming character and so relatable. She is the one sister I just felt so much compassion for. She is the forgotten sister, the one that no one trusts but she is an introvert and tends to like to be alone. I really felt for her because of how everyone treats her and loved seeing how she is willing to embrace the other part of her that her mother left behind. It was really so interesting to see how her character is developed and the ways in which she is willing to sacrifice for those that she cares about and do the right thing even if on the outside it looks worse than it is. I was completely on board with this book and I immediately had to get book 2. 

Overall I found The Mark of the Tala, to be a purely fascinating journey that kept me reading, fully engaged and so hooked into the world that this author has crafted and I can't wait to indulge in more from this pure talent!

Princess Amelia's happily ever after is shattered when her husband is killed and she is caught in the middle of a war for the Twelve Kingdoms.

The Tears of the Rose

The Tears of the Rose is the second installment in the Twelve Kingdoms series. I absolutely had a fun time with this one but I knew that it would be a highly emotional read considering how the first book ended for this heroine in book 2. I was ready to go though, because I had such a blast with "The Mark of the Tala" so I had high expectations of it, but I will say that this one was a slight disappointment. It wasn't nearly as good as book one and the primary reason for this is the heroine. She was so challenging and I just had the hardest time even relating to her character, but the plot and story line was done very well, its just that our heroine, Ami, has been dealt a difficult blow and she doesn't react well at all to it. I understand that she is dealing with a trauma, but before she was this kind generous woman and now is angry and spiteful and so bratty. I do not like bratty heroines at all, and its a good thing the hero is a badass and can take some heat and tell her the truth about herself because she needs someone that will. I was actually much more interested in the hero. He was just wonderful, and he has gone through so much himself, and I respected his character and his ability to touch base with the heroine and really make her see the truth about herself. This isn't the easiest romance to read, but I did enjoy the aspects of character growth and building and seeing the woman that Ami becomes in this story. 

Overall a solid installment, but had some issues, but really intrigued by the way the world building is becoming built within the serial storyline and ready to jump into Ursula's book and get the finale.

A HEAVY CROWN Three daughters were born to High King Uorsin, in place of the son he wanted. The youngest, lovely and sweet. The middle, pretty and subtle, with an air of magic. And the eldest, the Heir. A girl grudgingly honed to leadership, not beauty, to bear the sword and honor of the king. Ursula's loyalty is as ingrained as her straight warrior's spine. She protects the peace of the Twelve Kingdoms with sweat and blood, her sisters from threats far and near. And she protects her father to prove her worth. But she never imagined her loyalty would become an open question on palace grounds. That her father would receive her with a foreign witch at one side and a hireling captain at the other--that soldiers would look on her as a woman, not as a warrior. She also never expected to decide the destiny of her sisters, of her people, of the Twelve Kingdoms and the Thirteenth. Not with her father still on the throne and war in the air. But the choice is before her. And the Heir must lead...

The Talon of the Hawk

The Talon of the Hawk is the finale of the Twelve Kingdoms series, and this is the story where we get to see Ursula's story. I was super excited for this one, as Ursula is the sister that has the most mystery behind her. All we really see from her in the two books is her loyalty to their father and her commitment to the Twelve Kingdom. I actually LOVED this one so fiercely, and seeing her story was such fun. Ursula is such a tough heroine, and she has had to put a shield around her to protect herself. And I will be honest the romance that is developed here is top notch. Jeffe Kennedy did wonders with her book. 

So the gist of the story is that Ursula due to her sacrifices to her sisters, is put in a bad spot with her father and he doesn't trust her and is also planning on replacing her as the heir with her nephew. The king is growing more insane by the moment, but Ursula will do all that she can to show her loyalty. And then comes in the hero, Harlan, is to work with her to maintain that loyalty by the command of her father. But there is something about Harlan that reaches to Ursula, and a friendship eventually forms between them. But as tensions rise in the kingdom, and Ursula is having to fight for the lives of her people, a difficult choice will be placed on her shoulders and she will have to choose what she is willing to do for it. 

I had so much fun with this book and as a finale it was purely epic but still left room at the end for more books (which from my knowledge there are connecting books to this series). I really loved how the growth of this story was built and the way that the author just was able to endear me to the heroine. These types of heroines can be really challenging for me to relate to, but there was so much goodness in Ursula and her journey was so beautiful. The most entertaining moments in this book was the bantering between Ursual and her love interest, Harlan. My goodness, these two have explosive chemistry. Harlan stands up to Ursula and tells her like it is, he is so supportive and protective but also respects her and lets her fight her own battles. I just adored that about him. It's like he understood what she needed at all the right times. They have such a strong connection to each other and I really felt like she needed a man like Harlan, who just wanted to be her partner and not take anything away from her and stand by her side. 

Overall I found The Talon of the Hawk to be a brilliant conclusion and gave me all the satisfying feelings I could have expected from this story. Jeffe Kennedy is brilliant in her storytelling and I am eager to explore more of her work!

Sans

I rather enjoyed this book. I can see why so many readers gave it two or three stars, but it engaged me and kept my interest. I suck at reviews right now.

The Mark of the Tala

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