The Pages of the Mind

Jeffe Kennedy — 2016

An Orphan's Throne Magic has broken free over the Twelve Kingdoms. The population is beset by shapeshifters and portents, landscapes that migrate, uncanny allies who are not quite human and enemies eager to take advantage of the chaos. Dafne Mailloux is no adventurer--she's a librarian. But the High Queen trusts Dafne's ability with languages, her way of winnowing the useful facts from a dusty scroll, and even more important, the subtlety and guile that three decades under the thumb of a tyrant taught her. Dafne never thought to need those skills again. But she accepts her duty. Until her journey drops her into the arms of a barbarian king. He speaks no tongue she knows but that of power, yet he recognizes his captive as a valuable pawn. Dafne must submit to a wedding of alliance, becoming a prisoner-queen in a court she does not understand. If she is to save herself and her country, she will have to learn to read the heart of a wild stranger. And there are more secrets written there than even Dafne could suspect Praise for The Mark of the Tala "Magnificent a richly detailed fantasy world." --"RT Book Reviews," 41/2 stars, Top Pick "Well written and swooningly romantic." --"Library Journal," starred review"

Reviews

Lover of Romance @addictedtoromance

Jan 26, 2023

This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.

Introduction
The Pages of the Mind is the first installment in the "Uncharted Realms" series. This is a continuation of the "Twelve Kingdoms" trilogy and its interconnected so you definitely need to read these books in order. I wasn't sure what I was expecting from this one but this one blew my mind away! It was everything that I could have hoped for and more and just might be my favorite book from this author to date. I have never read a romance like this and it was so precious and the most masterful storytelling that I have read in a long time and that is saying a lot with how much that I do read. In this story we have a interracial romance that had my emotions all over the place. Jeffe Kennedy delivered on all counts with this one here!

The Main Protagonists
The Hero: King Nakoa
-Royalty
-Psychic Abilities with Water
-Islandic Descent
-Alpha Male
-Barbarian

The Heroine: Dafne (Heroine's Name)
-Librarian
-Scribe
-Quiet Mouse
-Talented with Languages
-Trusted advisor to the High Queen

Summary
Dafne is just a scribe and librarian and she is content with her quiet life and being a friend and advisor to the High Queen. But when her High Queen requests that she goes on a diplomatic mission, she knows that this is what her High Queen needs from her. And after some training, she feels as if she is ready to take the plunge into the unknown. What she finds when she arrives, is a fierce connection with the barbarian king, Nakoa. And through a ceremony, she later realizes that they are married and that his people look on their marriage as destined and when a dragon is unveiled and viewed as a blessing to the people, Dafne knows that she is in trouble especially when there is a obvious language barrier but also major cultural differences. But as Nakoa and Dafne work through their differences and find common ground, they also find a epic love that is worth fighting for.

My Outlook
The Pages of The Mind is a story that BLEW ME MIND AND HEART! I fell so hard for this captivating story and I am not sure why I took so long reading this one, but it was everything that I could have hoped for and MORE. This capitalized on everything that I look for in a fantasy romance and Jeffe Kennedy really delivered on this one. I absolutely adored so many elements to this story. One of my favorite elements though was in seeing the connection that forms between Nakoa and Dafne. The heroine is so lost at times, but seeing her with Nakoa and his people, you can see how she just is more at ease with herself and just comes into her own. I love the way that Nakoa was with Dafne. Yes he is a bit of a barbarian, and yes a definite alpha, but there are so many moments of sweetness, attentiveness and discernment that had me swooning for this hero. I love a committed hero, and he wins on five stars for his devotion to Dafne. But then we have Dafne, who is in this strange place, waiting to be rescued by her High Queen, but the bond between herself and Nakoa is growing deeper and she doesn't know if she can leave him. But the way in which she has to yearn back his trust and prove to him she is just as committed to him and his people was so well done. You just rarely see a good grovel from the heroine when she wrongs the hero, but the author did it perfectly. There is also a sense of magic and mystery surrounding the volcano and the "dragon" and I adored this aspect. I just know that there is more to come surrounding this and I can't wait to see it explore more in the series.

Overall View
I found The Pages of the Mind to be a heartfelt, stunning story that was rich in its world building, emotionally provoking in the relationship building, and purely endearing in the character growth that only deepens the love the reader will have for this well woven novel!

Rating Evaluation:
Plot: 5
World Building: 5
Cover:5
Hero: 5
Heroine: 4
Steam: 4
Heart & Feels: 4
Ending: 5
Overall View: 4.5

Raya@raeniiae

Jan 8, 2023