Tuff Girl Legion Presents: Astarte's Wrath by Trisha Wolfe!

Astarte's Wrath by Trisha Wolfe

ebook, 215 pages

Published: March 2nd 2013

Review Copy: Purchased

Description From GoodReads:

A tragic love story.

Two thousand years before Dez Harkly developed her secret powers, Guardian Astarte was vowed to protect by the binds enslaving her to the Egyptian pharaohs. Discover the prophecy that originated from a very different time, and spans generations to link two very different girls.

This is the beginning.

Set against the backdrop of the Battle of Actium, in the city of Alexandria, Star struggles with her guardian duties as her feelings for the newly named pharaoh of Egypt grow deeper. Not only is Caesarion her duty, he’s the son of Cleopatra, and he’s human. All of which makes their love forbidden.

But when a conspiracy linked to Caesar creeps into Alexandria, Star must choose between helping her fellow Kythan free themselves of their servitude, and protecting her charge—the last pharaoh—while Egypt burns around her.

New Adult/Mature YA: sexual content, drinking, drugs, violence, language, death, and other mature content intended for readers 17 and older. Astarte's Wrath is a companion novel to Destiny's Fire, but can be read as a standalone novel.

 

My Review: 

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When I read Destiny’s Fire last year, I instantly fell in love with the world that Trisha Wolfe created. So when I learned there would be a companion novel, I was ecstatic.

Now, I’m not usually a fan of historical stories, but Astarte's Wrath was fantastic. Absolutely fantastic.

The first line:

Whenever the sky bleeds, covering the once-blue pallet with crimson, I know the Narcolym Guardians are waging a battle.

From that very first line, readers will find themselves lost in the wonderful world that Wofle has created here.

The maps. The character descriptions. The glossary. It is clear that Wolfe put a lot of work into this story, and it shows. I’ve tried reading other books that involved Egyptian mythology in the past, but I soon lost interest after most of them seemed to lack true character development, having shelved that in order to provide more details than anything. That was never the case with Astarte's Wrath. This is a fictional read, and it is clear that Wolfe did her research, but unlike the other books I’ve come upon in this setting, she manages to remember that character development is just as vital as the details.

Star (Astarte) is a strong character full of wit. I loved her, and I loved reading from her POV. She was a lot different than Dez, but that isn’t a bad thing. She is a determined character, which only becomes more evident as the story progresses.

But while I enjoyed her character, I think my favorite part of Astarte's Wrath was the romance. Let me just put it this way: you’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll smile, you’ll swoon, and most importantly, you’ll be satisfied. I can honestly say that the romance between Star and Xarion is genuinely beautiful.

At first, it may be difficult for some readers to understand what is taking place, but I urge you to keep reading. Wolfe has produced some of my favorite YA reads – both with terrific action and swoonworthy romances.

My favorite quote:

“Cocky little king. You assume you’re the only thing that gives me satisfaction?”
His smile widens as he lifts one of my arms and kisses the sensitive skin of my wrist. “If there is something in this world that can please you more than me,” he says, his warm breath caressing my skin, “then I’ll be extra diligent in my duties tonight, my queen. Indulge me with every sensation that gives you pleasure, and I will match it and more.”

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Sneak Peek: Bath Scene from Xarion’s POV 

Star narrows her eyes at me, her full, bottom lip puckering out the way it does when she’s in serious thought—and though I’m listening to her words, all I want to do is trap that bottom lip between my teeth. Nip it and caress it with my tongue.

            “I knew you’d say that,” she says. “And that is precisely why I didn’t want you to know.” She raises her hand from my chest and swipes the wet hair from my forehead. Her body subtly moves against me with this action, and it drives me wild. “A possible retaliation by the guardians is just one more weighted burden on top of the many you already carry. You don’t need the added strain. Let me deal with Candra and the Kythan. They’re my kindred. As long as I’m their equal—in both power and status—I can protect you.”

            This woman—the woman I’ve loved my entire life—is my protector. She not only guards against physical threats, but watches over my mental wellbeing. But I cannot allow her to carry all my problems alone anymore. I want to be her guardian, to be the one to comfort her when she’s fearful, and protect her against this world.

            I tilt my head and suck in a deep breath. “This is why you won’t be with me.” I want her to admit it. If she finally confesses that our titles and her battle with the right course of action have been the only reasons for her kept affections, then by Gods…help me from laying her out on this tile and taking her—making her mine. I won’t stop.

            She nods.

“This is the only reason.” She nods again, and that is all the conformation I need. “Then I refuse to let them keep us apart for one more moment.” I grasp her face between my hands and claim her lips with mine.

            Her lips are soft and warm as I achingly coax them into a fevered kiss, unable to hold back my desire for her. I had planned for our first kiss many times, imagined it over and over. The way I would caress her lips slowly and lovingly, conveying my affections. But every emotion I have ever felt for Star rushes to the surface all at once, and I can’t slow. I won’t. I won’t allow her a moment to question our actions, to reconsider us. I’m going to kiss her senseless—kiss the reason right out of her infuriatingly rational head.

Help Trisha and the Tuff Girl Legion get to 50 reviews on Amazon for the full scene release of the “Bath Scene” on Trisha’s blog! You can bookmark the bonus material here!

Bio: Trisha Wolfe is the author of the YA Steampunk DESTINY'S FIRE (Omnific Publishing), the NA Historical/Supernatural ASTARTE'S WRATH, and the upcoming YA Utopian FIREBLOOD from Spencer Hill Press, October 2013. Her NA Dark Fantasy OF SILVER AND BEASTS available May 2013.

She’s the creator of YA Bound, a promotional site for the Young Adult genre. Also a member of SCWW and The Apocalypsies. Check out www.TrishaWolfe.com for more on her books and bonus material. Follow Trisha on Twitter @TrishWolfe and like her Facebook page for updates.  

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