Havoc by Auryn Hadley – A Book Review

Posted November 3, 2019 by Booksandblurbs in Epic, Fantasy, Reverse Harem, Reviews, Sci-Fi / 0 Comments

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Havoc

(Rise of the Iliri – Book 9)

by Auryn Hadley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Slow Burn Epic Fantasy / Sci-Fi RH
Available on Kindle and Kindle Unlimited

Down and Dirty

Epic Fantasy, steamy romance and enough adventure to please even a Tolkien fan…. what’s not to love? And it’s free on Kindle Unlimited!

What is it about?

(Blurb from GoodReads)

HISTORY DECREES SHE MUST DIE—OR LOSE HER MIND
The world has waited a long time for the Kaisae—Salryc Luxx, leader of the iliri and commander of the allied forces. Kaisaes before her have died or gone mad. But now that they are so close to finally winning the war and finding peace for her species, either option is unthinkable! She’s still needed. The war is yet to be won, and now there’s a coup brewing at home in Anglia.

As Sal prepares for a crucial push into enemy territory, the biggest battle her country faces isn’t about destruction; it’s about the rebuilding that comes after. If they want this war to matter, their new citizens will need to remember what it means to be iliri: to make packs, have children, and find the remains of their culture. They’ll need to make a home, and do it together—all three species: iliri, graouri, and humans. Although Sal is battling personal issues almost as large as her military battles, like the fact that no Kaisaes live into a happy old age. They either die fighting—or they go insane.

The newest member of Sal’s pack, Ryali, has been recruited to research the creation of the iliri species in the hope of discovering the reason Kaisaes have historically lost touch with reality—and hopefully she can find a way to make sure it doesn’t happen to Sal. But she’ll need more than old books to help. Luckily, there’s an answer—and Sal’s newly-expanded four-mate harem is determined to save her. It looks like they’re going to need a much bigger tent.

Note from the Publisher of Havoc

It’s the final stretch of Auryn Hadley’s Rise of the Iliri series, and in this ninth installment, heart-stopping military action-adventure in battle is blended seamlessly with enough heady, complex sociopolitical commentary to delight both fantasy and science fiction readers—not to mention the steamiest of love scenes, sure to excite reverse harem romance fans.

A Song of Ice and Fire’s beloved fantasy author George R.R. Martin once mused that he wished Tolkien had written more about what happens after the great war is won: How do the people move on? What of famine and flood? What happens next? Both Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones epic fantasy fans will find clever explorations of these questions here.

For those who haven’t yet tried this series, now’s the time! It’s epic science fantasy at its pulse-pounding best, with a female protagonist sure to touch your heart—and win it—with her inspiring blend of compassion and strength. It’s also a searing-hot reverse harem fantasy romance—because it has to be. Not only is that the iliri way, but in any society, Sal would be too much woman for only one man.

Like in all of the Rise of the Iliri novels, this epic fantasy story focuses on loving relationships, platonic and romantic, with a steamy reverse harem theme. Sal’s erotic love scenes with her four male mates are explicit and almost unbearably titillating, although not for all readers—especially humans under eighteen.

Thoughts on Havoc

I love this story so much! It’s epic fantasy with a dash of sci-fi along with a hefty dose of romance. It’s hot, painful, fantastical, political and completely action packed.

Nine books in and things are just getting better, or worse, depending on your view. While this is a fantasy tale, there are plenty of parallels to our own world here, both our history and our present…. the darkest aspects of both, really. Racism at its most defined and extreme is depicted in various ways, including the complete divide between intelligent species. There’s a lesson in morality there, and it is far from subtle. It’s poignant and pointed, but the characters truly carry the narrative and drive this far reaching plot forward. It’s amazing.

Pros:

Things are moving.
It feels like it’s taken forever to get here, but the journey has been worth it.
Havoc apples not just to events, but emotional connections as well. Be warned, it gets painful. Not book 5 level painful, but it hurts.

Cons:

Some is the action scenes are muddled, but clear with a second read through – and that could be completely me.
Ok… what’s with the giggling?😂

Perspective

Third Person, Multiple POV

Ending Type

Episodic, Cliffhanger

Rating

NC-17

Romantic Dynamic

MMMMMMF

Character Age Range

24+

Final Verdict on Havoc

The hero’s journey follows a very specific pattern, and this series is no different. Here, Sal is on the upswing. There are more dips to follow, but she has found her strength and her purpose – even more so than the astounding moments that have come before. It’s glorious, and it truly is epic. Free on KU!

Published July 19th, 2019
626 Pages