Reviewed by Dan
This is a Series Review of Torsere
AUTHOR: Annabelle Jacobs
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
SERIES REVIEW:
I like a good fantasy series, and I believe Torsere was a good fantasy series. Annabelle Jacobs did a good job developing her world and her characters. I’m a sucker for dragons, so when I saw there were dragons and dragon riders, I was hooked. Torsere is a fairly standard and classic tale of good versus evil, light versus dark, and the good guys prevailing. It has some ups and downs and plot twists which keep you guessing, but usually in a good way.
Please note, the three books build on each other, so you must read all three in order to understand the world building, character building and storyline backgrounds. I read all three immediately in a row because they were available, and decided to do a series review because book one and book two on their own don’t give you any fixed ending. You have to read all the way through the end of book three for closure.
A couple of comments on the series, just to keep it real. There were really too many characters. I was constantly trying to remember who each person outside the main characters actually was. Also, with so many characters, and unpronounceable names, it caused some confusion in the mind of this reader! There were also some times during the books when the story kind of dried out. I kept reading, but honestly in book two particularly, I got a little bored in spots. Bored enough that I put the third book off for a few days and read something else in between. Happily book three proved more interesting and gave a good wrap up to the series.
I recommend the series for any of you who read fantasy with m/m characters. I think you will enjoy it. At roughly 700 pages for the entire series, it is a commitment, but one that I thought was worth it.
SERIES RATING: 
TITLE: Capture
LENGTH: 200 Pages
BLURB:
Over two hundred years ago, when dragons were hunted for their blood, the King of Torsere offered them sanctuary. In return, the dragons bestowed a magical gift on the King’s people, allowing those born with the mark to become dragon riders and forge a mental connection between dragon and rider.
King Ryneq of Torsere is undeniably attracted to Nykin, a young dragon rider. Ryneq’s sister, Cerylea, encourages him to pursue the relationship. But with the stresses of ruling Torsere, a romantic attachment is low on Ryneq’s list of priorities. Nykin admires the king from afar, but wants more than to warm his bed for a night or two.
Torsere remains under threat from the lowland armies of Rodeth and Athisi. To protect their kingdom, Ryneq and Cerylea intend to form an alliance with the elves through Cerylea’s marriage to elf prince Morkryn. On the road to the wedding, the lowland army attacks the party. Cerylea escapes, but Ryneq is captured and taken to the impenetrable Risvery Castle. In the aftermath, Nykin volunteers for a perilous mission, endangering the lives of him and his dragon. The odds are against him, but Nykin will risk everything for his duty and his king.
REVIEW:
Wow, if the rest of the series is as good as this first book, I’ll be flying through it!
Nykin is a twenty-two year old dragon rider in the land of Torsere. Dragon riders are born with a special mark, and at age twenty-one, they are offered a chance to become real dragon riders and develop a mental connection with a dragon.
Ryneq is the King of Torsere. He first notices Nykin when Nykin comes to his private quarters to get him for a meeting. Ryneq is naked and in the bath tub when Nykin arrives and Ryneq decides to see how red he can make the man when he starts to blush and has trouble keeping his eyes off the King’s naked self. But there is a meeting to get to, so nothing can happen.
So why does Ryneq feel so jealous when the elves arrive to arrange the wedding details for Cerylea, Ryneq’s sister, to the Prince of the Elves? Well, two of the elves are touching Nykin’s dragon mark now aren’t they? But why does it bother Ryneq? He hardly knows him. (I got a little confused on how the author portrayed how instantly Ryneq falls in love and gets possessive of Nykin.)
When Ryneq is captured by enemies from two neighboring lands, all hope is given up by most of the people in command. But a simple dragon rider named Nykin might just hold the key to figuring out how to rescue the King.
This book was well written, with great editing and a well-developed world view and well developed characters. Some of the background characters were a little flat, but I didn’t think the story suffered for it.
I recommend this first book, and I’m off to start the second!
RATING: 
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TITLE: Union
LENGTH: 230 Pages
BLURB:
After the defeat of the Lowland Army at Torsere and with King Seran on the run, King Ryneq and his sister, Cerylea, continue their journey to the Elven City of Alel to proceed with the union of the two realms. Fully recovered from his injuries and newly announced as King Ryneq’s Consort, Nykin returns to his duty as a Dragon Rider in the King’s army. He and Ryneq have little opportunity to celebrate their union, but make the most of their time together before leaving for Alel. Since the ambush at Neest River destroyed the main bridge, traveling by ship is the only option. An unusual storm threatens their crossing, making Ryneq wonder if some new magic is rising against them.
As the wedding between Cerylea and the Elven prince Morkryn approaches, the dragons sense a malevolent presence. To protect the young couple’s fragile bond, Nykin and his dragon, Fimor, take to the skies, setting up a patrol along the border of the magical city. But as the evil grows more potent, the enchanted boundary grows weaker. Ryneq and Nykin must combine their strength to protect their people from Seran’s extreme plot for revenge.
REVIEW:
In the second installment in the trilogy we are off to the land of the Elves for Cerylea’s wedding. But things can’t be that easy, now can they?
First we have to get Nykin and Ryneq to announce their union, and get Nykin installed as the King’s Consort. And also Nykin has to fully be back on dragon duty after his near death in book one. And we still have the evil King of the neighboring land running around somewhere, and isn’t there a spy still in Torsere who was working for the enemy?
Then we have a perilous ocean voyage to get to the wedding…and our introduction to the land of the Elves…and I could go on and on! Suffice it to say that the land of the Elves is portrayed very well, that we have continuing drama from the enemies and the love story of Nykin and Ryneq continues to be the main focus of the story…in between all the adventures the two men face.
I enjoyed the continued world building that the author is doing with this series. Book two follows directly on after book one without a gap, and book two ends in a cliffhanger, so it is a good thing that book three is also already available! I do have to be honest and say that book two was a little flatter than book one. There were a few spots where it really bogged down, but overall, the author’s writing style is very good, the characters continue to be believable and I can’t wait to finish the series….so off to book three I go!
I’m recommending this book, even though it below our 4.0 recommendation cutoff, because it is necessary to read this one before you read book three.
RATING: 
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TITLE: Alliance
LENGTH: 283 pages
BLURB:
King Ryneq and his dragon rider consort, Nykin, return to Torsere to defend the kingdom against the lowland armies already camped along Torsere’s borders. Seran wants the dragons, and with a new witch in his ranks, war is inevitable.
With the elves of Hervath now helping them, Ryneq has a chance at holding Seran at bay. But the witch is using old dark magic, and as Nykin and the dragon riders battle her deadly attack, unexpected betrayal forces Ryneq to make a difficult decision.
Faced with the prospect of losing his kingdom, Ryneq gambles on a plan that could ultimately save Torsere, if they can stay alive long enough to see it through. With Ryneq standing against Seran and his witch, time is of the essence, and Nykin must make a sacrifice to end the war. Only then will Ryneq and Nykin be able to start a life together.
REVIEW:
In book three, “Alliance”, we are back to the continuing story of Ryneq and Nykin. They return to Torsere to prepare for battle with the evil king next door…who just won’t die already and do everyone a favor. It turns out that King Seran of Rodeth was behind the evil witch that tried to kill our heroes in book two. Even though she is dead, Seran has another witch…this one even more powerful and she will be helping with the attack on Torsere.
What will happen though when the witch brings the dragons, dragon riders, and even a king to their knees with her diabolical plans? Can the elves save them, can the dragons overcome her magic?
I don’t want to do any further spoilers than are already contained in the blurb. Suffice it to say that it is an enjoyable fantasy romp, with battles, bloodshed, an evil king, and an even more evil witch. The characters are all very well portrayed and I found myself despising that witch and king right along with our heroes!
I enjoyed the conclusion of this trilogy. I recommend this book, but again recommend you read all three in order, because they just won’t make sense without the background details! And they are all good, so why not?
RATING:
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