Bea Reviews Fury (Tranquility #3) & Schemes (Tranquility #4) by Krista D.Ball

Series: Tranquility #3
Publisher: Krista D. Ball
Source: the author in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: May 10, 2015
Challenges:  Finishing the Series
Buying Links: Amazon* | Book Depository*  | iTunes* | Barnes & Noble
* affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission from purchases made through these links.

Blurb from goodreads:

As Lady Champion, Bethany has always made the big sacrifices, the ones that plague her with nightmares so that others can sleep. Trapped behind enemy lines and powerless to take down the barrier surrounding the Magi army, Bethany struggles to keep herself and her small team of soldiers alive – no matter the cost.

However, when Apexia’s daughters discover the true source of Magic, Bethany is forced to make the biggest sacrifice imaginable in the name of peace: the death of the Gentle Goddess herself.

Bea's Thoughts:

Damn it Krista. Damn it, damn it, damn it. I hated you while reading this.

So, why did I hate the author? Why so many 'damn its'?

Krista's a killer, that's why. She killed off multiple characters, some of whom had been around since the first book, characters I cared about. "Fury" has a lot of death, destruction, sadness, and anger. Ball gives us lots of action, some romance, a lot of death, and characterization. Characterization is strong; the characters are all finely nuanced and you can't help but have a reaction to them. Bethany, Arrago, Kiner, everyone grows and changes. Bethany's relationship with her sisters and mother is complicated but she loves them and will do whatever she has to keep them safe, even from themselves.

Things HAPPEN, lots of things, and Bethany's world will never be the same again. There were lots of twists and of course, the political machinations are still complex. You have to pay attention or you'll lose track of what's happening. While the story itself has lots of gray areas, there was never any question of who I was rooting for. Despite all of the grief and death, the book ends on a upbeat note, if not exactly an HEA.

"Fury" grabbed me from the beginning and kept me reading to the end. Once finished, I jumped right
into the next book, review schedule be damned. Despite the deaths, this may be my favorite book in the series; it had everything, including my complete attention. 4 stars.

Series: Tranquility #4
Publisher:Krista D. Ball
Source: the author in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: August 2, 2015
Challenges: Finishing the Series
Buying Links: Amazon* | iTunes* | Barnes & Noble
* affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission from purchases made through these links.

Blurb from goodreads:

Bethany returns to Taftlin to uncover a plot to assassinate King Arrago and Prince Henry. She enlists some interesting allies along the way, including an elderly duchess with a sharp tongue and an eager apprentice knight, and together they race against the clock.

Bea's Thoughts:

No 'damn its' this time around. Like "Fury", I pretty much read this in one sitting. I wouldn't say it's a happy book but there's less death and destruction this time around; that's not to say there isn't any, just less of it. And no one I cared about I died this time around.

The events of "Fury" had consequences and we see many of them in "Schemes", which is an apt title. There are political schemes and machinations every time you turn around and Bethany has had her fill. In the year or so since "Fury" ended, Bethany has found herself on the outs with the Council and her people. She's treated like a pariah and she's done with tolerating it. She makes her way back to Arrago but life is no less crazy there and there are just as many schemes as there were back home. 

 "Schemes" had lots of little details, all of which added up to a richly layered and textured story. Characterization is still top-notch though some people are missing, whether due to death or just plain missing. Bethany is in full snark, take-on-the-world mode. I started to say take-no-prisoners mode except that she does. She has a secret to protect, and just as importantly, people she loves to protect. She'll do whatever it takes. I love this world and the people in it. "Fury" and "Schemes" tie up most of the loose ends while "Schemes" is slightly open-ended, leading into the next series that will be set in this world. I'll be ready to pounce on it when it comes out.

4 stars.