by Anya Bast
Defined by magic. Ruled by desire.
In the Court of Edaeii, magic-imbued Evangeline is rewarded for her gift in manipulating emotion with a sapphire stone set into the perfect curve of her lower back. Her greatest rival in the royal court is the enigmatic Anatol, instilled with the power of illusion. He may better her in magic, but he is her absolute equal in passion.
They share something else—they’re both targets of low-born revolutionaries bent on overthrowing the palace of the privileged few. Rescued from the mobs by Gregorio, the brilliant revolutionary mastermind, they’re given sanctuary. But in this warm refuge, Evangeline soon finds herself torn between the magic of one man she has always desired, and the excitingly new and radical moves of another. For her, there is only one choice.
Evangeline, Anatol and Gregorio come together as one to explore the possibilities of love beyond reason, and to indulge in pleasure without limits. From http://www.anyabast.com/jeweled/
Jeweled, as its title suggests, is raw, refined and stunning. With rich emotion and characters the novel took my breath away. The novel begins with the atmosphere of decadence and indulgence. In a palace of fairy tale with princes and magic. Beautifully described nobles and royals. Lush furnishings and gowns. A unique read from page one I could not put the book down. I enthusiastically turned the pages and filled my imagination with passionate delights and intrigues.
Born with magic and raised as a pampered slave Evangeline has spent her life fighting for her place in the royal court. Her day has finally come and she is jeweled for her magical prowess. But with all dreams, one must eventually awaken. Evangeline's dawn is nothing short of a nightmare.
No sooner had I settled in for the royal entertainment when Evangeline is abruptly plunged into a turbulent revolution. Joy turns to sorrow and hope to despair. With no survival skills except those of seduction Evangeline flees the ravaged palace with the help of fellow magician Anatol. Void of the luxury they are accustomed to they quickly become dependent on one another to survive in the harsh new world.
When Anatol is discovered by revolutionaries, Evangeline is forced to seek help from the one man she despises above all others, Gregorio, the leader of the revolution. A man of rugged contradictions, Gregorio comes to her aid and offers to share his home with the two refugees.
What starts as a warming of heart between Evangeline and Anatol soon rages to a fire and consumes all in its path. Including Gregorio. As the three characters fight with their emotions and circumstance they soon realize that the only way they will endure is together. Their love is a tarnished gem, wrought of grit, blood and sacrifice. From the depths of their desire new hopes sparks and new light glistens.
I am so thankful for the opportunity to read and review Jeweled. It was nothing I expected and I could not have been more pleased. So pick up a copy, sit down by a warm fire and embrace these decedent characters.
This book was received for an honest review. No compensation given.
