A Warlock's Dance: relato de magia oscura + USA giveaway

Seguimos con la tónica sexy esta semana con  A WARLOCK'S DANCE,  de Marina Myles. En este relato breve, me atraía la idea de una maldición al estilo tradicional del cuento. Pensé que sería un buen cambio respecto a los relatos contemporáneos que estoy leyendo últimamente, pero no ha resultado ser todo lo que esperaba.

En resumen: A punto de casarse con el amor de su vida, un hechicero guapísimo pero sin medios económicos, la joven noble Giselle ve sus sueños destrozados por una maldición vengativa. Pierde su juventud, su voz de cantante de ópera y su belleza. Convertida en una vieja muda, su prometido la expulsa de la iglesia el día de su boda. Sus enemigos la arrastran a servir a la mansión de una mujer malvada, donde se marchita poco a poco. Años después, consigue escapar, pero a costa del aceleramiento del proceso que acabará matándola. Sólo puede acudir a quien una vez la amó en busca de la salvación o el olvido.

Lo que ha hecho volar mi imaginación: me ha encantado la premisa de cuento. Giselle es una heroína fuerte, valiente, no se arredra ante la maldición ni la esclavitud ni la pérdida de su voz para hablar o cantar. Mantiene la esperanza y la dignidad cuando todo está en su contra. El relato está ambientado en Budapest en el siglo XIX y el estilo narrativo de la autora es sólido y logra evocar la ciudad y la época con acierto. Me han gustado también los toques de magia oscura.

No echaría de menos: al hechicero. Es un tipo frío y sin sentimientos, a pesar de que Giselle vuelve a él y le explica mediante notas lo ocurrido, él se niega a luchar por ella. Sigue empecinado en continuar con su horrible vida nueva de dinero, posición social y prometida de postín. Tarda tanto en entrar en razón que me ha caído fatal. Comprendo que sus poderes le han causado daños en el pasado y ha cambiado por el duro golpe de creerse abandonado en el altar, pero ni siquiera mentir a su prometida o ver a Giselle en tal estado ablandan su coraza.

Temas principales: romance paranormal, maldición, magia

No apta para: los que busquen un héroe con carisma

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A Warlock's Dance reminds me of a traditional tale with a monstrous curse and truths hidden by deceptive looks.

I enjoyed the author's writing style which conveys some detail to the lavish living style of nobility in 19th century Bucarest.

It's very romantic in the end where at last the couple shares their love and passion in a hot scene. Up until then, I didn't much like Lucian besides his name. He's become too hard-hearted. Nothing stirs emotion in him and he shows no pity for anyone's feelings. Fortunately, his good man and valet opens his eyes to Giselle's plight.

Dark magic is a nice touch that I always relish in a story. My favourite character was Giselle. She's beautiful and strong, she never gives up on hope and love. My heart went out to her because of the injustice done to her again and again. She not only loses her youth, but her magnificent opera voice and her chance at love.

To wrap it up, this novella is okay, and its best features are a magical tale aura, dark magic and a touching, sexy ending.

***

A Warlock’s Dance

A Cursed Princes Novella

Marina Myles

Genre: Historical/Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Kensington

Date of Publication: May 1, 2014

Word Count: 17,000

Encore, Please

Giselle Swenov is a radiant opera star whose beauty is second only to her voice. That is, until a jealous enchantress strips away her talent and looks, transforms her into a mute and haggard old woman, and forces her to leave the man of her dreams at the altar on their wedding day. Now there’s only one person able to reverse the spell: Giselle’s warlock ex-fiancé, Lucian Ivanu.

But three years have passed, and the ever-dashing Lucian seems to have moved on―he’s inherited a vast fortune, forsaken his scandalous powers, and is even set to marry again. Will he recognize his former flame when she shows up at his engagement party and begs for help? Can she recover the powerful magic ring needed to break the curse before it’s too late? Giselle’s plight has a darker twist as she discovers just how far the enchantress’s grasp reaches…

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About the Author

Although Marina Myles lives under the sunny skies of Arizona, she would reside in a historic manor house in foggy England if she had her way. Her love of books began as soon as she read her first fairy tale, and grew by leaps and bounds when she discovered Nancy Drew/Agatha Christie mysteries and rich, historical romances. Dreaming of becoming a published author, she wrote her first ‘gothic’ story at age eleven. She went on to study creative writing at Southern Methodist University— where she received degrees in Communications and English Literature. During her time in Dallas, she had the unique experience of being a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader. Now with her loyal Maltese close by, she relishes the hours she gets to escape into worlds filled with tortured heroes, strong heroines, and their fiery—but not easily attained—love affairs. She’s busy being a wife (to her Italian-born husband) and a mother (to her two beautiful daughters), but she is never too busy to hear from her amazing readers.

LINKS

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GIVEAWAY TIME

20 Free Downloads – ePub Form only

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¿Alguna vez os ha decepcionado el héroe de alguna novela, arrebatadores?

Babel coleccionando antídotos contra maldiciones.