Maud Demille was a daughter of Innkeepers. She knew that a simple life wasn't in the cards, but she never anticipated what Fate would throw at her.Once a wife to a powerful vampire knight, Maud and her daughter, Helen, had been exiled for the sins of her husband to the desolate planet of Karhari. Karhari killed her husband, and Maud had spent a year and a half avenging his...
| Title | : | Sweep of the Blade |
| Author | : | Ilona Andrews |
| Rating | : | |
| Edition Language | : | English |
Sweep of the Blade Reviews
(Read as it was released as a serial)
(Reread online when the serial was complete)
(Final published version)
Well that was bloody awesome! The whole story is now available to read online (
), it usually stays up for a couple of weeks or so before it's taken down, so if you want to try it while its free you should get to it ASAP. It'll then be taken offline, properly edited (with extra adult mate
(Read as it was released as a serial)
(Reread online when the serial was complete)
(Final published version)
Well that was bloody awesome! The whole story is now available to read online (
), it usually stays up for a couple of weeks or so before it's taken down, so if you want to try it while its free you should get to it ASAP. It'll then be taken offline, properly edited (with extra adult material added!) and then published & made available to purchase (usually as an ebook and in print).
I always love reading the instalments as this is written but I'm planning to read the whole thing again from the beginning very soon in one big binge. Then of course I'll be buying the finished version to for the Maud & Arland sexy times LOL.
______________
Ilona and Gordon have started posting instalments of the latest Innkeeper story on their website:
This is going to be a novella about Maud and Helen travelling to Arland's home planet to meet his family and I can't wait, let the wonderful torture of waiting for each week's new instalment begin!!
27/12/17
Bes
27/12/17
Best Christmas present ever! Many thanks to both authors for sharing this with us, especially during the holidays and while moving.
Here we go again!
5/1/18
Poor Maud, she's gonna have her hands full with Arland.
12/1/18
20/1/18
30/1/18
2/2/18
10/2/18
20/2/18
Now, I'm going to be worried for Helen until the next chapter. Sigh..
24/2/18
3/3/18
10/3/18
Olasard, the Ripper of Souls
24/3/18
P.S. I've already re-read this chapter five times. Favourite one so far.
4/4/18
7/4/18
14/4/18
I don't usually use the authors images but you should definitely see Arland as the authors see him.
5/5/18
And they're back!!
15/5/18
19/5/18
30/5/18
1/6/18
9/6/18
18/6/18
13/7/18
20/7/18
Man, I love Arland!
28/7/18
8/8/18
9/8/18
13/8/18
13/8/18
Ilemina! The image is direct from the authors site.
16/8/18
25/8/18
6/9/18
7/9/18
On a side note, I just want to say whoever went and complained and belittled these authors and their assistant for not writing an instalment (something they are not in any way obligated to do) at the time they were on tour, you are one cracked and entitled cookie. To put it very mildly.
14/9/18
20/9/18
27/9/18
8/10/18
15/10/18
19/10/18
I wonder what a rassa or goren puppy look like? I can easily picture something like this. Whatever they are, it wont be earth like.
5/11/18
9/11/18
16/11/18
25/11/18
2/12/18
Maud's (probable) cover and close up. Isn't it spectacular?:
January 2019 - online serial version. I love this world. Can't wait for more. Review to come of final purchased edition, when available.
This review is for the instalment version that the authors were magnanimous enough to post for free on their website. It will disappear when the updated version is published so please be aware of that if you wish to read the tamer more PG version. Now I said tamer but honestly these Vampires are vicious, vengeful and absolutely addictive ! I'm sure Arland would quickly reach for his blood mace at the suggestion he's anything but a brutal fighting force of nature but I'm referring to the lack of
This review is for the instalment version that the authors were magnanimous enough to post for free on their website. It will disappear when the updated version is published so please be aware of that if you wish to read the tamer more PG version. Now I said tamer but honestly these Vampires are vicious, vengeful and absolutely addictive ! I'm sure Arland would quickly reach for his blood mace at the suggestion he's anything but a brutal fighting force of nature but I'm referring to the lack of erotic scenes although this couple sizzle even when dressed in full armour !
Yes I said couple and it seems remiss to leave Maud out before now , so what can I tell you about this mother who would go to the ends of the galaxy for her daughter Helen and those she loves ? Now here's the truth and that is that I actually preferred Maud to her sister Dina ( Clean Sweep) and honestly I'm shocked at that myself. I loved the quiet, sweet and pragmatic Dina but Maud facing off against Arlands family and supposed allies was exciting, intense and hysterical because as a reader I just knew when she bit back at them it would be hard and boy she did not disappoint. Plus there's the wonderful addition of Helen who every reader will absolutely love to pieces.
This might have some tidying up for publication but I'm sure it will be awesome and a must read for the fans. I'm so looking forward to the more 'adult' scenes as I'm pretty sure Arland is a male worth waiting for. This was a fabulous read and I hugely recommend it and I'm so grateful to the authors for gifting the fans with these sneak peaks.
I read this book as a full novel not a serial.
It's hard to describe how utterly enthralled I was by this novel
From the very fist moment I was consumed by the story. Of course Maud is so very different from Dina (book 1-3). Different but also similar in some ways, which makes sense since they grew up in the same environment. But still, both are very distinctive and unique in their personality. Maud was incredibly smart in regards to interracial relations, and knowledgable about all kinds of dos a
I read this book as a full novel not a serial.
It's hard to describe how utterly enthralled I was by this novel
From the very fist moment I was consumed by the story. Of course Maud is so very different from Dina (book 1-3). Different but also similar in some ways, which makes sense since they grew up in the same environment. But still, both are very distinctive and unique in their personality. Maud was incredibly smart in regards to interracial relations, and knowledgable about all kinds of dos and don'ts. She could be brutal, efficient and ruthless when protecting the people she loved. I adored seeing her in action - with and without sword.
Her willingness to give the relationship with Arland a real chance, to give her best, to not let anyone else encourage her or best her in any way, made Maud a stand out character for me. She was one of these women that kick ass in a smart way - I'm officially in love with this lady.
Furthermore, after reading the first three Innkeeper books, Sweep the Blade was a lighter, less dark and gritty, but as action packed as any Kate Daniels novel.
Arland was a perfect blend of possessive, protective, but also supportive and most of all respectful of Maud's skills and decisions. Because Maud knew how to defend herself and Arland loved that about her. Although he wanted to call her his, he gave her the time she needed to come around on her own. Above all he loved her the way she was.
The story on its own was FABULOUS!!! So much fun. Moreover I loved the uniqueness of it all. Together with the fabulous cast, who enriched the story and enthralled me, the originality of the story was what mad this book a winner. I want MORE!!! Truly, this series is, especially now since Kate is done, my new obsession. This sci-fi adventure Maud is on is my kind of jam. I'm hooked, addicted and can't wait to read more.
Unsurprisingly, this book was right up my alley. I'm blown away by how much I loved it all. There was not ONCE that I thought the novel sounded like anything else than a well crafted story. The overall flow, energy and rhythm of the plot was on par with any Kate Daniels novel.
Without a doubt this book is my new obsession. Indeed I can see myself rereading it in a month or two - that's how entertaining and awesome it was.
Bravo!! Again a truly impressive work of fiction. I just wish they would write FASTER!!!!
➽
if it weren’t for their
on
fearsome vampires, you’d think Maud the Red and Kate Daniels were
. Or something.
, I’m still finding it
that Arland didn’t get a little very much
in this instalment. I am most put out and stuff.
, too disgustingly
this was, if you ask me. So sigh and stuff.
, I love
➽
if it weren’t for their
on
fearsome vampires, you’d think Maud the Red and Kate Daniels were
. Or something.
, I’m still finding it
that Arland didn’t get a little very much
in this instalment. I am most put out and stuff.
, too disgustingly
this was, if you ask me. So sigh and stuff.
, I love my new friend
so much, I decided to introduce her to my newest,
(SEFP™), Bernie:
•
:
★★★★
•
:
★★★★★
•
:
★★★★★
we have a
!!!
it is!!!
life sucks because the release date has been
and stuff, but life isn't so
after all because there's a
and stuff!!
, and so should you!
, but I think there's a slight chance I might perhaps like
more than I do Dina.
. Also,
(HtTB™) may possibly be the coolest, most irresistibly ruthless fanged little kid in the history of
. It is probably probable,
.
, so this shoulda-been-novella-that-turned-out-to-be-full-length-novel-oh-happy-shrimp was
(SVG™) and stuff. Granted, I like Arland better when he gets drunk on coffee and runs around orchards somewhat naked, but I guess you can't have everything. Besides, I got
, which is all that really matters in the end. I learned how to use forks
while reading this book, too, so I guess I can't complain and stuff. Oh, and also:
Need I say more? Didn't think so.
until the final, non-revoltingly PG-13 version of the book is released I shall. Let's just hope it
and stuff. I mean, should that be the case, I would have to put my
on, and it would kinda sorta ruin the nefarious tyrant image I've been working on for decades.
➽
when the Slightly Very Good Book™ is published and stuff.
⚠️
⚠️
»
: it's
time!!! Sob sob sob and stuff,
!
»
:
is up!
. Most blissfully happy I am right now.
»
:
is up!
»
:
is up!
»
:
is here! The
(MAA™) wrote this instalment despite being sick as fish, that's how Mostest Awesomest they are!
»
:
is up!
»
:
are up!
:
Oooooh, that means there will be
in this chapter when the book is published. I think some pre-emptively sweating is in order.
»
:
is up!
»
:
is up!
»
:
is up!
»
:
is up!
»
: Chapter 14, parts
and
are up!
»
:
is up!
»
:
is up!
»
: it's already time to read
!
»
: another
is up! Important appearance announcements incoming! Check the main site for updates!
»
:
is up!
»
:
is up!
»
:
is up!
»
:
is up!
»
:
is up!
»
:
is here!
»
:
is here!
»
:
is up!
»
: GDPR Curse begone,
is here!
»
:
is up!
»
:
is up!
»
:
is here!!!!!
»
:
...
✉
»
:
is up!
»
:
is up already!
!
»
:
is up!
would have thought House Krahr had
? Ain't no
, though.
: Maud and Little Helen are so
I could cry nefarious tears and stuff.
»
:
are up!
»
:
is up! And it's all about
!
»
:
is up! And look at that
!
»
:
is up!
»
:
are up!
»
:
is up!
»
:
is up!
»
:
is up!
»
: we have a
!!
!!
»
:
is up!
»
: Okayyyyyy, so my first review for this book went poof in a wondrous blast of
, so here we go again! Yay and stuff!
: this most scrumptious piece of serial entertaintment has been up and running since December 25, 2017. It's a novella about
(aka Helen)
visiting Arland's planet. Fun times ahead.
. Because we all know how much Arland enjoys
.
:
•
•
•
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Update: Upping my rating to 4 stars for the final enhanced version, which is quite a bit more detailed and smoother than the original online serial. :) Full review to come!
Original review: With this installment in Ilona Andrews’ Innkeeper series, the main character shifts to Maud (sister of Dina, the previous main character). Arland, the space vampire, has fallen head over heels for Maud and wants her to go to his planet, marry him, and live with him there and help him rule over their vampire cl
Update: Upping my rating to 4 stars for the final enhanced version, which is quite a bit more detailed and smoother than the original online serial. :) Full review to come!
Original review: With this installment in Ilona Andrews’ Innkeeper series, the main character shifts to Maud (sister of Dina, the previous main character). Arland, the space vampire, has fallen head over heels for Maud and wants her to go to his planet, marry him, and live with him there and help him rule over their vampire clan, House Krahr. Maud is a widow who was previously married to another vampire, and it ended up being a horrible experience for her. Now she has a 5-year-old half-vampire daughter, Helen, and really isn't keen on vampire society. But Arland is tremendously attractive and all, and a good guy in spite of being, you know, a vampire, so Maud agrees to visit Arland on his planet and see how things go.
Of course she steps right into a mess: House Krahr is hosting a vampire wedding featuring a couple of other hostile clans who can't be trusted. Luckily Maud is not only a kickass warrior, able to hold her own with almost any vampire, but also a very intelligent, well-informed woman with a vast knowledge of galactic society generally and vampire society in particular.
So the thing is, unless you're a major Ilona Andrews fan or love sci-fi romance, you may just want to wait to get the final version, even if it costs a few dollars, rather than reading it now for free. Or do like I did: read the free version but plan to get to the enhanced published version later. It's not bad for a freebie, and there are some really great scenes. Helen is delightful, Maud is fun as she figures everything out and shows those vampires her own chops, and Arland is satisfyingly tough and adoring of Maud.
But the scenes are kind of pieced together right now in a way that the seams definitely show. Maud is fantastic but improbably accomplished and wonderful at Every. Single. Thing, except maybe relationship commitment. The vampires aren't at all bloodsuckers in the traditional sense. They're more like, well, Viking fighters or Samurai warriors who very occasionally take a bite out of their enemies. It's fun in a light, fantasy space opera romance kind of way, with lots of gory fighting to spice it up.
I read this book in a single day, because Ilona Andrews. I fan girl this writing team so hard it isn't even funny. So with that said, I am obviously unbiased ;)
I can't seem to write a review for this but here's my crappy attempt at it:
This feels a little like Kate Daniels, in that Maud has a lot of knowledge and also knows how to kick ass. Also, Arland has a whole lot of tradition and authority/responsibility he has to uphold, which seems to conflict directly with his choice of Maud as his roman
I read this book in a single day, because Ilona Andrews. I fan girl this writing team so hard it isn't even funny. So with that said, I am obviously unbiased ;)
I can't seem to write a review for this but here's my crappy attempt at it:
This feels a little like Kate Daniels, in that Maud has a lot of knowledge and also knows how to kick ass. Also, Arland has a whole lot of tradition and authority/responsibility he has to uphold, which seems to conflict directly with his choice of Maud as his romantic interest (much like the early Kate/Curran relationship). Oh and throw in a kid, Helen, whose mixed heritage makes her a lot more dangerous than her childhood counterparts (much like Conlan) .
However it's not like Kate Daniels in that there is space travel, vampires who are more like humans, and there are political machinations on a universal scale.
So all in all, this felt familiar and yet different and I enjoyed it.
Finally, after about one year of updates, the epilogue in December. And finally, finally the
with a little teaser for the next installment.
I am a little underwhelmed. There was too much discussion about who does what to whom and why for my taste. And too many too detailed descriptions of endless, different settings. An
Finally, after about one year of updates, the epilogue in December. And finally, finally the
with a little teaser for the next installment.
I am a little underwhelmed. There was too much discussion about who does what to whom and why for my taste. And too many too detailed descriptions of endless, different settings. And Maud always being the clever one and explaining to the others how it all works got a little old as well. The action scenes were great though. Ilona Andrews knows how to write great sword fights and bloodshed in general.
And I guess it is a tough one to keep a great narrative going in a weekly online serial with barely any editing. At the moment I feel no great need to pick up the edited, improved, mature version. But if the next story in the Innkeeper universe will show up on IAs website, I am game.
PS: I am at a loss about attaching the appropriate genre label. Science Fiction it really isn‘t. Ok, there are space ships and some interstellar travel. But it‘s mostly flying through the great beyond, in vessels resembling castles, with gardens, trees etc. It‘s definitely not UF. Romantic, soft SF? Space Fantasy?
Main chapter page: (probably won‘t be available online for much longer)
What’s Next for Innkeeper, from the authors’ blog:
"Maud's novella" so far is a drippy, uninspiring romance with absolutely boring world-building. The first four installments consist of Maud approaching the planet where her non-fiance vampire is from, landing on the planet and overhearing a gossipy conversation between two women, and then flying with her boyfriend to someplace else.
Vampires, in this book, stand in for
the romance trope
"Maud's novella" so far is a drippy, uninspiring romance with absolutely boring world-building. The first four installments consist of Maud approaching the planet where her non-fiance vampire is from, landing on the planet and overhearing a gossipy conversation between two women, and then flying with her boyfriend to someplace else.
Vampires, in this book, stand in for
the romance trope of powerful bad-ass family that has orphaned and poor woman both socially and economically unmatched. Clearly, the Andrews' moving and social media drama has taken a toll, because there's nothing of their normal character-building, humor, or world-building here. Not sure I'll continue, but since I get blog updates, it's possible I'll give it a few more installments.
Update: 04/3/19: I read more. It still didn't work well. And Maud was one hell of a Mary Sue.
Main Innkeeper page:
