Blog Tour and Book Review: Shadows of Asphodel by Karen Kincy

Title: Shadows of Asphodel

Author: Karen Kincy

Series: Book One

Published: September 13, 2013

Genre: Dieselpunk Romance

Tour Run by CBB Book Promotions

Book Description:

When Ardis discovers a man bleeding to death on the battlefield, she knows she has to walk away.

1913. In her work as a mercenary for Austria-Hungary, Ardis has killed many men without hesitation. One more man shouldn’t matter, even if he manages to be a charming bastard while he stands dying in the snow. 

But when he raises the dead to fight for him, she realizes she must save his life.

If a necromancer like Wendel dies, he will return as a monster—or so the rumors say. Ardis decides to play it safe and rescues him. What she doesn’t expect is Wendel falling to one knee and swearing fealty. Ardis never asked for the undying loyalty of a necromancer, but it’s too late now.

Ardis and Wendel forge an uneasy alliance underscored with sexual tension. Together, they confront rebels, assassins, and a conspiracy involving a military secret: robotically-enhanced soldiers for a world on the brink of war. But as Ardis starts to fall for Wendel, she realizes the scars from his past run more deeply than she ever imagined. Can Ardis stop Wendel before his thirst for revenge destroys him and everyone else around him?

(Dieselpunk romance. Recommended for ages 17 & up.)

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About the Author:

Karen Kincy (Redmond, Washington) lives among countless trees, some of which—her pet kumquats and oranges—have lovingly invaded her apartment. Unlike her characters, she has never been on the run from the law or bitten by a werewolf, though she has been known to howl at the moon. Karen has BA in Linguistics and Literature from The Evergreen State College, and is studying toward a Master’s in Computational Linguistics.

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This is my first experiences with dieselpunk. I love steampunk so I just knew this was something that I really needed to try. Throw in the fact that it came highly recommended by trusted blogging friends and you have yourself a sure thing.

And I really did love the imaginative world that the author created, not to mention the action packed non stop fun that was Shadows of Asphodel. Oh, and did I mention the steamy romance?

Ardis and Wendel were kick butt characters in their own right and couldn't have been more perfect for each other in almost every way. Both a little damaged and both left wondering about their family, background and abilities. 

The author did a great job with the chemistry between the two, it was believable and filled with just enough tension and just enough action to back it up.

While this is a world we are not familiar with the author does a good job of not dumping a bunch of information on us all at once about how it works and how it is run. Instead we are told in small parts here and there about the Archmages and the Asphodel. Just enough to whet the appetite but still leave you with lots of questions that will hopefully be more fleshed out and answered in the second installment. 

Instead of looking for all the answers right away we are swept up in the storyline and held captive by the action, romance and truths that are slowly unfolded and revealed. 

This really did a great job of gaining my attention and holding on to it.  I look forward to seeing where the author will take Ardis and Wendel in their next adventure together. 

*All thoughts and opinions are my own and were not influenced by the author or tour host. I was not compensated for this review.*