Destiny's Flower (Saldiora #1) by Linda Harley
Steph's Rating: 4.5 stars
Overall Rating: 4.5 stars
Format: ebook
Publisher: Infinity Publishing
Publication Date: September 1st, 2012
Pages: 312
Goodreads Synopsis:
Doctor Lynn Davis is
kidnapped by handsome Lord Kyle von Talion and taken to a far off
planet, Saldiora. As she finds herself in this unfamiliar culture, she
must learn to fight with a sword, ride a talking horse, and endure the
politics of a royal court if she is to survive. Kyle has his hands full
keeping Lynn from making cultural blunders and ensuring her safety. The
Juntu's are plotting to take over Saldiora and consider Lynn to be a
threat to their success. Will Lynn live long enough to fulfill her
destiny and save the kingdom of Saldiora?
Steph's Review:
When I was about to start reading this book, I really had no clue or notion on how I'd react to it at all. It was part modern-day Earth infused together with a medieval structured galactic empire. Well, I am happy to say that I LOVED this book through and through. From the moment Lynn was dragged away from the only place she knew, I was hooked.
Lynn Davis is your everyday doctor and college professor. She planned her normal life on the normal Earth, and was never expecting to be kidnapped right in front of her class full of witnesses. Who would? But these aren't normal kidnappers, and they hardly think of themselves as kidnappers as well. Kyle von Talion, Lord of the House Talion, has swiped her from earth and shipped her off to Saldiora--part of a planetary empire in space. Lynn has no way of contacting home, and zero chance of escape. Staying on this ship is dangerous enough, but getting off means certain death. If only there were signal in space, right? Kyle reveals to Lynn that she has been chosen as one of the ten "beauties" of Saldiora, who will compete for the chance to be the King's wife and the Queen of Saldiora. There isn't a choice for her. Lynn can't go back to Earth, and the only way to make any sort of living for herself in a completely foreign culture is to enter the competition floor.
Destiny's Flower is like a mix between The Selection and Star Wars to me. I loved both of the two plots in this book. Lynn is such a feisty and intelligent woman (she's a doc, remember?) and I loved reading from her point of view. Linda Harley has such wonderful pacing, and she shows the reader her world slowly, but steadily as Lynn herself is learning about the culture as well. Seemingly medieval, Saldiora is actually highly evolved and technological--all hidden behind a facade of courts, kings, and ladies. Lynn is so adaptable in this book, and it was interesting to see her handle completely odd situations. As a beauty, she can only do ridiculous things like wearing white dresses and observing an hour of silence each day at dusk to contemplate her current life. She feels like an oncoming whirlwind about to blow throughout the Saldiora scene, and I can feel her growing importance in what is coming in the next books.
Enemies in disguise to Lynn are the Juntus, a corrupted family seeking power and wealth, and of course, the throne. Knowing that Lynn has a secret heritage firmly attached to Saldiora before even she does, Brigieta von Juntu is deployed by her family to "take care of Lynn" and kick her out of the competition. I hated Brigieta and her family in an indescribable way, and while I was reading all I wanted to do was punt each and every one of them a few times on the head. Despite my hatred, I had to pity Brigieta a little though, because she never understood what true familial love is.
Kyle con Talion. Yum. At first, I did not like this boy at all. He kidnapped Lynn, dumped on her that basically the life she knew was over, and said "oh by the way, I'm supposed to protect you in this competition." But he and Lynn were undeniably attracted to each other more and more as they spent time together. He is such a sweet and protective character, and an all around good guy. This is causing awkward situations with the competition though, since Lynn is supposed to be pining for the King. I can't wait to see more development in their relationship in books to come as well.
This book is full of action and suspense! The character development is great as well, and the narrator really shows that you can just be yourself no matter where or what situation you are in. Not many people have heard about this yet, but I think it is absolutely wonderful. I definitely recommend this to all Sci-Fi and Fantasy lovers! You will be seeing odd things in this book like horses talking...but that just makes it all the better ;). Ever since I finished this, I've been scrounging for more info on Book 2, but unfortunately I have dug up nothing so far. I can't wait for the next installment, despite not knowing when it will be out. Can't wait!
When I was about to start reading this book, I really had no clue or notion on how I'd react to it at all. It was part modern-day Earth infused together with a medieval structured galactic empire. Well, I am happy to say that I LOVED this book through and through. From the moment Lynn was dragged away from the only place she knew, I was hooked.
Lynn Davis is your everyday doctor and college professor. She planned her normal life on the normal Earth, and was never expecting to be kidnapped right in front of her class full of witnesses. Who would? But these aren't normal kidnappers, and they hardly think of themselves as kidnappers as well. Kyle von Talion, Lord of the House Talion, has swiped her from earth and shipped her off to Saldiora--part of a planetary empire in space. Lynn has no way of contacting home, and zero chance of escape. Staying on this ship is dangerous enough, but getting off means certain death. If only there were signal in space, right? Kyle reveals to Lynn that she has been chosen as one of the ten "beauties" of Saldiora, who will compete for the chance to be the King's wife and the Queen of Saldiora. There isn't a choice for her. Lynn can't go back to Earth, and the only way to make any sort of living for herself in a completely foreign culture is to enter the competition floor.
Destiny's Flower is like a mix between The Selection and Star Wars to me. I loved both of the two plots in this book. Lynn is such a feisty and intelligent woman (she's a doc, remember?) and I loved reading from her point of view. Linda Harley has such wonderful pacing, and she shows the reader her world slowly, but steadily as Lynn herself is learning about the culture as well. Seemingly medieval, Saldiora is actually highly evolved and technological--all hidden behind a facade of courts, kings, and ladies. Lynn is so adaptable in this book, and it was interesting to see her handle completely odd situations. As a beauty, she can only do ridiculous things like wearing white dresses and observing an hour of silence each day at dusk to contemplate her current life. She feels like an oncoming whirlwind about to blow throughout the Saldiora scene, and I can feel her growing importance in what is coming in the next books.
Enemies in disguise to Lynn are the Juntus, a corrupted family seeking power and wealth, and of course, the throne. Knowing that Lynn has a secret heritage firmly attached to Saldiora before even she does, Brigieta von Juntu is deployed by her family to "take care of Lynn" and kick her out of the competition. I hated Brigieta and her family in an indescribable way, and while I was reading all I wanted to do was punt each and every one of them a few times on the head. Despite my hatred, I had to pity Brigieta a little though, because she never understood what true familial love is.
Kyle con Talion. Yum. At first, I did not like this boy at all. He kidnapped Lynn, dumped on her that basically the life she knew was over, and said "oh by the way, I'm supposed to protect you in this competition." But he and Lynn were undeniably attracted to each other more and more as they spent time together. He is such a sweet and protective character, and an all around good guy. This is causing awkward situations with the competition though, since Lynn is supposed to be pining for the King. I can't wait to see more development in their relationship in books to come as well.
This book is full of action and suspense! The character development is great as well, and the narrator really shows that you can just be yourself no matter where or what situation you are in. Not many people have heard about this yet, but I think it is absolutely wonderful. I definitely recommend this to all Sci-Fi and Fantasy lovers! You will be seeing odd things in this book like horses talking...but that just makes it all the better ;). Ever since I finished this, I've been scrounging for more info on Book 2, but unfortunately I have dug up nothing so far. I can't wait for the next installment, despite not knowing when it will be out. Can't wait!
Lovely review! The book has caught my attention, I think I'll put it on my to be read list.
ReplyDeleteMarian ^_^ x