I pre-ordered books 2 and 3 <em>as soon as they were up</em> after finishing <em>A Heart of Blood and Ashes</em> (book 1). <em>A Heart of Blood and Ashes</em> was the book that started me off in 2020 right. It was a fantastically luscious and brutal addition to fantasy-romance. Then I finally went back and read <em>The Beast of Blackmoor</em>, which was another 5-star read for me.

So to say I came into <em>A Touch of Stone and Snow</em> with high expectations, well, it’d be a bit of an understatement. I was excited to visit the world again, hopefully see some favorite characters, and find out what progress Yvenne and Maddek are making in their <em>task</em> for Vela. The task to unite all the western realms against the Destroyer. No small feat.

I did a re-read this last weekend of everything released so far, and immediately dove into AToSaS. From the very first page, the very first moment we meet Lizzan, I was in love with her. Lizzan wakes up <em>nearly</em> sober, asleep in a jungle, having hacked her way through it the previous night with her sword. Lizzan is scarred - both physically and emotionally. As she puts it, her curse is that she “didn’t die when [she] was supposed to.” She carries the weight of her (unjust) shame, knowing that her family still suffers under it. She also carries the pain of being betrayed by the one person she never expected it from.

She’s prickly and brash, a bit of a drunk and prone to rash decisions. Despite all this, Lizzan is a generous and kind person. Her goal has always been to protect, to help those who need it. As a child her parent tried to push her into becoming a healer, because of her soft heart. Lizzan chose to become a soldier, to “prevent harm from from ever coming to anybody.” Such a large, caring, tender heart should never have been damaged. Because now Lizzan has nothing left.

Shunned almost everywhere she goes, struggling to forget her past in the next drink, and taking what jobs she can just to survive. Trying her best to forget the man that exiled her, the man she once thought would go with her anywhere.

I was prepared to hold a grudge against Aerax. After all, he <em>exiled</em> Lizzan. He hurt her as no one else could have, when she needed love and support the most. Then I met him, and he snuck into my heart with his absolute <em>sweetness</em>. Bree (of Kit Rocha) described him as a “cinnamon roll” hero and, honestly, that’s so accurate. From Aerax’s first moments we can see how much he still loves, and misses, Lizzan.

Second-chance romances are not typically stories I love. Let’s be honest, most of the time it didn’t work out for a reason. Lizzan and Aerax though? I fucking LOVE. All that history, love, friendship - it comes right back. Even when they’re attempting to be “as strangers,” it’s impossible. There’s too much binding them together. They were always meant to be - and then life kicked them down.

I could talk for days about their romance, it hit me on such a fantastic level. I found myself highlighting entire sections, just because the <em>feels</em> it brought out in me. Not to mention that Aerax is an <em><strong>expert</strong></em> dirty-talker. I mean EXPERT. Whew.

One of my favorite things binding them together? Caeb, Aerax’s (extra large) saber-toothed snow cat. He. Is. Awesome. And I’ll fight anyone that disagrees. The way that he absolutely adores his people, and no one else. How he can act totally like a kitten one moment and rip into a threat the next. I’m very glad we got to spend so much time with him.

Luckily, we also meet up with a few favorites from previous books on this journey. As well as some characters that I’m dying to know more about.

While the alliance is the driving force behind the book, Koth is the real focus of this book - as it should be. There are shady things happening and if the realm is to have any chance at all against the Destroyer when he returns, rooting out this next of problems is absolutely necessary.

I loved traveling this world through Lizzan and Aerax’s eyes, seeing all the new and interesting places and knowing that their main goal is still <em>doing the right thing</em>, so they can be together. I love when they realize that them being together <em><strong>is</strong></em> doing the right thing. Their romance is so incredibly sweet, sexy, and satisfying.

<em>A Touch of Stone and Snow</em> is a fantastic addition to this series, one that ups the ante. Milla Vane shows us more of the world, brings in awesome new characters and creatures, and even more magic and danger.

<span style="text-decoration: underline;">A Gathering of Dragons</span> series is a must read! This is fantasy romance at its best. It brings love, light, overcoming (intense) adversity, and conquering evil in a time when I desperately need to see it. If I could, I’d beg Vela for a quest to gain the reward of more. Luckily, the third book, <em>A Dance of Smoke and Steel</em>, comes out early next year - until then I’m going to be reading and re-reading.

P.S. Reading this with Sarah, and she posited the most AWESOME theory - and now I just cannot wait to see if it’s true. Also, in case it isn’t obvious, I still love Vela. I don’t know what exactly that says about me, but *shrugs*. Go read this series!

Our path leads to the crystal palace. So on we go, to glorious battle, where my name will become legend.”
And where he would never, ever let her go.
“If I have to become a monster to save you, that is what I will do.”

A Touch of Stone and Snow by Milla Vane is the second book in A Gathering of Dragons, one of the best fantasy series we’ve read in a long time. Every single book is EPIC and so intricately woven into a mammoth story. It’s not often it takes us a week to read just one book, however, Milla Vane is literally the queen of fleshing out her storyline and her characters. Because of the continuing quest to defeat a common mythical enemy, we HIGHLY recommend reading in order, especially if you love barbaric and erotic fantasy romance as much as we do. This series speaks straight to our fantasy book-loving hearts. Intense, mysterious, harrowing, dramatic, action-filled and super passionate. This series is everything and the way in which it is written, SUPERB! We cannot even begin to adequately pay homage to this incredible series and Author.

“I must sacrifice myself while performing a feat so incredible that my name will reach their ears, and no longer will my family bear my shame.”
“If you leave me I will come for you. Wherever you go, I will find you, and we will be together again.”

We first heard of The Destroyer in A Heart of Blood and Ashes, which was Ran Maddek and Queen Yvenne story, and his impending arrival to slay and defeat the realms is causing terror. Factions of warrior men and women not fleeing but rather instigating an uprising, whilst the rest seek refuge and protection from the mythical Gods. The world-building in this series by Milla Vane continues to astound us, this Author is outstanding! Honestly, if we could give her a standing ovation in person we would. It’s mesmerizing, addictive, flawless and compelling, the scenery easily conjured up in our minds from the vivid and eerily evocative writing.

“Always you would stop and listen to those who were alone, for you knew that is what they often needed the most – for someone to see them, to listen to them. And I have always loved that about you.”
“It matters not how quick or slow the days are. No matter what happens in the battle ahead, and even if every day afterward is spent with you, never will there be enough of them.”

Lizzan, currently in exile, is on a personal quest to battle and clear her family’s name from the shame she has brought upon them. She’s a fighter with a heart that’s bigger than can be comprehended. We knew there was something incredibly special about her from the start, and we championed her till the end despite our worry over her wanting to die a hero. Whilst on her path she’s also running from the man she loves, Aerax, the troubled bastard prince of Koth, she grew to love with all her heart. The warrior monster of a man who owns her heart and now owns ours. Not only is this series a treat fantasy-wise, which would be amazing as a Netflix series, in A Touch of Stone and Snow the second chance romance is compelling, beautiful and incredibly passionate. The tension and the chemistry was scorching. The battle, the twists and the mythical aspect, enticing. This series is a masterpiece of epic proportions!

“You ease the pain in my heart, Aerax.”
“Given a choice no other purpose would I have.”

“Our path leads to the crystal palace. So on we go, to glorious battle, where my name will become legend.”
And where he would never, ever let her go.
“If I have to become a monster to save you, that is what I will do.”

A Touch of Stone and Snow by Milla Vane is the second book in A Gathering of Dragons, one of the best fantasy series we’ve read in a long time. Every single book is EPIC and so intricately woven into a mammoth story. It’s not often it takes us a week to read just one book, however, Milla Vane is literally the queen of fleshing out her storyline and her characters. Because of the continuing quest to defeat a common mythical enemy, we HIGHLY recommend reading in order, especially if you love barbaric and erotic fantasy romance as much as we do. This series speaks straight to our fantasy book-loving hearts. Intense, mysterious, harrowing, dramatic, action-filled and super passionate. This series is everything and the way in which it is written, SUPERB! We cannot even begin to adequately pay homage to this incredible series and Author.

“I must sacrifice myself while performing a feat so incredible that my name will reach their ears, and no longer will my family bear my shame.”
“If you leave me I will come for you. Wherever you go, I will find you, and we will be together again.”

We first heard of The Destroyer in A Heart of Blood and Ashes, which was Ran Maddek and Queen Yvenne story, and his impending arrival to slay and defeat the realms is causing terror. Factions of warrior men and women not fleeing but rather instigating an uprising, whilst the rest seek refuge and protection from the mythical Gods. The world-building in this series by Milla Vane continues to astound us, this Author is outstanding! Honestly, if we could give her a standing ovation in person we would. It’s mesmerizing, addictive, flawless and compelling, the scenery easily conjured up in our minds from the vivid and eerily evocative writing.

“Always you would stop and listen to those who were alone, for you knew that is what they often needed the most – for someone to see them, to listen to them. And I have always loved that about you.”
“It matters not how quick or slow the days are. No matter what happens in the battle ahead, and even if every day afterward is spent with you, never will there be enough of them.”

Lizzan, currently in exile, is on a personal quest to battle and clear her family’s name from the shame she has brought upon them. She’s a fighter with a heart that’s bigger than can be comprehended. We knew there was something incredibly special about her from the start, and we championed her till the end despite our worry over her wanting to die a hero. Whilst on her path she’s also running from the man she loves, Aerax, the troubled bastard prince of Koth, she grew to love with all her heart. The warrior monster of a man who owns her heart and now owns ours. Not only is this series a treat fantasy-wise, which would be amazing as a Netflix series, in A Touch of Stone and Snow the second chance romance is compelling, beautiful and incredibly passionate. The tension and the chemistry was scorching. The battle, the twists and the mythical aspect, enticing. This series is a masterpiece of epic proportions!

“You ease the pain in my heart, Aerax.”
“Given a choice no other purpose would I have.”

Extremely annoyed right now because I neither have the time nor energy to glom Meljean Brook’s backlist (Brook is a PNR pseudonym for Vane). Woe is me.

FYI, this works as a stand-alone if you haven’t read book 1 (I have not read book 1).

RTC.

Milla Vane is a master of world-building. She has managed to create a world that is truly immersive and engaging. I did find this to be a little slower on the action than the first book, and it felt like it was more to set up the reader for book 3. However, the depth of the characters and the meticulous world that Vane has created make for an amazing fun and gritty adventure.

Lizzan, a mercenary for hire wanders the road in solitude. She prefers her drink strong and a place to sleep, but is willing to help those in need. The place she called home and her once lover have shunned her. She is an outcast and is determined to stay far away from Koth.

Aerax - also known as the feral prince of Koth - is seeking new alliances to help fight the destroyer. Lizzan and Aerax eventually meet on this road and there are so many unsaid words spoken between them. Lizzan believes that it was Aerax who exiled Lizzan from Koth, but how could it be when Aerax has never stopped loving her?

I absolutely love a second chance romance and I loved loved the first meeting between Lizzan and Aerax . I felt the love and longing between these two as much as the hurt. Milla Vane knows how to write such great dialogue and I was constantly looking forward to the banter between Lizzan and Aerax.

Beyond the love story between Lizzan and Aerax I loved the adventure that this book took me on. I have always loved mythology and learning about the legends of the various Gods that the people in this realm believe in was fascinating. I have so many parts highlighted because the storytelling was spectacular. But what is truth and what is the lie? Will people believe in something that is completely false because it was told to them in this manner for generations? And how will these lies and truths set the people of Koth and other realms free.

A Touch of Stone and Snow was a wonderful follow up to A Heart of Blood and Ashes. I loved being immersed in this world and absolutely cannot wait until the next book in the series is released!

Amazing read…

The Destroyer was threatening the world (still) and this was the next chapter in the series arc. If you haven’t read the first instalment, you will want to do that so you don’t miss a cracking love story but also the foundation of what Aerax and Lizzan’s story built on. And what a story it was…

Aerax and Lizzan. Sigh… I’ve just finished and I’m still taking in all that happened. Set in a mythical world of realms and magic, of dragons and beasts, the romance, surprisingly, could not have been more real and tangible. Friends when they should never have been, they grew up together. Supporting each other, protective. When family was complicated, they always had each other. She seeing him when she shouldn’t. He seeing her when he shouldn’t. Romantic? Oh, how I cried at more than one scene where their love for each other, when things looked direst, touched my heart so deeply… Theirs was a love that shouldn’t have been yet would not only save themselves, but all they held dear.

If you are hesitant by the fantasy aspects, let me reassure you. This is a LOVE story of Rhett and Scarlett heights…

If you were a fan of the first book in this series you will ADORE this book as well! Lizzan is such a strong and powerful female lead that you just can't help but cheer for. Aerax is Maddek's complete opposite. Aerax is a character you will love from the first page. He's just so compassionate and devoted. Let's not forget to mention he has a pet saber-toothed cat! The love story between Lizzan and Aerax will have you unable to put this book down. A Touch of Stone and Snow is a must read for all fantasy romance readers. Milla Vane is blowing me away with how amazing this series is. Action packed, romance that's to die for, and world building unlike any other! There are also many reappearing characters from book one that we all know and love! You're going to want to pick this series up!

A Touch of Stone and Snow is the second book in the Gathering of Dragons series. Full disclosure: I am not a fantasy reader. I just don't like it. But the reviews for the first book were so good, I had to give it a try. I loved the first book. I read it in less than a day. I avoided important tasks to finish it. I was completely sucked in!

This second book did not grab me like that. I enjoyed it, and I am looking forward to the final book. But this book didn't have that un-put-down-able quality that the first one did. It was a little more of a slow burn story. I felt like there was more emphasis on the inner workings of the main character. Overall, still a really good book, however. Hopefully, the finale will be as amazing as the first book.

I loved every minute of this book! It's such a fun read. I loved all the tropes that were pushed into one. Childhood love/enemies to lovers/road trip romance and so many more.

I highly recommend this one.

Favorite Quote:

“Never have you been restrained in the pleaure you give to me, and never have you held back your heart. So always I end here in this way, so utterly satisfied and fully loved, the most blessed of all women.”

As he was the most blessed of all men.


A Touch of Stone and Snow is the second book in the breathtaking epic fantasy romance series, A Gathering of Dragons. After reading and LOVING the first book in the series I was more than ready for another adventure in this fabulous world.

Book two starts out a little slower, but has a vastly different feel. Moving away from the story arc of Ran Maddek and his queen, Yvenne, Ms. Vane changes course a bit and introduces readers to a group of travelers looking for protection and help. This is a second chance romance and features a fierce, indepedent heroine seperated from her homeland and shunned by her people and a hero who feels no loyalty to his birthplace, yet is compelled by his blood and the truth of his heritage to help them.

Lizzan and Aerax were childhood friends and lovers ultimately seperated by circumstance and a percieved betrayal, yet as soon as you meet them you can feel the love that they have for each other. Lizzan is a protector at heart, even though her journey has taken her away from all that she loves and led her to a lonely road with weary travelers needing security. She asks the goddess Vela for a quest and is tasked with protecting the one man who she feels betrayed her at her lowest moment, but who she still treasures.

Aerex felt like this awesome mix of beta and alpha hero. He ADORES Lizzan and despite her feeling like he basically abandoned her, which he would never, but you know he has reasons and secrets. He also has taken on a task to complete that will basically change his small country forever. This couple are at odds about several things (so much angst), but the devotion and support for each other practically jumps off the page it's so palpable.

Plus their relationship is so damn sexy.

The Destroyer is still coming and this author is slowly building alliances to fight him. I’m not sure how many books are planned in this series, but I can’t wait until all these strong, competant characters fianlly come together. The world-building in this series is some of the best I’ve read and with each new adventure I’m excited to discover new lands and meet interesting characters. The next two main protagonists have already been introuced and I am on the edge of my seat in anticipation for their story . Seriously, I can not wait.

A Touch of Stone and Snow is another spectacular entry into The Gathering of Dragons series. It’s crazy good and I can’t wait until my next journey into this world.

P.S. Did I mention there is a big, scary, cuddly saber tooth cat? How do you resist that? You can’t. Go one-click.

Final Grade-B+

I think it is safe to say that Fantasy romance is now my favourite genre to read and Milla Vane has become one of my go to authors. A Touch of Stone and Snow is superb addition to the A Gathering of Dragons series. Filled with political intrigue, superb magic a second chance romance plus a domesticated saber tooth tiger, what more could you ask. I loved the dynamic between Lizzan and Prince Aerax. I cannot squeal enough about how much I love this book and its predecessor. If you are hesitating do not you won’t be disappointed.

This series is simply awe-inspiring to me. I love everything about it, and I just keep wanting more and more!

Lizzan is S-T-R-U-G-G-L-I-N-G. She's basically been drunk for the last 2 years, after being exiled from her home, Koth. She was commanding a unit of Koth's army, and during their mission everything went horrifyingly wrong, and she was the only survivor. No one believed her story about what happened, and they accused her of being a coward, and a deserter, and kicked her out, to her family's shame. So now, she roams around taking jobs where she can, protecting travelers along the roads to earn money. The alcohol helps her to NOT think about all she's lost, especially the snow-haired boy that she's loved since they were kids, who had a hand in her exile. She doesn't think she'll ever see him again, or if she ever wants to.

Aerax is currently an heir to the throne of Koth. He was born the King's by-blow, which means as far as Koth was concerned, he didn't exist. If your name isn't "in the book", you are simply not THERE in their society. But, when a terrible fever spreads through their community and kills many, including the King and all his legitimate children, suddenly Aerax is needed as an heir apparent, while his uncle takes the throne. This puts distance between he and his one true love, Lizzan, as he must attend to royal lessons, and everything else he was never taught as a child. But, one secret he learns about Koth's island home is truly the nail in the coffin for them. He knows what he must do, and he fears she'll hate him, or try to stop him, so he helps in having her sent away. He just wanted her to be safe. But now, with the Destroyer's imminent return, all the realms are coming together in an alliance to defeat it. He has been sent as an emissary to help facilitate this alliance for Koth, with the other major realms. He had no idea that his path would cross with Lizzan's again. But, now he knows for sure he can never let her go again.

Lizzan and Aerax had chemistry like whoa, even when she was trying to run from him, or act like he didn't affect her any more. They still just loved each other so much, and that came through in everything they did, even when it was the last thing she wanted to admit. Also, Aerax's pet snow cat (think saber-toothed tiger!), Caeb, was an awesome character unto himself. He also loved Lizzan so much, and made that clear throughout the story. He was an awesome addition, and I loved seeing all their interactions.

The group traveling together was quite the mish-mash, and included several characters we met previously in book 1. It was so nice getting to know them better, and seeing our new main characters' fledgling relationships with them. It kept the continuity of the world together, even though the hero and heroine from book 1 weren't physically present. Also, some of the new side characters from Koth were pretty ugly to Lizzan and you just wanted to reach through the book and wring their necks. I really liked seeing how both Lizzan and Aerax dealt with that adversity differently.

This book had a completely different feel from book 1, for sure. It didn't grab me by the throat right from the start as book 1 did, but I loved it just as much in the end. It was a second chance romance, which always has it's own vibe anyway, and they can be very hit or miss for me. But I really felt the love and longing between these two, even when there were still untruths and misunderstandings between them. You just wanted them to be together so much, because Aerax (and Caeb!) would have done ANYTHING for her, and I felt that deeply in his every action.

If you like fantasy romance, I could not recommend this series any more highly. It is truly something unique and AMAZING! Book 3 looks to be a return to the enemies to lovers feel of book 1, and I'm highly anticipating it!

The Destroyer’s imminent return has sent the realms into turmoil as desperate citizens seek refuge. Even Koth, a northern island kingdom left untouched by the Destroyer a generation past, is besieged by terrors spawned from corrupt magics. When Lizzan leads the Kothan army against these terrors, only to see her soldiers massacred and to emerge as the only survivor, she is called a coward and a deserter. Shunned from her home, Lizzan now wanders in solitude as a mercenary for hire, until she encounters a group of warriors seeking new alliances with the northern kingdoms—a group that includes Aerax, the bastard prince of Koth, and the man who sent her into exile. Though they were childhood friends, Aerax cannot allow himself to be close to the only woman who might thwart his treacherous plan to save their island realm. But when a goddess's demand binds them together, Lizzan and Aerax must find a way to overcome their painful pasts or there will be no future for the western realms.
This is a departure from my normal reading genre but I was drawn in from the start & engrossed all the way through. A well written book with strong characters. A very well paced story. I haven’t read the first book in the series yet but definitely need to read it as I feel I would have appreciated this book more. I loved both Aerax & Lizzan & how their relationship changed & developed.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

When Berkley sent us books to read, I accidentally clicked on this one. I haven't read the first book but I plan on reading that one before this one! Thanks Berkley for sending I can't wait to read!

4.5 STARS

The Destroyer is coming to the Western Realms…again. Citizens are fleeing while kingdoms with their armies are seeking to unite in order to defend themselves from the death and destruction wrought in the previous catastrophic battle. Lizzan has spent the last two years exiled from her home of the island kingdom Koth. For some unknown reason, Koth was spared by the Destroyer originally leading its rulers to keep the kingdom closed off and isolated. Lizzan led her soldiers into battle with a demon ridden King and his deadly wraiths. After they were decimated with her as the only survivor, Lizzan was branded a coward and sent away by Prince Aerax. This was a doubly harsh wound for Lizzan because Aerax was not only her childhood friend but a soulmate. She has been drowning her shame and sorrows in mead, wondering around offering services as a mercenary hired for protection. Encountering a group of soldiers seeking alliances with Northern Kingdoms, including Koth, brings Lizzan face to face with Aerax causing her deep pain all over again.

Aerax knew sending Lizzan away was devastating for them both; however, it was done for her protection. Along with his pet sabretooth cat, Aerax is determined to protect Lizzan again and help her redeem a sullied reputation. Given a task by the goddess, Vela, to protect Aerax in turn, Lizzan is determined to fight for her people even though they have shunned her. Aerax has a plan to save the kingdom; however, he knows his traitorous strategy goes against everyone of Lizzan’s and his peoples’ instincts.

The journey of Lizzan and Aerax along with their new compatriots toward Koth is filled with dangers, trials, and challenges. Besides the physical demands and travails, Lizzan and Aerax have a personal voyage of the heart where working together allows them the chance heal old wounds and determine how to save their citizens together. Several of the stout companions were introduced in the first book of the series, A Heart of Blood and Ashes, including, Yvenne’s brother and soldiers from Maddek’s Dragon. Ms. Vane excels at in this genre of High Fantasy; this tale continues the buildup for the epic battle that is coming while expanding the world of this magical mystical world. This story can be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend following the series in order.

I wouldn't have thought a dark, barbarian romance was going to be for me, but I loved this! I read the first book in the series in preparation, and I don't think it's necessary.

It can take a bit to get into the story, because of all the made up places, gods, and creatures, but it's really worth it. The romance itself has a dynamic I really enjoy, where one person is just head over heels for the other steadfastly, and the other person needs to learn to love themselves and in turn, be loved.

There's really a lot of plot in this book outside the romance, and I didn't mind. It's got humor, and violence, and action, but with a female gaze that's makes it a lot of fun even though it is dark.

Lizzan, the female main character, is depicted as an alcoholic, so beware of that if you're sensitive to it. I found her struggles portrayed quite sensitively, though there is quite an element of magic to their resolution.

I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book ever since I finished A Heart of Blood and Ashes. I am a huge fan of Fantasy Romance novels, but strangely enough I don't read them as much as I would like to. So whenever I do pick up a book in this genre, I really take the time to fully immerse myself into the world the author has built. Before I go into my thoughts on this particular book, I want to say that I am amazed by the creativity of fantasy authors. It isn't easy to create a completely new world with and being able to keep track of everything. It really took me a long time to tell who was who, and what part of the world they were from. So I was happy that the book was long. Honestly, I like my fantasy novels to be huge, because it isn't easy to tell a full story in a normal sized novel.

”Never have you been restrained in the pleasure you give to me, and never have you held back your heart. So always I end here in this way, so utterly satisfied and fully loved, the most blessed of all women.”

Alright lets get into the story itself. I absolutely loved the main characters Lizzan and Aerax, they were separated but it was obvious the amount of love they had for each other. The women in this world are so strong and independent, and I loved that they weren't some damsel in distress. Lizzan took care of herself, and she also would definitely defend the lives of the people she loved. Lizzan felt betrayed by Aerax when he didn't leave with her when she was shunned by her people, because he was the one who always wanted to leave and start a life with her somewhere were they would be equal. These two are childhood friends turned lovers and true soulmates. This book was action-packed and super hot as well. The author Milla Vane found a great balance and satisfied me with the amount of action and romance she delivered in this story. There are multiple villains, and the gods and myths that were revealed were very intriguing. I honestly couldn't get enough of the story and the characters. Everything together made such an enjoyable fantasy romance novel. In this book you also meet the main characters of the next book, and I am already looking forward to their story.

A Gathering of Dragons is an epic adventure which gets more addictive with each story.

A Touch of Stone and Snow features Lizzan who wanted nothing more than to be a soldier. Even when she was a girl and her family wanted her to be a healer, Lizzan knew she wanted nothing more than to protect people, and with the help of a feral prince, she trained and trained until she was accepted into the royal army. That’s what makes the fact that Lizzan was shunned as a coward by her kingdom and her name striken from the Book all the harder. Lizzan would never abandon her people or her fellow soldiers. She has no idea why she was the only survivor and no one believes that there were wraiths on an island protected by the blessing of a god. If it is not bad enough to be shunned by her own people, the battle left her with scars upon her face which resemble the curse that the moon goddess Vela gives to her Chosen who request a quest and fail. Now every village she travels to shoos her away fearing Vela’s wrath.

Tired of fighting everyone’s contempt simply for existing, Lizzan decides that she will go to the Vela’s temple and request an actual quest. Problem is that Lizzan was quite drunk when she went into the temple and while she knows that the goddess herself spoke with her, she can’t remember if she was given an actual quest or was it just a task but Lizzan does know that when her quest…task?…quest? is fulfilled, her reward will be to die in glorious battle, like in all the great tales, and her family name will be cleared. She only needs to protect the first person she sees after leaving the temple. Unfortunately, that person turns out to be the man who ripped out her heart. Then it must be a quest since all quests subject the questor to suffer pain beyond enduring.

Aerax is the bastard prince of Koth. As a bastard, for years he wasn’t even given a name, let along one written in the Book. He spent most of his life shunned, The only person who ever said his name was Lizzan. She treated him not only as a person but as a friend and eventually as something more. It was just after they were promised to each other, that a plague ripped through Koth, killing most of the royal family and suddenly Aerax’s royal blood, bastard or not, was needed and he was taken away to the castle. Now he has joined with the Parsantheans to help join the western realms in an alliance against the Destroyer. He allowed Lizzan to get away from him but now that they have stumbled across each other’s paths, he is determined never to let her go. There is just something he must do first. Something that might just make him a monster in Lizzan’s eyes. He can only hope that once it is done, she will understand that he had to be the one.

Aerax and Lizzan have always been drawn to each other and while she tries to keep him at arms length, they were never very good at staying apart. And now that they are together again Lizzan is really kind of hoping that her quest really was more of a task because suddenly dying in a great battle and leaving Aerax to suffer alone feels like even more of a punishment than enduring shame.

This was such a great story. Aerax and Lizzan have such a strong connection. They loved each other for years, flaws and all and even when they are mad at each other, they can’t stay away from each other or even stay mad. There is just too much history between them.

Lizzan had been drinking a lot to forget all her pain and the goddess demands that she stop if Lizzan is going to take on her quest (task?) and the goddess decides she will purify all the water Lizzan drinks. Lizzan agrees that she needs to stop drinking but keeps forgetting and Vela spends the rest of the story turning Lizzan’s ale into water.

I also loved Caeb who was a long-toothed snow cat, like a saber-toothed tiger, who Aerax and Lizzan came across as an orphaned cub and the hand-raised him. He is a very intelligent creature and he is very protective of both of them. After spending most of his life ignored and shunned by everyone, there are few people that Aerax even cares about except Lizzan and Caeb. He doesn’t get upset by snide comments because no one else matters to him so their opinions don’t bother him. It is funny how both Aerax and Lizzan try to get the other to hang out with the Parsantheans because they both want the other to open up and make more friends.

I did a quick re-read on A Heart of Blood and Ash and while it isn’t necessary, we do pick up with some of the Parsantheans who were part of that first story. There is also references of Blackmoor, who was the feature of the novella in the Night Shift anthology, The Beast of Blackmoor. Again it isn’t necessary to re-read it but I did remember that I enjoyed it and got more out of it this time since I understood the world building better and caught a couple of references in this story that I have forgotten about.

I thought this was going to be a trilogy, and reference to the next story is up on Goodreads, but I am hoping there are even more stories to come because several happenings piqued my interest and I can’t imagine we are going to get to all those in the next story and face the coming Destroyer. I am hoping there is a lot more to come because I am definitely invested in this group and seeing what becomes of them all.

A Touch of Snow and Stone by Milla Vane is the 2nd book in her fantasy series, A Gathering of Dragons. Though they are mentioned a few times, the heroes of the first book do not play a part in this one, but I am sure in the next book we will see them all together in trying to defeat the Destroyer.

Lizzan, our heroine, is one of the best warriors for the Koth kingdom; but when she was the lone survivor of a massacre, they accused her of running away and not helping her soldiers. She was shunned and exiled, with her name removed from the Kingdom. Over time, she becomes a lone mercenary for hire to help those in need of protection. Lizzan comes across a group of warriors from different kingdoms seeking alliances to fight the Destroyer. She makes friends with some of them, until she learns that the man she always loved, Aerax, is part of the group with other Kothans.

Aerax, our hero and a prince of Koth, has been trying to find Lizzan, since he has always loved her; but he knows when she was accused of betrayal, he did not offer to help her, as he knew of her innocence. Aerax is determined to destroy Koth, and knew Lizzan would try to stop him; but now all he wants is to make amends. I absolutely loved loved his snow leopard, Caeb. The cat, who was loyal to both Aerax and Lizzan was a fantastic addition to this series, and all scenes with Caeb were wonderful. There is more to what Caeb is, but I guess we will learn more in the next book.

What follows is a wild, exciting, action packed adventure, filled with myths, magic and gods. When Lizzan goes to the god Vela for help, she is sent on a quest to protect the first person she sees, which does end up being Aerax. They both will join hands with some of the other groups, as well as our wonderful Caeb to try to stop a demon. It was great to watch Lizzan and Aerax begin to resume their relationship and love. It was funny to see Caeb push both of them together often. Cute. Knowing that if they can’t defeat the demon, their lives could be lost, they make the most of their lust for each other, which was sizzling.

A Touch of Snow and Stone is an epic fantasy at its best, with intense nonstop violent action, excitement, fantastic characters (some from the previous book) and a wonderful romance. There is a lot of details throughout as they head to Koth, keeping us on the edge of our seats to see who will survive. If you enjoy fantasy, a great world building, with monsters, such as wraiths, and magical elements, I suggest you read this series. Start with the first book A Heart of Blood and Ashes, and then continue to A Touch of Snow and Stone.