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Member Reviews

This engaging story is a wonderful addition to The Balkan Legends series by A. L. Sowards! Ivan had been portrayed weakened by illness, young and in need of protection in the earlier books - but he came into his own in this book. I loved his deep sense of honor and moral rectitude. Helena is practical, skilled, and feels deeply. I loved the respect she had for life as a midwife and the perspective this brought to the narrative. Though the timeline of this book spans years, the character growth and strength is something I came to rely on.their eventual happily ever after was all the sweeter for the wait. I'm looking forward for the series to wrap up a few loose ends and the other beloved characters to have their stories told!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are completely my own.

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My thanks for the ARC goes to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing. I'm voluntarily leaving a review, and all opinions are my own.

Genre: Historical Fiction, Historical Romance.
Content Warnings: Nothing is on the page, but it is explained that rape is part of war.
Readability: Though second in the series, I think you could read them out of order and still make sense.

BEYOND THE CRESCENT SKY is the second book in the Balkan Legends series and follows Ivan and Helena. It's interesting because we see the conflict between the Greeks, Serbs, and the "Turks" (the Ottoman Empire). I actually think this is a romance first and a historical fiction novel second. I loved seeing how Ivan fell for Helena. And the obstacles to keep them apart are heart-wrenching!

If you're interested in the Ottoman Empire, historical romance, or sweeping series without too much gore or sex, this is the book for you.

Happy reading!

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A. L. Sowards does it again in this sequel to the Balkan Legends series, it had that element that I was looking for and enjoyed the feel of the world. It continued the story perfectly and was engaged with what was happening. The characters felt like they belonged there and was glad I read this.

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