Helm of Awe by D.L. Armillei
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is book 3 in a YA fantasy series. The author does a wonderful job drawing you into the story right away and keeping you engaged. She keeps you on edge several times and are you serious with the bestie and the ex!?! I will definitely be going back to book 1 and 2 to find what I missed in the first two!
Helm of Awe by D.L. Armillei
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Helm of Awe is a heart-pounding Book 3 that throws Van and her team into danger from all sides. Van struggles to come to terms with Suixsha, the girl who out-maneuvered her in the Jaychund games, and continues to baffle and irritate her. Suixsha is a woman of few words, but her inner calm and startling prowess in battle leave Van feeling insecure and annoyed. However, the Alignment waits for no one, so Van tries to focus on her mission, and not her rival, or her long-distance boyfriend, or the curse that awaits her in adulthood. Once again, she must quiet her inner demons, release fears that aren’t serving her, and act with integrity and compassion for all people. Her spiritual/psychological transformations in these books are well thought-out, and accompanied with exciting plot developments.
The scene in the cave was so well done, with so much coming at our heroine at once. I also really liked the parts with the family of animals she rescued. Great book, great series, great fantasy!
Plague of Death by D.L. Armillei
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Welcome to Book 2, a great sequel to Shock of Fate! We catch up with Van Cross a year later, as she sets out on her latest mission during the Alignment. Once again, bestie Paley is by her side, as is her protector Brux, and new addition Prenilla, her Providence Island nemesis. Van has hardened her heart and her body, ruthlessly shunning any sort of emotional attachment in her quest to become the best warrior she can be. She trains incessantly and avoids any introspection about the past – particularly the death of Solana and her feelings for Brux. Her mentors nudge her toward balance – light and dark exist in equal measure, and the inability to accept both forces blocks her power. It is one of the many lessons she is charged with learning in this Book 2, and she is a stubborn student!
I thought the plot was really intriguing in this book, there were lots of dire circumstances happening all at once, upping the danger factor and lessening the chances of success. Wiglaf is the bestest magical creature, and I enjoyed the plot points with them and Paley/Van. Van’s test with the Quasher had me biting my nails and turning pages as fast as I could.
Shock of Fate by D.L. Armillei
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A great start to a series I look forward to devouring! Vanessa Cross, daughter of Grigori agent and presumed traitor Michael Cross, is thrust into the secret world of her father to retrieve a priceless artifact. When debriefed by his formidable boss Uxa, she learns that there is far more going on in her sleepy little Island town than she ever thought possible. She sets out on her adventure with her team (after sneaking in her best friend Paley, natch), feeling inadequate compared to the skills and talents of the teen soldiers around her. Van struggles to figure out her place in this ragtag group, quiet her insecurities, and conquer her fears so that she can play her role in the unfolding history of the Living World.
I loved the tension between Van and Brux, and the romantic sparks between them. Jorie is also a great character who is very lively and intricately drawn. I could picture her black mohawk and “friend” Zachary vividly, and it made me smile every time she jumped onto the stage of this story. Van’s transformation through the story and was impressive as she came to terms with what she was actually capable of and who she actually could be in the world. I highly recommend this book – a great adventure!
Helm of Awe by D.L. Armillei
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I really wish I could give this more than 5 stars! This was my favorite book of the series so far. Paley still got on my nerves but not as bad as the first two books. Van is still growing and proving herself. The side characters are still amazing. I started this as soon as I finished the second one and didn’t stop till the wee hours of the morning. It was that good! It’s filled with life lessons and I think every teenager should read it. I’m going to sweet talk mine into reading it. This author is definitely on my favorites list.
Helm of Awe by D.L. Armillei
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is the third book in the series of Anchoress by D. L. Armillei. I highly recommend reading the first two books in the series also. Ms. Armillei is a great author. It is a warm welcome to the YA genre when an author is an artist. She could keep the attention of the YA reader throughout the entire book. Her attention to detail paints a picture in my mind’s eye. I found it an intriguing story about Van and her charmed life. She was supposed to win the senior games but that did not work out for her. Then there is her ex-boyfriend and best friend carrying on in front of her. Not to mention that her crush has not contacted her in a long time. There is so much going on that the story really moves. I finished the book in one sitting because I wanted to see what was going to happen. I highly recommend seeing what is in store for Van and her friends.
Plague of Death by D.L. Armillei
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is the second book in the Anchoress series, and you don’t really need to read the first book, but I would highly recommend it. Not only to get you up to speed but also because it’s an amazing adventure in its own. Once again Van must cross over to the Living World and go on a dangerous quest to save both worlds. This time she must face her inner turmoil and decide whether to allow herself to acknowledge a forbidden love. At times it’s funny, intense, sad, romantic, mystical, and much more. Each character is so well written that you can’t help but get invested in them even if you’ve only known them for a short period of time. So, when we lose some along the way, you feel it just like those in the book. The fact that some don’t make back actually makes this series more endearing, because it increases the realism for the reader.
Shock of Fate by D.L. Armillei
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is a fantasy story that has a lot of action and full of surprises. The author pulls you into this world and captures you with every word written. You’re on the edge of your seat wondering what’s going to happen next. This story revolves around Vanessa and her mission to find a relic. I love that this story is written with background information. Through stories and flashbacks, you’ll read about how the current situation has come about. These stories also provide Vanessa information on mistakes that have been made in the past that she can avoid. The attention to detail that this has book has been amazing.
Helm of Awe by D.L. Armillei
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Van is back in the third book of the Anchoress series. You need to read the first two books before diving into this one. The author gives enough information from the first two books to know what’s going on, but with all the danger and action in them you really wouldn’t want to miss out. The author has a way with words that are cleverly woven and masterfully created and adventure that you get lost in it. It’s written so vividly that it’s an experience, an adventure, and not just a story. It’s an amazing book and will be through the years to come.
Helm of Awe: Anchoress Series Book Three by D L Armillei
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Van seriously is an amazing character! The author has done a brilliant job on this series. Now we are in your seventeenth year of life, and she has a lot more to conquer. With the games as part of her senior exams, there is a lot of pressure! Of course she has typical school drama like her best friend and ex. Other than that, when she enters Balish territory, that is where all heck breaks loose and you are on the edge of your seat, nose in the book. I truly loved this series! 🙂
Plague of Death by D.L. Armillei
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Onto the next book! Vanessa thought this time summer would go well. Well apparently it was going to be monster filled instead. After her Dad, she had a necklace left by him, but she has not been able to find it. To add to all the drama, her stepmother ends up having a boyfriend. She’s got a lot on her plate in this book, but she faces it all with courage and faith. There is a lot more drama to endure, but it is all worth the read! Now to the third book! 🙂
Shock of Fate by D.L. Armillei
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Vanessa Cross thought of herself as an ordinary teen, but little did she know the big secrets that have been hidden from her her whole life. Her dad is usually off island on big trips for his work, but it’s actually another reason to be seen when read. When she gets a wake up call and is to report to the reservation area, she knows something is up. A lot of adventure is ahead of her, and it’s up to her to figure it all out. This book has been an exciting read and I went straight to the second book for more!
Helm of Awe by D.L. Armillei
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This series just goes from strength to strength. Each book seems to be as good, if not better, than the last. I reconnect so easily with the characters each time. The author seems to have created a lasting and interesting series that sach book just adds to. I look forward to starting a new one and cannot wait to see how they are going to turn out. I would highly recommend the series to any YA fan.
Plague of Death by D.L. Armillei
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is an amazing follow up book to this series. I went straight into this after reading book one and it took no effort at all to fall right back into the characters. The author has managed to push the series forward while still keeling it fresh and exciting. I love the team.of characters right at the core of this series..they are interesting and all add something different to the story. This is another fantastic book and I am already looking forward to the third.
Shock of Fate by D.L. Armillei
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
What a fantastic young adult novel. You are really thrown into this book and made to sit up and take notice. I really loved the main character. She felt like such a well rounded character with a great story. I connected with her straight away and that didn’t waver once. The whole book was so well written. It was exciting right from the word go and I couldn’t wait to find out what was going to happen. A genuinely fantastic book that uas me excited for the next one.
Helm of Awe by D.L. Armillei
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was an amazing read! I really bonded well with these characters! I fell in love over and over again, the characters were easy to love. As well, the plot was beyond anything I would have expected. I had not read the previous books in the series, but was able to follow, but will for sure be reading them now though!
The story was written with very much intelligence. I enjoyed the author and how they wrote and created the story. I was swept into the task at hand. Val was great, you could tell she came a long way it seemed since from the beginning. I loved her courageous side, and she was the one who never gave up, despite anything going on. The other characters surrounding her were just as amazing. i loved how they seemed to all be one another’s rock. I loved how the story progressed , as well as a lot of time I did not know what to expect. The suspense was kept up well. I really enjoyed this book, in fact, I loved it!
Highly recommend this book. It was very well written, and the author knew how to keep the reader interested. I loved the writing style of the author as well. This is a must read!
Helm of Awe by D.L. Armillei
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is the 3rd book in the Anchoress series and they just keep getting better and better. The author’s growth of the characters and their relationships is really good and the reader feels like they have grown as the characters develop. The world’s the author creates are magical but also seem so realistic.
We are back with Van and her friends as they go on the missions every summer to find the sacred items of creation. This time Van needs to find the staff with the flame. However her boss has other ideas. She doesn’t want Van to go off searching. She needs her to go and stop the increase in demons and figure out why the shield protecting their World seems to be failing.
After completing in the Jaychund Games and failing Van starts to have doubts about her abilities but when she breaks a rule in the Balish territory she finds herself placed in another round of games. How is that fair?
Add to this Van having to watch her friend and ex boyfriend flirting at every opportunity and her crush on the Balish Prince can Van keep her focus long enough to complete her mission and solve the mystery around the third seal. Or will the distractions prove to much and with the additional worry or a virus and enemies out to get even with her she doesn’t know who she can trust and who only has her back to stab her in it.
Plague of Death by D.L. Armillei
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is the 2nd book in the Anchoress series and its just as captivating as the first book. I do recommend reading the first book to get a complete understanding of the characters however the author does an amazing job of bring parts of the first book into this one so the reader will still understand and enjoy this read if the first book hasnt been read.
We are back with Van. After her successful mission in the last story and the revelation of her gifts and responsibilities to her people Van is pushing herself harder than ever to become the best warrior. She can’t let anything or anyone be her weakness so she puts a hard shell around her to keep her strong. However by doing that she isn’t facing and dealing with the losses she experienced in the first book.
In this second story she has new challenges to face. Firstly the boy she loves she can’t be with because he’s her protector. Secondly her new mission has her enter a part of the living world full of con men, and pirates and a women who may not be a woman but who is very dangerous. This part of Living world is much rougher and far more dangerous than Van has experienced before.
And those challenges are just the tip of what Van goes through. However with the help of her best friend Paley and her protector Brux she sets out to complete this mission as well keeping her people safe.
But at what cost? Van is aware of darkness that lingers inside her. Will she be able to keep the darkness at bay or will her actions and the curse of her ancestors bring it to the surface?
Shock of Fate by D.L. Armillei
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is the first book in the Anchoress series. And wow what a ride. This book is action packed from the first page. The author does an amazing job with the characters and bringing their worlds to life. At first I was a little confused with between the living world and earth world but after a while I got used to it.
The twist at the beginning of the story was different. How the story started by focusing on Van’s father and then goes straight on to focusing on Van was different but made for an intriguing story. You just knew there was something special and unique about Van.
When her father goes missing Van is selected to go on a secret project but not knowing what that project is she decides to take her friend Paley along for the ride. Using gemstones to travel via a portal the girls set off with no idea of the consequences of their actions and what it means to have used the stones.
What happens next is an adventure that keeps the reader gripped as the girls try to uncover what happened to Van’s father. Is he dead or has something happened to him? Did he do the things he was accused of? And can Van protect him while trying to complete her own project and keep herself and her friend safe.
Helm of Awe by D.L. Armillei
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
5 Stars
Helm of Awe is the third book in the Anchoress Series by D.L. Armillei. I have loved every book in this wonderful series, and this story was no exception. After enjoying the previous two books so much, I had high expectations for this story. I am happy to say that Ms. Armillei didn’t let me down, delivering everything I could have hoped for, and more. That’s not to say there weren’t a few tense moments that had me a bit worried though.
As with the previous two books, this is a young adult fantasy- another adventure full of magic, demons, past enemies, a deadly plague, royal politics/agendas, assassins, set ups, threats, mystical beings/creatures, witches and wizards, dramatic developments, obstacles, good vs evil, mystery, and more.
Van’s quest finds her seemingly up against impossible odds. How can she succeed when fate seems so intent on throwing her one curve ball after another. Making things even more daunting is the fact that her powers are a bit unreliable. What happens makes for another captivating adventure.
I can’t wait to see where we go from here. What does Ms. Armillei have in store for us next? It’s sure to be fantastic!!!
Happy Reading !
Thank You, D.L. Armillei!
Reviewed by @angelahayes
Plague of Death by D.L. Armillei
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
5 Stars
Plague of Death is the second intriguing instalment in the Anchoress Series by D.L. Armillei. This is a YA, Fantasy- with an action-packed adventure full of magic, demons, mystical beings/creatures, witches and wizards, drama, emotion, challenges, different realms, good vs evil, and much more.
Van has been through quite a lot, but fate has more in store for her yet. A quest to repair a cracked seal, with a dark enemy ready to strike at any moment, this will be her toughest test yet. Will a lot riding on the outcome of her mission- the weight of responsibility weighs heavily on Van’s shoulders.
A fantastic second instalment in the series! As this book follows on from the events in book one, I highly recommend that you read the first book before embarking on this story. There are important character details, backstory, and other relevant information that will enhance your reading experience of this story.
Bring on Book #3!
Happy Reading !
Thank You, D.L. Armillei!
Reviewed by @angelahayes
Helm of Awe by D.L. Armillei
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Van is back in the third book in this YA fantasy series. You should read the first two books before diving into this one. The author does give us enough to know what happened in the first two books, but you really don’t want to miss out on all the danger and action in them. cleverly woven and masterfully created and adventure that you soon get lost in it. It is written so vividly that it is an experience and not just a story. I have said it before, but I will say it again because it still holds true with this author; The storyline is complex and multi-layered, and the author has blended this seamlessly with her brilliant word smithing and world building.
Van is thrown into the fight for her life in this Hunger Gamesesque story. I thought the author her through her paces with the last book, but it is nothing compared to this fast-paced journey.
Reviewed by @jennadb
Plague of Death by D.L. Armillei
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The saga continues in this action-packed YA fantasy series. This is the second book, and it is better than the first. The author has cleverly woven and masterfully created and adventure that you soon get lost in it. It is written so vividly that it is an experience and not just a story. I strongly recommend you read the first book before you dive into this one, even though the author gives us enough to get a glimpse of what happened in the first book. The story is complex and multi-layered, but the author has blended this together seamlessly with her brilliant word smithing and world building. There is an intriguing list of characters, all sorts of creatures and beings, pirates, and con men, add in danger, magic and portals, mystery and challenges, and evil vs good and you won’t be putting this book down for a while.
Van is back and is growing in strength and character. The author certainly puts her through a lot in this fast-paced journey.
I look forward to further adventures.
Reviewed by @jennadb
Helm of Awe by D.L. Armillei
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
All the things going on in this captivating third book! Between her best friend and her ex boyfriend flirting behind her back, and the games going on, Van definitely has her work cut out for her this year. In her senior year of school, She has a lot going on. It’s no surprise she has a few outbursts here and there. The crazy plot lines and the adventurous writing. This third book will have you feeling all of the feels! Prepare yourself for this crazy adventure as Van goes behind enemy lines to check on the third seal!
Plague of Death by D.L. Armillei
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Van is back at it again! This time a whole slew of different trials are headed her way. Her love for her protector, her stepmoms weird new boyfriend, just to name a few! Van has matured a lot since the first book but she definitely has some more growing to do. She accepts her part on being the island’s protector and trying to be that person at the young age of 16. She still has some slip ups here and there that reminds you that she is still just a teenager. Paley did some growing i feel like in this book too, although she still has the sense of not belonging. All of the different creatures in this was pretty cool! This author did not disappoint in this second book!
Helm of Awe: Anchoress Series Book Three by D L Armillei
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Our favorite author is back with a third installment to their series, and it is just purely amazing. While you could read this book as a stand alone I highly recommend reading first two not only because their amazing, but also to really get a feel for our characters and the world they live in. The characters are relatable, connectable, and so fascinating that they really make the story pop. Once again the author gives us a lot of action, and intricate woven plot, but they did an amazing job giving us smooth transitions that kept the story moving perfectly. So if your looking for a great new series to read this week then pick up this book and the previous two and follow Van on her many adventurous and action packed missions.
Shock of Fate by D.L. Armillei
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
At first I really didn’t like Vanessa the main character in the story. She was your a-typical teenager who thinks she’s all that. She does have a spoiled point of view and sometimes has a few redeeming qualities. But, as the story progresses Vanessa loses her dad and she goes on a self discovery journey that makes her look within herself and changes her perspective. I enjoyed reading this as I got further along. he writing was phenomenal and I could follow along fairly easy through the flashbacks. I cant wait to see what book two brings!
Plague of Death by D.L. Armillei
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Our favorite author is back with a second installment to this series!! Once again our author brings us magic, tension, adventure, drama, action and more. Van and Paley are back but they aren’t the same immature kids they were back then, especially Van. While Van went through a lot in the first book she now has to deal with so much more including a new mission. While I would recommend reading the first book in this series the author does an amazing job of pulling in all the little tin bits from the previous book. So if your looking for a new series pick this one up today.
Shock of Fate by D.L. Armillei
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This author is just simply amazing, not only does this book have great characters, an amazing plot, but it has so much action your put right in the middle of it in the very first chapter. This was the first installment in this series and I personally can’t wait to see what our author gives us next. Van was an excellent character, sometimes you love her and sometimes you can’t stand her. But when Van’s world is released to her a few pieces play a time what will happen when she has to go on a mission? But truth be told this book has a little bit of everything from magic, drama, tension, action, and so much more that it will make your head spin. So make sure to pick up your copy today.
Helm of Awe: Anchoress Series Book Three by D L Armillei
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Helm of Awe (Anchoress Series Book 3)
By D L Armillei
4-stars
This was such an incredible read, it’s the third book in the Anchoress series, a series that would probably be better read in order. I had not read the previous books and was able to jump in with only a few questions along the way (they were answered in due time) but I feel like I would have enjoyed it even more if I had read the first two.
This is my first book by this author so I wasn’t sure what to expect but once I got started, I quickly realized that I was in for a heck of a ride. This storyline was nothing like I’ve ever read, it was so detailed, intense, deep, full of many different levels of character storylines and just so captivating.
I will absolutely be going back to read the first two books of the series!
