Review for Effigy

Blurb:
The survival of a once-mighty kingdom rests in the hands of its young queen, Haleine Coileáin, as it slowly succumbs to an ancient evil fueled by her husband’s cruelty.

A sadistic man with a talent for torture and a taste for murder, he is determined to burn the land and all souls within. Haleine is determined to save her kingdom and, after a chance encounter, joins forces with the leader of the people’s rebellion. She gives him her support, soon followed by her heart.

Loving him is inadvertent but becomes as natural and necessary as breathing. She lies and steals on his behalf, doing anything she can to further their cause. She compromises beliefs held all her life, for what life will exist if evil prevails?

Her journey leads to a deceiving world of magic, monsters, and gods she never believed existed outside of myth. The deeper she goes, the more her soul is stripped away, but she continues on, desperate to see her quest complete. If she can bring her husband to ruin and save her people, any sacrifice is worth the price—even if it means her life.

My review:
Haleine Coileain's hopes for a happy future are ripped to shreds by her father's loyalty to their king. She's married to a sadistic prince and only sees misery until her husband's greatest enemy, Dana, climbs through her window. No matter how dangerous it is, Haleine cannot help but love Dana, and she agrees to spy for him to help his cause to bring down her evil husband. Yet there is something darker working within the shadows, something eager for death and chaos. Can Haleine find a way to save Dana and her people, or will she be sacrificed to the darkness herself?

My little synopsis of this amazing epic fantasy cannot convey the immensity of the tale. There are layers upon layers, each as thick and tantalizing as the last. Myths, monsters, magic, and mysteries. The world building is incredible. I was sucked into this vast realm which holds great beauty and tremendous horrors.

The cast of characters is large and marvelously diverse. Haleine is an admirable heroine. Forced into a situation she detests, I found myself cheering her on from the beginning even in her most miserable moments. Maddox is a loathsome man, the perfect evil prince, but not quite so detestable as his adviser, Omur. I couldn't stop myself from falling a little bit for Dana, the rebel leader, myself. And then there's Faolan, the wise-cracking mini pegasus. I adored him! There are so many other other great characters to list. Each well written and unforgettable.

There's so much I'd like to say about EFFIGY, but I won't give away any spoilers. There are so many twists and turns in this book, it will have you on the edge of your seat unable to sleep for wanting to find out what happens next. The journey is unlike none other. I highly recommend this book not only to fantasy fans, but to every reader. It will hook you so thoroughly, you won't be able to put it down.

Buy EFFIGY here:

Amazon US * Amazon UK * B&N

Find M.J. Fifield on her site!