Donna Maree Hanson

This is part 1 of the Dragon Wine series and tells two inter-twining stories. One follows the story of Salinda, a slave with a gift she must protect at all costs. The other traces the path of Laidan, a girl who has a similar gift thrust upon her, before she too is enslaved and struggles to survive.

The Bad Stuff: To be honest, other than a couple of typo's, there is nothing I picked up on. The only thing I would caution, is that this is set in a gritty world, where there are some pretty sick people that do some pretty nasty things. If you are prudish, this book is not for you.

The Good Stuff: The story world is well established and the characters have some depth. There are dragons and magic in an archaic setting that lends to the dark side of human nature. The protagonists have a real hard time of it with life going from bad to worse. The author sure doesn't show them much love and this makes you want to see them succeed. Oh, and did I mention there's dragons?

I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it. I'm giving it 4 out of 5 golden bookmarks.… (meer)

I loved this story. It was so full of hope and joy, despite the heroine having to endure years of ostracism for an incident that took place when she was a child. I loved Grace, her joyous spirit and how she never let the bad behaviour of others diminish her good heart. I also loved her family, especially Fel the cat.
The words flowed across the page and I was there for every moment as Grace and Declan fought with each other and against the expectations of others as they battled their way to their happy ever after.
Fun, flirty and filled with great moments, this is one story I did not want to end.… (meer)

Even since I started reading fantasy books I have loved portal stories. The idea of being transported to a new and magical land has always fascinated me so I was excited to read Argenterra and was pleased I did. I really enjoyed the story of the two girls and how their experiences were so different, one welcomed with open arms and the other greeted with suspicion. I got mad on Sophy's behalf as she was treated badly by those around her, and waited for Aria's rose coloured view of their new home to be shattered.
There are twists and turns, romance, action and suspense, making this a story I could not put down. It has a lot of heart and would resonate with anyone who has ever had trouble fitting in. I did not want it to end and am looking forward to finding out what happens next. Hurry up and bring on the next book.… (meer)