Just One More Chapter : Review: By Helen's Hand (Helen of Sparta #2) by Amalia Carosella (Tour Wide Giveaway)

Monday, June 20, 2016

Review: By Helen's Hand (Helen of Sparta #2) by Amalia Carosella (Tour Wide Giveaway)

With divine beauty comes dangerous power.

Helen believed she could escape her destiny and save her people from utter destruction. After defying her family and betraying her intended husband, she found peace with her beloved Theseus, the king of Athens and son of Poseidon.

But peace did not last long. Cruelly separated from Theseus by the gods, and uncertain whether he will live or die, Helen is forced to return to Sparta. In order to avoid marriage to Menelaus, a powerful prince unhinged by desire, Helen assembles an array of suitors to compete for her hand. As the men circle like vultures, Helen dreams again of war—and of a strange prince, meant to steal her away. Every step she takes to protect herself and her people seems to bring destruction nearer. Without Theseus’s strength to support her, can Helen thwart the gods and stop her nightmare from coming to pass?

Publication Date: May 10, 2016

Lake Union Publishing

eBook & Paperback;

Genre: Historical Fiction

****

This is a time period that I enjoy reading about though I don't venture there that much. By Helen's Hand is the sequel to Helen of Sparta and I highly recommend reading that one first, there is just so much of Helen's story and not knowing what happened previously would definitely hamper your enjoyment of this one.

This is one of those reviews where it is difficult to put into words without giving too much of the story away. As with the first book I enjoyed the author's writing style and was quickly drawn into Helen's world. Her emotional state was still conflicted by her dreams which was front and center but at the same time being treated to different points of view here (Theseus, Menelaus, Polypoetes and Paris, to name a few), which rounded out the story nicely. I am still not a fan of Paris and the way Carosella's portrayed him matched my feelings.

Again the Author's Notes delivered, explaining not just some of her research but why the book ended the way it did. Again I was educated with information unknown to me. Though I found the ending a little rushed it was a twist I would never have imagined and I love being caught off guard like that.

All in all a great read that kept me entertained and one I highly recommend.

Amazon (Kindle) | Amazon (Paperback) | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound

Amalia Carosella graduated from the University of North Dakota with a bachelors degree in Classical Studies and English. An avid reader and former bookseller, she writes about old heroes and older gods. She lives with her husband in upstate New York and dreams of the day she will own goats (and maybe even a horse, too).

For more information, visit her blog at www.amaliacarosella.com.

She also writes fantasy and paranormal romance as Amalia Dillin.

You can also connect with Amalia on Facebook, Goodreads, and Twitter here and here.

Giveaway

To win a $40 Amazon Gift Card, sponsored by Amalia Carosella, please enter the giveaway via the GLEAM form below.

Rules

– Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on June 24th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion
– Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.