The "Fountain" Trilogy by Josie Litton
Title: Fountain of Dreams
Author: Josie Litton
Rating: B+
Cover:
Summary: Niels Wolfson, a weapons collector and an American agent, is sent to England to discover who was responsible for the attack on the American ship, the Defiant. It appears that Akoran prince Andreas was one of the responsible parties. On the hunt for the illusive "Angel," Niels kidnaps Princess Amelia to draw out the Akorans and to get close to them. With his brother Shadow's help, Niels concocts a scheme. But the plan runs into difficulties when he falls in love with the stubborn princess. Niels spends time with the Akorans and starts to doubt that they were involved, while Amelia, who has the gift to know what is in a person's heart, tries to help prove that Andreas was not involved in the attack on the Americans, but after Shadow is attacked, Niels is afraid that Amelia is wrong. That's when he finds out that an aquaintance of Prince Andreas, Lord Hawley, was behind the attacks. But before he can confront Hawley, he kidnaps Amelia. Niels takes Shadow to a friend and the man he bought an old Viking sword from. [Wolf from Dream of Me's sword.] Hawley stole Niels sword and plans to use it to kill Amelia to provoke a war between America and Akora. Living up to his nickname, The Wolf, Niels tracks Hawley and kills him, but not before Hawley cuts Amelia's throat. Niels stops the bleeding and takes her to an inn where her father, Prince Alexandros and her cousin, Prince Andreas take her back to Akora. With his job complete, Niels knows he should go back to America, but instead leaves for Akora to seek the princess he loves. There's a bad storm and he becomes shipwrecked. Amelia, whom was healed on the way to Akora by a healer, finds him while riding one morning. They make plans to get married and Niels is made the official American diplomat for Akora. The book ends with Gavin Hawkforte doing measurements on Akora.
Review: Thank goodness for a descendant of Wolf. I just wish that Dragon's descendants are introduced soon. I loved Dragon and I'm sure his family will make interesting reading. But again, I'm disappointed on how the stories of the original characters are not thought to be "real." Niels. He was a good character. And I swear, each time I read this book, I just have so many books I want to write from it. Shadow's story, Andreas' story......I'm suprised at the similarities, yet modern differences between Niels/Shadow and Wolf/Dragon. And poor Shadow. I'd hate to be named Lancelot. Although I am a sucker for Arthurian tales, I've always been more partial to the name Galahad/Galahan and Gwenhwyfar/Guinevere. But back to the story. I did not really care for Amelia's "gift." Compared to the others, with the exception of Brianna's, I felt that it was not such a big deal. I do love Amelia's strength. She's quite the heroine. But in the book, Shadow stole my heart, even though he was barely in it.
Title: Fountain of Secrets
Author: Josie Litton
Rating: A
Cover:
Summary: Prince Gavin, heir apparent to Hawkforte and only member of the Atriedes family on Akora, has been measuring the levels of Akora and is starting to believe the volcano that had tore the island apart 3,000 years ago was getting ready to erupt again. He travels to the island of Deimatos to get the final tests. There he meets Persephone, a woman living alone on the abandoned island. Getting over her initial distrust, Persephone shows him the signs she had found, which all point to an impending explosion. Gavin tries to persuade Persephone to come to Ilius to tell people what she's seen, but Persephone is reluctant to leave the home she has built and for fear of how she's recieved, due to her dark secret. Gavin eventually persuades her and as they are looking for a scroll of even older measurements of Akora, as well as the testimonies of the original survivors, small earthquakes begin. Over the next few days, the earthquakes become more and more intense to where they are felt above the caves and Gavin starts to fall in love with Persephone. During everything, he can't help but wonder why Atreus, the chosen leader of Akora, would not be on the island during such an important time. Persephone tells him there is a reason that his mother, who can see the future, gave birth to him on Akora instead of Hawkforte as she had planned. There was a reason the first air he breathed was that of Akora. After another bad earthquake, Gavin decides it is time for him and Persephone to start evacuating the island. Being a sea-faring country, Gavin orders people to take all the animals and supplies they can to be loaded into boats so they can take to the sea when the volcano explodes. Messangers are deployed throughout Akora to bring news of the evacuation and everything goes smoothly until the day of the evacuation. The boats are taken out to sea, but the tide shift starts to bring one back in, as Gavin and Persephone save the wayward vessel, their boat is pulled back to the island, leaving them unable to escape. They flee to Atreus' cabin in the mountains in hopes that it will be able to sustain and protect them. As they climb, Gavin notices that it was made out of rock and seemed to be part of the pre-explosion Akora. When they arrive at the cabin, it's filled with enough provisions to sustain them, although they will need to hunt to get some food. Persephone reveals she was the daughter of the traitor Delios, but Gavin does not care because he loves her. She also tells him that she has a gift where she can feel the spirit of Akora. The volcano explodes, but they survive. When the air starts to clear, Gavin and Persephone go down to survey the damage. Besides a few minor problems, everything is not damaged. The only difference is, the three islands were destroyed and made into one larger island. The people of Akora come back and start rebuilding, followed soon after by the remaining members of the Atriedes family. Atreus and Royce take Gavin aside and talk to him. It turns out during the trial of selection, not only did Atreus see Brianna, his wife, but he also seen his successor, Gavin. Royce tells Gavin that his brother, David will take over Hawkforte because Gavin has been chosen. Gavin asks Persephone to marry him and Atreus starts to prepare to step down as the leader of Akora and to train Gavin. The novel ends with Princess Clio staying in England because "a young man keeps her."
Review: Gavin. White Hawk. At least, that's what his name means. I really liked him. From the little glimpse I read of him in Fountain of Dreams. And the belt clasp being broke, that was hilarious. I really liked this book and I think that Ms. Litton's writing evolved back to what it was when she wrote the Viking trilogy with this book. I liked also the volcano exploding, even though it seemed a bit far-fetched, although, I've never experienced one explode, so maybe it's not. I like Persephone. I like the fact that she was alone on the island and self-sufficient. I also liked how there was not any other members of the family until the end. I like the conflict within Gavin, sworn to run Hawkforte, yet his heart belongs to Akora. I think many people, maybe on a smaller level, can relate to the internal conflict. Duty calls for one thing, while the heart calls for another.
Title: Fountain of Fire
Author: Josie Litton
Rating: A
Cover:
Summary: Princess Clio of Akora is visiting England with her parents when things start to happen to her. For all her life, she had been "normal," without the gifts her family had been blessed with. Her love for archaeology and history has led her to Holyhood, the residence of her mother's family. There she starts excavating an old room. It is there it first happens to her. She is studying bits of relics she's found, when she looks up to see a man unlike any other she's ever seen. He head towards her and Clio is shocked, even more so as the man walks through her. She screams and it carries to Lord William Hollister. Weary from travelling, Will turns in the direction of the screams and finds Clio, a relation through marriage. As more visions occur, Will tries to convince Clio to leave for her safety, but Clio cannot leave until she determines what is causing the visions. After seeing a woman in one of her visions, Clio is told about the story of "The Stolen Bride." The story of Cymbra being kidnapped by Wolf. Her visions start becoming nearer and nearer in the future, which leads her to believe that whatever is happening, it's coming closer. After a murder, Clio follows Will. He finds her and ties her up to keep her from getting hurt, but she gets loose in time to see two men try to kill him. Clio comes to aid him and finds out he's an agent working to protect young Queen Victoria from assassination. Determined to help him, despite reservations, Clio stays close to the queen, whom Clio becomes friends with. Danger comes closer and after a group that visited Holyhood start being murdered, they suspect that one of them is involved in the plot. When Clio discovers the murderer, she and Will set a trap for the assassin. They prepare to bring him in, when David Hawkforte, Will's parter and close friend kills him on orders from the Prime Minister. Clio tries to set David's mind at ease for the murder of an unarmed man by telling him that he was reaching for a weapon. But David knows what he did and the effects will linger. Will proposes to Clio and they decide to wed. Clio reads a scripture written by Fawn, the daughter of Dragon and Rycca, which tells the story of her parents, as well as Wolf, Cymbra, Hawk, and Krysta.
Review: I liked that Clio didn't get her gift until the story began. I also liked knowing someone values the past stories. I did like Clio's curiosity and her "oddness." And Will. If you didn't already guess it, he was the same as the little boy catching frogs in Castles in the Mist. I also liked the whole plot of this. Especially learning about Queen Victoria, since I never really cared much for the Victorian age. But once again, the person who stole my heart in the book was neither of the leads, although I do rather fancy Will's character, no, it was David Hawkforte. Especially after he became "wounded" and all that for killing the would-be assassin. I like the way Ms. Litton has of making you care about the littlest character. Also, I like the "mythology" and the entwined stories. There's just so much history with these families. With this being her latest book, which is over 2 years old, I've re-read these and I like the way that small things are brought up in later books that were mentioned in earlier books. For instance, Clio was mentioned briefly in Fountain of Secrets about her being in the library a lot. And in Fountain of Dreams, she discovered where the founders of Akora stayed while the palace was under construction and shared that with Amelia. I have to say that in my opinion, the history of these books and the storylines make this very appealing. Well, back to the actual story review, I found the story a little face-paced, which I enjoyed. Also, I liked the re-appearance of Thorgold/Bolkum, especially his response and what he though of portraying Queen Victoria in the trap.
Author: Josie Litton
Rating: B+
Cover:
Summary: Niels Wolfson, a weapons collector and an American agent, is sent to England to discover who was responsible for the attack on the American ship, the Defiant. It appears that Akoran prince Andreas was one of the responsible parties. On the hunt for the illusive "Angel," Niels kidnaps Princess Amelia to draw out the Akorans and to get close to them. With his brother Shadow's help, Niels concocts a scheme. But the plan runs into difficulties when he falls in love with the stubborn princess. Niels spends time with the Akorans and starts to doubt that they were involved, while Amelia, who has the gift to know what is in a person's heart, tries to help prove that Andreas was not involved in the attack on the Americans, but after Shadow is attacked, Niels is afraid that Amelia is wrong. That's when he finds out that an aquaintance of Prince Andreas, Lord Hawley, was behind the attacks. But before he can confront Hawley, he kidnaps Amelia. Niels takes Shadow to a friend and the man he bought an old Viking sword from. [Wolf from Dream of Me's sword.] Hawley stole Niels sword and plans to use it to kill Amelia to provoke a war between America and Akora. Living up to his nickname, The Wolf, Niels tracks Hawley and kills him, but not before Hawley cuts Amelia's throat. Niels stops the bleeding and takes her to an inn where her father, Prince Alexandros and her cousin, Prince Andreas take her back to Akora. With his job complete, Niels knows he should go back to America, but instead leaves for Akora to seek the princess he loves. There's a bad storm and he becomes shipwrecked. Amelia, whom was healed on the way to Akora by a healer, finds him while riding one morning. They make plans to get married and Niels is made the official American diplomat for Akora. The book ends with Gavin Hawkforte doing measurements on Akora.
Review: Thank goodness for a descendant of Wolf. I just wish that Dragon's descendants are introduced soon. I loved Dragon and I'm sure his family will make interesting reading. But again, I'm disappointed on how the stories of the original characters are not thought to be "real." Niels. He was a good character. And I swear, each time I read this book, I just have so many books I want to write from it. Shadow's story, Andreas' story......I'm suprised at the similarities, yet modern differences between Niels/Shadow and Wolf/Dragon. And poor Shadow. I'd hate to be named Lancelot. Although I am a sucker for Arthurian tales, I've always been more partial to the name Galahad/Galahan and Gwenhwyfar/Guinevere. But back to the story. I did not really care for Amelia's "gift." Compared to the others, with the exception of Brianna's, I felt that it was not such a big deal. I do love Amelia's strength. She's quite the heroine. But in the book, Shadow stole my heart, even though he was barely in it.
Title: Fountain of Secrets
Author: Josie Litton
Rating: A
Cover:
Summary: Prince Gavin, heir apparent to Hawkforte and only member of the Atriedes family on Akora, has been measuring the levels of Akora and is starting to believe the volcano that had tore the island apart 3,000 years ago was getting ready to erupt again. He travels to the island of Deimatos to get the final tests. There he meets Persephone, a woman living alone on the abandoned island. Getting over her initial distrust, Persephone shows him the signs she had found, which all point to an impending explosion. Gavin tries to persuade Persephone to come to Ilius to tell people what she's seen, but Persephone is reluctant to leave the home she has built and for fear of how she's recieved, due to her dark secret. Gavin eventually persuades her and as they are looking for a scroll of even older measurements of Akora, as well as the testimonies of the original survivors, small earthquakes begin. Over the next few days, the earthquakes become more and more intense to where they are felt above the caves and Gavin starts to fall in love with Persephone. During everything, he can't help but wonder why Atreus, the chosen leader of Akora, would not be on the island during such an important time. Persephone tells him there is a reason that his mother, who can see the future, gave birth to him on Akora instead of Hawkforte as she had planned. There was a reason the first air he breathed was that of Akora. After another bad earthquake, Gavin decides it is time for him and Persephone to start evacuating the island. Being a sea-faring country, Gavin orders people to take all the animals and supplies they can to be loaded into boats so they can take to the sea when the volcano explodes. Messangers are deployed throughout Akora to bring news of the evacuation and everything goes smoothly until the day of the evacuation. The boats are taken out to sea, but the tide shift starts to bring one back in, as Gavin and Persephone save the wayward vessel, their boat is pulled back to the island, leaving them unable to escape. They flee to Atreus' cabin in the mountains in hopes that it will be able to sustain and protect them. As they climb, Gavin notices that it was made out of rock and seemed to be part of the pre-explosion Akora. When they arrive at the cabin, it's filled with enough provisions to sustain them, although they will need to hunt to get some food. Persephone reveals she was the daughter of the traitor Delios, but Gavin does not care because he loves her. She also tells him that she has a gift where she can feel the spirit of Akora. The volcano explodes, but they survive. When the air starts to clear, Gavin and Persephone go down to survey the damage. Besides a few minor problems, everything is not damaged. The only difference is, the three islands were destroyed and made into one larger island. The people of Akora come back and start rebuilding, followed soon after by the remaining members of the Atriedes family. Atreus and Royce take Gavin aside and talk to him. It turns out during the trial of selection, not only did Atreus see Brianna, his wife, but he also seen his successor, Gavin. Royce tells Gavin that his brother, David will take over Hawkforte because Gavin has been chosen. Gavin asks Persephone to marry him and Atreus starts to prepare to step down as the leader of Akora and to train Gavin. The novel ends with Princess Clio staying in England because "a young man keeps her."
Review: Gavin. White Hawk. At least, that's what his name means. I really liked him. From the little glimpse I read of him in Fountain of Dreams. And the belt clasp being broke, that was hilarious. I really liked this book and I think that Ms. Litton's writing evolved back to what it was when she wrote the Viking trilogy with this book. I liked also the volcano exploding, even though it seemed a bit far-fetched, although, I've never experienced one explode, so maybe it's not. I like Persephone. I like the fact that she was alone on the island and self-sufficient. I also liked how there was not any other members of the family until the end. I like the conflict within Gavin, sworn to run Hawkforte, yet his heart belongs to Akora. I think many people, maybe on a smaller level, can relate to the internal conflict. Duty calls for one thing, while the heart calls for another.
Title: Fountain of Fire
Author: Josie Litton
Rating: A
Cover:
Summary: Princess Clio of Akora is visiting England with her parents when things start to happen to her. For all her life, she had been "normal," without the gifts her family had been blessed with. Her love for archaeology and history has led her to Holyhood, the residence of her mother's family. There she starts excavating an old room. It is there it first happens to her. She is studying bits of relics she's found, when she looks up to see a man unlike any other she's ever seen. He head towards her and Clio is shocked, even more so as the man walks through her. She screams and it carries to Lord William Hollister. Weary from travelling, Will turns in the direction of the screams and finds Clio, a relation through marriage. As more visions occur, Will tries to convince Clio to leave for her safety, but Clio cannot leave until she determines what is causing the visions. After seeing a woman in one of her visions, Clio is told about the story of "The Stolen Bride." The story of Cymbra being kidnapped by Wolf. Her visions start becoming nearer and nearer in the future, which leads her to believe that whatever is happening, it's coming closer. After a murder, Clio follows Will. He finds her and ties her up to keep her from getting hurt, but she gets loose in time to see two men try to kill him. Clio comes to aid him and finds out he's an agent working to protect young Queen Victoria from assassination. Determined to help him, despite reservations, Clio stays close to the queen, whom Clio becomes friends with. Danger comes closer and after a group that visited Holyhood start being murdered, they suspect that one of them is involved in the plot. When Clio discovers the murderer, she and Will set a trap for the assassin. They prepare to bring him in, when David Hawkforte, Will's parter and close friend kills him on orders from the Prime Minister. Clio tries to set David's mind at ease for the murder of an unarmed man by telling him that he was reaching for a weapon. But David knows what he did and the effects will linger. Will proposes to Clio and they decide to wed. Clio reads a scripture written by Fawn, the daughter of Dragon and Rycca, which tells the story of her parents, as well as Wolf, Cymbra, Hawk, and Krysta.
Review: I liked that Clio didn't get her gift until the story began. I also liked knowing someone values the past stories. I did like Clio's curiosity and her "oddness." And Will. If you didn't already guess it, he was the same as the little boy catching frogs in Castles in the Mist. I also liked the whole plot of this. Especially learning about Queen Victoria, since I never really cared much for the Victorian age. But once again, the person who stole my heart in the book was neither of the leads, although I do rather fancy Will's character, no, it was David Hawkforte. Especially after he became "wounded" and all that for killing the would-be assassin. I like the way Ms. Litton has of making you care about the littlest character. Also, I like the "mythology" and the entwined stories. There's just so much history with these families. With this being her latest book, which is over 2 years old, I've re-read these and I like the way that small things are brought up in later books that were mentioned in earlier books. For instance, Clio was mentioned briefly in Fountain of Secrets about her being in the library a lot. And in Fountain of Dreams, she discovered where the founders of Akora stayed while the palace was under construction and shared that with Amelia. I have to say that in my opinion, the history of these books and the storylines make this very appealing. Well, back to the actual story review, I found the story a little face-paced, which I enjoyed. Also, I liked the re-appearance of Thorgold/Bolkum, especially his response and what he though of portraying Queen Victoria in the trap.