An Enchanting Retelling—Unique and Memorable!
Entreat Me
Fantasy Romance, Folklore Romance
Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
March 18, 2015
ebook, paperback, audiobook
460
Afflicted by a centuries-old curse, a warlord slowly surrenders his humanity and descends toward madness. Ballard of Ketach Tor holds no hope of escaping his fate until his son returns home one day, accompanied by a woman of incomparable beauty. His family believes her arrival may herald Ballard’s salvation.
...until they confront her elder sister.
Determined to rescue her sibling from ruin, Louvaen Duenda pursues her to a decrepit castle and discovers a household imprisoned in time. Dark magic, threatening sorcerers, and a malevolent climbing rose with a thirst for blood won’t deter her, but a proud man disfigured by an undying hatred might. Louvaen must decide if loving him will ultimately save him or destroy him.
A tale of vengeance and devotion.
“Louvaen Duenda had an answer for most things and an argument for everything else. She didn’t debate: she went to war.” —Grace Draven
There are countless retellings of Beauty & the Beast out there, but none hit quite like Entreat Me by Grace Draven. In fact, when my bestie and fellow bee, Amanda, recommended (read: demanded) that I pick up this book immediately it was with this disclaimer: “Entreat Me will forever be the benchmark that I measure all banter against in other books.”
Obviously, I dove right in.
Immediately, I was immersed within the world that was vividly painted with the rich storytelling. I enjoyed the fact that Grace Draven’s world had a uniquely Latin-esque flavor to it, and thus added to the story’s allure. Louvaen, a widow, as well as her sister and their father are relentlessly dogged by a nobleman within their village. Their father continues to be tormented because Louvaen’s younger sister is as gorgeous as Louvaen is ruthlessly cunning, and therefore has caught the eye of this malicious man.
“No false words, Louvaen. All you have to do is breathe and you seduce me.” —Grace Draven
I liked that when the story changed settings to that of Ketach Tor, neither Louvaen nor her sister were ever held captive. Ballard and his son are never in the wrong here in this retelling. Both characters are the epitome of the misunderstood protagonists. The curse laid down in the moments right before her death, Ballard’s wife and mother of his son have plagued Ketach Tor for over 400 years, and those who dwell within the castle.
When Louvaen shows up with a backbone seemingly forged from steel along with wit and a sharp tongue, and demands that her sister comes home with her, Ballard and the rest of the castle believe that all is lost for them.More and more days pass, and Louvaen and her sister stay within the castle. They see the magic, and the result of the curse. It’s during their stay that the magic of Entreat Me truly shows itself to the reader. Without doubt this is one of the smartest, and well thought out books featuring stellar banter, excellent plotting, and even better storytelling.
“Four hundred years earlier he would have paupered himself, defied a king, and single-handedly conquered an empire if that’s what it took to win this woman.” —Grace Draven
I was hard-pressed to put Entreat Me down in order to function in my daily routine—who needs food when there’s a curse on the land and they are so close to breaking it?! Not only that, the entire staff, including magician and housekeeper, help to create the feeling of a found family for Louvaen. Surprisingly heavy themes such as grieving loved ones are all handled delicately but with a purpose that serves the overall plot well.
There is no doubt as to why Entreat Me has continually been popular for Fantasy Readers and will be for years to come. Do yourself a favor and read Entreat Me immediately!
Jes is a self-proclaimed bookworm, who recently moved from the PNW back to the Midwest. When her nose isn’t in a book, she’s spending time with her husband, two kids, and her three fur babies, or exploring the globe. She also firmly believes that you should start the day with coffee, and end the day in bed with a good book.
