Avery by Charlotte McConaghy

Avery is the first book in the Chronicles of Kaya series. The 2nd novel is due to be released at the end of July 2014.

Summary

The people of Kaya die in pairs. When one lover dies, the other does too. So it has been for thousands of years – until Ava.
For although her bondmate, Avery, has been murdered and Ava’s soul has been torn in two, she is the only one who has ever been strong enough to cling to life. Vowing revenge upon the barbarian queen of Pirenti, Ava's plan is interrupted when she is instead captured by the deadly prince of her enemies.
Prince Ambrose has been brought up to kill and hate. But when he takes charge of a strangely captivating Kayan prisoner and is forced to survive with her on a dangerous island, he must reconsider all he holds true . . .
In a violent country like Pirenti, where emotion is scorned as a weakness, can he find the strength to fight for the person he loves . . . even when she’s his vengeful enemy?
Avery is a sweeping, romantic fantasy novel about loss and identity, and finding the courage to love against all odds.

Review

I really loved this book. Beginning it I wasn't sure what to expect, but the story is great and the emotional connection to the characters is undeniable. I became attached to all of the main characters, even ones that at first seemed like 'bad guys' had endearing qualities. The love in this story is realistic, not the ideal fantasy love, as the main characters have fatal flaws. I enjoyed this book immensely and look forward to seeing where the series will go with different main characters.

Avery @ GoodReads
Avery @ Amazon