Friday Fiction Fix: "Mardan's Mark"

The Short

Mardan's Mark

Mardan's Mark Series, Book One

By: Kathrese McKee

5/5 Stars

What: A princess must rescue the heir to the throne before war breaks out between the two kingdoms. But will her heart be ensnared even if she isn't?

Recommended to those who like: Fantasy, pirates, some romance, Christian/Clean.

The Long

(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)

I was pleasantly surprised to receive my first email asking me to review a book (up until now, I've just been wandering around the internet/my personal book collection/book stores to find books). 

Then the worry set in. What if I didn't like it? If I buy a book on my own and don't like the book, it just sort of sits around and I don't review it (I try to only review works that I'm comfortable giving at least 3 stars). But if an author gives me their book...how do you return it? 

Mardan's Mark certainly didn't give me any problems! Although it had a little more romance in it than I would typically pick up, it was still a nice fantasy read. 

Srilani is the First Princess, meaning that she's second in succession to her younger brother. Placed through rigorous training her entire life, she knows how to handle herself. But it seems like all of her decisions are out of her hands--that is, until disaster strikes and she's not only responsible for herself, but for her siblings as well. And can she trust the former slaves of a pirate to protect them?

The book is a well-paced read with plenty of action and high stakes. There is a Christian element to it, but it's more of a background theme. I enjoyed the character development in this book as well. 

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a more "realistic" fantasy (no magic, dragons, etc.), doesn't mind some romance, and enjoys a clean, well-written book. I'm looking forward to reading more of Ms. McKee's work. 

I'd love to hear from you! Comment below if you have any thoughts or questions. I also take book recommendations.