Rebel (Blades of the Rose) [Mass Market Paperback]

Attorney Nathan Lesperance is kind of an outcast. Being the first Native American attorney in Vancouver, he is used to fighting his way to the top. Taken out of his home and sent to live with white people at a young age, he is also used to feeling out of place and has felt the need to prove himself ever since.

He is sent to the Northwest Territory in Canada to wrap-up some legal business with Astrid Bramfield. Astrid gave up her membership in The Blades of The Rose (those that protect the magical sources in the world from the evil Heirs of Albion) when her husband died in battle with the Heirs five years ago. Ever since, she has secluded herself deep within the cold wilderness of Canada, alone, breaking off all contact with her family and other members back in England. She has made the day's journey to the fort to turn over a deceased trapper's belongings. When she meets Nathan, there is an instant connection. She sees him and treats him like a man, not like an outsider or savage creature. She also notices magic surrounds him, something he is totally oblivious to.

Nathan not only takes in the breech-clad, gun slinging beauty Astrid, but the landscape is calling to him. He can almost hear the mountains asking him to come explore. When The Heirs of Albion come calling to the fort, in search of Astrid, Nathan's protectiveness goes on full alert. The Heirs are now in possession of the very powerful, primal source and they know Astrid is very knowledgeable on this subject. Astrid and Nathan go on the run, Nathan discovers he is much more than just a man, and a love blooms in the wilderness.

I adore Rebel. I think Zoe Archer has such a skill for writing these tough, independent heroines who can fire weapons, live in horrid conditions and keep up with the toughest of men - yet - their heart is open to love. They have a great sense of humor. Astrid is still hurting so much over her dead husband, but cannot deny her feelings towards Nathan. Ever so slowly, this woman who has lived on her own in the wilderness of Canada, comes to rely on a man who has never been close to anyone in his life. They both accept their fate early on, it just takes awhile for them to actually believe it.

Nathan is so surly and over protective and Astrid is just the woman to give it right back to him. Their chemistry really shines. For as much as this book is an adventure, entirely set in the Northwest Territory of Canada, we get so much page time devoted to Nathan and Astrid's relationship. However, I really enjoyed the adventure in this one, and almost felt like I was in the harsh conditions with the characters. As Nathan goes on a hunt with Astrid to protect sources, he finally finds himself as part of a team, and he likes that feeling.

What makes this book even more special is that we get to know The Blade member Catullus Graves. He will be the hero in the next book, Stranger, but in this one he comes to the aid of Nathan and Astrid. He is a long time friend of Astrid. We learn he is obsessed with fine waistcoats and girls with freckles, yet he has never been in love. Always the gentlemen, and extremely smart (he excels in inventions) he is also not afraid to get dirty in a fight (as long as his waistcoat is not too ruined). It is hard to explain the allure of this character, but I haven't felt this excited to get my hands on a future book for awhile.

Originally posted at WickedLilPixie Reviews

Nathan Lesperance comes from a world of being an Outsider in every way. Taken from his Native people as a child, raised in white society yet never being accepted socially in that society would have beaten down anyone. But not Nathan. He shows them all by becoming the only Indian lawyer in Victoria, often taking pro bono cases by the minorities who would otherwise have no representation. Nathan has always known he was different on the outside, but could only guess that he was different on the inside as well. The minute he enters the Northwest territory, and meets the enigmatic Astrid Bramfield, the land immediately calls to him and his yet to be tapped magic.

Rebel is the third book in Zoë Archer's Blades of the Rose series, and is my favorite of the the three so far. The mysticism and harsh cruelty of Northwest Americas landscape was beautifully done. The mountains and forests and devastating cold was easy to imagine as the story played out and their journey took them across the unforgiving landscapes. And Nathan... Sigh... Nathan. Here is a man who has never fit in anywhere, but has gone out of his way to shove it right back in to the white peoples faces by becoming part of their own legal system. He is fascinatingly complex in intellect and unlike any man Astrid has ever seen. He has survived a solitary life and unimaginable loneliness, and in Astrid he finds an instant jolt of awareness. The reaction is mutual and at first sight they are instantly enamored with one another. I was so pleased that I not only connected with each the hero and the heroine, but watching them both grow and discover themselves was rewarding. I smiled a LOT during this book, as cheesey as that sounds. There are so many tender moments to offset some very harsh realities that must be faced.

Rebel is a captivating story filled with wonderful and dramatic conflict and major action and suspense from start to finish. I was pleasantly surprised to discover what Nathan's magic was, and was very enraptured by his pursuit to discover himself, and also his pursuit to win Astrid's heart. There was no question that Astrid would be able to run from him even if she physically could have. Their adventure together includes a slide down mountains, fight with animals made of bone and ice, climb huge trees, hike through miles of caves... the adventure truly never stops and neither does the love story. There are shifters of all varieties, landscapes of all kinds, and even zombies. This book just keeps bringing it!

By now we have gotten to know Cattulus Graves quite well over the last three books, and his genius inventions. He plays a larger role in this book than the previous ones, and you cannot help but be truly enamored with him. Some of the most heartbreaking parts for me had to do with Cattalus and his loneliness. I cannot wait to read Stranger in which we finally get his book.

I really enjoyed Warrior, and Scoundrel was good, but Rebel? I feel like it was "my book". Everything about it called out to me and gave me what I need in a perfect suspense, action, romance with paranormal aspects and some history in there, also some steampunk genre. This book is a nice mashup of winning qualities of a lot of different genres and you just can't go wrong with it! I can't wait to read the fourth and final Blades of the Rose book, Stranger, but it has a tough act to follow with this one. You do not need to have read the previous two books to appreciate this one. The Blades of the Rose series reading order:

Warrior
Scoundrel
Rebel
Stranger

When an 'errand' brings 'rebel' Native attorney Nathan Lesperance to back to the area inhabited by his ancestors, a meeting with reclusive frontier-woman Astrid Bramfield sparks his senses and causes something hidden within Nathan begins to stir. Even as Nathan tries to pursue his unexplainable draw to Astrid, the former Blade rebuffs Nathan's advances and retreats to her self-imposed exile. But when Nathan runs afoul of the Blades' enemies, the magic stealing "Heirs", and ends up naked and bloody on Astrid's doorstep, Astrid finds herself pulled back into the battle and partnered with Nathan. As they fight their way through the rugged frontier in a race to beat the Heirs to a magical prize, Nathan challenges Astrid to put her grief behind her and to 'live' again.

I am really enjoying Zoe Archer's historical adventure romance series set in exotic locales - this time the wilds of the frozen northwest. And Rebel is my favorite of the Blades or the Rose so far. Throughout the series, Archer has done a really good job in making all of her books stand apart, no cookie cutter romances with interchangeable starring pairs here. But as much as I've liked Warrior and Scoundrel, Archer outdoes herself in Rebel, Nathan and Astrid are both well drawn characters and their slowly developing relationship brings a great deal of emotional depth to a story that also has a good amount of action and covers some very beautifully described territory.

So I loved both Nathan and Astrid and I loved Nathan's awakening which added a touch of paranormal to the story and I loved Rebel. I am three for three on the series and I have high hopes for the final Blades of the Rose, and I am really happy that there isn't a long wait for Stranger (The Blades of the Rose) since Archer has already setup her next starring pair and I am looking forward to more of the brilliant and debonair Catulus Graves as he takes his turn in the spotlight.