From Goodreads: Khantara is a Haanta conqueror, meant to wage war and rule over the enemy nation of Thellis, but after vanquishing Thellis and occupying a construction of a Haanta outpost, he meets Anelta, a woman enslaved by her own people bearing a brand of servitude on her neck. Khantara contrives to save her from a cruel home and bring her to the refuge his people can provide, but how can he do so successfully when the eyes of Thellis are upon him. 

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Ever wonder how the Den Asaan Rautu came to be who he is today?  Who his family was, where he originated from…? Khantara is another very well written novel by Michelle Franklin.  And again, she takes us deeper into the world of Frewyn, but this time the characters are different.  This time, we meet the Den Asaan’s parents before the Den Asaan was ever thought of, before even the slightest notion of him was even conceived. 

I really enjoyed getting to know more about the giants and their people, and I especially liked Khantara’s personality.  He is a much calmer version of The Den Asaan, yet still a leader of his people.  Khantara strives to bring peace to Thellis after stopping their advances and attempts to overtake Haanta; his anger does not overflow and he genuinely cares for others.  Attempting to understand the people of Thellis, Khantara takes to the streets to see his new town, and in the process, stumbles upon Anelta, a woman enslaved by her own people, a notion Khantara cannot understand in the least.

I love the world that Franklin has created, whisking the reader away with extremely vivid characters and plot twists.  I also love stories in which the good triumph and the bad fall hard—this stand-alone novel is like its own little Cinderella story, but for adults, and with a wicked twist.  I highly recommend it. Four stars.

I receieved a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.