{ARC Review} The Savage Principle by Tamara Rose Blodgett (Savage #3)

{February 24, 2013} {ARC Review} The Savage Principle by Tamara Rose Blodgett (Savage #3)

From Goodreads: King Raymond is betrothed to Princess Ada of a neighboring sphere in an arranged match not of his choosing. Travelers from a parallel world have bargained to save the future of his people and he cannot refuse their offer.

Raymond does not believe that an alliance with the savages would result in a life-altering experience. He soon finds himself overwhelmed when an entanglement of emotion and love conspiring to undermine his vow in the most unlikely place.

Rowenna, warrior female of the Band, is a much sought-after female select. When her kin agree to an offer that will unite the races of their future, they do not realize what the sacrifice will cost her.

Can the two peoples of separate societies survive the prejudicial position that has been hoisted on them? Will their sacrifice afford a future of liberty, or will heartbreak be the only consequence of their love?

*Note: upon release of THE SAVAGE PRINCIPLE (3/1/13), Vengeance will be re-numbered as book #4.

**New adult

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For those of us who have been following Queen Clara over the past few years, Blodgett has given us another great treat! Her newest release, The Savage Principle (which is being shifted to book three, placing The Savage Vengeance at book number four), steps back in time and focuses on that of Rowenna, Clara’s mother, when she was just a teenager.

Now, by this point in the series, we know Clara is the product of a union between the sphere dwellers and the Band, and we know that Clara’s father, King Raymond, loved Rowenna so much that he commissioned a painting of her within his kingdom, since he knew he’d never see her again. And, if you’ve read The Savage Blood, then you know a whole lot more about Rowenna because we meet her in the flesh, in the present. But… The Savage Principle takes us back, giving us an in-depth, personal look at the truth about Clara’s conception and the choices King Raymond and Rowenna had to make, and how those choices ultimately influence Queen Clara today.

But this novel doesn’t just show us the younger years of King Raymond and Rowenna… remember Queen Ada? We also get to see her as she was during her teens, and let me just say, it’s not pretty. Rolland, Rowenna’s betrothed, is also a huge part of the story, and we come to understand just how much heartache was involved in the Zondorae brother’s attempt to play “God” within this alternate universe.

It. Is. Epic. What I love about this series is the vast world building, amazing characterization, and fast-paced nature that leaves me always wanting more. I was especially excited to see a few characters from the Death series show up in this novel as well (they play a huge part in The Savage Vengeance, too), and I especially loved that, while a new adult novel, it’s not full of explicit sex. In fact, this novel glosses right over the act, focusing more so on the adult themes of pregnancy, true love, and selflessness, and less on sexual acts. I also really enjoy the way the characters speak. Blodgett keeps the entire novel in an archaic-like prose and dialogue, and I just love it. It’s very easy to read and understand, but as you can imagine, it’s probably not so easy to write, yet Blodgett keeps her entire story in “character” with an archaic feel of it all, and, with each new Savage novel I pick up, it never ceases to amaze me. Five stars.