Review: Sweep of the Blade by Ilona Andrews

Sweep the Blade is the 4th book in the Innkeeper Chronicles series and it is so good!

Maud is the older sister of Dina, our favorite innkeeper.

Maud and her wonderful daughter are going on a new adventure and readers shouldn't miss it!

About the Book

Maud Demille is a daughter of Innkeepers—a special group who provide ‘lodging’ to other-planetary visitors—so she knows that a simple life isn’t in the cards. But even Maud could never have anticipated what Fate would throw at her.

Once a wife to a powerful vampire knight, Maud and her young daughter, Helen, were exiled with him for his treachery to the desolate, savage planet of Karhari. Karhari killed her husband, and Maud—completely abandoned by his family—has spent over a year avenging his debts. Rescued by her sister Dina, she’s sworn off all things vampire.

Except… In helping Dina save the world, she met Arland, the Marshal of House Krahr, one of the most powerful vampire houses. One thing led to another and he asked for her hand in marriage. She declined. Arland is not used to hearing the word ‘no;’ and try as she might, Maud can’t just walk away from Arland. It doesn’t help that being human is a lot harder for Maud than being a vampire.

To sort it all out, she accepts his invitation to visit his home planet. House Krahr is extremely influential and Maud knows that a woman—a human, with a very questionable past—who’s turned down a proposal from its most beloved son won’t get a warm reception. Maybe she’s not sure about marrying Arland, but House Krahr isn’t going to decide for her. Maud Demille has never run from a fight, and House Krahr will soon discover that there’s a lot more to Maud than they’re expecting.

My Review

A delightful reading experience!

I loved reading about Maud and Helen’s journey to find their place in the galaxy. If Maud stays at the Gertrude Hunt Inn with her sister Dina, she’d be with family, but Helen is half human-half vampire. She’d have to be sheltered in the inn, raised in secrecy because humans can’t know the truth about otherworldly beings. Maud takes a chance by taking Helen and leaving with Arland to visit his home planet to see if it would be a better fit for Helen… and to explore her complicated feelings for the brash vampire.

Vampires are insular and superior beings and they don’t take kindly to having a human thinking she can waltz onto the planet and snag this virile eligible vampire warrior when there are thousands of perfectly eligible female vampires that are worthy of him. But Maud isn’t just a human. She’s been a vampire’s wife in a smaller House, trained in several languages, history, epics, customs, and combat. This ain’t her first rodeo.

Sweep of the Blade is an exciting read with so much action. I was completely immersed in the story and championed Maud and little Helen the whole time! These fierce females give Arland a run for his money, and he’s definitely up for the challenge! They just need to survive the entire House Krahr, duplicitous wedding guests, and Arland’s momma. Piece of cake 😉

I love the story and am excited for the next book!

Purchase Links

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About the Author

“Ilona Andrews” is the pseudonym for a husband-and-wife writing team. Ilona is a native-born Russian and Gordon is a former communications sergeant in the U.S. Army. Contrary to popular belief, Gordon was never an intelligence officer with a license to kill, and Ilona was never the mysterious Russian spy who seduced him. They met in college, in English Composition 101, where Ilona got a better grade. (Gordon is still sore about that.)

Gordon and Ilona currently reside in Texas with their two children and many dogs and cats.

They have co-authored several bestselling series, including the #1 NYT bestselling urban fantasy of Kate Daniels, rustic fantasy of the Edge, paranormal romance of Hidden Legacy, and Innkeeper Chronicles, which they post as a free weekly serial. For complete list of their books, fun extras, and Innkeeper installments, please visit their website at Ilona-andrews.com.