Seeking Shelter but Finding Murder
I’ve always enjoyed mysteries, but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t enjoy other genres. I just haven’t looked beyond mysteries much. So when I find a hybrid series like Sarah E. Burr’s Court of Mystery, I always enjoy getting a bit of other genres mixed in. Burdened Bloodlines, the seventh in the series, was no exception.
These books are set in the Realm of Virtues, which is a continent made up of various duchies. Think medieval Europe or Renascence Faire type of setting. The main character is Jacqueline, Jax to her friends, the Duchess of the most powerful region of the realm. She has found herself involved in various murders as she tries to take on her new leadership role. And the books have increased in their political intrigue as the series has gone on.
Which brings me to my next point. Do not start the series here. I cannot emphasize this point enough. With where our characters start, this book can’t help but spoil the last. Plus, that last book really kicked off a storyline I think will be important through the rest of the series. Finally, to really care about the going ons here, you need to know and love the characters already.
Not to mention, the beginning of this book pretty much spoils the ending of the previous one since it plays into the ongoing storyline here.
But if you are up to date in this series? You’ll enjoy this one.
As I said, this book picks up where the previous one ended. Jax, her husband Perry, and their closest friends are looking for a way to get home safely before the fallout from the last book really hits. Their best option is to go to Perry’s home duchy, where his father is the duke. But their arrival finds them feeling less than settled. Perry’s father is behaving strangely. And Perry’s oldest brother, the next in line, is less than welcoming to the reforms that Jax wants to institute across the realm. The party can’t help but wonder if they are truly safe. And that’s before they find themselves embroiled in yet another shocking murder.
In addition to spoiling the previous book, part of the early book was wrapping up storylines for supporting players and storylines introduced there. Honestly, I felt like that belonged in the previous book. Couple that with the updating and rehashing of the current state of politics in the realm and the book does start a little slower than I wished.
But once it gets going? Hold on! Yes, I saw a couple of things coming early on, but I was taken completely by surprise by several others. And I was gripped through so much of the book. There is a murder and it happens late. But I was caught up in the politics moving forward in this book, so I didn’t care it came late.
And that comes because I love the characters so much. Jax is a strong leader, and I’m on board with her reforms. The core supporting characters are just as well drawn. We are meeting several members of Perry’s family for the first time here, and I enjoyed them and what that showed us about Perry.
The political intrigue is strong in this series. Given the fictional universe, it feels different from our own world, so it is still an escape. There is a bit of a soap opera element slipping into the storyline as well. Do I care? I’m already trying to figure when I can read the next in the series, so obviously not.
If the unique setting and storyline appeal to you, I highly recommend you start this series from the beginning. You’ll be hooked and devouring Burdened Bloodline before you know it.
Check out the rest of the Court of Mystery series.
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