This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Reviewed by Vincent Dublado for Readers' Favorite
Empire's Heir by Marian L Thorpe is a moving tale about a family caught in the game of power and influence. Gwenna, the heir to Ésparias, is summoned before the Empress of Casil, whose son, Alekos, needs a wife. But she is not the only one being considered as she is just one of the many women paraded before him. It is an era where marriages are set up for convenience, for power and lineage, and not for love. Marriage is not easy as political maneuvering weighs heavily on the union. Gwenna’s father, Cillian, is accused of treason and convinces Gwenna that her future is more important than his life. Gwenna is going to tread a tightrope as she balances her hold on power while trying to be true to the one she loves. She is attracted to men and she likes Alekos. But she loves Lynthe, a female lieutenant in the Ésparian army.
Marian L. Thorpe has a lucid vision when it comes to depicting the dynamics of domestic life and intense conflicts in human relationships. Empire’s Heir is a unique, fiendish drama that has the potential to win you over even if the genre is not your cup of tea. It has the aura reminiscent of Dangerous Liaisons and The Favourite. It may seem like a typical story of familial conflicts, but its social theme means the characters play out their distinctiveness. It is not only a timely LGBTQ novel but also a strong feminist tale in how it handles its female protagonist and how her choices and actions determine the progress of the storyline. Empire’s Heir is a highly recommended read for the treatment of its characters and how they respond to the demons of status, competition, rivalry, and social norms.
