Against a Crescent Storm

Description: 

The Serbs defied the world’s most powerful ruler, and now Danilo and Maja must fight to save their people and their newly forged love before the sultan exacts his revenge.

The Balkans, 1389

Three years ago, Danilo’s people won their freedom from the hated Ottoman Empire, but with enemies on every side, the Serbs’ hard-earned peace remains fragile. Knowing the sultan will soon come for revenge, Danilo sets out to gain key allies for the coming war—and to escape the haunting grief of personal loss.

War has orphaned Maja and her brother, but they’ve moved forward from the turbulent aftermath of battle by crafting religious mosaics. Yet after being cheated and robbed, they are desperate for help. Rescue comes from Danilo, the man who once saved them from slavery to the Turks. What begins as an offer for safe escort is soon complicated by threats from a Hungarian noble who suspects them of conspiracy and from Iskandar, an Ottoman spy consumed by a vendetta against Danilo and a dangerous obsession with Maja.

As their journey grows more perilous, Danilo and Maja are drawn together by shared grief and affection. Yet upon returning home, Danilo finds that his župan, unaware of Danilo’s growing emotional entanglement with Maja, plans to use Danilo’s hand in marriage as a tool to forge a crucial alliance. Danilo is soon torn between love for Maja and loyalty to his family and people.

As tensions escalate, sabotage and vicious rumors weaken Christian unity, and hope of victory in the Balkans grows dim. Allies and enemies converge on the fields of Kosovo, where an epic battle will shape the destiny of nations for centuries to come.

Review:

Danilo seems to be there to help Maja when she needs it the most. When he finds Maja and her brother Luca, in need of assistance, Danlo takes them to the village that he calls home. I found the mosaic profession intriguing and a unique way for Maja and her brother to earn a living. I enjoyed seeing the romance develop between Danilo and Marja, and I was really rooting for them and was caught up in the scene where Maja (once again :) ) needed rescuing from their enemy. 

I appreciated the map, the glossary of terms and the list of characters that were provided at the beginning of the book for easy reference in case I needed them. Ms. Sowards also wrote a note about historical events that were based upon the story in the back of the book. Wether you are a historical fiction fan or not, you will enjoy the rich details of the story and how the characters come alive. 

Things to enjoy: 

rich details

epic battles

selfless love

danger

strong heroines

mosaic designs

plot twists

This is the third book in the Balkan Legends series. I highly recommend you read the other books before this one in order to be able to fully enjoy this story.

I received an advanced copy of the book. All opinions are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review.