The Horse Mistress: Book 4 (30-DAY AUDIOBOOK RENTAL, LGBT)

I loved this series and how it focused on unique relationships in a war, but I was irritated by the ending. I wish the bonus scene was added to the book rather than requiring signing up to the author's website.

I don't see why the author bothered having one of the main heroes as a women. She bring a nothing feminine to the trio. It should just have been about 3 men. I felt the stories were very drawn out.

I absolutely love Gwendolyn Druyor as the narrator for this series. She does the characters justice!! Such a pleasure to listen to.I love the foreshadowing in this book with little Frella playing with a toy Lion and then the introduction of Ithric. They are now a proper little family. There was so much emotion and so many obstacles to overcome! I am so so relieved with how it ended. I feel like I have closure and I am excited for the next series with the characters having been introduced in this book.I am a little sad that I didn't get to hear more about the bear shifters living in the mountains or the lions Ithric was going to bring to the war.I was also very disappointed that the Mereni (?) black stallion didn't have more air time in this book (keep in mind I listen to the audible version so I am not sure how everything is spelt). I feel like he should have been the horse Carivel rode into battle!We got to hear more about Carivel's heart breaking past and I really felt like she finally got closure. Her mother is a terrible person, but now she is a part of a loving and accepting family. So so happy!And I love their names for each other - old friend, beloved, caradi, amadi. So cute!AND THEN THE THREE WAY HANDFASTING!!!!!! YES!!!!!And the magic with the shifters being able to sense each other and talk to other animals of their shifter species. Wow. R.A. Steffan you are brilliant!

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.I did really like the writing and character development in this book. I liked the other three, but felt like by the third one the books had started to fall into the same patterns. This book broke away from that trend with new surprises and growing experiences for each character.

This was a solid ending to an enjoyable series. Once again, the **** was steamy without compromising on plot. There was some definite character growth for the main trio and they get their hea.I enjoyed this last installment of the horse mistress series. I did recieve an arc.

After finishing book 3 in this series I dove right into book 4 as I had to know how the story of Carivel, Senovo and Andoc would get wrapped up. I am really enjoying this series so far and I am so happy there are still more books I can read, even tough they will have a different main character. I am quite curious about those books too and meeting the new main characters.The Horse Mistress Book 4 has a bit of a more somber tone at times. The Empire is evading and it's only a matter of where. They also know when, namely after the winter is over. So this winter is all focused on making sure Northern Eburos is as ready as they can be. I loved how we get to see more of Northern Eburos in this book. Andoc, Carivel and Senovo travel to some villages to see if they want to join their alliance and defend against the incoming invasion, which means we got to see a bit of the rest of northern Eburos, which was great. I also liked seeing how the tribes handled the news and the new developments and inventions made with the invasion looming over them.And even more fun is how they visit Andoc's home town and we get to meet Andoc's mom, who was lovely. There is also a more sadder visit to Carivel's mother, as her mother always treated her badly, but this scene did bring things on that topic to a resolution for Carivel and I think she really needed that. There's also a sad event earlier in the book, but part of what happened next did feel important.With Senovo having a self appointed quest and what this means for him and the tone of the book is a bit sad at times because of that, but luckily there are enough happy and uplifting parts spread throughout the series as well and in the end I am really happy how that part of the plot line got resolved.With how the whole book is building up to the invasion, I was quite nervous and curious how that part would be resolved. And the further I got in the book, the more I was wondering how the whole battle and invasion would fit in there. But it was there, just much shorter than I had expected. There is a bit of a time skip and then only one chapter that is about the invasion. On the one hand it felt a bit anti-climactic, but at the same time I also liked how this was handled. The way it was told showed a bit of the Empire's perspective which was quite illuminating. The Return of the Wolf Epilogue is a perfect way to wrap up the characters story and I felt that this made the end more complete. I am just not sure if the epilogue is also at the end of book 4 or only in the box set, as I read the box set.In many ways this book wraps up their individual story lines really well. Carivel, Andoc and Senovo all have found their place and their love for each other is as strong as ever. I like seeing them in their current roles and how they handle it. The last few open threads or things they struggle with get addressed in this book and they are at a great place at the end of the book.Favian is still one of my favorite side characters and it was great to see how he handles the events of this book, even tough he has to go through more hardship first. The epilogue makes me pretty sure he is one of the love interests in the lion mistress part of the series, which makes me happy as that means we get to see more of him. The epilogue from Favian is a nice set-up for the next book, but I actually liked the epilogue from Senovo's point of view more as that worked better to wrap up this part of the story.With the focus on the story on preparing for the invasion the focus is less on the romance at times. but at the same time this book has some of the most romantic scenes in the series. It shows again how much these three mean to each other and there is a scene later in the book that's just so perfect. I am just a bit sad that for most of the book Senovo was a bit distant as it was obvious everyone was suffering because of it, then again it did totally make sense what happened and how it was handled.I really enjoy reading about these three and I am really happy how their story got wrapped and I hope we get to see more of them in future books. It was great seeing how they supported each other. And I liked seeing Adnoc as chief, how Senovo dealt with his wolf and also how Carivel how has grown over the course of the series.To summarize: this was a great wrap up of the horse mistress books. The story builds up to the invasion of the empire at the end of the book, it was interesting reading about the preparations, the political aspect and the new inventions that were being made because of the looming war. It also was great to see a bit more of Eburos. The tone could be a bit somber at times, but luckily there were enough happy and uplifting moments as well. I liked how all the left over plot lines and last personal struggles of Andoc, Senovo and Carival get wrapped up and I love how much they have found their place and changed throughout this series and it's great to see in what a good place they are at the en...

This 4th book in the series is a very satisfying read. It continues the ongoing storyline of the relationship among the 3 main characters as they deal with the impending attack from the empire. Carivel, Senovo, and Andoc are flawed and scared and brave and loving and caring - and really a pleasure to read about. I would definitely recommend this series.

I have read every one of the Horse series and love them all!!

all four gripping stories, full of surprises, unexpected graphic erotica, imaginative. Loved the series. Would read more by the author.

It was only my OCD that cringed a few times, forgetting the era at which this was based, complaining a few times that they didnt shower.. but that shouldn't stop you reading this series. This story flows and builds then throws you off the cliff in the most delicious way.. mass props to the writer.

I loved this series. I hope that R.A. Steffan continues to add to the series as it is a wonderful story filled with great characters! Can't wait for the next installment... hint hint :)

I received an ARC of this book for free from the author in exchange of an honest review.Personal rating: 4 starsEven though it's been some time since I read book 3, I was very excited about the last instalment in the series. The previous book left several huge plot lines unresolved and I couldn't wait to see how it was going to be dealt with.I really enjoyed the book. In terms of the relationship and romance between characters it gave me everything I wanted and even more. There were certain aspects of menage a trois which always makes me worried about someone becoming "a third wheel" and/or that the author would give more "screen time" to a certain duo. Thank goodness, it is not the case with this book and the series as a whole. It is undoubtedly the most loving and balanced (although not perfect) relationships in queer romance that I have ever read.I was worried about how the author was going to deal with the impending war. It seemed a bit of a too much challenge for the characters as it was consistently mentioned that they were not ready to face the army this big. Mid book I had this little "aha!" moment when everything clicked together. And it made total sense, even though, I admit, that I spent the first half of the book confused about what was going to happen. I didn't want a too simple "deus ex machina" solution, so I was happy that I didn't see this one coming.I was slightly let down by the ending, as the change of POV threw me off and even though I do understand the reasoning behind it, I think that including the extra bit after that (although ALSO for a reason) was not necessary. Perhaps, it is me, but after the buildup regarding war and everything that had to be done and sacrificed for it, the ending lacked a kick. I am not complaining about how the relationship evolved, but rather the rest of the plot itself.Nevertheless, I really liked the book. Easily one of my favourite series by indie authors. Whatever the series lacks in terms of the plot or action, it takes the romance and relationship to a whole new level. It made me feel all warm and fuzzy and I am ready to forgive any plot weakness for that.I want to thank the author for giving me an opportunity to read and review 3 out of 4 books in the series.

For this last novel in the Horse Mistress series, we wrap up the different left-over plots from the previous novels. Each book roughly corresponds to a season, and this book is set during the winter in anticipation of an attack from the Allyrian Empire in the spring.I would not recommend this as a starting point for a new reader. (But I do recommend reading all of them from the beginning!) The author dispenses with the usual form of early recap of the previous novels to delve immediately into the story. The main plots here are the solidification of the trio as a unit and preparation for the battle they know is coming.In the other three books even though they are all told from Carivel’s point of view, we had one of the trio as the star. The order was first Carivel accepting her birth **** in book one, Senovo coming to peaceful terms with his inner wolf in book 3, and Andoc learning to be a strong and capable chieftain even after an injury that would have devastated a lesser man. This book really does concentrate on the three of them as a unit, including the possibility of adding an adopted family as the three of them foster two war orphans.In preparation for the war, Andoc’s spies have found that the Empire will attack by sea, and the trio goes on a diplomatic mission to secure the help of others. While on this diplomatic mission, we meet Carivel’s and Andoc’s mothers. It allows Carivel to put the ghosts of her past to rest and move on.While I am very much a fan of RA Steffan and a supporter of her work, the ending of this book really disappointed me. I got to the end and wondered if she just ran out of juice. Through the first 3 books we establish that war is coming, and there are wonderfully written scenes of skirmishes and battles leading up to it. So it is clear that Steffan is well able to write battle scenes.As readers, we assume our heroes will win, and they unsurprisingly do that here. The part that creates the interest in an expected ending is in finding out HOW they did it. Steffan made the odd choice to change POV at the very end of the story to one of the Allyrian naval officers as the final battle played out. Everything else until that point was told from Carivel’s POV, and it almost feels like the author couldn’t figure out how to tell it that way. It would have been longer and more satisfying if she had tried. There is so much work building up the oncoming war over the course of 4 novels that it just fizzles at the end like the battle is merely an afterthought to the (successful) emotional journey the main characters take.It’s not that internal/emotional journey of the main trio isn’t important. It very much is. It’s that the external journey, which had been so significant in the other novels, suddenly seems less weighted with importance. We should have had a big, bombastic blowout instead of a head-scratching “That was it?”The book ends with an epilogue which is a set up for a new series set in the same world but concentrating on different characters. Look for The Lion Mistress soon.In conclusion: This novel caps a year in the lives of Carivel, Andoc and Senovo. If you’ve read others in the series, you need to read this, too. The things that bothered me may not bother you, and that’s the fun of having different tastes in reading. I would suggest, though, that you go ahead and read or listen to the complete set as that does have the exclusive epilogue short story “Return of the Wolf.”Disclaimer: I have received a free copy of this ebook and the audiobok from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Hands down, I have to give credit where it is due. The author has blended subject matter and characters so masterfully that even the uninitiated will see joy, honor and love. Take the warning in the authors note to heart, it is no joke and not even a mild warning. No matter the comfort zone, personally, I saw it through, I feel I learned about subjects that while I wasn’t blasé about, I didn’t go overboard trying to understand before I read this. I will honestly say that not only was this enlightening but it was tastefully done even though explicitly described.

I'm glad that she continues the stories of other side characters because I love these three so much I'd hate it if I never got to see them again. Great ending.

Now that our three heroes are in a solid relationship, it was time to shake things up a bit. It would have been easy for the author to focus on a more character-driven story, but I love how they don't let the readers forget that war is coming. Times are changing, and our heroes have to grow up and adapt along with them. Family is a major theme in this installment, and Carival travels to her old home to face her mother. This reunion was equally painful and poignant. Steffan balances it wonderfully with the introduction to Andoc's mother.The handfasting ceremony in this book felt a little self-indulgent on the part of the author, but in retrospect, that's an issue on my part and stems from what is traditionally "normalized" in fiction. Steffan does excellent work in breaking the mold, both in the world of the Eburosi Chronicles and our own.The shapeshifter plotline culminates with the political plotline, and both are resolved to my great satisfaction. I'm completely in love with this world, and while I know Carival, Andoc, and Senovo's story is over, I'm looking forward to exploring more Steffan has to offer.

Kind of felt like the author got bored with writing Carivel's story towards the end. Everything after the fasting left me cold. :(But my love for this series is still incredibly strong and I always felt safe diving into one of these books.