**Reviews ~ Born in Vengeance & Born in Sin ~ Camelia Miron Skiba**

Title: Born in Vengeance
Series: Dacian Legends #1
Author: Camelia Miron Skiba
Genre: Historical Drama/Romance
Release Date: May 9, 2013

Synopsis from GoodReads:

Originally published as a short story titled I WAS HERE--BEFORE YOU CAME, this stand-alone version includes an expanded storyline and excerpts from BORN IN SIN (Dacian Legends, #2), all that you would expect from a full novel.

Legend has it … centuries after Spartacus another hero is born—Ilias, the bastard son of King Decebalus. Thirsty for revenge and eager to unshackle the Roman oppression, Ilias’ obsession to fulfill his oath has no bounds, even if that means kidnapping Nerva, the beloved daughter of Emperor Traianus. What he doesn’t know is his own heart threatens to betray his conscience.
What will prevail: his mind or his heart?

*******************************************

My Review

Ilias, son of Decebelus, King of the Dacians, has sworn vengeance against the Romans. It was the Romans that attacked and destroyed his home, his lands. It was Romans that killed his mother, his sister, and his father. Ilias, and his brothers in arms, swore that one day they'd exact their revenge and take back what is rightfully theirs. That day has finally come.

However, Ilias didn't consider the effect Nerva might have on him. Nerva, the daughter of his sworn enemy and the central piece in his plot for revenge, doesn't elicit the hate Ilias thought she would. Rather, she elicits the need to protect and that threatens all the carefully laid plans.

Born in Vengeance is an extremely engaging novella, despite its length. Y'all know I usually take issue with novellas as I always feel deprived of character development. However, Born in Vengeance gave me just enough of a taste to want more. I enjoyed the historical aspect quite a lot. Now whether or not it's historically accurate outside of Dacians and Romans having really existed, I'm not sure. But it feels historically accurate. 

I also liked the love versus logic element as well. I think the internal battle Ilias waged was realistic, especially for a warrior. He fought to do right by his family, his people but also by Nerva. It is a strong leader who can stand up for what he believes in and sway his people to follow him.

Ilias and Nerva, as well as Zyraxes, Ursus, Bastisza, Galtys, are well developed, I felt the closeness these characters had cultivated and understood the turmoil caused by all the events in the story. Ms. Skiba allows us to see enough of their personalities to become invested in what happens to them. I really like that Nerva is a strong heroine. She doesn't back down in the face of danger. That, along with the realistic portrayal of battle during this time, kept me turning the pages. I'm anxious to read the complete Dacian Legends series.

********************************************

Title: Born in Sin
Series: Dacian Legends #2
Author: Camelia Miron Skiba
Genre: Historical Drama/Romance
Release Date: May 30, 2013

Synopsis from GoodReads:

Loathing the thought of his beloved Oriana in the arms of another man, fearless Zyraxes delivers death upon the Roman enemy. With only the rugged land as his bed and the sky as his blanket, trouble finds him often.
Summoned to aid Oriana’s father in the war against two powerful enemies—one of them Oriana's savage husband—Zyraxes proves himself worthy of more than just noble titles and coin. But he wants none of it. What he wants is her.
When Zyraxes discovers a broken and nearly dead Oriana, though forbidden, he disregards her father's orders to leave her to her death, and instead chooses to protect and conceal her. Will saving her be enough to win her heart? Will his part royal lineage make him worthy of her love?

*************************************************

My Review

Born in Sin continues the Dacian Legends. It's Zyraxes story and is a fascinating read.

Zyraxes lives his life fighting side by side with his brothers, moving toward that elusive revenge against the Romans. He also has a reputation for spending as much time entertaining the ladies as possible. Zyraxes, long ago, lost his true love to another and therefore tries to bury his memories of Oriana. Oriana, the daughter of King Livonium, was given to King Khan in order to establish peace between their tribes. 

Zyraxes and Galtys are sent to warn the Roxolanis of an impending Roman invasion. What they find is King Livonium mourning over the loss of his sons. He's disowned his daughter over her perceived role in their deaths. Understanding what's at stake, Zyraxes, Galtys and the Dacian warriors take action to prepare the Roxolanis for the Romans. And it is during these preparations that Zyraxes stumbles upon a broken Oriana.

Born in Sin is a fantastic continuation of the story begun in Born in Vengeance. It intertwines much more action and suspense with the battles waged between the Dacians, Roxolanis, and Sarmatians as well as the battles of hearts.

I appreciate the historical aspect of this series. Learning about the feelings of the tribes as the Romans invaded is intriguing. Ms. Skiba's description of the training, battles and life inside the fortress walls is impressive and seems realistic. Again, I can't vouch for the historical accuracy of this tale, but it feels realistic. 

I liked the closer look at the characters as well. Zyraxes is a fierce warrior to be sure, but he's also a skilled healer and a compassionate man. I delighted in getting to see more of Galtys as well. We get to see a softer side of this courageous young man. We are also introduced to a few new characters whom are very brave and cunning. Thera and Priam, who are servants to Oriana, were wonderful additions to the cast of characters.

I found Born in Sin to be an exciting read, with its gritty battle scenes, gripping as we await the impending battles as well as the future of Zyraxes and Oriana, and also touching with the compassion shown by Zyraxes, Galtys, Thera and Priam. The first two stories in the Dacian Legends combine well and I think the entire series woven together will be quite an epic read. I will anxiously await the next installments in the Dacian Legends.

**I received ecopies of these books in exchange for my honest reviews.