Status
Available
Call number
Series
Collections
Publication
Samhain Publishing, Ltd. (2009), Kindle Edition, 50 pages
Description
Fantasy. Fiction. Science Fiction. HTML:The World of Kinsmen Family is everything. Talent is power. And revenge is sweet. In a distant, future world Kinsmen�??small powerful groups of genetically and technologically advanced families�??control vast financial empires. They are their own country, their own rulers, and their only limits are other Kinsmen. The struggle for power is a bloody, full-contact sport: in business, on the battlefield...and sometimes in the bedroom. Old hatreds die hard. Old love dies harder. br>On the planet Rada, Meli Galdes' family is of minor rank, and were relying on her marriage to Celino, the razor-smart, ruthless leader of the powerful Carvanna empire. When he abruptly breaks their engagement, he ruins her family and guarantees that Meli will never marry, as no suitor will oppose the rich and influential Carvannas. But Meli has a rare, secret, lethal�??and valuable�??talent. As a melder of energy, she's capable of severing anything in her path. So she 'leaves' her family and trains to become one of the best and most lethal of assassins, all the while covertly guarding her family's interests. Now she's ready to quit; but she has one more assignment. To kill the man who ruin… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member cmwilson101
Silent Blade by Ilona Andrews takes place in another world. The world is harsh, yet beautiful, and vividly described by Ilona Andrews. The world is dominated by Kinsmen, and clan/family are more important than individual.
Meli Galdes is betrothed at the age of 10 to Celino Carvanna, a man from
SILENT BLADE is an unusual, powerful story. It is a romance, certainly, and full of lots of bodice-ripping, but it is more than that. It is a haunting story of two people thrown into and formed by a harsh society, and their struggle to find humanity within those constraints.
It would be interesting to read more about Celino and Meli, and the world they live in.
Meli Galdes is betrothed at the age of 10 to Celino Carvanna, a man from
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another family, for the sole reason of consolidating power between the two families. While Meli accepts the engagement, Celino rebels and dumps Meli. Now considered untouchable, Meli Galdes becomes a cold, efficient, killing weapon. She agrees to separate herself from her family, which allows her to act as the family's assassin. Years later, Meli is ready to retire, and her family asks her for one final assassination -- to kill Celino Carvanna, who is threatening the family's financial stability. SILENT BLADE is an unusual, powerful story. It is a romance, certainly, and full of lots of bodice-ripping, but it is more than that. It is a haunting story of two people thrown into and formed by a harsh society, and their struggle to find humanity within those constraints.
It would be interesting to read more about Celino and Meli, and the world they live in.
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LibraryThing member Kskye
If you don't have a Kindle, or the Kindle app get one immediately so you can read Silent Blade. Sometimes I find it hard to get into science fiction books, because the lingo is headache inducing, but Ilona Andrews creates a new world that's not hard to understand. Set in the future it features
This book was deliciously romantic, and although at first I wanted to hate Celino I found myself rooting for him and Meli. Meli is a awesome kick ass woman that I instantly liked. I think if you like Ann Aguirre's Sirantha Jax novels definitely give this novella a read. It's awesome!
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powerful families who stand apart from others because of their biological enhancements. They're called the Kinsmen who are like the modern day Mafia. Meli Galdes excised herself from her family, training herself to be the best silent blade for her kin. She has killed many to protect her family, but always after careful study and self-defense. But to top it all off, she's coming out of retirement for one last hit: Celino Carvanna-the man who ruined her life, and broke her heart.This book was deliciously romantic, and although at first I wanted to hate Celino I found myself rooting for him and Meli. Meli is a awesome kick ass woman that I instantly liked. I think if you like Ann Aguirre's Sirantha Jax novels definitely give this novella a read. It's awesome!
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LibraryThing member BellaMiaow
Meh. Much more romance than anything else. I like more weird in my fantasy, a whole lot more science in my science fiction. There's no reason at all this couldn't have been set in the modern day, and it fits the whole RWA formula to a tee.
LibraryThing member bookwormdreams
*** 4 stars ***
Who says that short story can not have deep character development and great story line. I am only sorry that Ilona Andrews did not develop this idea into a full series.
Who says that short story can not have deep character development and great story line. I am only sorry that Ilona Andrews did not develop this idea into a full series.
LibraryThing member SunnySD
A short sexy story featuring a talented assassin struggling to cut her family ties and a ruthless businessman determined that he should be her new family. Imelda Galdes and Celino Carvanna have a history - too bad for him, he doesn't remember it....
Fun read - definitely worth tracking down.
Fun read - definitely worth tracking down.
LibraryThing member mlsimmons
I was a little disappointed when I first downloaded this ebook. It was way shorter than I thought it would be. I did not think they would be able to build a world and characters with so few words. Boy, was I wrong. It is a very interesting futuristic world. There are really only two characters
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worth mentioning and they are both great. I am glad that I got this book and will be downloading the next book. Show Less
LibraryThing member Mikaela_l
Since Silver Shark was release today, I decided to review the prequel. The world of the Kinsmen is fascinating. At the same time high tech, yet it almost feels regency when it comes to the families. I’ll admit, the fact that Meli was engaged to Celino at the age of 10 felt wrong, yet it is a part
The result is a delicious dance of love past and present. As she plans to get her revenge, Celino falls hard. And so does she. Yet she walked away. I loved that, there felt like poetic justice. But, they get their HEA, so don’t worry. And I loved the ending. It fit the story perfectly
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of society. I loved how Meli accepted the contract, and used all she knew about Celino to snare him in. The result is a delicious dance of love past and present. As she plans to get her revenge, Celino falls hard. And so does she. Yet she walked away. I loved that, there felt like poetic justice. But, they get their HEA, so don’t worry. And I loved the ending. It fit the story perfectly
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LibraryThing member Cynical_Ames
My first thought upon finishing was "Wow, that was damn good!".
Silent Blade may fall into the romance category but it is far from soppy. It's futuristic revenge against a man who devastated a young girl and her family in the name of his "freedom".
For a short story the characters were remarkably
After reading and loving the Kate Daniels series this was another fantastic offering from Ilona Andrews.
Silent Blade may fall into the romance category but it is far from soppy. It's futuristic revenge against a man who devastated a young girl and her family in the name of his "freedom".
For a short story the characters were remarkably
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complex and well fleshed out. The power plays and the tippings of the balance of power between Celino and Meli were brilliantly done. In a futuristic world of mafia-style families and assassinations galore Meli manages to exact her revenge and have a happy ever after. After reading and loving the Kate Daniels series this was another fantastic offering from Ilona Andrews.
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LibraryThing member thealtereggo
A very quick read. I read this as an e-book and didn't realize how short it was when I downloaded it. Despite the short length, I think the character development and world building were well done. A decent romance story, but not my favorite Ilona Andrews story, hence only 3 stars. Would recommend
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if you want something short and sweet! Show Less
LibraryThing member phyllis2779
This was OK. It just seemed to be a little rushed, maybe because it was a short novella. The end had an interesting twist as the assassin had a a change of heart about her purpose but it just needed a little more to convince that the male protagonist could make such a total turn around in his life.
LibraryThing member devilwrites
The premise: ganked from Amazon.com: Old hatreds die hard. Old love dies harder.
On Meli Galdes’ home planet, the struggle for power is a bloody, full-contact sport—in business and on the battlefield. For years her lethal skills have been a valuable asset in advancing her family’s interests.
Kill the man who ruined her life.
Celino Carvanna’s razor-sharp business acumen—and skills with a blade—won him the freedom to do as he pleases. There’s only one thing he can’t seem to control—his reaction to the mysterious woman who tantalizes his senses. Her eyes alone set his blood simmering, stirring ridiculous adolescent fantasies about breasts and honey. With a few words she dissects his soul. Who is she? And how does she slide so easily under his well-guarded skin?
It’s almost too easy to draw Celino within the kill zone. Meli plans to revel in him. Drink him in. Wring every drop of pleasure out of every moment.
And when she’s sure he belongs to her, she will finally repay a decade’s worth of pain—in a single, brutal dose of reality.
My Rating
Wish I'd Borrowed It: It's simple: if you are tired of or simply don't enjoy stories that focus ONLY on the heroine hooking up with the hero, then this book isn't for you, even if it is written by Ilona Andrews. If you enjoy quick shots of romance, then this may work for you. Frankly, I never cared for the hero and despite the motivations of the heroine to land said hero, I was never rooting for them to be together. Too alpha, too arrogant, and really skeevy. But being a short story, there's not a whole lot of room to develop him, is there? It took me about three book to warm up to Curran in the Kate Daniels series, so really, I shouldn't be surprised by Silent Blade's Celino. That said, I'm quite glad this wasn't my first taste of Andrews's work: I would not have been inclined to read her Kate Daniels series if it had been.
Note that if you get this e-book, at least through the Kindle, there's either a sample or a whole other short story by another author included. I'm not sure which, since I had no interest in reading it. But for $2.00, you get a two-for-one deal, which isn't bad, if you're into this sort of thing.
Review style: In which I discuss why romance-centric plots are REALLY not working for me these days, why I'm disappointed in the SF of this SFR, and some nitpickery. No spoilers, so feel free to click the link below to go to my full review at my LJ. As always, comments and discussion most welcome.
REVIEW: Ilona Andrews's SILENT BLADE
Happy Reading!
On Meli Galdes’ home planet, the struggle for power is a bloody, full-contact sport—in business and on the battlefield. For years her lethal skills have been a valuable asset in advancing her family’s interests.
Show More
She’s more than earned her right to retire, but her kinsmen have one last favor to ask.Kill the man who ruined her life.
Celino Carvanna’s razor-sharp business acumen—and skills with a blade—won him the freedom to do as he pleases. There’s only one thing he can’t seem to control—his reaction to the mysterious woman who tantalizes his senses. Her eyes alone set his blood simmering, stirring ridiculous adolescent fantasies about breasts and honey. With a few words she dissects his soul. Who is she? And how does she slide so easily under his well-guarded skin?
It’s almost too easy to draw Celino within the kill zone. Meli plans to revel in him. Drink him in. Wring every drop of pleasure out of every moment.
And when she’s sure he belongs to her, she will finally repay a decade’s worth of pain—in a single, brutal dose of reality.
My Rating
Wish I'd Borrowed It: It's simple: if you are tired of or simply don't enjoy stories that focus ONLY on the heroine hooking up with the hero, then this book isn't for you, even if it is written by Ilona Andrews. If you enjoy quick shots of romance, then this may work for you. Frankly, I never cared for the hero and despite the motivations of the heroine to land said hero, I was never rooting for them to be together. Too alpha, too arrogant, and really skeevy. But being a short story, there's not a whole lot of room to develop him, is there? It took me about three book to warm up to Curran in the Kate Daniels series, so really, I shouldn't be surprised by Silent Blade's Celino. That said, I'm quite glad this wasn't my first taste of Andrews's work: I would not have been inclined to read her Kate Daniels series if it had been.
Note that if you get this e-book, at least through the Kindle, there's either a sample or a whole other short story by another author included. I'm not sure which, since I had no interest in reading it. But for $2.00, you get a two-for-one deal, which isn't bad, if you're into this sort of thing.
Review style: In which I discuss why romance-centric plots are REALLY not working for me these days, why I'm disappointed in the SF of this SFR, and some nitpickery. No spoilers, so feel free to click the link below to go to my full review at my LJ. As always, comments and discussion most welcome.
REVIEW: Ilona Andrews's SILENT BLADE
Happy Reading!
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LibraryThing member tldegray
When I began reading this I thought I'd be upset over Meli forgiving Celino; basically I read it just to see how the authors would accomplish that. But as the story progressed, and as both Meli and Celino worked through their issues--and especially as Meli carried out her revenge and then took the
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time alone to think that she needed--I began to really like it. Show Less
LibraryThing member Glennis.LeBlanc
This short story has interesting world building and a good showing of how people grow out of the expectations of what everyone else wants for them. Powerful families marry for more power and money not for love. When Meil is engaged to an older boy at a young age she works hard to become the best
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bride for him and to advance her much less powerful family’s ambitions. But when Celino manages to outwit his parents’ desires for the marriage he leaves Meli and her family ruined. Years later as Meli has worked as a secret assassin for her family after being removed from the family publicly her chance for revenge has come. A good SF romance story and one of several set in the same universe. Show Less
LibraryThing member elam11
The writing and all is pretty typical Ilona Andrews, and a little novella can hardly get into a very deep story... But this was just so shallow. Shallow emotions, shallow motivations, shallow resolution. At least a time jump or two were included so it wasn't all totally bam-bam-bam with the plot.
As a romantic lead, Celino kinda crosses the sexy-dangerous-asshole with a heart of gold line (again, no time for development?). But he kinda epitomized a snarky list I read recently about worthless male romantic leads who are cruel to everyone but the heroine (uh-huh) and the blue eyes/cruel mouth combo. Doh.
Is this the kernel that's been developed into their latest series? Celino feels a bit like whatshisface, Mad Rogan, and the dynastic world set-up is reminiscent across the two.
Anyway, just slightly too schlocky, and just slightly too many unpleasant relationship tropes. A 2 feels a little too harsh, but...eh, I have higher standards for a favorite author.
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As a romantic lead, Celino kinda crosses the sexy-dangerous-asshole with a heart of gold line (again, no time for development?). But he kinda epitomized a snarky list I read recently about worthless male romantic leads who are cruel to everyone but the heroine (uh-huh) and the blue eyes/cruel mouth combo. Doh.
Is this the kernel that's been developed into their latest series? Celino feels a bit like whatshisface, Mad Rogan, and the dynastic world set-up is reminiscent across the two.
Anyway, just slightly too schlocky, and just slightly too many unpleasant relationship tropes. A 2 feels a little too harsh, but...eh, I have higher standards for a favorite author.
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LibraryThing member lexilewords
Its honestly not an exaggeration when I say that this story made me tear up. Look I have read a lot of romance novels (and I do mean a lot) in my life. Everything from early Harlequin romances to yaoi and I can name on my one hand the amount of books that have made me so happy that HEA's exist in
Meli and Celino were both defined and restrained by who their families were. What it meant to be kin, the sacrifices you had to make to keep the family strong. I'm also fairly certain that neither of them had families worth sacrificing for, but that's just my opinion.
The world that Andrews creates is brutal and devestating and neither of them are completely innocent. Its dog eat dog, where ruthlessness will win you more brownie points then mercy. This isn't to say they are evil doers killing the innocent and such, but they have a certain pragmatic viewpoint of the world. You hurt mine, I'll hurt you.
Meli's revenge is poetic and says much about who she is. I'm not entirely certain why her family put the hit on Celino--I doubt they waited 12 years to administer payback for what he did to Meli--as that was a gray area unexplored. Meli didn't question it, her father and brother weren't offering the reason and no one seemed overly concerned if Meli turned it into a personal vendetta against Celino.
I'd be lying if I didn't say I wanted to read more about this world of theirs--where its practically Mafialand in the future, but this small taste proved again why Ilona Andrews should be a must buy for anyone and everyone.
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romances. Silent Blade made the list.Meli and Celino were both defined and restrained by who their families were. What it meant to be kin, the sacrifices you had to make to keep the family strong. I'm also fairly certain that neither of them had families worth sacrificing for, but that's just my opinion.
The world that Andrews creates is brutal and devestating and neither of them are completely innocent. Its dog eat dog, where ruthlessness will win you more brownie points then mercy. This isn't to say they are evil doers killing the innocent and such, but they have a certain pragmatic viewpoint of the world. You hurt mine, I'll hurt you.
Meli's revenge is poetic and says much about who she is. I'm not entirely certain why her family put the hit on Celino--I doubt they waited 12 years to administer payback for what he did to Meli--as that was a gray area unexplored. Meli didn't question it, her father and brother weren't offering the reason and no one seemed overly concerned if Meli turned it into a personal vendetta against Celino.
I'd be lying if I didn't say I wanted to read more about this world of theirs--where its practically Mafialand in the future, but this small taste proved again why Ilona Andrews should be a must buy for anyone and everyone.
Show Less
LibraryThing member zjakkelien
I liked it a lot, if only it weren't so short!
Language
Original publication date
2009-06-02
Local notes
Old hatreds die hard. Old love dies harder. On Meli Galdes' home planet, the struggle for power is a bloody, full-contact sport--in business and on the battlefield. For years her lethal skills have been a valuable asset in advancing her family's interests. She's more than earned her right to retire, but her kinsmen have one last favor to ask. Kill the man who ruined her life.
A fun romance, made more by the powerful story of two people trying to escape the shackles of family decisions.
A fun romance, made more by the powerful story of two people trying to escape the shackles of family decisions.