Lord of the White Hell Book One

Written by Ginn Hale

Narrated by Jakobi Diem

Kiram Kir-Zaki may be considered a mechanist prodigy among his own people, but when he becomes the first Haldiim ever admitted to the prestigious Sagrada Academy, he is thrown into a world where power, superstition and swordplay outweigh even the most scholarly of achievements.

But when the intimidation from his Cadeleonian classmates turns bloody, Kiram unexpectedly finds himself befriended by Javier Tornesal, the leader of a group of cardsharps, duelists and lotharios who call themselves Hellions.

However Javier is a dangerous friend to have. Wielder of the White Hell and sole heir of a dukedom, he is surrounded by rumors of forbidden seductions, murder and damnation. His enemies are many and any one of his secrets could not only end his life but Kiram's as well.

Contains mature themes.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tantor Media, Inc
• Release date: Oct 29, 2019
• ISBN: 9781515946465

Reviews for Lord of the White Hell Book One

[LD · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wow, this was an interesting fantasy book with some great worldbuilding. The characters were well-rounded with a lot of depth and complexities. The romance is a slowburn, but it fits the characters and setting they inhabit. I really enjoyed this book, and thought the audiobook was well done and a great listen.

[isana-943166 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I would say a 3.5 but I rounded it up because it was an interesting read.

I like this type of story. A kind of school boys in love story. So that made me very interested in the book once I started. I liked Kiram. He's a sweetie and I commend him for dealing with such backward people all the time and not completely imploding, especially when he has none of his people around. Nestor is also a sweetie and I want to pet him. I want them to be best pals forever even when Nestor realizes his best bro is gay as a freaking glitter pegicorn.

It was nice to read about Kiram making friends and things but somehow I felt that having people stop treating him like crap because of Javier was a bit of a cop out and made things a bit too sunshine and rainbows for me. There would definitely be way more racial conflict. I'm not saying he wouldn't find friends. He definitely would. But there would be a whole lot more struggling with being in a hostile place. And he comes out unscathed walking around in the city alone at night and doesn't even seem terrified about it. If everyone hates his people as much as they're supposed to, he should unfortunately be terrified of walking home alone for what seems like hours in a hostile city, especially if these people are as barbaric against his people as Hale has hinted at so many times. I want Kiram to be happy and sunshine but happy and sunshine is not realistic when you are the only brown person in a sea of whites that think you are the devil.

Also, why does Kiram seems so negligent of his amazing project that got him into the academy in the first place? It's used once as a plot point when he delves into it because he's avoiding Javier but I never actually feel like he's genuinely interested in it. Even if he suddenly becomes obsessed with Javier and ignores it surely someone would notice and some point and point it out to him. And he's not going to be too busy with schoolwork because he loves that stuff and would definitely find time.

[kimberlynwm · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The two parts of this book were a fascinating read! I finished one in one evening and the other in the very next evening (of course, I was supposed to be getting some major work done, but oh, well.....).

First of all, I fell right into the world that the author created. It was exotic and different but the details she had made it feel quite real, both the cultures of the Cadeleonions and the Haldiim.

Then I fell in love with her characters. Kiri, Nestor, Elezar, Javier, the Scholar brothers, even Kiri's and Nestor's families were flesh and blood, breathing people. I could laugh at them, feel their pain, their ear, and their longing.

I also enjoyed the twists and turns of the plot, and her explanations of their types of magic were masterful! I could feel the wonder and pain of the rituals, and thoroughly relished the descriptions. The sex, while not overly graphic, was well done, erotic and sweet at the same time. I'm getting to read her 'Rifter' series, and am looking forward to being emotionally ravished.

[keyboardcouch · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

ARGHGODDAMNEDPOXYCLIFFHANGER

I really recommend buying book two along with book one if you want to avoid the above reaction.

Otherwise Lord of White Hell is everything fantasy should be. Deep mysteries. Daring duels. Crazy religion. Star crossed lovers. Etc.

[amberwitch · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A very well written coming of age story set in an interesting magical world.Book one of The lord of the white hell is an engrossing and original tale. The story is set in a boardingschool - the sagrada academy - in a world where magic and religion is a great deal more present than this. The story takes place in an early industrial monarchist world, and is the coming of age story of a young outsider at the academy - by virtue of being a Haldiim in a Caledeonian country, having different religious beliefs and a different cultural background as well as arriving at the school a year late - and the romance that slowly blossoms between him and his roommate, the Caledeonian duke Javier, who is the eponymious lord of the white hell.I really enjoyed the story, as much for the worldbuilding, the plot and the characters, as for the very well written romance.

[kateoncouch · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

ARGHGODDAMNEDPOXYCLIFFHANGERI really recommend buying book two along with book one if you want to avoid the above reaction.Otherwise Lord of White Hell is everything fantasy should be. Deep mysteries. Daring duels. Crazy religion. Star crossed lovers. Etc.

[jshillingford_2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Lord of the White Hell is one of those stories that you end up cursing yourself for waiting so long to read, and utterly sad now that it’s finished! Before beginning, I read a review that compared this favorably to Mercedes Lackey’s “Last Herald Mage.” And I do see a similarity in tone and feel, and some minor details. However, this is a wholly original fantasy with well-drawn characters and rich world-building that stands on its own. Absolutely superb.Kiram is the first full-blooded Haldiim to be admitted to the prestigious Sagrada Academy. There he faces prejudice due to his heritage, until Duke Javier Tornesal brings him under his protection. But that protection is a double-edged sword as Javier himself is regarded with fear and hate due to his power over the white hell. Javier is hunted by a powerful curse, bent on bringing that hell under the control of an unknown enemy. The two men grow to be close allies, but will it be enough?Though book one spends a lot of time introducing the fantasy world, and the character’s backgrounds, it was cleverly woven into Kiram’s experiences at the school and his growing understanding of both Javier and the white hell, rather than being just an info-dump. Hale’s writing has a lot of emotional depth, and strong description, so that I quickly came to care about both Kiram and Javier, but also their circle of friends, the Hellions. This is the first half of the story, so it does end on something of a cliffhanger – however, it left me anticipating the next book (indeed, I started it immediately) rather than feeling cheated. I highly recommend Lord of the White Hell, and also that readers have both volumes in hand, as once this one ends you’ll want to jump right into the finale!