The Black Blossom: A Fated Mates Fantasy Romance (The Healer Series Book 2) Kindle Edition

I’ll have to admit I was worried. The Black Blossom was so different from The Healer that it was like a different series. There’s not constant action like there was in the previous book. It reads kind of like historical fiction (which I keep saying is not one of my favorite genres, though apparently it is). And there isn’t very much Tie at first. Even though TBB is so different, it is still a great book in its own right. We learn more about the Japanese folklore, and we get a better picture of what started the conflict between Tie and Victor so long ago.In the Epilogue to the Healer, Hope had returned to 700 A.D., when she was known as Mikomi, the princess of the Kagami Empire and The Healer of the world. Because of prophesy, she is not only forced to enter into an arranged marriage with Katsu (Victor), but she is also forbidden from using her gifts to help the people of her village. She dreams of escaping from her abusive father, the Emperor, and joining the rebels who are trying to overthrow him. To do that, Mikomi must learn to how to fight, so she secretly starts taking lessons from Musubi (Tie), who has his own secrets to protect.Even though Mikomi comes from a culture where women are subservient and thought incapable of doing things on their own, she never comes across as weak. Regardless of social expectations, she wants to do everything she can to help others. When rendering that help, she appears to be a little more impulsive than the Hope we are used to, but she’s also strong, determined, and independent.Mikomi is betrothed to Katsu (Victor), who at the start of the book, she is meeting for the first time. Even though she is drawn to him, she knows she doesn’t want to marry him. He alternates between affectionate and dismissive, and she feels like he only wants to be around her so they can fulfill the prophecy together. Like Katsu, Musubi (Tie) can also be standoffish at times, but he is more playful and clearly has feelings for Mikomi. Both guys have their positive qualities, and both are very likable, but I was Team Tie before, and I’m sticking with him this time around.As far as a support system, we don’t get to see Kirby at all, and we see very little of Angie (who is hilarious when she reappears!) and Hope’s father. Instead, Mikomi relies on the help of her tutor Kenji, her brother Saigo, and her friend Daiki. She knows that these three men are the only people who truly love her for who she is, unlike her father the emperor and mother (Chinatsu Mori), who both use her to gain power over the people. She also finds inspiration in Akane, the leader of the rebellion, who proves that women can be independent and earn the respect of the men around them.I mentioned that there wasn’t as much action in The Black Blossom as there was in The Healer. That in no way means there is less suspense. There is a sense of foreboding that starts with the prologue in 700 A.D. and continues through the epilogue, which is back in the present. We’re still not fully versed on Katsu’s or Musubi’s motives, and we never know when Mikomi’s father will figure out her plans, so it’s like we’re constantly waiting for the other shoe to drop. In terms of editing, there are a couple of typos here and there, but nothing that takes away from the story. As far as subject matter, I would rate The Black Blossom PG. There’s lots of violence and a couple of heated kisses, but little to no cursing and no sexual situations.The Healer was so good that I went into The Black Blossom with really high expectations. When I started reading TBB, I found that it didn’t even compare to The Healer because they two books were like apples and oranges. Still, I really liked the book, and I can’t wait for the next one because this one kind of ended in a cliffhanger. We return to the present, and we know that when Hope wakes up, she will realize how Tie betrayed Victor and begin to understand how that betrayal impacted her life.

The Black Blossom, CJ Anaya’s second installment in The Healer series, takes the characters we fell in love with in the first installment and places them in a different time and setting. In the Black Blossom we get to learn about Hope’s (or Mikomi as she is know in this life) previous life as a Japanese princess born to fulfill a long awaited prophecy. The setting is rich in detail and culture, mixing history with fantasy to create a beautifully crafted backdrop for our characters.When I first began reading this sequel, I was apprehensive about taking the modern day characters that I loved and putting them in such a drastically different setting, but Anaya navigated the waters gracefully. There are a lot of questions and concerns that a reader and fan of the first book would naturally have when getting ready to read The Black Blossom; How do you take a very modern and forward thinking protagonist and place her in a totally different culture and time without changing her behavior so much that we as a reader lose our connection to her? Am I even going to enjoy a historical setting? I am so engaged in what is happening right now at the end of The Healer, I don’t know if I will enjoy taking a break from this face paced story to get all the back story! Those were all concerns I had upon reading the premise of The Black Blossom, but readers, have no fear! Our characters remain true, and although they go by different names and behave under different social guidelines, they are so clearly true to the self they portray in The Healer; not only do we still feel a connection to them, but we get to understand them so much better! It is SO interesting to see the way that Anaya has completely transforms the world in which these characters live (speech, clothes, cultural roles, etc) but still manages to hold true to who these characters are at their core. It was fun and entertaining to see our main characters interact in a different setting. The story in and of itself is compelling, and will keep you reading, Anaya furthers the intriguing plot and fascinating storyline and manages to bring the wit and humor that made The Healer so much fun to read to ancient Japan.One of my favorite things about The Black Blossom is that is answers so many questions! SO much of the time the second novel in a series feels like a place holder, like a nice bit of filler that just tides us over to the next book without really furthering the story. This second in a series does not fall into that pit. It answers lots of questions and raises totally new ones.In short, fans of the first book will love the depth The Black Blossom adds to the storyline and to the characters themselves. I hate to read a first novel and have the rest of the series fall flat, but with the success of The Black Blossom, CJ Anaya puts to rest any doubts that the rest of the series will be anything sort of a thrilling ride!

Hope is finding difficulty fitting past and future in her reality. Victor and her mother want one thing and Tie and her father want another. She and Angie want something else and when she broke thought the veil to heal Kirby it almost killed her. When she recovered she was weaker and thats when the dark side attacked again this time she is vulnerable and needed more care to try to heal now everyone is waiting for her recovery hoping she makes it before the next attack. This is a well written and absorbing series with the use of folk lore and past and future woven in with great and fascinating use of words to keep you wrapped tightly the middle. You want to pick sides but who’s is the problem. What is best for any of them.

I don’t usually like series, but Anaya’s 2nd book in the Fated Mates series is a flawless step into the story that the first book hinted at. It mostly stands alone, but for those who have read the first- it connects the dots. There are some loose ends that don’t line up, and the switch from past to present (book 2 to book 1) stumbles, but I’m still hooked and about to start book 3.

Loved the book. Can't wait to read the rest, but don't want to finish it. A bit of a different fantasy. This time something I haven't come across before.

So loved the first book and was not disappointed by her second novel. Again some pleasant surprises and such lovely storytelling. Could not put it down. This book answers a lot of questions and leaves you wanting so much more!! Enjoy