Lady, Thy Name Is Trouble

This story has all the makings of a great movie. Engaging actions scenes that grab you from the very first page, interesting and multidimensional characters (including the main antagonist) that grow and change over the course of the story, tantalizing glimpses of the history of the world, high adventure, romance, mysterious locations, hidden alliances, all these and more are here. It even has a multistage climax that resolves the major plot points while still leaving you hungering for more. Very hard to put down; I finished it in two days and am very much looking forward to the next!

Reviewed by Tracy A. Fischer for Readers' Favorite In a wonderful new release, Lady, Thy Name is Trouble, by debut author Lori L. MacLaughlin, readers will find themselves immersed in the world of sisters Tara and Laraina Triannon, swords for hire. Both sisters are highly skilled at what they do, and they do their business well. But when they find that they are being stalked by the notorious Butcher, the one that no one has escaped from, just at the time when they are charged with protecting a prince and a sorceress who needs to work on her skills, to say the least, well, things just don't seem to be going in the sisters' direction. When a mysterious soldier of fortune helps them, and they are able to elude the Butcher's grasp, that's when the real adventure begins. I loved this book. Loved it. Author Lori L. MacLaughlin has done a masterful job at creating an amazing female protagonist in a piece of fantasy, one that the reader will be rooting for all the way. I enjoy fantasy as a genre in general, but if the main character is a heroine instead of hero, I'm just that more intrigued. The author is also highly skilled at world creation, and writes with just the right balance of detail so that the reader will truly feel a part of the story and the world without feeling bogged down by too many confusing details. This in itself is quite a feat in a work of fantasy. Any reader who loves fantasy, action and adventure with a little bit of romance thrown in, or just a fun and exciting read in general will love Lady, Thy Name is Trouble. I'm happy to highly recommend this book, and am very much looking forward to seeing what the very promising new author, Lori L. MacLaughlin, has in store for us next!

I highly enjoyed "Lady, Thy Name Is Trouble'. It kept me on the edge of my seat, and wondering what was going to happen next. The cover is very intriguing, and the characters very real! I can't wait for the next book!

I am absolutely in love with the cover of this book. Beautiful! This epic saga with a strong female heroine and wildly fascinating hero/antagonist. I cannot wait to read book 2. This story was different. You have certain expectations of saga fantasy, but the delivery and twist held me, fascinated me and drew me in. Warning, when you get to the end you will saying "damn" where is book 2. Hurry up Lori, we want to know what happens next and the secrets and twist implied in the wonderful first book. You will read about kingdoms, epic battles, fascinating villains and hero's. I want more. Definitely, recommend this read for those who love epic fantasy, and even those who are not quite into it. Read it, stick with it and you will be glad you did.

As the name suggests 'Lady, Thy Name Is Trouble' is a fantasy adventure full of ups and downs. It doesn't take long for the action to start and continues at a high and exciting pace through to the very end. At times the book is quite dark and tense – with some sad moments too -, making the sprinklings of romance and humour all the more delightful. I found myself developing a fondness for the characters as they desperately try to flee the butcher, a wolf like assassin who is pursuing them. In some ways the story feels like it's more about the characters and how they grow and change, with the rising Sulledorn army providing a means for this to happen. Even the butcher offers a lot of interest and mystery – at first he seems inhuman and invulnerable, only to develop towards the end to the point that you can almost sympathise with him. The main character also appears to be strong and undefeatable, only to have to face self doubt for what seems like the first time. These character arcs help to drive the story forward. Back stories are also trickled through to help explain some of the character's motives, but there is enough held back to leave you always wanting to find out more. The two most interesting characters are the sisters Tara and Leraina – referred to as fire and ice with the looks and personalities to fit. While in the beginning they seem like your typical swords for hire, they develop in complexity as the story progresses. While their relationship feels unwavering at first - just like the characters themselves -, it later becomes apparent that each sister's own desire is in conflict with maintaining what they share. Their similarities and differences both leave an impact on how the plot and characters develop, and it was an aspect of the story that I thoroughly enjoyed. I can imagine many more exciting tales could be told about the adventures of these sisters. The way the story is written particularly appealed to me; it flows quite nicely and is easy to read. It doesn't overwhelm you with descriptions and explanations, which is a problem that can easily crop up in the fantasy genre. At the same time there is enough depth there to help bring it all to life. It feels like you're jumping into the world and based on the encounters the characters have you can sense there is a history to it that is yet to be revealed. I would have liked to have found out more, but it is left open for the next book; Even so, the ending felt very satisfying. Can't wait for book two.