What can I say, other than I have loved every book that Jeff Wheeler has ever written and for the life of me I don't understand why he isn't promoted more in bookstores. I love the worlds he creates and the characters within it. I would not hesitate in the slightest to recommend this book and all his books to anyone interested in this genre.

I enjoy the world-building and also the characters. All characters are very very likable. I really enjoy it and will definitely read more books by the author! I also enjoy the characters' relationships and the twists and turns within the book. Love Ransom and Claire!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In kingdoms at war, alliances are made to be broken in a thrilling novel of magic and dark conspiracies by the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Warrior’s Ransom.

Ransom Barton and his wife, Claire de Murrow, have arrived in Legault to reclaim the title that was Claire’s birthright. Claire intends to rebuild a war-ravaged palace to its former glory and to teach Ransom about the magical history of their new home. But when Ransom is summoned to return to King Benedict, his loyalty to Claire is tested. Fealty prevails, however questionable the king’s motives.

The ambitious Benedict, who controls his late father’s dominion, must prove his might. The warriors of the East Kingdoms have disrupted the trade routes, weakening every kingdom in their path. Benedict’s plan is to fend off a coming war through strategic alliances. But it’s Ransom’s post to keep the king’s allies—as well as his poisonous enemies—in line, even as Benedict’s defense may be inviting further chaos.

As the king’s power grows and Ransom’s rise in the council is secured, a shadowy conspiracy threatens to destroy everything Ransom has worked to build. Now torn between allegiance to the woman he loves and duty to king and country, which will Ransom choose?

Ransom Barton has finally achieved his heart's deepest desire: Claire de Murrow is finally his wife. Ransom has earned the trust of King Benedict, who has appointed him to his council, but the intrigues within the Argentine family are endless and the greed and envy of a few powerful enemies threaten to destroy Ransom's happiness and Claire and destabilize Benedict's reign.
Jeff Wheeler mixes history and fantasy in this novel in a masterful way, achieving a fantastic story that accompanies the reader long after they finish reading it.

I've been enjoying the The First Argentines series, I enjoyed the story and the characters were great. I always enjoy a book written by Mr. Wheeler.

I’m a avid reader of Jeff Wheeler’s books and this one doesn’t disappoint. I finished the book in a day! This series is quickly becoming my favorite.

Lady's Ransom is the third of four books in the Argentines series. We continue Ransom's adventures with a new king. This book might be my favorite of the series thus far. The author does an excellent job of building upon the earlier books in the series without bogging down the pacing.

This book could've suffered from the "slumpy middle" but the plot and characters went in directions I didn't expect. Lots of fight scenes, like we're expecting from Ransom, but even more political intrigue, which is always something I particularly enjoy. Plus the relationships were so heartbreaking and Claire's plot line went in a surprising direction. Overall, very well done. I read this in three nights, and I had to stop myself from staying up all night to finish sooner.

This book set up high stakes for the final book in the series. And I cannot wait to read the final installment in the series.

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this book.

I don't think I will EVER be disappointed by anything Jeff Wheeler writes... I love everything about this. The world building, the characters, the relationships. Everything is on point, every time. I get so lost in these worlds, I never want the stories to end! Already anxiously waiting for the next!

This is another amazing book by Jeff Wheeler. It fits perfectly in the series and make sense in the world he has built. It is easy and exciting to read. A real page turner with deep, likeable characters.

Marshall “Ransom” Barton has come a long way since his introduction in “King’s Ransom: The First Argentines, Book 1,” as the child hostage of a king with a conscience who spared the little boy’s life.
In “Lady’s Ransom,” the third entry of the four-book series written by author Jeff Wheeler, Ransom, a knight armed with a special kind of magic and a bastard sword, is serving his third king as a powerful member of the council of Ceredigion, and is newly married to his lifelong love, Claire de Murrow, juggling both responsibilities.
Ransom helps Clair in her bid to retake the country of Legault, her kingdom by birthright. He also acts as protector of a potential Kingfountain heir and a forest grove, a source of deep magic. That last duty requires him to keep secrets from his wife, which causes internal and external strife.
When King Benedict, hoping to prove himself, rides off to war, Ransom is charged with keeping peace in the kingdom and helping oversee Damian Longmont, the man acting as proxy for the king and a complete buffoon. His title is justiciar, a term from the Middle Ages which I only mention because the word tripped me up until I looked up its pronunciation: “jus-tis-she-er.”
As in the series’ first two books, Alix, an Occitanian poisoner out for revenge, lurks in the background as a possible threat. Another old enemy appears now to be an ally … or is he? And a new character akin to Robin Hood pops up to make mischief in Ceredigion.
A book filled with knights and battles, it’s no surprise that “Lady’s Ransom” contains nonstop action, as well as a little chaste romance. Wheeler also has a penchant for writing middle books as gripping as the first and last novels in his series.
We see some familiar themes, artifacts and places from earlier Kingfountain series: secrets squirming to get out; a magical medallion; the forest grove and a certain palace cistern. As with previous books, Wheeler plants Easter eggs to tickle longtime readers. One example: Ransom, inside the cistern, has a premonition of two children splashing in its waters who find themselves in danger. We also see some familiar names crop up.
First-time Kingfountain readers won’t feel left out by these little additions. If “The First Argentines” (a prequel) spurs them to read the earlier series, they’ll catch these references then.
Full disclosure as I write this review. I received an advance reader copy with the caveat that I would write an honest review. The book is a relatively quick read and I found it hard to put down, filled as it is with action and plot twists and unexpected appearances.
I continue to enjoy Claire’s epigraphs at the start of each of the chapters, one which contained this phrase: “on the intrigues of brainless badgers.” Wheeler sometimes infuses these brief texts with humor, as this phrase demonstrates, and uses them to bridge time gaps and summarize action.
If I have one criticism of the book, it is that while the characters experience emotions, including moments of crisis, I’m not as moved by them as I’d like to be. One exception is a meeting between Ransom and the duchess of Brythonica later in the book.
By the end of “Lady’s Ransom,” Wheeler positions us well for the final entry of the series, “Fate’s Ransom,” which will be published in January. The book ends with lots of loose ends, and I’m looking forward to seeing how the author will tie them all together.

4 stars

You can read all of my reviews at Nerd Girl Loves Books.

This is another great book in this fun YA Fantasy series that finds Ransom's loyalties tested at home and with his king. Newly married, the couple arrive in Legault to reclaim the title that was Claire's birth-right, but before the couple can make much progress on the dilapidated castle, Ransom is called away to serve King Benedict. Claire is upset and doesn't want him to go, but Ransom's duty is to answer his King's call.

King Benedict decides to start a war in a far-off corner of the kingdom and leaves Ransom and his council to run the kingdom in his stead. Co-ruling with Ransom is the King's mother and a sly, greedy and exasperating man who served the King when he was young. When circumstances become dire in the kingdom, Ransom must answer the call and once again put himself in danger to serve the Kingdom.

In this book we find Claire and Ransom apart most of the time -which tests the young couple's commitment to each other, as well as their ability to trust that they truly know the other person. Their relationship is strained to its limit, and a strange feeling and confession add to stresses on the duo. The author does a good job exploring issues of trust, fear and commitment issues that almost every couple experiences once in awhile.

The author moves some storylines forward in this book, but adds bits of mystery here and there that will need to be explored in the next books. This book had more political intrigue than fighting in it, which is a nice change of pace.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and 47North. All opinions are my own.

So incredibly real, awesome continuation of a knight’s tale

In Lady’s Ransom, Jeff Wheeler continues Ransom’s tale, making him so incredibly real yet again that you almost expect the sound of weapons singing against armor as they strike. Wheelers fantasy seems real and immediate and much like real life, frustrating at times. I want to yell at the characters to warn them about who they should trust and who needs to be locked in a dungeon, asap.

This is just a brilliant continuation of a story that is my favorite series from Jeff Wheeler so far. I’m just glad Ransom doesn’t have to much further to go. Can’t wait for the next book!

What I Loved
Lady's Ransom is the third book in the series and follows Ransom as he serves his third king. One of the things I love about the series is that each book follows Ransom as he serves a different king. That manner of organizing the series is quite unique. It lends itself to each novel having a different tone, pace, and story. Lady's Ransom has a bit of a slower pace, with more story than the other two books that preceded it, but still compelling with the numerous challenges this new king has to face. The story felt very much like the movement of puzzle pieces, dare I say, like on the magic Wyzr set, preparing for the fourth and final book in the series.

The magic is explored more and more in each book. In Lady's Ransom, the possible history of the magic is discussed. The number of items out there with magic was determined to be originally 13, which has the reader and Ransom wondering what he will run across next. I always enjoy a unique magic system. This one, taken loosely from the legend of King Arthur, is based on blessed items that serve a particular purpose. Ransom carries a scabbard that will not allow him to bleed to death and quickly heals all wounds. There is also a ring that brings the wearer to where they are needed the most and a board game where the pieces represent real people so movements can be watched and dictated at will. Plus, a few more objects have been discovered to be in use and are equally as intriguing.

Ryain Hood (Robin Hood) makes an appearance. I had just been thinking about isn't this the time of Robin Hood, when in walks Ryain Hood – an expert with a bow and arrow who steals from the rich and gives to the poor. His role in this story is very unexpected though I can't say more.

Lastly, I loved the twist at the end. It took me by surprise but also felt right. And I always enjoy a good twist.

Characters
Ransom Barton is true of heart and fiercely loyal to those he gives his word to. He is the epitome of Knighthood and one to be held as a paragon of all the virtues the knights hold sacred. His path is rarely easy, but then, we all know that doing what's right is rarely easy in life.

I adored Claire De Murrow's character in the first two books but was not as happy in this installment. She became less self-confident, and as her mind filled with doubt, I became more frustrated with her. I'm hoping that will change in the 4th and last book of the series.

What I Wish
My wish for the last book in the series is that Ransom stays true and all that is good and that Claire finds that inner strength and confidence that the earlier Claire exhibited. And that he who would king and bring the land peace does make it to the throne with Ransom's help.

To Read or Not to Read
If you are looking for an epic fantasy that will take you back to a time of magic, myth, and legend, The First Argentines series by Jeff Wheeler is waiting for you to pick up book 1 and be whisked away.

I loved revisiting this world. It was great to see Ransom and Claire together.. The politics do not get old. Lots of betrayals and treachery.

This has been such an enjoyable series. The last couple of books I’ve read have been rather dark and grim. It was nice reading a story so mild and wholesome feeling underneath the knightly action scenes. While there is violence in this of course since it’s a story about knights it isn’t over the top or explicit. It’s a wholesome feeling story about a virtuous and true knight with his lady fair providing the chapter starting letters about what’s going on elsewhere in the kingdom. It’s a good series if you have a soft spot for King Arthur and Robin Hood stories. You could give this to a teen who found the story appealing without any worry about the content.

I was really looking forward to reading this book and I did enjoy it, but parts of it made me rather sad and unsure of things. I was really excited to see Ransom and Claire finally together. Unfortunately Ransom gets called away all too soon and Claire is left to deal with things in her kingdom alone. I liked Claire a lot in the other books, but there were times here that she felt a bit out of character, and it affected the way I felt about the book at times. She seemed a bit too whiny and unsupportive of the things Ransom had to do. Now that I've finished the whole book I do get what the author was trying to do here, and I won't spoil anything, but I still didn't care for her personality in this book. Poor Ransom never has it easy no matter what, and that's what makes the fact that he's still such an honorable man so admirable, although I do feel that Ransom is a bit too much of a Gary Stu at times.

One of the best things about this book is the fact that I didn't see a twist coming that the author threw in near the end. It almost made all the sad and unsure things worth it.

Thanks to NetGalley and 47North for providing me with an ARC of this book.

I sit on the fence with this series. The knightly conduct and sense of moral fortitude draw me back each time. And yet, there is something about the story that makes me unable to ever give this series 5 stars. I really wish I could pinpoint what that missing magic is, but every time I read these I feel a little annoyed. The whole story is a little over dramatized for my tastes, but that's really kind of the essence of the legends of King Arthur. They were over the top and mildly unrealistic.

The web of loyalties is thick and tangled by now--and drenched in magic all around. Ransom is middle aged and married. He serves the Holy Grail because he bested its last protector. He serves the Duchess of Brythonica because her son is the next King Andrew. He serves the King of Ceredigion because he swore to serve all its king in his youth--no matter how terrible they have been to him. He serves the country of Legault because he married Claire. He serves the fountain because it has blessed him.

So many directions to be pulled. There is a constant struggle in Ransom to balance all the loyalties he has promised. He is stretched thin, and the magic makes it even worse for him. He can't control when the grail calls to be defended. Just poof, out he goes. And absolutely no one can know where is going. There are multiple fights to the death. Claire doesn't believe in his religion or his loyalty. He is a first time father. The kings want to be Ransom's number one, if not only, priority. He ends up in foreign countries more than his own home, which is being seiged.

If that is not enough to compete with, the magical artifacts of King Andrew are resurfacing, and they are super dangerous. The seering stones and book cause people to go crazy if not used with the Fountain's express permission. And guess who ends up with both? Claire. Since she doesn't believe in Ransom's religion, she goes crazy using them.

The whole novel goes crazy with anxiety, tension, and grief. There are not enough cathartic moments to counter balance the excess tensions. By the end of this review, I pinpointed why I can only give the story 4 stars. I come away too anxious despite the great integrity and happiness that Ransom finds from his loyalty by the end.

I was given an ARC by author:Jeff Wheeler to give an honest review.

This book is the next in the First Argentines series. You <i>can</i> read the books out of order, Wheeler’s weaves in the back story with finesse. However, reading this book after Knight’s Ransom and Warrior’s Ransom makes this current book more enjoyable.

The story is extremely enjoyable, as one has come to expect of Jeff Wheeler. This definitely is a fast read.

The world building is superlative. The story traces the trajectory of Ransom’s career in the absence of the king. Since Ransom’s fountain magic is enhanced because of his loyalty, this is a tricky situation. All characters have come into their own. The dynamics between him and Claire takes on a new dimension as their relationship enters a new phase. As usual, all fight scenes are very well detailed, realistic and extremely well done.
However this book is unusual in that sometimes the language is not as tight as for the previous Wheeler books. I glossed over a few parts of the book. Another aspect that I missed was the further development of Claire’s character. This book did have more about Claire, and while there were some chapters from her POV, much of the insight into her characters were still from excerpts of her diary. That said, I still am excited about this series and await the next installment. Also I cant wait for the release of the audio book and Kate Rudd’s narration which I definitely am going to buy!

I have read almost everything Jeff Wheeler has written and I love the way he writes. I loved reading this book and had a really hard time putting it down! I can't wait to see how the series ends!

Lady's Ransom is a great installment in the First Argentine's series. The books fall under a historical fantasy type genre. The Kingfountian World is mirrored after a medieval England with castles, knights, and kings. There is a magic system to this world but it is limited to a few chosen people. The magic system is "faith based" and grants powers to those who honor the fountain. There are characters who are "fountain blessed" that do acts of evil and are a corruption of the "magic" and faith. The really interesting thing about Jeff Wheeler books is that all of his worlds are subtly connected. There are hints of the medium and Muirwood in this installment of the series! I was very happy to see another connection to his other works. He is AMAZING at this.

Our main character, Ransom, is such a noble and honorable man. He always does the right thing even if it brings him trouble in his personal life with Claire. Claire was not my favorite character in this book and I was very unhappy with her at times!

Without giving spoilers, I'll say that this is another great work by Jeff Wheeler! I love the tie ins to his other series and worlds. I love how everything to do with magic is connected to a "faith" based system and the wielders of the natural magic adhere to some code of morality. I like that the protagonists are usually a corruption of the faith and wield a dark/cursed type power. I like that this Argentines series is giving us a backstory for his previously published Kingfountain books! Jeff Wheeler is an amazing author and I love and read anything he publishes.

Another fast paced and enjoyable entry in Ransom's journey. When we last saw Ransom he and Claire had just been married and he was now Duke of Glosstyr with war on the horizon with Occitannia. This book has events happening on fronts all over the region as the King has gone east to deal with issues there along with a loose, fragile alliance, and Ransom and Claire have returned to Legault to see what the state of affairs is there. Events move quite quickly as Ransom and Claire become parents, more artifacts of the Fountain are found which have a serious affect on Claire. Ransom is called to fight on various fronts while also being called to defend the Gradalis and assist Lady Constance. As with the other books in the series, it is an entertaining read and a great world to escape into. Looking forward to how Ransom and Claire's story wraps up in the next book!!