Sweep of the Blade by Ilona Andrews

Title: Sweep of the Blade

Author: Ilona Andrews
Genre: Sci-Fi Fantasy/UF
Series: Innkeeper Chronicles # 4
Trade paperback, 320 pages/Audiobook
Publication: July 12, 2019 by Independent publishing
Source: Purchased. 
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Maud Demille is a daughter of Innkeepers—a special group who provide ‘lodging’ to other-planetary visitors—so she knows that a simple life isn't in the cards. But even Maud could never have anticipated what Fate would throw at her.

Once a wife to a powerful vampire knight, Maud and her young daughter, Helen, were exiled with him for his treachery to the desolate, savage planet of Karhari. Karhari killed her husband, and Maud—completely abandoned by his family—has spent over a year avenging his debts. Rescued by her sister Dina, she's sworn off all things vampire.

Except... In helping Dina save the world, she met Arland, the Marshal of House Krahr, one of the most powerful vampire houses. One thing led to another and he asked for her hand in marriage. She declined. Arland is not used to hearing the word ‘no;’ and try as she might, Maud can't just walk away from Arland. It doesn't help that being human is a lot harder for Maud than being a vampire.

To sort it all out, she accepts his invitation to visit his home planet. House Krahr is extremely influential and Maud knows that a woman—a human, with a very questionable past—who's turned down a proposal from its most beloved son won't get a warm reception. Maybe she’s not sure about marrying Arland, but House Krahr isn’t going to decide for her. Maud Demille has never run from a fight, and House Krahr will soon discover that there's a lot more to Maud than they’re expecting.

I was very excited when I heard IA were penning a novella for Maud, Dina’s sister. Like most IA fans, I too fell in love with Maud and her daughter Helen, whom we met in One Fell Sweep, book three of the Innkeeper. 

In the last installment Arland proposed to Maud but she declined. Hoping to change her mind Arland invites Maud and Helen to his home. To no one surprise, Maud immediately was given a poor reception since she was considered a disgraced and exiled human. 

Although I have the book, I decided to do the audiobook version of Sweep of the Blade. I believe the novella used a different narrator from the last three Innkeeper Chronicles novels because I wasn’t a fan of Natalie Naudus. I know no two narrators are the same, but I like how Maud was narrated in One Fell Sweep. Naudus, did a good job for the most part but I thought she made Maud sound too much like a valley girl, which we all know is the polar opposite of Maud. And occasionally during character transitions, Naudus forgot to change pitch/tone i.e going from Maud to Helen…it was jarring and weird which pulled me out from the story a couple of times.  Besides the narration, the plot/story were enjoyable. Again, we all know Maud is a total kick-ass and can hold her own in any battle but one thing I didn’t understand was how could Maud, a human be stronger than all the vampires? Vampires are natural predators with exemplary strength and speed, and yet all except Arland’s mother was easily cut down by Maud. It’s not realistic. 

 Despite Sweep in Blade being a novella, I thought it was a solid, just as good novel as the other Innkeeper Chronicles novels. I enjoyed seeing some of the secondary characters at the forefront and am excited to see where the series is headed next. And that ending! My jaws literally dropped…talk about an unexpected cliff hanger!