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Inkspelled Faery

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Tag Archives: book review

Review: Magic of Thieves (Legends of Dimmingwood, #1) by C. Greenwood

10 Monday Feb 2014

Posted by Elisabeth in review

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

book review, c greenwood, epic fantasy, fantasy, indie author, indie book review, indies, negative, review, self-published, ya, young adult

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In a province where magic is forbidden and its possessors are murdered by the cruel Praetor, young Ilan, born with the powerful gift of her ancestors, has only one hope for survival. Concealment. In the shadow of Dimmingwood, she finds temporary protection with a band of forest brigands led by the infamous outlaw Rideon the Red Hand.

But as Ilan matures, learns the skills of survival, and struggles to master the inherent magic of her dying race, danger is always close behind. When old enemies reappear and new friendships lead to betrayal, will her discovery of an enchanted bow prove to be Ilan’s final salvation or her ultimate downfall?

* * * * *
When I was small, my mother taught me about the magickless—evil men who hunted our kind to destroy us. They came from across the water to steal the lands of our ancestors. Pretending to want peace, they enslaved us and sought to extinguish what they couldn’t possess, the one thing their harsh laws could never control. Our ancient powers. One day, my mother warned me, violence would shatter the safety of our home, and when that day came, we must fight. And we must win.
* * * * *

Blurb and cover from Goodreads

3 out of 5 stars

This review will be brief because it won’t take much to sum up my thoughts.

This is not a long book and I feel like that was its largest problem. I usually have nothing against short books or novellas, but this felt like the first 20% or so to an epic fantasy novel ripped out and sold on its own. It takes the main character, Ilrun, from five years of age to sixteen with no clear focus to the story. It felt like there wasn’t a defined goal yet, as if I was just reading backstory, and I spent most of the book being mad at Ilrun.

For me, the main character doesn’t have to be my favorite, but I do have to at least like him/her. I did not like Ilrun. I couldn’t really understand why she idolized the leader of the bandits as she did and I got mad when she shamelessly double-crossed other characters. She had her relatable moments, but there weren’t enough of them to redeem her for me.

On the other hand, the author did create an original and fascinating world I think I would have been more interested in exploring had this been part of a larger book. The world building was probably the best part of this story and I do laud the author on an interesting fantasy realm.

I think this could have been a good book if the writer had made Ilrun a little less brutal and given us something to resolve at the end instead of a continuous storyline that just stops. But as this story is, I really can’t recommend it.

Find Magic of Thieves on Goodreads

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Find Magic of Thieves on BN.com

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Friday Freebie #5 Beginnings: Prequel to The Guardians of Vesturon (The Guardians of Vesturon, # 0.5) by A.M. Hargrove

03 Friday Jan 2014

Posted by Elisabeth in friday freebie

≈ 9 Comments

Tags

aliens, am hargrove, awesome, book review, free for kindle, friday freebie, kindle freebie, novella, paranormal romance, ya, young adult

If you know of any Kindle books that are free today or on upcoming Fridays, I’d love to hear about them! (This series is freaking amazing.)

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You met the Guardians of Vesturon in Survival and Resurrection. Now read about how their parents, Rowan and Annalise met in Beginnings, the novella Prequel to The Guardians of Vesturon. Learn more about Rowan and how Annalise unwittingly captured his heart and how his chance meeting of her took him on a journey of forbidden love.

Read my review of Beginnings!

Download Beginnings! (perma-free)

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Review: Volcrian’s Hunt (The Cat’s Eye Chronicles, #3) by T.L. Shreffler @poetsforpeanuts

09 Monday Dec 2013

Posted by Elisabeth in review

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

awesome, book review, fantasy, indie author, indie book review, indies, magic, self-published, series, the cats eye chronicles, tl shreffler, volcrian's hunt, ya, young adult

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A plague is spreading across the land. Crops are rotting. People are dying in the streets. Sora, with the help of her magical Cat’s Eye necklace, is the only one who can stop it.

She must travel overseas to the Lost Isles, a place of legend and mystery. Only there can she destroy the bloodmage, Volcrian, putting an end to the curse. She is accompanied by Crash, a lethal assassin who once threatened—and saved—her life. But Sora is beginning to question her dark companion. He seems to be carrying a secret; a hidden past that could endanger them all.

Meanwhile, they are hunted by an underground society known as the Shade. For centuries, the Shade has waited for the perfect opportunity to step into the light. Now they are perilously close to resurrecting a Dark God and unleashing a wave of unimaginable destruction. They only need to collect the three sacred weapons, and Sora has already found two….

Blurb and cover from Goodreads

5 out of 5 stars

Note: This review may be less professional and longer than most because fangirling is likely to occur. You were warned.

This is by far one of my All Time Favorite series. Volcrian’s Hunt picks up a few days after Viper’s Creed left off, with Sora and Co. on board a ship destined for the Harpy islands. It doesn’t take long for the adventure/trouble to start and once it does, there’s never a dull moment! I find myself becoming more and more engrossed in this series, this world, and these characters with each new installment. This is by far one of the better books I have read and Ferran’s Map cannot arrive soon enough for me!

The plot:

This book caps off the word count at over 100k, but it felt much, much shorter. I became so caught up in the story that before I knew it I had reached the end and was yearning for more. The plot is well structured with no loopholes and a cocktail of suspense, action, and magic with a shot of romance. We learn more about the Harpies as well as their archenemies, the Unnamed or the Sixth Race, Crash’s race.

The characters:

I understand that the bad@$$ heroine has come into vogue and while I can be fond of the Xenas and Celaenas, I find a character like Sora, with a certain vulnerability and innocence, to be refreshing. Sora isn’t a fool or completely helpless, but she’s not a smoldering virago either. She does what she does for the sake of doing the right thing and while she has her fears and doubts, it’s her courage that pulls through in the end.

Crash has grown a lot since the first book, but the author still does a good job of reminding us who he is and where he comes from. That doesn’t change the fact that he is my favorite character and I have shipped him with Sora since the scene they met. He’s become very protective of her, but not in a possessive way (possessiveness is overrated in my opinion). I thought I couldn’t adore him any more, then came this one part where :SPOILER: he could have seduced Sora :END SPOILER: and you could tell he wanted to, but didn’t because he respected her and wanted what was best for her. My thoughts at that point were simple—AWESOME!!! If I didn’t already love him to bits, I certainly would now.

On a side note, Crash’s shirts seem have a rather short life expectancy in this book. I didn’t think the poor articles of benign clothing deserved their untimely demises, but if dear T.L. Shreffler disagrees…oh, well.

There was a female character called Krait introduced toward the end of Viper’s Creed of the same race as Crash. I’m not sure why, but I think I like her. She has that certain creepy zealot appeal and I’m looking forward to reading more about her. We also meet Caprion, a Harpy general who becomes fast adversaries with Crash. Caprion came across as a bit lofty and self righteous to me, but I’m kind of wondering if my opinion will change when I read Caprion’s Wings, the prequel novella set to come out in January. Apparently, Caprion and Krait have something in common according to the author’s website and I’m twisting my mind into knots trying to figure it out. I have my suspicions, but…

I thought Volcrian had lost it in the second book, but it was nothing compared to this one. He’s become a psychotic sociopath, hardly able to tell his own thoughts and desires from those of the Dark God who, unbeknownst to him, is using the mage to gain a foothold in the world of the living.

Though the bloodmage is a more than adequate villain, we also see a brief glimpse of Cerastes, Crash’s former mentor, who is bent on reviving the Dark God and ending all life. Though we meet him in only two scenes through the eyes of Krait, it is more than enough to tell he is going to be an unprecedented antihero for Ferran’s Map.

I think I’ve rambled on long enough, so I will sum up by saying this is a YA Epic Fantasy series worthy of obsession and definitely one to watch.

Find Volcrian’s Hunt on Goodreads

Find Volcrian’s Hunt on Amazon

Find Volcrian’s Hunt on BN.com

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So behind…

19 Tuesday Nov 2013

Posted by Elisabeth in only book people will understand

≈ 11 Comments

Tags

blogger, blogging, book review, books, fantasy, indie author, indie book review, indies, just for fun, procrastination, reading, review, self-published, ya, young adult

I am so very behind on my reviews that it isn’t even humorous. I’m going to have to do a whole post just to show you how very behind I am. but until then, this is what I am currently reading! (It’s pretty flipping awesome so far!)

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As the last of the Incenaga Witches, Emmeline has been tortured and forced to use her power to kill. But unlike the Incenagas before her, she has survived. With her freedom restored, she should feel safe, invincible even. After all, she has the protection of Prince Erick’s army and a power strong enough to obliterate any enemy. Yet Emmeline lives in fear for the next person who will try to control her, and no one can seem to find the tyrant threatening to claim her.

Until it’s too late.

With everything on the line, and the enemy at her throat, will Emmeline be able to use her power like never before? Even if it kills her?

In The Underground Witch, the second novel of the Incenaga Trilogy, Debbie Dee delivers enough adventure, heartbreak, and suspense to captivate readers at every turn.

Blurb and cover from Goodreads

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Review: You Are Mine (Mine, #1) by Janeal Falor

02 Wednesday Oct 2013

Posted by Elisabeth in review

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

book review, fantasy, indie author, janeal falor, magic, paranormal romance, self-published, series, you are mine, young adult

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Serena knows a few simple things. She will always be owned by a warlock. She will never have freedom. She will always do what her warlock wishes, regardless of how inane, frivolous, or cruel it is. And if she doesn’t follow the rules, she will be tarnished. Spelled to be bald, inked, and barren for the rest of her life—worth less than the shadow she casts.

Then her ownership is won by a barbarian from another country. With the uncertainty that comes from belonging to a new warlock, Serena questions if being tarnished is really worse than being owned by a barbarian, and tempts fate by breaking the rules. When he looks the other way instead of punishing her, she discovers a new world. The more she ventures into the forbidden, the more she learns of love and a freedom just out of reach. Serena longs for both. But in a society where women are only ever property, hoping for more could be deadly.

Blurb and cover from Goodreads

5 out of 5 stars

First of all, I would like to lead a round of applause for Ms. Falor. You Are Mine deals with tough topics, mainly sexism, with an admirable amount of balance. Usually, books, movies, etc. that discuss women being treated as commodities end up sounding (to me) overtly feminist and going the other way. You Are Mine is an excellent tale of a young woman learning she doesn’t have to live on her knees, that not all men are domineering and abusive, and that things can change for the better if you are willing to fight for them.

The plot:

I finished this book essentially in one evening. While there isn’t so much action as in fighting, there is a firm helping of suspense to keep the reader from relaxing or getting too comfortable. I highly enjoyed the story’s progression and how very developed the plot is. Ms. Falor clearly put a great deal of effort into this story and I would say it more than paid off.

I can’t help but wonder why women can’t use the magic that flows in their veins. That part didn’t make sense to me and I began to wonder if it was due to some other oppression tactic from the Chardonian men. But it seems the Envadi women can’t use it either, so I suppose there is some other explanation.

The characters:

Serena, our main character, wants to be the good daughter, the good sister, and the eventual good wife, yet can’t help but be dissatisfied with her subservient station as a woman. I liked how the author shows Serena has the capability for spunk, but at the same time it is clear how many times Serena has been beaten down. It was wonderful to see how she slowly comes out of her shell once out from under her father’s iron thumb and how she begins to explore other, freer ways of living than what she has been subjected to her whole life.

Zade, the foreigner who wins Serena in a tournament, is a wonderful character. He secretly seeks to better the tyrannical conditions in Chardonia at extreme risk to himself and puts forth a great effort to protect Serena though he barely knows her. The budding romance between the two was a side note, but extremely sweet all the same.

I absolutely loathe Serena’s father. Councilman Stephen is controlling, arrogant, sadistic, vindictive, greedy, and downright horrid. However, he isn’t the only one in this story who fits that description, far from it. He merely makes a fine addition to this story’s cast of despicable antiheroes, who are too many to mention in detail.

The relationship between Serena and her sisters is touching and adds an extra layer to the storyline. Though the second oldest sister I don’t trust, she strikes me as potentially mercenary. It was tragic to learn how Serena’s mother was broken as a young woman and turned into a broodmare for their father, but explains why she is so adamant that Serena play the doormat. While she demands her daughters adhere to the rigid social conventions, it’s hard to hate her because one feels so sorry for her.

In summary, You Are Mine is a tale to keep you awake late at night. With no cardboard characters to be found and a sophisticated, clean plot, this is one that I highly, highly recommend.

Find You Are Mine on Goodreads

Find You Are Mine on Amazon

Find You Are Mine on BN.com

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Review: Viper’s Creed (The Cat’s Eye Chronicles, #2) by T. L. Shreffler

26 Thursday Sep 2013

Posted by Elisabeth in review

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

book review, epic fantasy, fantasy, indie author, indie book review, indies, magic, mythology, self-published, series, the cats eye chronicles, tl shreffler, ya, young adult

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Sora is having visions. Strange, terrifying visions brought on by her Cat’s Eye necklace, an ancient and magical device. Spurred to action, she leaves her mother’s cabin to find Crash, the mysterious assassin who once changed her life. She is certain that together, they can discover what the necklace is trying to tell her.

Crash is still on the run from the dark sorcerer, Volcrian, but now a plague is spreading across the land. Volcrian’s quest for vengeance has awakened something far more evil than himself; a force that could destroy the entire kingdom. Together, he and Sora must harness the power of the Cat’s Eye and kill the sorcerer before it’s too late….

Find out more at www.catseyechronicles.com

Blurb and cover from Goodreads

5 out of 5 stars

I was psyched to start this after finishing Sora’s Quest and I was not in the least disappointed. Here it was confirmed that this is a series I am in love with and on the morning of September 30, you will find me on Amazon, ready to download the next installment. Though we had a bit of a slow start, the rest of the book more than makes up for it and I am so excited for the third I’m like a toddler on Christmas morning.

The plot:

A plague is spreading over the land, caused by a tear between the world of the living and the realm of the dead when Volcrian created his undead wraiths to hunt Crash. Realizing that something must be done, Sora sets out to once again find the assassin and enlist his help. Like I said, the beginning was a bit slow, but once Sora found Crash…you know what, on second thought, it might have just been that I missed Crash…

The characters:

Sora has grown up a lot in the year since her first adventures with the Cat’s Eye. Not only does she have a far better understanding of what the world is and how it works, but she has been practicing her fighting skills and can, for the first time, hold her own against some opponents. Her compassionate side shows clearly on many instances, often to the annoyance of Crash.

We see a good deal more from Crash’s perspective, plunging into the dark depths of his thoughts and demons. He has become increasingly protective of Sora and failing her is his one and only fear. Some questions are answered about his past, but even more are raised. There is one scene I absolutely adore where a Dracian they have just met gets a little too flirtatious with Sora. Crash simply steps up and puts an arm around her, glaring daggers at the Dracian until he backs off. Precious!

Volcrian has completely flipped out at this point. His use of the dark magic and his hatred and lust for revenge have eaten him up like a cancer, consuming his soul. He is even more evil and awesome than in the first and makes for an incredible villain worthy of the Dark Lord Hall of Fame.

There are several new characters, particularly at the end, but the main addition is Laina, a young girl thief Sora rescues from prison. Burn becomes fast friends with her, but for the most part I shared Crash’s opinion of her—that she was trouble and they should get rid of her. Though I was wary of Laina at first, I warmed up to her a bit and I think she makes a good fourth member of their party.

I am hooked on this series like a flipping trout and DYING for Volcrian’s Hunt! If you like your stories with dark magic, ancient secrets, swords, and heart-stopping action, I order you to read these books!

Find Viper’s Creed on Goodreads

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Find Viper’s Creed on BN.com

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Review: ReEmergent (Guardians of Vesturon, #4) by A.M. Hargrove

07 Saturday Sep 2013

Posted by Elisabeth in review

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

aliens, book review, guardians, indie author, indie book review, indies, new adult, paranormal romance, young adult

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Xarrid Yarrister is barely surviving…he’s living a life in hell.


The love of his life, Saylan, has vanished into thin air, and his telepathic powers can’t connect with her mind.

Saylan, a Guardian of Vesturon, doesn’t know herself anymore. Kidnapped by the Xanthians, she’s had a robotic chip implanted in her brain and is now a prisoner in her own body, lacking free will, at the beck and call of her cruel masters.

For over a year Xarrid has been on the hunt. The Guardians have searched everywhere for her, but when they finally bring her home, Xarrid discovers her memory is gone. He’s determined to restore his love’s mind back to its healthy state. Removing the chip can cost Saylan her life, but doing nothing will cause irreparable brain damage. What choice will Xarrid make and how steep of a price will Saylan have to pay?

Blurb and cover from Goodreads

5 out of 5 stars

I’ve waited months for this book and I am very, very sad to see this series end. I genuinely adore the Guardians and if I ever got the chance to pick any love interest from one of my paranormal romance books, I would most likely take a Vesturion Guardian. This book deals with darker themes than the other titles in the series, delving into PTSD and rape recovery, and is not for younger readers. There were some parts where I noticed that colloquial Earth slang had crept into the dialogue where it wasn’t before. I wish that hadn’t happened, but I still loved this story and won’t harp on it too much.

The plot:

The suspense in this series is mostly piled on at the beginning with the latter portion more devoted to wrapping up the many subplots (with characters who I adore). Nonetheless, I do which there had been a more focused point of conflict. While the main “question” appeared to be whether or not Saylan would be able to cope with what happened to her, I thought that there could have been a lot more done with what the author had.

Thus far in the series, we have learned that Vesturions practice staunch pre-marital celibacy, but this installment there is an exploration into what happens when one of them doesn’t have any choice in the matter. I thought it especially sad when, after learning what had been done to her, Saylan’s father is surprised to learn Xarrid still wants her. It’s not a theme often brought up in YA and I understand why, though I think Ms. Hargrove handled it well.

The characters:

Aww…Xarrid. Xarrid is the main perspective of the story and I admit I wasn’t particularly fond of him in the earlier books, but here all I cared about was him finding his ladylove and making her happy. He has a lot of anger and a lust for revenge in the beginning that I don’t consider healthy, but it’s only because of Saylan and his desire to shield and protect her.

Saylan has been through a lot and it takes her awhile to even remember her name. It was impossible not to feel sympathy for her. I was in torment as to whether or not she would be able to pull through the traumatic memories and nightmares that haunted her long after her rescue.

I love Jurek. The shapeshifting, sarcastic, fiercely loyal, secretly good leader of the Praestani was a near-constant presence here, helping Xarrid to find Saylan, then to aid in Saylan’s recovery, and the hunt for her captors. We learn a good deal more about Jurek and the Praestani in general and I think it’s a terrible pity that Jurek’s romance is in an Adult book, because I would have loved to read it (but I am a pre-established prude and that probably won’t happen for awhile).

There were a lot of subplots and loose ends that were tied off here, making for a clean end to a phenomenal series. Guardians, I will miss you and I have my fingers crossed for a spin-off series in the future!

Find ReEmergent on Goodreads

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GIF Review: City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments, #1) by Cassandra Clare

30 Friday Aug 2013

Posted by Elisabeth in just for fun, review

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

book review, book to movie, cassandra clare, city of bones, humor, paranormal, reading, series, the mortal instruments, Vampire, ya, young adult

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Don’t miss The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, soon to be a major motion picture in theaters August 2013!

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder — much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It’s hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing — not even a smear of blood — to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary’s first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It’s also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace’s world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know. . . .

Exotic and gritty, exhilarating and utterly gripping, Cassandra Clare’s ferociously entertaining fantasy takes readers on a wild ride that they will never want to end.

Blurb and cover from Goodreads

3 out of 5 stars

Me when I picked it up at the library:

Me at the beginning:

Me at the scary part:

Me at the party part:

Scary part:

Still scary part:

Me at the climax:

Me at Valentine’s revelation:

How I felt at the end:

Me using Google for truth about Valentine’s revelation:

How I feel about reading the next book:

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Release Day Review: Phoenix Rising (The Kindred, #5) by Erica Stevens

27 Tuesday Aug 2013

Posted by Elisabeth in review

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

book review, Erica Stevens, indie author, indie book review, indies, paranormal, paranormal romance, phoenix rising, self-published, the kindred, Vampire, ya, young adult

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Reeling from the aftermath of Cassie’s death, they find themselves trying to survive in a tumultuous world filled with more enemies than friends. Struggling through the rage consuming him, Devon must come to terms with the fact that the woman he loved has died. He has little time to deal with his grief though as The Elders want them dead, the Halflings are still running free, and the missing children have become the focal point of concern.
On a mission to rescue the children, they set out on a journey from New York to Canada that will forever alter the course of their lives and make them realize that sometimes what rises from the fire may be something even more dangerous and deadly. That it may, in fact, be the death of them all.

Blurb and cover from Goodreads

5 out of 5 stars

This may be the best book by Erica Stevens that I have read yet. That is not to say it is my favorite because I am quite honestly convinced The Captive series shall eternally be my favorite, but I think that in terms of plot, mechanics, and development, this is her best work yet (that I have read). In this one I believe we hear from more perspectives than previously, but the author is usually careful to make sure you know who’s talking and it is interesting to have an insight into what goes on in certain characters’ heads. The sarcasm and wit was absolutely priceless and I cheered and cringed in all the right places. This, as I mentioned before, is rather more horror-esque than most vampire stories I’ve read (though there are still oodles of the seductive, drop-dead gorgeous vampires, too), but that’s how vampire tales were meant to be, I suppose.

The plot:

We get about a combined ten pages in this book to relax. Otherwise there is always something happening, always a problem, always suspense to make you need to turn the flipping page. I loved how everything from the beginning of the series works together at the end of this book and how all the loose ends come together for resolution. Nothing (and I mean nothing) is achieved too easily or without complications and I was in utter suspense until the satisfying, grin-bestowing end.

The characters:

Everyone has matured since the beginning, even the centuries-old vampires. Everyone has their struggles and trials to overcome, but especially Devon and Cassie.

Julian has to repeatedly come to terms with his place in the love triangle and, despite his rather damning first appearance in the series, it was impossible not to empathize with him and hope that he’ll find his own Cassie someday. (Note to author: I would not at all be opposed to a spin-off series with Julian as the hero. Just saying…)

Joey, Dani’s brother who I was just waiting to get bumped off, actually redeems himself as does another character, partially, who has made you want to beat her with a frying pan since the beginning.

I really, really like the way this ended (and I love Barnacle to bits) and while I am a little saddened to see yet another of my favorite series end, I couldn’t have asked for a better ending and I definitely recommend this series to anyone who will pick it up.

Find Phoenix Rising on Goodreads

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Find Phoenix Rising on BN.com

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Review: Inferno (The Kindred, #4) by Erica Stevens

26 Monday Aug 2013

Posted by Elisabeth in review

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

book review, Erica Stevens, indie author, paranormal, paranormal romance, self-published, series, the kindred, ya, young adult

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Deadly. That is what her time imprisoned by The Commission has made her. Just how deadly, and exactly what was done to her, Cassie doesn’t know but she is terrified of the possibilities. Though they try to hide it, Cassie knows that the people she loves most are also afraid of what she might become. But that may be the least of her problems as she comes face to face with the deserted town she was locked away in, and the destruction the Halflings have wrought upon it. Destruction she must try to stop before even more innocent people are killed and the Halflings escape the town. However, the existence of the Halflings has also caught the attention of someone else, someone powerful and angry; someone determined to destroy her and everyone that she loves.

Book 4 of 5

This is a young adult fictional story that includes some language, violence, and mild sexual situations. Recommended for ages fifteen and up.

Cover art by Cover art by www.EbookLaunch.com

Blurb and cover from Goodreads

5 out of 5 stars

Oh, the torment…of all this series, the cliffhanger for this one was by far the worst. I am aching to read my ARC of the fifth and final book, but before I can do that, I have ordered myself to be a good little blogger and tell you all about this one. Inferno has much more horror-esque content than the previous books or Ms. Stevens other vampire series (which I am honestly trying not to bring up), but that can be a bad or good thing depending on how you like your vampires.

The plot:

Consistent with the rest of the series, this book was fast, intense, yet broken up with heart-melting moments of romance that make you root for the couple. I truly enjoyed this one though there is one part that I, true to my past practices, more or less skipped.

The characters:

Devon and Cassie are still the focus and I love them to bits, but I’d like to discuss the other characters this time.

Chris came over to Devon’s “side” in the second book, but I truly appreciated his shows of loyalty toward both Devon and Cassie in this one. His brotherly affections truly made me empathize with him and he has become one of my favorite characters.

Julian, who one would have thought beyond redemption in the first two books, has had the misfortune to fall for Cassie, but while he protects her with the same zeal as Devon, he also accepts that Devon is who she belongs with. I really, really liked Julian in this one and I really, really hope he’ll be alright in the next.

As if Devon and Cassie and everyone else didn’t have enough to worry about, the other Elders turn up to make things even more difficult. Their leader, Zane, and his mate, Anastasia, are the epitome of creepy (for lack of a better word), while Devon’s estranged brother, Robert, isn’t any better. Unlikely alliances with the Elders against a common foe leads to devastating consequences that culminate into—that’s right—another cliffhanger!

Quick and concise, this book is a credit to the rest of the series and I am very, very excited to start Phoenix Rising!

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Find Inferno on BN.com

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