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

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

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!

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Review: Sora’s Quest (The Cat’s Eye Chronicles, #1) by T. L. Shreffler

Tags

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

This book is permanently free on Amazon, BN.com, Apple, Kobo and more!

Sora Fallcrest always dreamed of adventure, but as a member of the nobility, she learned the ways of a Lady instead. Now seventeen, she is expected to choose a husband and marry. She plots to run away, but just as she is stepping out the door, she runs into a mysterious man–and is kidnapped.

Abducted from her manor, Sora is plunged into a world of magical races, arcane jewelry and forgotten lore. She finds herself at the mercy of a dangerous assassin, haunted by an even darker past. She yearns for freedom, but he won’t let her go–not when her Cat’s Eye necklace is the only thing that can save his life.

But the necklace itself presents a problem. It is an ancient device from the long forgotten War of the Races, and its magic has the ability to steal souls. Can Sora learn to wield its power — or will the power wield her? (Winner of the SKOW 2006 Best Fantasy Award)

Blurb and cover from Goodreads

5 out of 5 stars

This review is going to have a touch of fangirling. While I confess that I found the beginning, where Sora spontaneously hatches the idea to run away, a bit awkward, as soon as we get to the Blooming, it’s straight uphill from there. Books like this are why I love Epic Fantasy. I’ve said it many times, but it bears repeating that Epic Fantasy is my one true literary love. This book has earned itself a hard-won place on my very select Shelf of Awesome. This was a story that demanded I finish it and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about the characters for weeks. I have unearthed a new series to follow and I am so, so thrilled!

The plot:

I found the premise of the plot to be refreshingly original, but not so different it lost its fantasy flavor. It was set up in such a way that I could breathe when I put it down, but at the same time the story wouldn’t leave me alone. I had to know what would happen and I went and downloaded the sequel the very next day (would’ve been sooner, but I needed Wi-Fi) because I was going into withdrawals.

The characters:

I really liked Sora and I think she is one of the few characters I would actually get along with in real life. She is headstrong, occasionally rash, and stubborn, but intelligent and with a core desire to do what is right. She didn’t whine, but she didn’t back down easily, even when Crash, the assassin, was nonverbally threatening to throttle her. She was compassionate and brave, if a bit naive at first, but still one of my favorite heroines I have encountered recently.

Crash, the assassin, is a mysterious figure who we don’t really learn anything about until the end. I think if I had to sum him up in a word, it would be “awesome.” It is difficult for me to put into words why I like him so much, but I guess it’s just because he is…awesome. It’s kind of hard for me not to grow fond of a ninja-like character shrouded in mystery who has inner monologues that go like this: He [Crash] didn’t waste words while fighting. It was useless to taunt the dead. Crash narrowly beat out Sora as my favorite character and I absolutely loved the part at the end where Volcrian’s wraith—spoiler—and Sora—spoiler—and Crash—spoiler.

There were two other main characters in addition to our villain, of the same race as our villain to boot. Dorian, the Wolfy mage, and Burn, the Wolfy mercenary. Dorian was a fun-loving, light-hearted thief who comes across as something of a little boy forced to grow up too soon. I grew truly fond of him as well as Burn and I couldn’t believe it when the author went and—spoiler.

Years ago, Crash took out a contract on the twin brother of Volcrian, a bloodmage. Now Volcrian seeks revenge for the death of his twin, growing more and more desperate as his searches turn up nothing. Volcrian has been twisted and warped by hatred and bloodlust, but it’s kind of difficult to properly hate his guts when you think about what he has been through. He is the ideal villain—balancing evil with just the right amount of sympathetic qualities to prevent you completely loathing him.

I am a fan of this series, as was confirmed when I read the second one and found it to be as incredible as the first. I am very, very excited for the third book releasing at the end of this month and to fans of fantasy and adventures stories in general, I cannot recommend this book enough!

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

Tags

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

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!

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

Tags

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

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.

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Review: Kindled (The Kindred, #3) by Erica Stevens

Tags

book review, books, Erica Stevens, indie author, indie book review, paranormal romance, self-published, series, Vampire, vampires, ya, young adult

Fueled by rage and a thirst for revenge, Cassie no longer recognizes the person she has become. Determined to destroy Julian, no matter what the cost, Cassie pushes away the ones that love her most. Though she tries to deny it, and fights against it, Devon’s love may be the only thing that can bring her back from the brink of madness she is teetering upon. Just when she is starting to come to terms with her grief, a startling revelation threatens to unravel everything she has always known. Her bond with Devon is severely tested as a new enemy arises to tear them apart. A new enemy that Cassie never could have foreseen, but one that may be even deadlier, and far more ruthless than any vampire she has ever faced. Torn from her friends and Devon, Cassie is stunned to find herself having to rely on the man she hates most, Julian. Together, Cassie and Julian struggle to survive an adversary that is determined to destroy them both.

Book 3 of 5

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

Blurb and cover from Goodreads

5 out of 5 stars

The cliffhanger of the last book, when :SPOILER: Cassie rejects Devon :SPOILER OVER: had me writhing in agony and needing the next book to make sure they would work it out. You’re all probably beginning to think that if I review something by Erica Stevens it’s going to be an automatic 5-star and that’s true so long as her works don’t disappoint me and so far they’ve done just the opposite!

The plot:

I got tossed around a bit in this book, the quick change in direction keeping me on my toes as I tore through this series. Things could get better or, more likely, turn nasty in the bat of an eye and Ms. Stevens, the mistress of the cliffhanger, gives us yet another one to leave us aching for the sequel.

The characters:

Despite their rocky circumstances at the beginning of this book, Devon and Cassie’s relationship still grows, even with the nasty start. More questions are raised as to Cassie’s mysterious lack of a power (as all Hunters and vampires, as far as they know, have one) and just why it is she heals faster than any of her friends.

Here we see more of Dani, a young Hunter with power to create electrical surges, and finally meet Annabelle, the woman who changed Devon’s existence, while Julian, our prevalent baddie up to this point, shows a side of him we haven’t seen before. Isla, the sickening succubus, is also back and this time she wants Cassie’s throat.

Another fantastic YA paranormal romance from a fantastic author! A must-read for lovers of vampire romance and teen paranormal romance!

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Review: Ashes (The Kindred, #2) by Erica Stevens

Tags

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

For the past four years Cassie has only known vampires as her enemy. With the revelation of Devon’s true nature she must come to terms with the fact that not everything she knows is right, especially when the source of her Hunter powers is revealed. Slowly, Cassie begins to unravel the mystery that enshrouds Devon as the bond between them grows and intensifies. It’s not until a woman from his past walks into their present, that Cassie realizes there are far more layers to Devon than she ever realized. Layers that may very well destroy her, and everyone that she loves. Thrown off by the new arrival in their town, and struggling to survive, Cassie is not prepared for the devastating blow that leaves the world she knows nothing but a pile of rubble and ashes. Ashes that may very well give rise to something else inside of her, something that’s not entirely human.

Book 2 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

After the cliffhanger ending of Kindred, I simply had to read this, there was no question about it! This book takes off minutes after the first left off, with Devon :SPOILER FOR FIRST BOOK: rushing the wounded Cassie to the emergency room. :SPOILER OVER: As I said before, I read the first four books of this series in a four day marathon, downing one after the other because I was having too much fun.

The plot:

Characteristic of Stevens’ writing, the plot is fast and doesn’t disappoint. It read very quickly and very easily, never letting the reader sink into a sense of boredom, but at the same time giving plenty of pauses. While reading I tried not to compare this to Stevens’ other PNR vampire series, The Captive (which has a secure seat on my Shelf of Awesome), but there is definitely the same style of heart-stopping romance interspersed with intense action.

The characters:

There is a level of development among the characters, particularly in their relationships. Cassie and Devon become closer in lieu of sharing their secrets and battling Julian. Meanwhile, Cassie’s Hunter friends, Melissa and Chris, as well as Luther, their mentor, and her grandmother, must learn to deal with the newfound knowledge that Devon is not only a vampire, but an exceptionally powerful Elder.

In this book, we also meet Isla, a completely despicable antiheroine who crawls up from Devon’s past. Julian is more prominent in this book, though he still stays mostly in the shadows without much chance to really get to know him. Nonetheless, he makes a prize villain and I was gaping at my eReader screen in horror of what he might do next.

Overall, I greatly enjoyed this book, I am a massive fan of this author, and I highly recommend this series to readers of upper YA paranormal romance who like vampires!

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Review: Enchanted Castle (Enchanted Castle, #1) by Chrissy Peebles

Tags

ghosts, indie author, indie book review, novella, paranormal, reincarnation, series, ya, young adult

This is a young adult, paranormal, novelette series.

Novelette #1

Zoey Sanders attends her senior year of high school at a mysterious castle in Scotland. She is thrust into a paranormal world she never knew existed, and her life will never be the same again.

Blurb and cover from Goodreads

4 out of 5 stars

Short book=Short review

This was an enticing, intriguing novelette leading into  a larger series. It was interesting and suspenseful, but I thought it lacked adequate character development. However, I won’t dock its stars down for that, because I believe the writer will do more of that in later installments and I did enjoy it. The premise is fascinating with a good deal of mystery and I look forward to finding out what happens next!

(Book was listed free at time of posting)

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Review: Moonlit (Moonlit, 1#) by Jadie Jones

Tags

book review, books, fantasy, Horses, indie author, indie book review, indies, jadie jones, magic, moonlit, mythology, series, wido publishing, ya, young adult

Eighteen-year-old Tanzy Hightower knows horses, has grown up with them on Wildwood Farm. She also knows not to venture beyond the trees that line the pasture. Things happen out there that cannot be explained. Or undone. Worse, no one but she and the horses can see what lurks in the shadows of the woods.

When a moonlit ride turns into a terrifying chase, Tanzy is left to question everything, from the freak accident that killed her father to the very blood in her veins. Broken and confused, she turns to Lucas, a scarred, beautiful stranger, and to Vanessa, a charming new friend who has everything Tanzy doesn’t.

But why do they seem to know more about her than she knows herself?

Blurb and cover from Goodreads

5 out of 5 stars

I have another addition for my Shelf of Awesome! I downloaded this awhile ago, but like so many other Kindle books, it was allowed to sit neglected and ignored, gathering digital dust on my electronic shelves. Then I finally opened it when I was on the train and bored out of my mind, thinking I would “just start it,” but forty minutes later, I was nearly 20% in and had to pry myself from the screen. I had high hopes when I started for magic, mystery, a teen heroine, hints of romance, and best of all—horses! Ms. Jones delivered all of that mixed into a plot with twists, turns, and a villain who deserves to be in the Dark Lord Hall of Fame alongside Voldemort, Sauron, and Mordred.

The plot:

When I began Moonlit, I had no clue it was a reincarnation story. I admit my experience with reincarnation plots is limited, but I very much liked the way this one was handled. There were parts that I wanted to be condensed or shortened, but, I’ll be truthful, those were either because my phobia of hospitals was rearing its head or I wanted to see more of Lucas (I’ll explain who he is in a minute). Overall, the plot flows smoothly quickly, and has one or two good hairpin turns at the end. There was one part in particular that I thought should have been expanded and elaborated more, but the lack of detail turned out to be a part of the storyline. The author did an excellent job of subtly hinting at the final twist so that it didn’t feel contrived and ends with a cliffhanger that is driving me insane.

The characters:

I really liked the MC, Tanzy Hightower. I sympathized with the problems she was going through even before all the supernatural elements popped up in her life. She came across as a little lost, but stronger than she gave herself credit for and good at the core. There is this one part (I won’t tell you where it is for fear of spoilers) where I wanted to slap Tanzy and shake her and scream “YOU BLOODY MORON!!!” but I still became quite fond of her.

Now let me tell you about Lucas. Lucas is an immortal who has been around since the dawn of time, is an ex-villain, and has been in love with Tanzy for over a thousand years. We know that Lucas has a dark side and is capable of true evil, but when he was around Tanzy or Spera (Tanzy’s past incarnation), I wanted to say “aww” and sigh with girlish fancy. The words “so sweet” come to mind and it seems I have a fetish for overtly protective romantic interests with unpleasant pasts who are centuries (in this case millennia) old. There was one point when I feared that we would be faced with a love triangle, but my worries were unfounded and everything came together.

Our primary villain is Asher, also an immortal like Lucas. I seem to be coming across a lot of antiheroes with “A” names—Atticus, Agamemnon, Arobynn—anyway, Asher is a sick, twisted piece of work and I would not be overly opposed to jubilatory dancing atop his grave should he snuff it. He is devious and cunning, though at one point I did wonder why he would go through the trouble of doing legwork himself when he has legions of minions at his beck and call. I confess I have my fingers crossed that he will meet his end soon.

That review ended up being a lot longer than I intended, but I am entitled to occasional fangirling. I am anxiously anticipating the release of the next installment and after reading the author’s updates on her progress with the sequel, I’m both panicked and elated. I shall live in torturous agony awaiting the next book, but in the interim, I advise everyone who likes action, magic, romance, and horses to pick this up!

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Review: Kindred (The Kindred, #1) by Erica Stevens

Tags

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

What do you do when the one you love is also you worst enemy? Trapped in a destiny she does not want, Cassie finds herself lost and adrift, until he walks into her life, turning it upside down and awakening her in ways that she never dreamed possible.

Cassie is stunned and devastated to learn that she belongs to a long line of vampire slayers known as The Hunters. A murderous rampage by a group of elder vampires has left the Hunter line decimated and the remaining Hunters scattered around the world. With her friends Chris and Melissa’s aid, Cassie struggles to rid the world of the monsters that murdered her parents. Though Cassie knows it is her fate, she chafes against her heritage, and is resentful of the shortened lifespan that has been placed upon her by the circumstances of birth. Struggling to get through every day, Cassie finds herself simply going through the motions of living. That is, until Devon arrives. Tall, dark, and mysterious his arrival turns the school, and Cassie’s life, upside down. Fighting against her fierce attraction to him, and the chaos he represents in her carefully ordered days, she is irresistibly drawn to him. Though worried that what she truly is will place Devon in danger, she is unable to fight her feelings for him. He is the one light, and the only source of hope she has in a world that revolves around death and fear. What she does not know is that Devon has some dark secrets of his own, secrets even more frightening and dangerous than hers. Secrets that threaten to tear them apart forever.

Book 1 of 5

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

Blurb and cover from Goodreads

5 out of 5 stars

I am a raving fanatic of the author’s other vampire series, The Captive, as demonstrated by my gushing reviews and numerous random mentions. While waiting for the finale of The Captive, I needed something to keep me occupied, so decided to give The Kindred a shot. While I detected a number of similarities, there were many differences and it is quite clear that the two series are unrelated. I gobbled up the four published books over a single four-day marathon and I am now yearning for the fifth and final!

The plot:

Quick, concise, and clean, this storyline is to-the-point and moves along swiftly. It was interesting to see the dual perspective of Devon and Cassie as they each harbored their secrets with no idea who or what the other was. There were a number of intense fight scenes that were icing on the cake for me, in addition to plenty of “aww” moments worthy of re-reading.

The characters:

Cassie is a caring, selfless girl who wants to do the right thing, but can be a bit hot-headed when provoked. She is strong, determined, but reluctantly accepts her duty as a Hunter and the short lifespan that comes with it. She has no plans for children, romance, college, or a future of any kind because she believes she won’t live to see it. Then enters Devon and he becomes something she wants to live for, but at the same time wants to protect him from her lifestyle.

Unbeknownst to Cassie, Devon has been immersed in the world of vampirism since the early fourteenth century and gleefully partook in the debaucheries typical of his kind until just over a hundred and fifty years ago. Devon senses an immediate connection to Cassie, but tries to stay away at first because he believes that she is blissfully ignorant of the world of vampires. Devon has a certain amount of self-loathing and regret coupled with a desire for redemption that I found very compelling. His asceticism and how he puts Cassie first made for a memorable and empathetic character.

The villain here was in hiding until the end, so I shan’t discuss him/her for fear of spoilers!

There were other characters, including Chris, Cassie’s best friend; Melissa, another Hunter girl; Lily, Cassie’s grandmother; and Luther, the man responsible for training and mentoring Cassie, Chris, and Melissa in their roles as Hunters. The other characters had less screen time than Cassie and Devon, but the author still manages to make them multi-dimensional and layered.

As I said, I sprinted over to the Kindle Store immediately after finishing this to snap up the next book. I highly recommend this series to fans of Upper YA Paranormal Romance, Vampire Romance, and people who like their love stories seasoned with fight scenes and mystery.

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Review: Justice (The Ferryman and the Flame, #2) by Rhiannon Paille

Tags

book review, elves, faeries, fantasy romance, indie book review, paranormal romance, rhiannon paille, the ferryman and the flame

How far would you go to destroy yourself?

Krishani always knew he would have to go to the Lands of Men, but he never thought it would be like this. Enemies everywhere, an ancestor he can’t respect, elders he can’t trust, a curse he can’t stop and friends he can’t help but hate. Desperate to end the pain, he sets out on a quest to find the other Flames and face the enemy that took everything from him.

Blurb and cover from Goodreads

4 out of 5 stars

I started this one right after the first and I must say, I thought it was much, much better than Surrender. Why? I have absolutely no idea. I think it was because this one has less romance (though it is still there in dreams and flashbacks) and is darker and more based around violence and destruction—wait, that sounded wrong…um…how do I put this? It was more about the action. Yes, we’ll go with that one.

The plot:

I really wasn’t sure if I would like the plot because it seemed to me like the story was taking a deviation from answering the questions I had at the end of the first book and I wanted to know if there was a way Kaliel could come back. Nonetheless, once I got over my own idea of where the story should go, I enjoyed it very much and was surprised by the bubbly, happy feeling I had at the end. (Though the happy feeling is tainted by a sickening pit of dread as to what the author will do to torment her characters in the next book.) There were still parts, namely the sex sequences in Krishani’s flashbacks and dreams, that I skipped. I know I mention steamy-scene-skipping a lot, but I’m a comparatively sensitive person on the subject of amorous activity and I feel obligated to mention when I do that for the sake of being honest. Still, I did have fun with this book and I’m looking forward to Vulture which released on June 18!

The characters:

Looking back, Krishani was selfish, whiny, and drowning in a cesspool of self-pity, but while I was reading, I knew he needed to snap out of it, I was just too caught up in his emotions to care. The author does a brilliant job of making the reader empathize with what he’s going through and the general lack of sympathy from the characters around him. I just wanted to hug the poor bloke and I was worried sick for him and still am.

One character I have to mention is Klavotesi. At this point, I have decided not to like him. He seems stiff and self-righteous and while he’s really into justice, he doesn’t seem to be too big on compassion. I can appreciate his reasoning, but like Krishani, I didn’t want to hear what the Obsidian Flame had to say and I really wanted him to shut up.

The other characters were multidimensional, complex, and defined. There’s still clearly a lot of backstory on some of them, particularly the witches and I look forward to reading more about them all in Vulture.

In conclusion, this is a tragic, often tender, action-packed, magic-filled thrill ride and I recommend it to mature readers with a taste for dark fantasy and forbidden romance.

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