River Cast (The Tale of Lunarmorte, #2)

May 03, 2013 Kathy Horsman rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya, werewolves, vampires, paranormal-romance, magic, kindle

What made me love this book more than the first, was the expansion it made beyond The Pack, but still making it the center of the story. It gave me a full picture of the Daylight Coven, and their whole supernatural world without cluttering it with too many stories or too many narrators. That being said, I don't know why, but Lucien still hasn't grown on me, I can never seem to like him, EVER! Maybe book three will finally make me like him, but I doubt it LOL

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Mar 27, 2013 Yvi rated it 5 of 5 stars

In the beginnng I was a little scared that the second book would focus more on Jaeden than on Caia and Lucien (btw, I forgot to mention that I would like to have a mixture between Wolfe and Lucien for my fantasy, thank you)! But the story was just as amazing and while it did have the POV's from other characters, she still stuck with Lucien and Caia (making my heart break again on multiple occasions). I LOVED this book like I did the first one!! Onto the third now!

REREAD: Ohhhhhhhhhh, I just love...more

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Jun 19, 2012 Joanna rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, series

Ohhh boy! Here goes.

I love the 1st book more than this. But it's still soooo good :)

Here are my comments:

Alone/ Lost
Jaeden suffered a lot in the first book. As in really suffered. I was very sad for her then and i am still sad at the beginning if this book. She scared because she don't know how to deal with her love ones and it made her leave them behind. I admire her though in this one because she was still able to face some those fears. With a little help from her mate :)

Caia, i really felt he...more

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Jun 17, 2012 Amy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

Plot:
As Caia is taken to the Centre, she starts to uncover more of her magic and her touch to the Midnights starts to show her that a lot of them don't even like the war and are in fact good. With the Daylights determined to end the war by using Caia to wipe out the Midnights can Caia make the choice between Midnights and Daylights and do the right thing, whatever that is...

Good Points:
I loved this book! Samantha Young is fast becoming one of my all time favourite authors and I'm only on her t...more Plot:
As Caia is taken to the Centre, she starts to uncover more of her magic and her touch to the Midnights starts to show her that a lot of them don't even like the war and are in fact good. With the Daylights determined to end the war by using Caia to wipe out the Midnights can Caia make the choice between Midnights and Daylights and do the right thing, whatever that is...

Good Points:
I loved this book! Samantha Young is fast becoming one of my all time favourite authors and I'm only on her third book. The story is rich in depth and the characters are those to which you can either relate with immediately or reason out their decisions. In this book, the second in the Tale of Lunarmorte series we get to see a lot more of Jaiden's perspective after learning of her telekinetic abilities in the first book, there is also the whole relationship with her and Ryder which is extremely funny because of the ongoing banter between the two.
Alike, the relationship with Caia and Lucien is also developed and you grow infuriated at their stupid blindness of not seeing that they like each other. Meanwhile the war is ongoing, there was a little less action in this book than the first in my opinion but I didn't really care about that (don't get me wrong I love a good fight in a book) but you concentrate on other things such as the Centre where you meet Marita (basically like the leader of the 'good' guys) and the whole maybe evil plotting that she's been up to.

Bad Points:
Don't get me wrong I absolutely loved this book but a couple of times I did think it was an insie-bit same-y as the first book with the whole two 'bad' people convening secretly and wondering who could be the spy in the book (which when you find out was a little predictable) but hey this didn't concentrate the topic of the whole book and there were tons of other exciting stuff going on that kept me reading constantly and ending up finishing the book within hours.

To Sum Up... This author is just Brilliant (capital 'B' for effect)! Her plotting of the story is just perfect and you never seem to get bored at all, there is always something happening that keeps you on edge, but it's not cataclysmic stuff that makes you think 'seriously,where the hell is this book going?' that some books do. The characters are believable and their actions and the relationships formed throughout the book build up, basically they don't just immediately meet and then two days later declare their undying love to each other which is what I really hate in books.
Samantha Young I solute you!

More reviews at... http://teenyreader.blogspot.co.uk/ (less)

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Jun 01, 2012 Johanna rated it 4 of 5 stars

River Cast
(The Tale of Lunarmorte, Book #2)
by Samantha Young

Genre: Paranormal Romance | Young-Adult

Swept into the world of the Daylight Coven, Caia is caught between her loyalty to the Daylights and her new insight into the hearts of the Midnights. As more obstacles are thrown in her and Lucien's way, Caia finds herself becoming further adrift from him and Pack Errante. With no one to turn to, Caia has to make the most difficult choice of all... Which Coven does she truly belong with?

Not all is...more River Cast
(The Tale of Lunarmorte, Book #2)
by Samantha Young

Genre: Paranormal Romance | Young-Adult

Swept into the world of the Daylight Coven, Caia is caught between her loyalty to the Daylights and her new insight into the hearts of the Midnights. As more obstacles are thrown in her and Lucien's way, Caia finds herself becoming further adrift from him and Pack Errante. With no one to turn to, Caia has to make the most difficult choice of all... Which Coven does she truly belong with?

Not all is as it seems in this second addition of The Tale of Lunarmorte series when Caia agrees to learn more about her magical abilities and test her position within the Coven/s by actually training on-sight (with Lucien in tow!) at the Daylight's headquarters in Paris. Having discovered first hand that her powers are beyond what anyone imagined and continuing to struggle with her inner emotions toward Lucien and their "so-called" mating, Caia must once and for all, choose her role within the brewing supernatural war and decide just where her loyalties truly lie. Also, throughout this story, Jaeden, who has ran away from the Errante Pack because of deep (emotional and physical) wounds caused during her capture in Book #1, is being tracked down by the local Pack hunter, Ryder. Returning to her home and family after months of purposely breaking coven law by hunting other errant supernaturals, can be both a blessing and a curse, especially when magical talents of her own and her mate are shockingly revealed. Can both ladies adjust to the new demands placed upon them before the chaos of war absorbs them all?

Book #2 really grew into two full stories, since the reader continued to follow Caia's adventures into taping the potential of her magic and dealing with Lucian while Jaeden had to learn about overcoming her devastating past while opening up her heart to another. Both stories were equally captivating and held a certain charm that made it easy for the reader to dig deeper into their eerily courageous world. Overall, the book smartly balances the little sparks of romance right along the fatal causalities of war, so each chapter really comes alive--full of humorous wit, tragic turmoil, and daring discoveries--Enjoy!

Likes: Lucian is as determined as ever to keep Caia safe (and by his side!), so much so, that his sacrifices, for her, make him an even more delicious character to drool over and cheer on. Also, Ryder was a great comical/up-beat balance to Jaeden's down-trodden personality that together, they created some delightful chemistry.

Dislikes: Again, not much of a Coven fan. The Daylight/Midnight Coven parts in River Cast really dragged for me and their dullness took away much of the excitement within the story... almost so much that I was tempted to begin skipping sections/chapters -- not good!(less)

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Dec 02, 2011 Kathy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: vampire, werewolves

So I didn’t get into this second book like I did the first. I will say that I appreciate that this book was much cleaner (no sex scenes anyway). The story takes Caia and Lucien to the Center, where she can learn her magik and harness her power. It also follows Ryder on his quest to find and return Jaeden. I really liked Ryder, at least he was a gentlemen. But, to be honest, I thought their side story was a bit unnecessary. I didn’t like Lucien as much this time around. I don’t like how he went f...more

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Mar 13, 2011 Katieb (MundieMoms) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-100-book-challenge, books-i-own, mundie-moms-review

Darker twists and turns, and a continued sizzling chemistry between Caia and Lucien, make River Cast a fantastic sequel to Moon Spell.

River Cast continues were Moon Spell left off and now Caia is torn between her pack and embracing a different life with her magical powers. What I missed the most from Moon Spell was not having a lot of scenes with the pack, but Samantha delivers a new kind of action in the form of her magik world.

The twists and turns start when Caia goes to the Centre to learn ho...more

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Mar 11, 2011 Mundie Moms & Mundie Kids rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-100-book-challenge, 2011-release, books-i-own, mundie-moms-reviews

Darker twists and turns, and a continued sizzling chemistry between Caia and Lucien, make River Cast a fantastic sequel to Moon Spell.

River Cast continues were Moon Spell left off and now Caia is torn between her pack and embracing a different life with her magical powers. What I missed the most from Moon Spell was not having a lot of scenes with the pack, but Samantha delivers a new kind of action in the form of her magik world.

The twists and turns start when Caia goes to the Centre to learn ho...more

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Mar 26, 2013 Deanna rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-id-read-again, paranormal, books-with-language, t-m-i-or-mushy, werewolves

Even better than Moon Spell!

My emotions where in turmoil for a huge chunk of this book and... I absolutely loved it!

So I am just going to share some of my favorite moments in the book as well as some of my first impressions and reactions to things, because hey, I can write whatever I want. This is my book review.

Warning! Spoilers ahead!

(view spoiler)...more Even better than Moon Spell!

My emotions where in turmoil for a huge chunk of this book and... I absolutely loved it!

So I am just going to share some of my favorite moments in the book as well as some of my first impressions and reactions to things, because hey, I can write whatever I want. This is my book review.

Warning! Spoilers ahead!

(view spoiler)(less)

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Sep 03, 2012 Hanka rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, fantasy, young-adult

well, well. this part was definitely better than the first one. writting improved considerably and characters displayed more motivation. that's good. but i think that Jaeden and Ryder saved this story. without them it would be only a plain and boring narrative of some girl that is almighty and everybody loves her (and that sounds awfully like Mary Sue). but Ryder and Jaeden, they're something different, fresh and lively and thoroughly likeable and their banter is just adorable. most of the chapt...more

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Mar 07, 2012 Melissa rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012-reads

Well, all I can say after reading book #2 in the Lunarmorte series is . . . Thank goodness that I didn't start this series until all three books had been published! This book stays true to the formula for middle books in trilogies with things ending up quite a mess at the end of the book. There is a definite cliffhanger at the end of this one. I wish I could say that I was expecting it, and I guess maybe a small part of me knew that this was what was going on, but I just couldn't believe it. I d...more Well, all I can say after reading book #2 in the Lunarmorte series is . . . Thank goodness that I didn't start this series until all three books had been published! This book stays true to the formula for middle books in trilogies with things ending up quite a mess at the end of the book. There is a definite cliffhanger at the end of this one. I wish I could say that I was expecting it, and I guess maybe a small part of me knew that this was what was going on, but I just couldn't believe it. I didn't want to believe that there was a traitor in the midst. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

In River Cast Caia finds herself discovering more and more about her powerful Magik skills, and she uses her ability to sense the Midnights as she aids the Daylight Coven in their fight against them. However, even as she uses this inside info against the Midnights, Caia begins to realize that many of the group are not evil. They don't wish to fight this war, and they are simply trying to live their ordinary (for supernaturals) lives in peace. This throws Caia into a dilemma because in her world it is a black and white world where the players are either good or evil. There is no in between. The elders of this world cannot believe that members of opposing groups could be anything other than evil. Caia is in a bind as she discovers this information because she knows that it will throw everyone into chaos. They already don't trust her because of her dual nature as half lykan and half magik. So she sits on this knowledge, not sharing it with anyone for almost the entire book.

Why doesn't she share this information with the person she trusts most in the world, Lucien? Well, Lucien and Caia are working through some major dysfunction in this novel. Although they are mates according to ritual as performed in the first book, Caia freaked out when she learned that this relationship was championed long ago by her father without her consent. She feels like a pawn, so she pushes away from Lucien, in the process upsetting him. So as this book begins they are simply partners, not mates -- or so they pretend. The reality is that they are both in love with one another, but they are both too stubborn to acknowledge this to the other. So misunderstandings and hurt feelings ensue. Add into the mix a planted ex-lover of Lucien's who doesn't seem to understand the words "past" or "no," and you have all of the ingredients for a mess of a relationship. Caia and Lucien spend much of this novel separated from one another because of their hurt feelings. Caia believes that Lucien would rather be with his ex-lover. Lucien believes that Caia doesn't want him around at all, believing her to want to leave the pack in order to join the Daylight coven. These sorts of situations between soul mates can sometimes infuriate me so much. I get a bit irked when couples fight like this when all it would take would be a simple conversation to make things clear. The fact that this estrangement takes place for almost the entire book could have turned me off, but for some reason Young was able to write this dysfunction in such a way that I was able to work with it without getting overly frustrated. Still, I was pretty irritated with Caia in particular for her treatment of Lucien. Of course Lucien didn't make things any easier when he didn't try harder to extract himself from the claws of his ex girlfriend. Surely a man who understood the intense jealousy he felt after the mating ritual would think that his mate might have the same problems when seeing him around another overly friendly lady. But no.

In this story we also get to hear more about Jaeden and Ryder. Their relationship was fun to read and a good addition to the series. They gave enough of a sweet romance to counterbalance the never ending hissy fits being thrown in Caia and Lucien's relationship. I appreciated getting to know these two more. And hurray that Jaeden is starting to get better after her horrific situation in book one!

This book has a different feel than the first book in this series. While book one really had the relationship between Lucien and Caia driving so much of the plot, in this book the intrigue in the Daylight Center takes center stage. Caia finds herself a mini celebrity as her amazing abilities astound all those around her. She is in the Center to train and aid the Daylights as they try to prevent a Midnight group from ambushing a lykan group, but as the story goes on it seems as if there are ulterior motives afoot. I really love stories that involve main characters recognizing that their preconceived notions about the world around them are not necessarily true. Caia learns that everything is not as clear as she previously believed. With that knowledge she has to re-evaluate what her role in this world should be. I found that theme to be fascinating and well done. With the events of the end of the book I have a feeling that things are even more confusing that Caia believes.

So, this is a typical book two with struggling relationships, events that change the world as we have known it to that point in the story, and an event that will take a whole other book to resolve. I leave my reading feeling unfulfilled and dis-satisfied, but that's how I'm supposed to be feeling. I supposed to be marking my calendar for the release of the final book so that I can finally get the resolution my heart desires. Luckily for me, I boarded this ship a little later than others so I'm off to simply download the last book onto my kindle to start reading right away. I'm loving this series and this writer. Great book!(less)

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Jan 02, 2012 Jackie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy, werevolves

Loved how the story went. River Cast is the second book to The Tale of Lunarmorte filled with action, love and suspense. I have to say i liked the first book just a little more, but this book was still great and enticing to read.

This book takes place after Moon Spell where Caia is still with her pack. But when she was seeing visions of one of the Midnights planning an attack of the Pack, MacLachlans, Caia and Lucien are being called to the Daylight Coven. And just as Jaeden had been rescued and...more

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May 09, 2012 Tami rated it 4 of 5 stars

POSSIBLE SPOILERS!!

So, this book was better for me than the first. Jaeden grows up a lot in her new life away from The Pack. As suspicious of him as I am, I actually like this new Reuben character. I find it strange that he's always following Jae around, but, there's something about him that I like regardless. Lucien and Caia's 'relationship' goes through some serious changes. While Caia is trying to figure out whether or not working for the Daylight Coven (more specifically Marita) is a good o...more POSSIBLE SPOILERS!!

So, this book was better for me than the first. Jaeden grows up a lot in her new life away from The Pack. As suspicious of him as I am, I actually like this new Reuben character. I find it strange that he's always following Jae around, but, there's something about him that I like regardless. Lucien and Caia's 'relationship' goes through some serious changes. While Caia is trying to figure out whether or not working for the Daylight Coven (more specifically Marita) is a good or a bad thing since Marita has been acting very strange, Lucien seems to be trying to figure out if he wants Rose or Caia. He says (in his POV's) that he wants Caia, but ACTS like he wants Rose. I can't get too mad at him since even though he and Caia are 'Mated', they aren't actually together. (cuz he lied like a bastard to her)..
Anyway, back to Caia and the Coven.. Marita is trying hard to get Caia to stay at the Center and leave The Pack, (which is why she brings in Rose) and will got to any lengths to keep her there, possibly even holding her against her will. Caia doesn't want to stay with the Center after what she discovers about Marita and what she's been doing so she has to figure out a way to leave with out being suspicious. While Caia helps Marita and the Center fight the Midnights when they attack another Daylight pack, Caia discovers even more about herself and her powers.

Finally, Caia and Lucien come to terms with their relationship and accept their Mating, all Rose issues aside. This happened a little too easily for me, but at least there was a bit of resistance on Caia's part. I like Lucien, but he's really dumb. As Alpha, he feels he can do anything he wants (which I guess technically he can) However, he doesn't really think about his actions and what they do to other's feelings, more specifically his mate that he's trying to win back. But like most guys, he's an idiot.

RYDER.... sigh.... gotta love me some Ryder. He's amazing in this book. I love how his relationship with Jaeden grows. I kind of thought they'd at least start liking each other in the first book, but it ended up going a different direction. I'm so happy for the 2 of them.

Phoebe is a serious no-nonsense bad ass, and I absolutely love her.. And I love how she respects Caia.

Anyway... like I said, this book was better than the first. I actually give it 4.5 stars.. (due to grammatical errors and a few other things not worth mentioning.) On to book 3!!

(less)

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Dec 27, 2011 Shdnx rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Any and all fantasy/young-adult fans

Shelves: fantasy, paranormal, romance, shapeshifters, urban-fantasy, werewolves, young-adult, coming-of-age, favorites

Well, wow. In my review of the opening book of the series, Moon Spell, I mentioned that I feel a lot of potential in the series, but the first book just didn't cut it. To summarize: the second book has everything I ever wanted, and more. One word: awesome.

The world goes through an unbelievable amount of expansion in this installment. Suddenly the world of Lunarmorte is not a simple black-and-white like it used to be. It never ceases to terrify me what unspeakable evil people are capable of when...more Well, wow. In my review of the opening book of the series, Moon Spell, I mentioned that I feel a lot of potential in the series, but the first book just didn't cut it. To summarize: the second book has everything I ever wanted, and more. One word: awesome.

The world goes through an unbelievable amount of expansion in this installment. Suddenly the world of Lunarmorte is not a simple black-and-white like it used to be. It never ceases to terrify me what unspeakable evil people are capable of when they think that they have to...

The story is very exciting, full of unexpected turn of events, and filled with a constant suspense. This is not a fairly tale. Caia and her so very few friends are facing a world in which everybody is an enemy, and everyone wants her for their own reasons.

This is an excellent coming-of-age type of young adult book. Caia was but a child in the beginning of Moon Spell - and so very soon, she is faced with the dark side of the world and is forced to make decisions that affect her entire world.

Romance is ever-present in this book as well, and although I had absolutely expected it to irritate and annoy me; it didn't. I'm not sure that I was the one to change, or this book is just different; but the love relationships and interactions were just all too real. This is the kind of paranormal romance I want to read more of.
My heart actually ached at some of most happy moments in the book, and very often I could totally believe the characters' behavior; even if it was irrational. I don't know how Samantha Young did this, but she got the emotions perfectly pictured.

Another thing that I want to mention is the pace of the book. In contrast of most of the genre's other representatives; this book is fairly slow-paced. The reader is left time to collect himself, and the characters to lick their wounds with their loved ones, before returning to the ever-waging wars of all kinds on all possible fronts.

I already talked about the emotions and character interactions; it is generally true that the characters are well-written and thoughtful. Unfortunately I again could guess fairly early in the book who the traitors will be, but that was just unavoidable I guess: I have a lot of experience. :)
I was especially impressed with Caia's character development, as she basically grows up before our very eyes, much like in Trial by Fire (another extraordinary young-adult book). Jaeden's was... mostly fine. I felt it to be too quick, too soon, but I understand that she is 'just' a side character and therefore cannot be given that much attention. (Although I have to note that sometimes it did feel like Jaeden and Caia were treated equally, as if they were both protagonists. I'm all for it; I really hope Jaeden continues playing a very significant role in the final book of the trilogy.)

Overview: if you have any love for the young adult and fantasy genres, go and read this. Now. The first book is not the best, but it's just a mere prologue, setting up the scene to the awesome River Cast. I can't wait to read the final book, although I'm already depressed that yet another series is coming to an end...(less)

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May 16, 2012 Dani rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: faerie, magick, mythology, vampires, wolves, urban-fantasy

4.5/5 stars

Of all Samantha Young’s series that I’ve read so far, I have to say that The Tale of Lunarmorte is probably my favorite… which I find somewhat ironically hilarious since, in general, I just don’t really get the whole werewolf thing. The mythology behind this series, though, is original and absolutely fascinating — the magic, the rules, the society, the politics, the prejudices. It’s just all very well fleshed out and presented. Little hint… it involves Greek gods and the origins of al...more

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May 03, 2012 Rach3975 rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: own-it-kindle

I enjoyed River Cast more than the first book in the Tale of Lunarmorte series. In this book Caia and Lucien go to the Centre (Daylight headquarters and magik school), where Caia learns a lot more about using her magik and uncovers some very interesting Daylight secrets. As in the first book, the story was well told and the twists were both believable and surprising. Jaeden's subplot was a nice addition to the story. Caia and Lucien's age difference didn't bother me as much because it isn't as o...more

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Mar 30, 2011 Once Upon rated it 4 of 5 stars

After Jaeden’s rescue in Moon Spell, Jaeden decides that she can no longer stay with her family and the pack. She packs her stuff and leaves. While on the bus, she meets Reuben, who is a Vampire Rogue Hunter. She joins him and his little group. The only problem is that Jaeden is a Lyken and she will be killing Rogue Vampires a law that is not to be broken. Caia, through her tracking skills, discovers that another Lyken pack are being targeted for an attack by the Midnights. She goes with Lucien...more

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Feb 19, 2012 Catherine rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book picks up a few months after the last, and has much more going on! As in the last book, you see glimpses of what the other side (Midnight Coven) is doing, and of course, they have a spy in the thick of things. You also get to hear the story of Ryder and Jae, which is pretty exciting.

I really fell in love with the first book, so I had many expectations for this one. The author definitely fulfilled my wishes - Caia and Lucien go to the Center, her powers develop, we find out more about bo...more This book picks up a few months after the last, and has much more going on! As in the last book, you see glimpses of what the other side (Midnight Coven) is doing, and of course, they have a spy in the thick of things. You also get to hear the story of Ryder and Jae, which is pretty exciting.

I really fell in love with the first book, so I had many expectations for this one. The author definitely fulfilled my wishes - Caia and Lucien go to the Center, her powers develop, we find out more about both Covens, and we even get a second love story with Ryken and Jae! This book really took my for an emotional rollercoaster, as Caia and Lucien are still willfully ignorant of their feelings for each other and still refuse to admit how they feel to themselves.

Besides the training and complicated mate (or lack thereof) situations, Caia has to deal with discovering and stopping an attack on another Pack. Caia performs amazingly, though this now puts her in a more difficult spot of being coveted by everyone (I guess that's nothing new). Furthermore, Caia discovers an evil plot going on at the "good" Coven that threatens (and does) prove to be absolutely chaotic for the Coven. Although Caia has gained some invaluable allies, she is still utterly alone - and because what's going on with Lucien and Rose Caia doesn't even have her bestfriend to rely on.

This story is full of spies and betrayals, love, and magic. And of course full of supernatural beings - vampyres, lykens, magiks, daemons, faeries. I also liked that the author took the time to sprinkle tidbits about how this world is - the "history" behind all the different populations. There were a few typos, but the story was still easily understood. I did like the pop culture references and the humor that helped ease the intensity of the book.

Loved this book - already purchased the next one!

***SPOILER***
I was right there beside Caia; every time Rose's (Lucien's former, as passionate, ex-lover) name appeared in the book I was livid! Throughout the book it is not clear how close Lucien and Rose are again, but it is alluded to, and Lucien does mention how in love and close they were when they were dating. Thus, you are VERY upset when Rose is around (at least I was!).

I also think that because the head of the good Coven is playing at some crazy scheme, things aren't working as well as they should. And they most definitely need to get in some spies of their own! Poor Caia doesn't get any privacy!(less)

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Mar 30, 2011 Ana rated it 4 of 5 stars

River Cast picks up right where Moon Spell left off. Just like Moon Spell, the book never skips a beat. There is always something that makes you wonder what’s going to happen next.

After Jaeden’s rescue in Moon Spell, Jaeden decides that she can no longer stay with her family and the pack. She packs her stuff and leaves. While on the bus, she meets Reuben, who is a Vampire Rogue Hunter. She joins him and his little group. The only problem is that Jaeden is a Lyken and she will be killing Rogue V...more

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Mar 13, 2012 Reading, Eating & Dreaming rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 4-stars, 3-stars

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS AT READING, EATING AND DREAMING I WAS BLAIR WALDORF

THIS IS MY REVIEW FOR THE COMPLETE SERIES:
This past weekend I read The Tale of Lunarmorte series by Samantha Young. This complete series is comprised of three books: Moon Spell, River Cast, and Blood Solstice. One of the best things about this series was that I was able to start it, devour it, and get closure from it all in one weekend. I am glad that I decided to start this series after all three books were publi...more CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS AT READING, EATING AND DREAMING I WAS BLAIR WALDORF

THIS IS MY REVIEW FOR THE COMPLETE SERIES:
This past weekend I read The Tale of Lunarmorte series by Samantha Young. This complete series is comprised of three books: Moon Spell, River Cast, and Blood Solstice. One of the best things about this series was that I was able to start it, devour it, and get closure from it all in one weekend. I am glad that I decided to start this series after all three books were published. It was nice to read a complete series straight through, without having to wait around for years for the release of the next book! I'm glad that I finally decided to read this series. I'm a huge Samantha Young fan, and this series was just as impressive as the other novels that I've read by her.

Overall, The Tale of Lunarmorte was a great series filled with adventure, romance, and entertaining supernatural beings. Samantha Young did a fabulous job creating an original fantasy world full of lykans, magiks, fairies, and vampyres. Her magical world was easy to picture, and her magical beings were witty and relatable. The characters in this series kept things interesting and kept me on my toes.

In this series, Samantha Young puts a new spin on the age-old theme: good v. evil. When we are originally introduced to the characters, we are taught that the Daylight Coven is good and the Midnight Coven is bad. However, throughout the series we learn that things aren't always so black and white. This series brought up some interesting questions about truth, preconceived notions, loyalty, and faith. I really enjoyed the insightful messages that were sprinkled throughout the series.

To sum things up: I LOVED the paranormal. I LIKED the romance. There were a few love stories shared throughout this trilogy, but it focused on one in particular. I liked the two main characters, but there were a few times that I wanted to slap them. They made the same mistakes over and over again, and it started to drive me crazy. I loved Caia. She was a strong, kick-butt heroine. I liked Lucien, but there were a couple of times that I found him a little lacking as a hero. He didn't have enough faith in Caia, and I found it hard to forgive him for his friendship with a certain someone who will remain unnamed. *Witch* But like I said before, this novel features more than one romance, and the supporting characters were extremely likeable, especially Jayden and Ryder.

I gave The Tale of Lunarmorte series by Samantha Young 4 STARS (3.5 STARS). This rating reflects my opinion for the entire series: Moon Spell (The Tale of Lunarmorte #1), River Cast (The Tale of Lunarmorte #2), and Blood Solstice (The Tale of Lunarmorte #3). I really enjoyed this series, and I strongly recommend this paranormal romance series to young adults.

PS: Samantha Young is currently working on a spin off series, Lunarmorte Repercussions. The first novel in this new series is expected to be released in April 2013. I will pick up the spin off series when it's released because I really enjoyed the characters in The Tale of Lunarmorte series and I'd love to see more of them. However, I am in a happy place right now, and I really enjoyed the way this series concluded.

-XOXO

READING, EATING AND DREAMING (less)

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Jul 17, 2011 ShawnaLeAnn [Dreaming In The Pages] rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: nook-books, lendable-nook-books

Holy wow. Like seriously. Jeez. Cliffhanger much?! Just so you all know, what has me speaking like a tongue tied 13 year old is this amazing second book to this series. Samantha Young has once again put together a thrilling, fast pace, emotional journey for us. And when I say emotional, I mean it. I literally wanted to punch some people in the face. I could also have done with some shaking/slapping of some people also. I mean come on, some people need sense knocked into them once in awhile.

***

Th...more

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Mar 07, 2011 Eli rated it 5 of 5 stars

River Cast, the second instalment, in the Tale of Lunarmorte Trilogy is smooth, fast-paced, funny, sexy and drop dead supernatural. I loved how Young brought two of the other characters, Jaeden and Ryder, into the forefront. The sparks between them are great, they're so snarky and funny with each other and bring some light relief to the darker side of the story, as told through Caia and Lucien's eyes. We don't have as much of the pack in this one and I thought I'd really miss them but Young crea...more

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Feb 28, 2011 Jamie Manning rated it 4 of 5 stars

River Cast continues the story of Caia, a lycan, and her new-found magical powers. It was so nice to delve back into the world Samantha Young created in Lunarmorte (Book 1) and to reconnect with Caia and Lucien and all the other great characters. Though there wasn't much action in the way of wolves in this book, the magic world more than made up for it. And of course, this series wouldn't be complete without the always heated, sometimes tumultuous love affair between Caia and Lucien (he's a hot...more River Cast continues the story of Caia, a lycan, and her new-found magical powers. It was so nice to delve back into the world Samantha Young created in Lunarmorte (Book 1) and to reconnect with Caia and Lucien and all the other great characters. Though there wasn't much action in the way of wolves in this book, the magic world more than made up for it. And of course, this series wouldn't be complete without the always heated, sometimes tumultuous love affair between Caia and Lucien (he's a hot werewolf, people).

Caia has gone to the Center (or Centre, the spelling in the book) to learn how to harness her magical powers and accept that side of herself. Once there, she encounters one problem after another, ultimately discovering that things are not what they seem (that's not too spoilery, right?)

Though there are some formatting issues with the book (which could probably be explained with the fact it's from the UK), the story flows nicely and the characters are realistically written. The dialogue doesn't feel forced or contrived and some of the characters' reactions to things are the same as mine would be if found in similar situations...which is always a plus for me.

And an added bonus this time is the touching, blossoming love between Ryder and Jaeden, two other pack members. I thought that the lack of Caia and Lucien (this book tends to lean more toward Jaeden's story, though not always) would deter me from enjoying the book, but I quickly found myself rooting for Jaeden and Ryder and hoping things would work out for them (not gonna tell you if they did or not!). So nicely done on the author's part.

The thing I like most about this series (and I'm sure most of you will NOT agree) is that Samantha Young likes to leave you hanging. She did it at the end of the first book, and she's definitely done it again with River Cast..now I'm fuming to find out what happens next!

Overall, River Cast is an enjoyable story that, once you get past the formatting issues and language differences, is a fun, light YA read that definitely deserves a place on your bookshelf. I give River Cast 4 stars.(less)

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Sep 10, 2011 Sara rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites-of-2011, books-i-own

River cast is the second book in the Lunarmorte series and it was just as good as the first! I absolutely loved the story in this book and the direction everything went in. I loved that Caia and Lucien went to the Center and had some dealings with the world outside the pack... I think that was vital to how things ended up between the two of them. Thankfully I already bought the third book so I don't have to be stuck on that HUGE cliffhanger this one ends on!! I just love the writing style of Sam...more

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Dec 06, 2011 Lorin-nicole rated it 4 of 5 stars

I've had this on my to read list for quite some time. I really enjoyed the first book, but by the end I was frustrated with Caia and Lucien. So I put it off until a couple days ago.

It's hard for me to rate and review these books. I enjoy them, but they also frustrate me to no end, and I can't really seem to put my finger on the reasons other than the relationship between Caia and Lucien. The goods things about it though out weigh the bad, such as the whole Lykan/werewolf characters. The idea of...more

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Aug 17, 2011 Sophia rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle-loaned

GAH So good!! Warewolves, witches, vampires, Greek mythology (I know what the heck?), and Faires. It's a crazy battle between the Light and Midnight covens and everything is so deliciously jumbled up its crazy!! I mean the deception, the lies, the love, and betrayal its just driving me nuts right now. And although there are some crazy slow parts, which is only because I'm just craving more of the action, there is a lot of action. Seriously its so wickedly fun to read I couldn't put it down. And...more

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Feb 09, 2012 Sarah Kalaitzidis rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: werewolves

That is a seriously short summery . . . Even I didn't know what it was about by reading it. I found the second novel better then the first. It was a lot of jumping around between who was telling the story but that kept it interesting. You would always want to continue to read so that you can get to the next story teller to see what's happening with them. I'm not always a fan of when that happens in a story but it works well here. What I didn't like though is this word ---> OK. All throughout...more That is a seriously short summery . . . Even I didn't know what it was about by reading it. I found the second novel better then the first. It was a lot of jumping around between who was telling the story but that kept it interesting. You would always want to continue to read so that you can get to the next story teller to see what's happening with them. I'm not always a fan of when that happens in a story but it works well here. What I didn't like though is this word ---> OK. All throughout this novel and the last novel all I kept seeing was the word OK. It bugs the crap out of me, either because they use it alot or because it's in caps and it just annoys me seeing it in the middle of the page. Yes, OK is a great word to describe yourself but couldn't the author use okay the right way of spelling it instead of the caps way.

This book you got to know more about who Jaeden is now. Ever since she was taken in the first book and tortured she hasn't been like her normal happy self. So as you saw in the first book she ran away from home and met up with a vampire. You got to really see how she is now what she's doing and how she's found and brought home by Ryder. Who before this never notice Jaeden and then boom he feels something for her and yea it's just so cute!! Caia is coming into her new powers when she vists the center and learns things fast. I think in this book you see how strong she can be. Lucien is still a stubborn idiot well they both are but at least it's soon fixed by just three words.

The Romance in this book between Caia and Lucien is rough and non-existent at the most part till near the ending after Lucien finally says those three words. Then they get together and I was so happy, I thought "finally you idiots!" lol and the chemistry between Jaeden and Ryder are so sweet! I love them together, they acted so cute and I love how old fashion Ryder is despite how annoyed Jaeden became haha!

As for the plot it was great, it mostly took place at the center of the Daylights and it was great. You got to learn more about Caia powers and about the head of the coven. Not only is it about Caia and Lucien but it also talks about Jaeden and Ryder. They are friends of Caia and Lucien, the story jumps from Caia and Lucien to Jaeden and Ryder and how they are actually mates (finally). Ryder is so cute when he gets all jealous haha!

AND I LOVE THE NEW COVER!!!(less)

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Jul 06, 2011 Jennifer rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle-book, read-in-2011, to-review

A great addition to the Tale of Lunarmorte!

I have to say that I liked the first book more, but by just a little bit. With the first book, we get the unique paranormal world built upon the history of the Greek Gods, and the excitement that goes along with the newness is hard to beat. With that said, River Cast was still a great book with lots of mystery and detail.

In this book, we get to hear from Jaeden's point of view, too. At first I wasn't sure I was going to like that, but it definitely adde...more

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Mar 05, 2012 Stacia ~ Mistress of Mediocrity rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

3.25 stars. Book 2 takes the action and adventure up a notch. Where Moon Spell felt more like a paranormal romance, this second installment in the Lunarmorte series brought a little bit of an edgier urban fantasy vibe to the table.

I found the story of the war and oncoming power shift to be a nice addition to the mix. Our female lead Caia struggled with her own beliefs and had to make hard decisions about who she was going to be, even if it meant standing up to the people who had been crucial in...more 3.25 stars. Book 2 takes the action and adventure up a notch. Where Moon Spell felt more like a paranormal romance, this second installment in the Lunarmorte series brought a little bit of an edgier urban fantasy vibe to the table.

I found the story of the war and oncoming power shift to be a nice addition to the mix. Our female lead Caia struggled with her own beliefs and had to make hard decisions about who she was going to be, even if it meant standing up to the people who had been crucial in shaping who she had become. It was good to see her take action and lean on her own instincts above all else.

Were there still tales of love to be read? I'd have to answer with a resounding yes. I rather enjoyed the two separate romances in this book. One couple was powerful, stubborn, and explosive. The other pair was patient, kind, and sensitive to one another. I appreciated the contrast in relationships, since not all relationships come about in the same manner.

Lucien and Caia encountered a few stumbling blocks on their road to happiness. Misunderstandings and hurt feelings held them back from giving in to what their hearts wanted. In a way, this was a good thing, since their love was the "hit you over the head" type in book 1. Because the intensity was dialed down a bit in this chapter, we were able to see more of who Caia was as a person, and not just who she was with Lucien.

The second couple - I won't say who it is, but I will say that I liked them much better than Lucien and Caia. Their relationship seemed more realistic to me. Even though I didn't write much of a review for Moon Spell, I did have a few complaints with Lucien and Caia in book 1, mainly having to do with Lucien being a bit overbearing (which I gave a bit of pass to because he is an alpha - literally). Thankfully, he seemed to have gotten a bit of a grip on himself as the story progressed.

My only real complaint (and this is probably nitpicking), but I wasn't vibing on the notion that all paranormal races (everything from fairies to vamps to shifters) came from the gods - as in the mythological Greek gods. It's like throwing too many ingredients into the soup pot. I'd rather see one (or two) races with their own identity, than see everything under the sun being attributed to something else completely, and all of it somehow being related. I'm not a details nerd, but I want a backstory that somehow makes a bit of sense. As well, I've never been a fan of stories which use their mythological foundation as the basis for their swear words. I don't really want to see "goddess, Gaia," etc. thrown around in everyday conversation. I'd rather see nothing at all instead of subbed in words. Especially when the guys are doing it too...talk about odd...

I can't say this is the best shifter or paranormal series I've read but I can say that the books so far have been pretty impressive for an indie effort and aren't a bad deal for as cheap as they are. There are some minimal typos (I have the original version though, so this might have been fixed with the newer release) and a few small cliches which could have been avoided, but overall, I enjoyed the read. To me, this series is better than the much-hyped Nightshade trilogy. I hear the third book is the best of them all, so I'm looking forward to it.(less)

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Feb 03, 2012 Lisy24 rated it 5 of 5 stars

Lucien starts to hang with his ex girlfriend after he and caia decide to not be mates. Caia becomes increasingly jealous and more and more alone. She keeps secrets from everyone and with things becoming more dangerous is there anyone she can turn to and confide in? and will marions intervention between her and lucien make a difference. On the other hand ryder and Jae are becoming closer could love take over and replace the lonely feelings she has had since the torture she was dealth at Ethans ha...more

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River Cast (The Tale of Lunarmorte #2)

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