Embrace of the Damned (Brotherhood of the Damned, #1) by Anya Bast

Feb 17, 2013 Miki rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reading-romances-challenge-2013

This Review was first published on my blog Lecture toute une Aventure

I took this book because of an excerpt I saw on Anya’s blog, I was drawn to it and I don’t regret it even if when I finished this book I had a strange thought but let’s start with the beginning.

I love Vikings and Norse mythology, it’s a great change in my reading and I took pleasure in it. Loki was exactly like I imagined him and he is so devious that you want to slap him, strangle him, etc. The story starts when Broder is comm...more This Review was first published on my blog Lecture toute une Aventure

I took this book because of an excerpt I saw on Anya’s blog, I was drawn to it and I don’t regret it even if when I finished this book I had a strange thought but let’s start with the beginning.

I love Vikings and Norse mythology, it’s a great change in my reading and I took pleasure in it. Loki was exactly like I imagined him and he is so devious that you want to slap him, strangle him, etc. The story starts when Broder is committing a massacre, we don’t know why he is fighting like a berserker but I got the feeling there was a lot behind his action. They Loki enters and punishes him by cursing him. He will now be a fighter under Loki’s orders for the duration of his existence… eternally if he doesn’t find the demon that he is the source of the splinter Loki put in his soul. Cruel, yes but in the Norse mythology things aren’t soft like the life at that time still I was angry with Loki since the starts, how can he do that and then tell him that if he is a good boy, do it’s job he will get the woman made for him…. But only for the time he, as a god, decide. Grrr bad Loki!

At the present time, Broder is in a group of other Norwegians, cursed like him for a bloody crime, however the curse can have different specificities. The only common thing is the only way to break it, and then the rest is up to Loki’s mood when he curses you. In Broder case he can’t touch a woman except the one made for him (and only 1000 after the curse was given) So when he feels the woman made for him, the fighter starts to get feelings again like hope…even he suspects a trick from Loki. And he was right, yes Jessamine is perfect for him but she is also a witch and Broder has a strong history with them so while he is deeply attracted, and tries to act with honor and not ravish her, he is also determined to keep his distance because he knows they can’t be forever together.
I really loved to see his turmoil and how he wasn’t acting like a barbarians quite the opposite even.
Jessamine doesn’t know who she is anymore. After the death of her parents she was raised by her aunt… at least that was she thought, until she died suddenly. Then she discovered in her aunt house some pictures of her parents but older pictures with different name. That added to the fact that she is starting to get new strange abilities is starting to make her doubt what she was always told. So when she is attacked and saved in an underground parking she is only half surprised. Attracted to Broder but wanting answer more than anything she start a journey with him and enter a new world that didn’t suspect until after a kiss he announces her that she is a witch.
Jessa is strong minded, she knows what she wants and doesn’t hesitate to tell Broder what she thinks. However I didn’t like her at first because she was teasing him too much. She isn’t sure she is ready for a short relationship So he can give her pleasure yes but not take his own. Not fair even crueler when we know his history. She get better thought and I admire her, but still I resent her for their beginning^^;;.

What I really appreciate was the ending. We get answers and the heroine doesn’t need to change, be transformed etc for the relationship to have a chance. No, Love really prevails and we get to see a goddess determined, moved and fair. Loki isn’t the only master that can decide everything anymore and what happen after really made me smile. That being said, I also told you that when I was closing the book something came to my mind… I don’t feel like I want to read the next book, or at least not soon. It’s really strange because I really loved the book, perhaps it’s because the ending is so perfect that I don’t want something to alter that, that I was to savour it longer not sure but being honest I had to say it (now perhaps when I will read the next summary I will be anxiously waiting to read book 2 but so far book 1 is a wonderful stand alone too)

If you want a book with a wonderful happy ending, where love conquers all etc, a touch of mythology and lot of action this is an excellent book for you.

( and if you could have a thought for Anya to support her to face her medical ordeal it would be really appreciated)

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Nov 26, 2012 Carien rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: pnr

This is a nice paranormal romance.

Jessamine is a bit tiring at times I have to confess. At the start of the story I really liked her: she doesn't immediately swoon over the hero and is suspicious of his motives. Later on she really got on my nerves though. She just kept Broder on a leash, letting him pleasure her, but then pushing him away when he wanted more. I wanted to tell her to just make up her mind and stop playing with Broder. If I had been Broder I would have lost my patience pretty soo...more

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May 06, 2012 Bookaholics rated it 4 of 5 stars

Embrace of the Damned by Anya Bast
Paranormal Romance –May 1st, 2012
4 ½ stars

As the first book in the Immortal Brotherhood of the Damned, Anya Bast is off to a stunning start. As a brooding, yet sexy warrior finds his soul mate.

In a bloody act of retribution Broder Calderson awaits his death in ancient Norway only to be claimed by the trickster God Loki. He is now one of the Immortal Brotherhood and pay for his crimes. But Loki promises Broder his suffering will end in one thousand years if he is...more Embrace of the Damned by Anya Bast
Paranormal Romance –May 1st, 2012
4 ½ stars

As the first book in the Immortal Brotherhood of the Damned, Anya Bast is off to a stunning start. As a brooding, yet sexy warrior finds his soul mate.

In a bloody act of retribution Broder Calderson awaits his death in ancient Norway only to be claimed by the trickster God Loki. He is now one of the Immortal Brotherhood and pay for his crimes. But Loki promises Broder his suffering will end in one thousand years if he is a faithful servant and revealed the woman of his dreams.

It is one thousand years later and Jessamine Hamilton is walking in a dark, parking lot. She has been warned rather cryptically by a stranger that she is being watched and to be careful. When she finds herself attacked soon after by a creepy man with fangs! But suddenly she is saved by the sexiest man on a bike she has ever seen and then getting hot and heavy with him after he rescues her! When he claims she is in danger and must stay with him for protection she is in disbelief, especially when he tells her that she is a witch with magical powers and he is over a thousand years old. Jessa tries to leave, but she has been targeted and Broder is determined to protect her. He wants to help her learn to control her powers. But Jessa’s heritage complicate matters as others seek to use her for their own purposes. For Jessa’s powers may help prevent the Apocalypse that Loki’s daughter Hel want to occur.

This was an intense romance that I could not put down. Broder is brooding and sexy. He has a funny, dark humor that makes him irresistibly charming. He longs for Jessa yet doesn’t know to court her. Instead he settles for kissing her out of her mind! Yet he is honorable, he tries to keep his hands away from her and give her time to ‘warm’up to him. But their mutual attraction keeps getting in the way of his good intentions. Jessa has a lot of spunky attitude and admirably copes with the hectic paranormal changes in her life well. I liked how she stood up to the Brotherhood, especially Broder and wouldn’t just take their word and fall in line. As they both fight evil and their attraction the story heats up. The chemistry between them was believable and off the charts. I wanted to be Jessa and have Broder ravish me! The author does a wonderful job of creating a fully fleshed world of rugged Vikings and powerful Gods.

Anya Bast has created an original new world that will captivate and enthralled readers. If you are interested in Viking mythology and hunky, immortal heroes do not miss this book!

Reviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club

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Apr 29, 2012 Dark Faerie Tales rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed-by-kristie

Review Courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: Anya Bast has created a dark and thrilling world of demons and damned men. The romance is H.O.T. hot! Embrace of the Damned is completely engrossing; I didn’t want to put this book down.

Opening Sentence: Other people’s blood seeped into Broder’s wounds, making every slash and scratch on his body burn.

The Review:

Imagine a good-looking (but at the same time scary-looking dude) frightening the crap out of you in a dark parking garage basically...more

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Jul 17, 2012 Erica rated it 4 of 5 stars

That was awesome!! 4.5 stars

Thoroughly enjoyable story.

The characters are intersting and there is full disclosure in the past present and future of character building.
The names are just Awesome!!! Broder and Jessamine fabulous so original, Im a fan of an interesting names in books.
Jessamine is kick ass but she doesnt start off that way, you see her grow throughout the novel. Broder is tortured and gruff and you see him fall for Jessa, Having been a thousand years older than her you can see he i...more

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Jul 12, 2012 Lisa Annesley rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle, pnr, reviewed-4-blog, witch-warlock

Centuries ago, Viking warrior Broder Calderson committed mass murder. As his punishment, the Trickster God Loki condemned him to fight against the Blight, demons from Hel, for his immortal lifetime.

He also condemned Broder to one thousand years of celibacy.

When Broder finally meets Jessamine Hamilton, the one woman in all the world and and across time who is his as a reward for his service, she is being attacked by the Blight. The Blight are drawn to Jessa because she's more than human. When Br...more Centuries ago, Viking warrior Broder Calderson committed mass murder. As his punishment, the Trickster God Loki condemned him to fight against the Blight, demons from Hel, for his immortal lifetime.

He also condemned Broder to one thousand years of celibacy.

When Broder finally meets Jessamine Hamilton, the one woman in all the world and and across time who is his as a reward for his service, she is being attacked by the Blight. The Blight are drawn to Jessa because she's more than human. When Broder discovers what--and who--Jessa is, he finds out that Loki has tricked him yet again.

Passion ignites between the two, but they know that Loki will not allow them to be together for long. The danger to Jessa escalates as she learns more about her history. Can Broder overcome his own past to keep her safe? And if he does, will the future only hold heartbreak for the couple?

♥♥♥♥♥

Broder Calderson is a member of the Brotherhood of the Damned, a group of former Viking warriors being punished by Loki for their sins. They must fight the Blight, minions of the goddess Hel, who are trying to bring about Ragnarök (the apocalypse). In Embrace of the Damned we're introduced to the members of the Brotherhood in all their "beefy goodness" (according to Jessa). I am looking forward to reading more about the beefcake.

But I digress.

Broder is an alpha male through and through, accustomed to giving orders and having them obeyed. He's dark, brooding, and grunts a lot. He's a good kisser, in spite of being one thousand years out of practice. Is he as sexy as Gabriel Mac Braire from Bast's Wicked Enchantment? Sorry, no. Nobody's that sexy. But I certainly wouldn't kick Broder out of bed for eatin' crackers.

You know those orders that Broder is accustomed to giving? Well, Jessa isn't accustomed to following them. She might not be a trained, kick-butt heroine in the beginning of the book, but she doesn't let Broder walk all over her, either. She's got a sassy mouth and some good lines. The only thing that bothers me about her character is that she's a bit too much of a sexual tease. Poor Broder.

The book moves along at a smart pace. There's plenty of suspense, mystery, and danger to keep you reading into the night.

I hope that we see more of Broder and Jessa in future books. I'd like to catch up with them, to find out what they're doing. For instance, now that Broder is…can he…? And is he still…? That latter question, at least, will probably be answered in the next book. No word on when that might be coming out, though.(less)

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May 25, 2012 Melindeeloo rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: immortal_warriors, viking-romance, mythological-tie-in, paranormal-romance, witches-wizards-mages-sorcerers

Viking berserker Broder Calderson's punishment for slaying innocents and feeling no remorse amid the carnage, was to serve Loki as a member of the Brotherhood of the Damned and unlike his brethren, Broder must also remain celibate for a thousand years. The only bright light to his penance is that if Broder repents and is steadfast in his duty to protect the earth from the minions of the goddess Hel, after those thousand years he will earn the woman who is perfect for him. Now that wait is finall...more Viking berserker Broder Calderson's punishment for slaying innocents and feeling no remorse amid the carnage, was to serve Loki as a member of the Brotherhood of the Damned and unlike his brethren, Broder must also remain celibate for a thousand years. The only bright light to his penance is that if Broder repents and is steadfast in his duty to protect the earth from the minions of the goddess Hel, after those thousand years he will earn the woman who is perfect for him. Now that wait is finally over and Jessamine is more than he'd ever hoped for, but with his first taste of Jessa's lips, Broder questions whether the woman he was promised is truly a reward, or just a part of his punishment.

I liked Embrace of the Damned, despite my frustration with the heroine. It probably helped that I am extremely hero-centric, plus the world that Bast created has a lot of promise. I am a fan of mythological tie-ins, so I appreciated the premise of damned Viking warriors in service to the god Loki fighting against the minions of the goddess Hel to try to stave off Ragnarok (the Norse Armageddon.) Also adding to the world are Valkyries, witches, shape shifting sorcerers and Hel's minions, the Blight, who are demons with fangs but who shatter into ice when killed.

My nits: Embrace of the Damned was a bit heavy on the thwarted and actual sex, and the big conflict of Jessa's root and Broder's history are quickly and neatly resolved. But one thing that Bast does in her series starter that I thought was really smart, is that she concentrates on the leading pair and the world-building and doesn't inundate the readers with tons of supporting characters. I really appreciated not having to keep track of a whole slew of potential leading men – or ladies – though, I can definitely see Valkyrie Halla, and Dmitri, the minion rebelling against his brethren taking a turn in the spotlight. And I am not sure if this is going to be a theme for the whole series but it was since Loki is the Trickster god Broder's match was probably intended as a cruel joke – call me perverse - but I am hoping this is a reoccurring theme in the rest of the Brotherhood of the Damned books because I think the mismatched soul-mates is a trope that has a great deal of potential.

So, I ended up liking Embrace of the Damned even though the heroine was not my favorite, I loved the potential of the world and of the characters who hopefully have their own happily ever afters in store for them.

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May 03, 2012 Michelle rated it 4 of 5 stars

If you’re not already a fan of Anya Bast, now’s a really good chance to become one. She has started a new series, Brotherhood of the Damned, with the new book Embrace of the Damned. Over a thousand years ago, Broder was cursed by the Norse god, Loki. Now after years of forced celibacy Broader finally has the chance with one woman, Jessa. Even though she feels the instant attraction, Jessa’s not about to jump in to bed with anyone especially since she’s still trying to discover who she really is....more

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May 08, 2012 Jen (That's What I'm Talking About) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: brotherhood-of-the-damned, paranormal-romance

My Rating: 3.5 stars: Liked it - recommend(B+)
Full Review: http://www.twimom227.com/2012/05/revi...

Anya Bast’s newest world opens with a history lesson about our hero. One thousand years ago, Viking Broder slaughtered a lot of people - men, women and children, and as punishment for his crimes, he was involuntarily recruited to be an immortal warrior for the trickerster god, Loki.

Forward to present day and we meet Jessa. After the recent death of her aunt, Jessa notices she can do some odd thing...more My Rating: 3.5 stars: Liked it - recommend (B+)
Full Review: http://www.twimom227.com/2012/05/revi...

Anya Bast’s newest world opens with a history lesson about our hero. One thousand years ago, Viking Broder slaughtered a lot of people - men, women and children, and as punishment for his crimes, he was involuntarily recruited to be an immortal warrior for the trickerster god, Loki.

Forward to present day and we meet Jessa. After the recent death of her aunt, Jessa notices she can do some odd things - like get people to do what she wants just by thinking about it. And after finding photos of her parents that were taken over 100 years ago, Jessa is determined to find out more about her mysterious history.

The book opens beautifully - the history and story grabbed my full attention. The mood is exciting and the story easy to follow. It is action packed right from the get go, and well, it is funny. One of my favorite scenes occurs near the beginning when Jessa wakes to find herself in a strange place full of good looking warrior men. As she looks to make her escape, she is discovered:

“I’m leaving. You have a whole house filled with beefcake and no explanation for it.”
He narrowed his eyes and tilted his head to the side a little. “So you’re fleeing because of beefcake?”

I enjoyed the play between Jessa and Broder, but it was a tough dynamic at times. He continually demands personal information from Jessa, but he refuses to return the favor. At times he is downright rude, especially about sharing anything from his own past. Mostly Jessa takes it, and that frustrated me. But there were times when she stands up for herself and that had me cheering.

Embrace of the Damned is an interesting story and enjoyable read. It kicks off a new series with a promising start. There are a few parallels with Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunter series; however, Brotherhood of the Damned series is uniquely different. I did find some sections of the story repetitious, and I was middle-of-the-road about Jessa due to her fluctuation between a strong and weaker character, but overall I enjoyed this story. The ending left me wanting to know what will happen next, and I have several unanswered questions. I certainly hope that Jessa and Broder's story will continue in the next book--and I am already looking forward to what is next. (less)

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May 17, 2012 Helyce rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed-for-smexybooks, pnr-romance

http://smexybooks.com/2012/05/review-...

Over one thousand years ago, Broder Calderson committed such a horrific crime that the Norse Gods punished him by putting him into the service of Loki, The Trickster God. Immortal, he’s spent the last 1,000 years as a member of the Brotherhood of the Damned, killing the Blight, blood drinkers created by the goddess Hel. If that wasn’t enough, his punishment included the fact that he could not be with a woman until Loki himself allowed it.

Jessamine Hamilton...more

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Jun 19, 2012 Steph rated it 4 of 5 stars

3.75 stars

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by this book and it was a promising start to what will hopefully be a great long-lasting series.

When I saw that this series was named the "Brotherhood of the Damned", I immediately became intrigued. My favourites series' so far are ones where there is a group of characters (often male) who are somehow interconnected and often are a part of a joint force against evil, where the world around them is also often just as important as the main heros of an...more 3.75 stars

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by this book and it was a promising start to what will hopefully be a great long-lasting series.

When I saw that this series was named the "Brotherhood of the Damned", I immediately became intrigued. My favourites series' so far are ones where there is a group of characters (often male) who are somehow interconnected and often are a part of a joint force against evil, where the world around them is also often just as important as the main heros of any given book in the series. In this case the word "brotherhood" made me think it might be a new series that falls along the same lines as the Black Dagger Brotherhood, Lords of the Underworld, Dark Hunters, Midnight Breed, to name just a few. After reading this first installement, I do think there is a tremendous amount of potential, but the reason it didn't get pushed to 4-star status is that the term "brotherhood" for me personally was a bit misleading once I finished it.

One of the highlights for me after reading this book as part of a new series was - especially after reading series after series based on Greek mythology and/or vampires/shifters (in the traditional sense)- that this one plays around with Norse mythology. With the exception of watching Chris Hemsworth as Thor, my personal knowledge bank when it comes to this particular type of mythology is quite limited. That being said, the god we see the most in this series so far is Loki, since he controls the Brotherhood, and you also find out quickly that he's a pain in the ass and lives up to his name of "the Trickster God". The Brotherhood is comprised of males who have essentially done something terrible during their human lives, and prior to death are recruited (and punished) into Loki's brotherhood to fight and kill the Blight (these bizarre vampire-like beings that drink blood and who were created by Hel in Hel - Hel is Loki's daughter, and to say their relationship is strained is putting it lightely). There are definitely some parallels with Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunter series in terms of the format, but not in a way that would deter me from continuing the series.

In this first book we meet Broder Calderson, a viking warrior. He committed a heinous crime 1000 years ago, and it is on that day that Loki has recruited him into his Brotherhood with the stipulation that if he serves the God well, in exactly 1000 years he will be rewarded with the affections of his dream woman. Fast forward to that fated day, and Broder's first meeting with Jessa is as she's being attacked by the Blight where he must save her life. From that point forward, it's quite clear that Loki didn't give Broder just any woman, but rather a woman who isn't quite human and with quite the ancestry (although she doesn't know it yet). So, as you may have guessed, this particular tale is about Broder and Jessa, and their difficult road to happiness. For a good portion of the book, their relationship really seemed doomed and impossible. Both parties try to show control and restraint, but as the story progresses, and with each hurdle they overcome, they simply cannot help what they feel for one another. It was a good love story and had some great action, so I quite enjoyed it!

The characters were very likeable. Of course the main two, Broder and Jessa, are the ones you see the most. Broder is very much the broody and moody type, and throughout a good portion of the book, I was constantly thinking "man, this guy needs lighten up and at the very least smile every once and while..." I was extremely happy when Jessa reflected those same thoughts throughout. One of my favourite scenes is her reaction when he grins for the first time! Very funny! Overall though, these two were good characters, were a good fit for one another, and they both had strong redeeming qualities that I look for in characters of these types of books!

The secondary characters were also good! Some more memorable than others, Bast did peak my interest with some of these side characters, even on the "bad-guy" side, and I wonder whether or not they will have specific and/or increased roles in future books. I hope so! However, it is in this area where I felt somewhat misled by the term Brotherhood. For me, a brotherhood - specifically in this context - is a band of guys/men who are tight and loyal to one another on top of having a common mission and goal. There is also a camaraderie between them that often makes for some of the most enjoyable aspects/scenes/storylines of the series and its books. We do meet "the brotherhood" but it's such a miniscule and insignificant part of the book, that I was left feeling underwhelmed and disappointed. We do meet and see Erik, the leader of the Brotherhood, in way more scenes than any other, but that being said, his scenes and specifically those with Broder, where a little one-dimensional. My impression of Erik and Broder's relationship was very much like a good acquaintance or colleague but not much more. That might be attributed to Broder's serious nature throughout the book, but to be quite frank, that connection or lack there of between the Broder and the brothers was the book's weak point for me. And based on that as well as the ending that I won't spoil, I do worry that this series will be the type where each book can be a stand alone where you never revisit previous characters, rather than one where the books are a progression and evolution from their predecessors and we get cameos from previous book heros. I sincerely hope for the latter, because this book is quite good and there does exist this great potential to further develop the world Bast has created!!! Only time will tell I guess!

At this point I have no clue when the next book is out and who our hero will be, but I look forward to reading it for sure! :)(less)

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May 22, 2012 Julie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012

Posted at Yummy Men & Kick Ass Chicks

Embrace of the Damned it the first book in Anya Bast’s newest series, The Brotherhood of the Damned. After reading this book, I decided to give it 3 stars. But even if I gave it a decent rating, there were things about the book I really liked and there were things about the book I really didn’t enjoy. Therefore, I think I’m going to write my ‘pro and con’ style of review because it will be the easiest way to write this.

The story/series is about almost th...more

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Jun 14, 2012 The Window Seat rated it 4 of 5 stars

As a huge fan of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series, I am always looking for something to fill the void in between Ward's releases. Series such as the Elder Races and the Immortals After Dark worked for a while, but now that they are all read, I am always on the lookout. While I don't think that I have found the "New Brotherhood in Town", I think that there is a series that may work well to fill the void.

The Brotherhood of the Damned is a new series by Anya Bast. In it, we meet a group of Broth...more

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May 20, 2012 Michelle Leah Olson rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: literal-addiction-books, reviewed

Our Review, by Michelle L. Olson - LITERAL ADDICTION'S Pack Alpha:

The premier book of Anya's new series was a hit!

Our hero, Broder Calderson, is a a dark, brooding, charming, sexy, faithful immortal 'owned' by the trickster God Loki and sentenced to fight the Blight for all time. As an added sentence, his ability to be with a woman was taken away for 1,000 years to ensure that he fulfilled his duties to the Brotherhood of the Damned.

Our heroine, Jessamine Hamilton is a feisty, independent gal...more

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Oct 11, 2012 Melliane rated it 4 of 5 stars

Mon avis en Français

My English review

I was quite surprised by this novel, I knew Anya Bast by another of her series and I was curious to see how her other books were. We discover in this novel Broder, a former Viking, serving Loki after having committed a terrible crime thousand years ago. In addition to his service for eternity, Loki has prohibited him any woman until today. To thank him for his work, he gives him the possibility to have the woman of his dreams. But he knows it is only ephemera...more Mon avis en Français

My English review

I was quite surprised by this novel, I knew Anya Bast by another of her series and I was curious to see how her other books were. We discover in this novel Broder, a former Viking, serving Loki after having committed a terrible crime thousand years ago. In addition to his service for eternity, Loki has prohibited him any woman until today. To thank him for his work, he gives him the possibility to have the woman of his dreams. But he knows it is only ephemeral, and he must constantly keep that idea in mind.

Jessa is a determined and lively young woman, something that I loved about her. She does not trust anyone and when Broder saves her life, she is determined to thank him and to leave as soon as possible, but this is not the opinion of our beloved Viking who is determined to keep her near him. Of course it will not be so easy, especially as our heroine is very stubborn and wants to do what she wants. But then, he will do everything to make her succumb to his charm, but well, Jessa will not let him do that or at least not until the end. Broder tries to control himself as he can in her presence but I still think the attitude of Jassemine was really mean. She’ll make him do everything she wants. And when she really realizes that she feels guilty, but she does not really stop either. I think it would have been better if she could have decided what to do with him and not let him wait and hope for so long as it is ultimately always sad to see what Broder endured throughout the book.

But the story between our two characters will not do everything, we discover the true identity of this young woman and thus, the reason behind the fact that everyone wants to have her, whether to kidnap or kill her. I must say that this is quite intriguing from the start. Everyone is very interested in her, and when Loki realizes that our heroine will not agreed to his wishes, he is ready to do anything too.

I enjoyed this novel, it’s an easy read and the end was really cute. I loved all the characters and I admit that I'm curious to see the crimes of all the other Brothers. Dimitri, the rebellious demon is also interesting, we do not know what made him change lanes, as he helps his enemies, but I'd really like to know more now. Another good paranormal romanceseries I’ll follow with pleasure.(less)

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May 07, 2012 Nicole rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012, review, paranormal-romance

Review originally posted here: http://thebookpushers.com/2012/05/07/...

I’ve long been a fan of Anya Bast, her paranormal stories are sexy and original and I usually quickly become wrapped up in the worlds she creates. I was anxious to start the Brotherhood of the Damned series, and while it didn’t quite live up to my expectations, I am intrigued by the world.

Broder long ago committed a crime so violent that the Norse god Loki damned him to eternal service in the brotherhood, fighting against the...more Review originally posted here: http://thebookpushers.com/2012/05/07/...

I’ve long been a fan of Anya Bast, her paranormal stories are sexy and original and I usually quickly become wrapped up in the worlds she creates. I was anxious to start the Brotherhood of the Damned series, and while it didn’t quite live up to my expectations, I am intrigued by the world.

Broder long ago committed a crime so violent that the Norse god Loki damned him to eternal service in the brotherhood, fighting against the demons from Hel, the Blight. His one moment to look forward to is a thousand years into service, he will be given the chance to be with a woman. Little does he know the woman, Jessa, he rescues from the Blight is one extraordinary woman.

Jessa is looking for answers to her family’s history, and being rescued by Broder puts a kink in her plans. Although she is wildly attracted to him, she is also scared to move forward with a relationship. As the truth surrounding her heritage unravels and Jessa finds out more than she ever expected, she finds herself pulled into the world of the Blight more than she or Broder expected. When Loki and someone from Jessa’s ancestry work to pull her away from Broder, will he be able to let go of the one woman who has touched his heart in over a millennium? And will Jessa be able to let go of the Warrior who finally won her heart?

The world building in this book and series is somewhat unique from the other standard paranormal romance books on the shelves right now. We get to see a different kind of mythology than normal, and I always like when books take on something new that I haven’t read a lot of. Having Loki and Freyja play a fun role throughout the story was great as well, I always love seeing god/goddess characters portrayed actively throughout the story. However, while the world-building was different and unique, it did take awhile to me to get a good understanding of everything that was going on.

It also took me a long while to actually feel a connection from the hero and heroine. Especially Jessa, she struggled so much with having a relationship with Broder. She teased and kissed him, got naked and then stopped. The sexual tension was intense, but it wasn’t until over the halfway mark that the two actually FINISHED any of their sexy times. I felt like Jessa was unfair to Broder in that regard, and I didn’t like that she dragged out the relationship drama between these too.

I also didn’t really feel like we got to really know their characters until late in the book. I wanted more of a connection between myself and the characters, instead it seemed like I was always on the outside looking in, never really getting to feel as if I was IN the story. It wasn’t until the story really picked up about half-way to three quarters of the way through that I got sucked in and actually felt as if the plot moved at a pace that kept me engaged.

I also wished that we had a little more time to spend with the actually brothers of the Brotherhood of the Damned. I assume that the remainder of the stories will be about them, however we only got a page or so of time with all the brothers, and a few pages with their leader. Although we were given the chance to explore other paranormal fractions within the world, I would have liked to see more of the Brotherhood itself.

All in all this wasn’t my favorite Bast read. I struggled through the first half or so with the slow moving plot and the lack of connection between myself and the book, and the characters themselves. I do, however, look forward to more books within this series, because I think that the world is intriguing and exciting and one that I can see myself falling in love with.
I give Embrace of the Damned a C(less)

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Aug 30, 2012 Jeanne rated it 4 of 5 stars

Anya Bast has long been a favorite author of mine so I was looking forward to the new series. I have to say that this is a little bit different and not quite what I was expecting. I enjoyed the characters and the main premise of the story line. Things are not always what they seem and Anya Bast has a knack for not going where you might expect her to. She managed to end the story with an HEA (which I did expect) but the way she got there was not even on my radar. I really enjoy it when an author...more

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Apr 29, 2012 All Things Urban Fantasy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: may-2012-hotp, reviewed-by-abigail

Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy

EMBRACE OF THE DAMNED, the first book in Anya Bast’s new Brotherhood of the Damned paranormal romance series is like a cross between the movie Thor and Gena Showalter’s Lords of the Underworld series. A brotherhood of cursed immortals who wage war against a demonic enemy, are denied the release of death and the pleasures of life. The god pulling their stings is the Trickster Loki, a capricious deity who punishes and rewards at his whim. His latest rewar...more

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May 17, 2012 Francesca the Fierce ~Eyelet Ecstasy~ rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-read-2012, genre-paranormal-romance, vampires, witches-shaman-magic

3.5 Stars

This review was posted at Under the Covers

The premise of this series is very interesting. There are some aspects that I found extremely original and can't wait to see more of this world develop. As the first book in the series there was a bit of explaining things but it wasn't overwhelming to the point that it interfered with my enjoyment of the book.

"I want to fuck you, Jessa. I want a night of pure, down and dirty sex with you. I want to make you come over and over." He took a shudde...more 3.5 Stars

This review was posted at Under the Covers

The premise of this series is very interesting. There are some aspects that I found extremely original and can't wait to see more of this world develop. As the first book in the series there was a bit of explaining things but it wasn't overwhelming to the point that it interfered with my enjoyment of the book.

"I want to fuck you, Jessa. I want a night of pure, down and dirty sex with you. I want to make you come over and over." He took a shuddering, shaky breath. "I want to hear you scream my name at the top of your lungs. Now you know what I'm thinking about."

So let me explain why he seems to be coming on a bit too strong. Broder has been an immortal for a century and he has been part of the Brotherhood for that long. They are warriors that pretty much belong to Loki, a temperamental God who made them all immortal because they had committed some pretty bad crimes. Loki cursed Broder to not be able to have sex with anyone until the one woman that was for him came on the 1000 anniversary of his mortal death. And the day has come and his "chastity belt" has come off.

Jessamine was in theory everything he could ever hope for to get as his mate. Except that she got on my very last nerve! Not so much her personality but her hot and cold attitude towards Broder. She was just a bit TOO MUCH of a "cock-tease" to the point that I just wanted to slap her sometimes. Either you want him now or you want to wait, but quit doing this to him!!

Broder has a secret in his past and it has to do with Jessamine too. Now that he found her he will have to protect her. See she is actually a sort of powerful witch who doesn't know anything about her own powers. Her true family wants her back, the bad guys want her out of the picture. And she will have to trust Broder, a complete stranger, to protect her.

My favorite part of this world was the bad guys. Some sort of blood drinkers that when killed shatter into shards of ice. Hell is frozen not hot, ice not fire. I thought that concept was very cool. And the Brotherhood members are made immortal by having that ice embedded in their heart. I'm intrigued to see what's to come in the series.

*ARC provided by publisher(less)

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May 26, 2012 Darcy rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, demons, norse-mythology, pnr, magic

This book was pretty good for a first book in a series. The set up was done with a little bit of info given at a time versus an info dump. I do, however, wish there was more back ground on the Brotherhood, there was enough to understand but I wanted more, especially with the seidhr.

It was hard not to like Broder from the start. He went all alpha male, the only thought to protect Jessa at any costs. Jessa, on the other hand, I am not sure about. She was a bitch at the beginning, then for most of...more

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Jan 02, 2013 Lisa rated it 5 of 5 stars

Read another great book in 1 day! I really enjoyed the Nordic God Loki element to the story along with The Brootherhood of the Damned. I very much hope that Anya turns this into a series! I'll keep my eye out for book 2 in the future hopefully!!!

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May 16, 2012 Diane rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, i-own-this-book, mythology, paranormal, part-of-a-series, romance, witchcraft

interesting first book in this author's new series, with a hero who can't die and a heroine who finds out she is more than she suspected

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May 08, 2012 Shayna rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal-greats

Great start to a new series from Anya! I have missed the fabulous sexy men she brings to life ;) Broder is at the top of my list! Can't wait for the next!

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Jul 24, 2012 Deborah rated it 4 of 5 stars

I did love this one very easy to read and the history of the brotherhood was explained. Can't wait for the next one!

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Jul 03, 2012 Eileen Predmore added it

Great read from the first. Brodeur and Jessa together are magic!! Can't wait for more in this new series.

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Jun 02, 2012 Kara Callahan rated it 2 of 5 stars

This book was only okay. I usually really enjoy Ms. Bast's works but this one did not hold my attention. I had to force myself to finish it.

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May 08, 2012 Kristina rated it 4 of 5 stars

Fun read and the storyline kept my interest entirely. I also enjoyed jessa's sense of humor.

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Sep 29, 2012 Raynell rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal-romance

An enthralling and captivating book. Entwining Norse Mythology. Fascinating..

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May 07, 2012 Renee Winters rated it 4 of 5 stars

NOt one of here best novels, but leaves the door open for some great ones to come

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May 12, 2012 Ellen rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romance-series, paranormal-series

Really liked it.

(view spoiler)

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Embrace of the Damned (Brotherhood of the Damned #1)

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