Birthright (The Dark Gifts, #1)

Sep 06, 2011 Samantha **ParaNormal Romance Party** rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 4-4-5-stars, pnr-romance, ya, reviewed

1st Line in the Book---> “This was crazy.”

REVIEW:
Well let just say to Mrs. Cross, Thank you for writing this great story!!! I understand how many times people will just make assumptions that its another 'Twilight' theme read when they read its about Vampires. HECK NO ITS NOT!!! From the moment you begin to read, it throws you into the story! You have no idea whats going on and all you can do hold on for the ride!!

Elizabeth Markum is thrust into this world when she is accidentally turned into...more 1st Line in the Book---> “This was crazy.”

REVIEW:
Well let just say to Mrs. Cross, Thank you for writing this great story!!! I understand how many times people will just make assumptions that its another 'Twilight' theme read when they read its about Vampires. HECK NO ITS NOT!!! From the moment you begin to read, it throws you into the story! You have no idea whats going on and all you can do hold on for the ride!!

Elizabeth Markum is thrust into this world when she is accidentally turned into something she never thought existed! A vampire! All she wanted to do was get to know the mysterious but handsome man she caught staring at her. Now she must be brought before the council and judged to see if she is trustworthy and able to adapt into her new life.

Her maker Michael is shocked when he realizes that he has become Liz's Maker. That was the last thing he wanted although he was attracted to her from the moment he saw her. Being the Council's best and only executioner, he has gained many enemies. So having a weakness is something he cannot afford. Especially when a rebellion sprouts against the Council. A war is coming.

I loved the use of different myths and themes embedded into the story. There are witches, vampires, druids, ghosts, demons and greek mythology, just to name a few! There are soo many twists and turns in this book. It keeps you guessing and on your toes. One moment you may think you have it all figured out, then out of nowhere …another element is added to the plot! There is action and mystery along with a little romance.

There were many characters that were introduced and played important parts. I only wished we could have seen more character depth in Liz and Micheal. I understand that the author wanted to explain what was going on, but at times I had to remind myself that the story's main characters were Liz and Michael and it all revolved around them. The different POV did a very well job moving the plot forward and getting to know the other characters, but it left we wondering at times.... are we getting a new main character for the rest of the story??? The story begins with Liz and Michael. I got soo interested in their characters, when suddenly the story pulls away from them and focuses on others. The good thing is towards the end, we get more of the H/H again!! Everything else in the book was great!!

This is the first book in the series! I loved the storyline and the plot. Liz is a great character she is smart, honest and wise but can kick some major A**!! Michael is loyal, protective and fierce but can be loving when it comes to Liz. I will definitely be waiting anxiously for the next book!! There is a long road ahead for Liz, Michael and the rest of the gang as they try to win the war between good vs evil!!

**Final Verdict= 4.5 Stars**(less)

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Sep 14, 2012 Jennifer Wright rated it 5 of 5 stars

I am completely shocked that I hadn't read this book yet. I am totally taken with the characters, the story, everything. I love how Willow Cross writes! Her writing is fluid and she takes us through a story well. Birthright begins with Liz going before the council, but then it takes us back to her memory of how she got there. Let me tell you, it’s not easy to pull this off and she did a great job with doing it a few times in the beginning to let us know how Liz got where she was and also where t...more

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Apr 24, 2012 Autumn rated it 5 of 5 stars

Willow Cross is an amazing author!

I got this book, and fell in love with it. I can not wait to read more from this author. The story flowed and even though it was 263 pages, it was awesome. I wish it could have been longer since I did not want to stop reading it, but I am hoping this author will continue writing about Michael and Liz, and all the other characters. I want to see where this book can go. I highly recommended this book and this author to everyone.

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Sep 13, 2012 Nicole rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal-romance, fantasy

I didn't know how to categorise this book. I've shelved it under fantasy and pnr, but it's not really either. The only thing I can really think to describe it is paranormal fantasy because the romance is non-existent and it's not really an adventure, tho it does attempt to be... People promised me a pulse-racing read. I didn't get that at all.

I found this book.. boring. I've never given a negative review before and I don't want to start now but this book was a snoozefest and I struggled every st...more

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Sep 09, 2012 Melissa rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: meh-eh-so-so-won-t-read-again, vampires, yuck-awful-waste-o-f-time

Yuck. This very very very rarely happens to me that I can't even finish a book. I can't believe this book has the ratings it does. I thought it would be a no brainer -WRONG! First I cannot STAND the perspective it was written in. The author switches back and forth between 1st and 3rd person between paragraphs!! And the first person isn't even the same character!! Nothing and I mean nothing was developed in the story.
Ok, meet a guy, go to make out with him he turns me into a vampire accidentally...more

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Feb 18, 2012 Nadège Richards rated it 4 of 5 stars

Without a doubt, The Dark Gifts Birthright is the best vampire tale I’ve ever read. What drew me in the most was the lack of stereotypes. Lately, vampires have been changing, and not for the better. Some have just become bizarre, which makes you want to drop the whole vampire category entirely. But Willow Cross did something dissimilar and mesmerizing with this novel. The plot and overall idea was fresh and universally ingenious. It sparked my imagination beyond fathomable comprehension and open...more Without a doubt, The Dark Gifts Birthright is the best vampire tale I’ve ever read. What drew me in the most was the lack of stereotypes. Lately, vampires have been changing, and not for the better. Some have just become bizarre, which makes you want to drop the whole vampire category entirely. But Willow Cross did something dissimilar and mesmerizing with this novel. The plot and overall idea was fresh and universally ingenious. It sparked my imagination beyond fathomable comprehension and opened me up to a whole new world of possibilities. No teenage drama, high school gossiping, or childish sing-along’s in this one. Oh no, this was vampirism in its simplest nature.

Willow’s MC (Liz) is an all around live wire. She knows when to be sad and down when it’s necessary, and then within a couple of words, she’s back to kicking vampire butt. I loved how Willow chose to create Liz’s character as an adult, rather then the average teen. It’s something you don’t get a lot since most “incidents” happen in high school. But I have to give her credit, it was new and I really enjoyed that small yet significant aspect. Liz went through a couple of ordeals as any newly turned vampire would, but she handled it better then I expected. If you hated Bella’s whininess in Twilight as I know most do, read The Dark Gifts because you won’t be disappointed.

I felt the secondary characters were as much of an importance to the novel as Liz was. No one was left stranded in oblivion. They each gave each other a reason to be there, so it wasn’t one of those stories where a character is introduced, fully explained, just for the character to disappear because they weren’t imperative to begin with. And if you ask me who my favorite character is and you think I’m going to say Liz, then you’re so wrong. There are about a million – no, strike that – a gazillion reasons why I heart Michael, the ultimate love interest, but you’d have to give me a month to elaborate. He’s sophisticating and heart-poundingly delicious. The only thing I despised about him is his close comparison to Edward, that little instinct they have to protect their love rather then letting her be her own person. It was those parts of the story that had me both pulling out my hair and wishing Michael was real. But sadly, he is not.

But to put the prior paragraphs into one sentence, The Dark Gifts Birthright will always be one of my favorite reads. One I can come back to time and time again, and still have a good laugh and the occasional meltdown.

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Oct 13, 2012 Becky rated it 3 of 5 stars

I was invited to take part in this blog tour and thought the book sounded really interesting. Just my sort of thing at the moment so I enthusiastically agreed. I received a free e-copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Liz meets Michael and feels an instant attraction to him, little does she know that he is a vampire - until she wakes up as one too and realises it was him that turned her. All of a sudden she is thrust into this new life and not only does she have to get used to being...more I was invited to take part in this blog tour and thought the book sounded really interesting. Just my sort of thing at the moment so I enthusiastically agreed. I received a free e-copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Liz meets Michael and feels an instant attraction to him, little does she know that he is a vampire - until she wakes up as one too and realises it was him that turned her. All of a sudden she is thrust into this new life and not only does she have to get used to being a Vamp, but there is a war starting between rival groups. Liz could be the answer or the problem.

This book had me torn, I felt like I should be enjoying it but I struggled to get into it. I didn't particularly like Liz as a character she didn't do anything particularly wow or heroin worthy. I just found her a bit whiny and annoying. Michael was a better character, dark, brooding, mysterious with a sense of power. I also liked Angie - Liz's companion in the Vampire world, she was sparky, hyper, talkative but hid a kick butt side. She started off as whiny - not wanting to train or work, but once she had she livened up.

There were moments when I would really get into the story and think - 'maybe this is getting better' and I would power through a couple of pages, but sadly it didn't last. I honestly don't know why. The writing was well structured and for the most part the plot was good, it just didn't talk to me the way other books do.

Then things got confusing for me, the characters discover 'time portals' and can travel back and forth through time, so when I thought I was following one storyline, suddenly they would go back in time and change it, meaning the chapters I had just read didn't really have a significance as that would now not happen. I got quite confused as to what really did happen and what was changed. Time travel always confuses me and it has to be done seamlessly for me to follow, but I'm afraid here I got totally lost.

It may seem like I am being totally negative here, I'm really not, this book had it's good and bad points. Things I didn't like others might really enjoy, As I said, there technically wasn't anything wrong with this book, it just didn't work for me. I couldn't seem to enjoy it.(less)

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Sep 08, 2012 Bella rated it 5 of 5 stars

It was one kiss from a stranger. Liz couldn't believe she gave in so easily. She realized she wasn't herself. That one kiss and what happened with it was to change her life forever. She found herself wandering, trying to escape from Michael. What had he done to her, and why was she feeling this way. Things in her body were changing and she was running, running from Michael through the night. Inside her mind it was like she could hear his thoughts "Must find her." As the sun rose her skin burned...more

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Apr 23, 2012 Joyce rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book is unlike any other. I was impressed from page one! This book grabbed my attention and would not let it go....literally I couldn't put it down...and found myself reading until 3 in the morning because I had to find out out what happened next.
I read numerous books from this genre and did not realize, until I read this book, how predictable many of books are getting. Usually with the first hint of foreshadowing and I have already guessed what will happen next. So when it does happen, unf...more

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Apr 03, 2012 Rachel Marks rated it 4 of 5 stars

I found out this book because I am actually participating in a blog tour for the author Willow Cross next month (check out my blog at www.yanovelreader.com). From reading the description I was really intrigued and excited to read Birthright because it sounded like an interesting take on vampires and witches. Once I started reading I could not get enough of it and quickly read through the book in a few days. The story itself is a unique, entertaining take on vampires and witches, which was extrem...more

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Mar 30, 2012 Christina rated it 4 of 5 stars

***(Slightly Spoliery)***I was introduced to Willows writing when I read Oceans of Red volume 1. My only complaint then was the story was too short because I had really gotten into it. With Birthright it was great and not so short. Willow simply has a way with words that bring you into the world she so perfectly weaves. While a lot of stories take some build up to get you into the action this one starts right off with Liz's transformation. You are hauled right away into a world that neither you...more

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Jan 04, 2012 Celina Ortiz rated it 5 of 5 stars

What a wonderful way to start my reading journey for the year 2012. For weeks I have answered questions by Willow Cross on Facebook trying to win this book. Although I never won, she has many faithful followers who have one multiple times and one of them (THANK YOU- JENNY BYNUM) gifted me her copy of Birthright.

This book is was awesome! It has perfect balance when it comes to romance, action, suspense, humor and mystery. I opened the book on New Years eve and was whisked away on this wonderful...more

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Feb 18, 2012 Jennifer Wright rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I am completely shocked that I hadn't read this book yet. I am totally taken with the characters, the story, everything. I love how Willow Cross writes! Her writing is fluid and she takes us through a story well. Birthright begins with Liz going before the council, but then it takes us back to her memory of how she got there. Let me tell you, it’s not easy to pull this off and she did a great job with doing it a few times in the beginning to let us know how Liz got where she was and also where t...more

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Oct 23, 2012 Sandra "Jeanz" rated it 5 of 5 stars

Can't beleive it has taken me so long to find this great author and her brilliant books!
I do like the cover even though I am a little unsure whether the female on the front is Angie or Liz, either of them would fit the image for me. Would the cover draw me to the book? I think it would yes, I like the colour's on the cover. They entice you to pick up the book.
I became truly hooked into this book and it's plot and sub plots almost straight away. I could hardly wait to read more of it and hated ha...more Can't beleive it has taken me so long to find this great author and her brilliant books!
I do like the cover even though I am a little unsure whether the female on the front is Angie or Liz, either of them would fit the image for me. Would the cover draw me to the book? I think it would yes, I like the colour's on the cover. They entice you to pick up the book.
I became truly hooked into this book and it's plot and sub plots almost straight away. I could hardly wait to read more of it and hated having to put it down to do the household chores. I do enjoy how Willow Cross writes in an easy flowing way, as you are asking the questions in your head, she is answering them within the book. I also love her characters, they are well described, and not always "perfect" in that they all have their own little quirks, and mannerisms and traits. I also enjoyed the aspect where vampires can be "good" "kind" and experience a "type of love" Of course as their are evil humans there are also evil vampires too. Monroe is a big bad shifty, untrustworthy vampire, who thinks himself above rules.
There is a break in the council, the two factions are to go to war. Both sides have to regroup and train their armies
This book has it all! vampires, witches, druids, telepathic humans, prophetic dreams, and demons and they all have their place within this book and their own parts to play in the whole scheme of what is to happen. If you love paranormal/fantasy then you should really enjoy this book.
I really do not want to give away any type of spoiler so am reluctant to go into more detail. I just really really want people to read this book and enjoy it as much as I have. I mean yes I read a lot and yes I blog about it and I have read lots of books, but some you feel you want to really rave about and this is one of those!
So did I enjoy the book? Loved it! Would I recommend it? Yes to a wide range of readers. I would compare it to Vaempires by Thomas Winship which I also loved and wait (im) patiently for the next installment of, as I will be waiting for the next installement in The Dark Gifts series by Willow Cross.
Would I read more in this series? I plan to! Would I read more by Willow Cross? Yes please!(less)

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Oct 04, 2012 Between the Bind rated it 4 of 5 stars

Read full review at: Between the Bind.

Birthright begins with newly turned vampire, Liz, on her way to face the vampire counsel with her accidental maker, and the counsel's number one assassin, Michael. The reader learns of Liz's unfortunate death through the counsel's eyes as they sort through her memories, forcing her to live through her most painful experience again, and only leading to what she thinks is her imminent death.

Once the counsel is confident that Liz and her maker didn't intentiona...more Read full review at: Between the Bind.

Birthright begins with newly turned vampire, Liz, on her way to face the vampire counsel with her accidental maker, and the counsel's number one assassin, Michael. The reader learns of Liz's unfortunate death through the counsel's eyes as they sort through her memories, forcing her to live through her most painful experience again, and only leading to what she thinks is her imminent death.

Once the counsel is confident that Liz and her maker didn't intentionally break vampire law, she is able to leave her "cell" and experience a world she had no idea even existed.

Whispers follow Liz through the hallways of the counsel's compound, and quickly she learns that the vampire community is on the verge of war. What she doesn't know, is that she is the catalyst for the salvation of her people, and without her, humanity will be lost.
Birthright was an entertaining, face-paced, and uniquely written paranormal adventure. Willow Cross easily builds a world filled with vampires, druids, witches, and more while developing characterization thoughtfully.

Liz and Michael are the "main" characters in Birthright, however I became very attached to multiple secondary characters. I adored little Jenna, Cass, Gregorio, Athena, and Angie. All of them played an essential role in the story and made it that much more complete.

Ms. Cross has a flow to her writing style that I also particularly enjoyed. Her phrasing was unique and almost lyrical at times. However, I was occasionally confused by the random changes in POV. I felt like there wasn't much consistency. That being said, I enjoyed hearing from multiple characters in the story, I just wish that I was able to connect more with Liz and Michael and be a part of their budding relationship.

I felt that with the switching POV, I occasionally had to remind myself that Liz and Michael are at said point in their relationship because I've been reading from so-and-so's POV and so much time has passed. Having insight and knowing what was going on in the minds of some of the supporting cast was enjoyable, I just wish that their voices were the more dominant throughout.

I am really looking forward to the next installment in this series, Inheritance (Amazon), and see Willow's story progress. Birthright is a well-written, entertaining, and humorous novel, that keeps you guessing until the end.
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Jan 15, 2012 Dawn Jayne rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: para-romance, vampires, witches, magick

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Birthright, by Willow Cross, was a book I chose due to lots of buzz on the paranormal Facebook groups I peruse. Plus, being a fan of the author's page, I found her to be a funny, honest person that interacts with her followers. Another plus!
The cover is lovely, I adore the blue eyes and the expression on the girl on the front. She's appears very young, but her eyes hold a hint of something more, both intense and open. I like it!
The first several chapters mastered the art of suspense. I kept clic...more Birthright, by Willow Cross, was a book I chose due to lots of buzz on the paranormal Facebook groups I peruse. Plus, being a fan of the author's page, I found her to be a funny, honest person that interacts with her followers. Another plus!
The cover is lovely, I adore the blue eyes and the expression on the girl on the front. She's appears very young, but her eyes hold a hint of something more, both intense and open. I like it!
The first several chapters mastered the art of suspense. I kept clicking the pages, growing ever more curous as to why this young woman, Liz, was standing trial, and how the vampire Michael had broken laws in turning her.
In a series of flashbacks pulled from Liz's mind from the powerful vampire council, we start to understand. According the laws of this vampire world, a human must be bitten three time to turn, but Liz only received one bite.
She turned into a vampire alone, and I found her initial time, trying on her own to understand what had happened, both humorous and emotional. She consdered herself a monster, and had the presence of mind to understand she was not safe to be around family. Finally, her creator, Micahael, finds her and she begins a journey of self-discovery, becomes embroiled in ancient power-struggles and find out she has a place dead in the middle of it all.

The supporting characters were vibrant and unique. I enjoyed the Druid very much, especially his speach patterns, that reminded me of an old time cowboy, the kind that might be found panning for gold. But, as with others, he is far more than he apears. We are introduced to witches, as well. Minerva was a remarkable woman, and then there was a young human child, Jenna, raised by a human father, Dan, and a powerful vampire adoptive mother, Cass.
The dynamics between Cass and her husband proved immemsely rewarding, especialy after he was changed be necessity. No longer a normal husband and wife relationship, Cass was - and must be - in control of the man she loves. And Dan's new nature proves a danger to his own daughter, an intense scene that sent chills up my spine.

The Twists kept coming, too many to list, and most were a complete suprise! The writing and language choices were wonderful, giving the ancient vampires a sound all their own. Liz was kept as a young, secular girl, and I was impressed with the way young Jenna's dialogue was handled. Very hard to write for a child that age, and I wondered if the athor was a mother.

Now, I have to take off my fan-girl cap and slip on the (much much) smaller critique hat. There were several grammatical problems that I think would be caught easily on re-edit. Punctuation in dialogue was a continuous problem. For example: "I just wont let you have it." Michael said. The period before the quotation mars should be a comma. Good news, this is a very easy fix. These small things do not ruin a story for me, but it does 'pull me away' from the story flow when it happens too much.
Also, there were several long pages of monolougue, giving the reader what I call 'info dumps'. These stories were ineresting, but I felt breaking them up would have helped the story read a little smoother.
A few places felt rushed, In Chapter 8, there was a huge reveal, in regards to Liz's family, and I expected more. It fell a little flat for me, especially after the excellent chapers leding up.

In the end, I was torn beween 4 and 5 stars and wish I had the option for 4.5. I highly reccommend this book, and hope to pick up the sequel! Willow Cross has a fan for life with me! Thank you for taking me on such a fantastic, wonderful journey! brilliant work, four 1/2 stars! Highly Reccommened!(less)

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Aug 22, 2012 Steve Opperman rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: anyone who enjoys science fiction, fantasy, paranormal

The first point that comes to mind when reviewing Birthright by Willow Cross is that this book is not like any other Vampire story you have ever read. Everything about it is fresh, new, engaging, exciting, fun and all the other good characteristics you can think of. If anyone ever suggested a book that was about vampires, witches and druids, I would have laughed, but Ms Cross has crafted a world where all of these creatures live and work together to do what is good and right for all.

As I read a...more

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May 22, 2012 Bonnie Bernard rated it 5 of 5 stars

It's not shocking to me that I enjoyed this book (I've liked everything I've read of Willow Cross's). Her female leads are always tough and yet tender, and her adversaries are always plausible. Also important, the dialogue feels genuine and the plot moves along at a good clip. So...all the usual "things I expect from Willow" stuff was there.

In Birthright, I will say the one aspect that impacted me most was Liz's journey and growth. She had to go a long way in a short time...which she did swiftl...more

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Jan 18, 2012 Lisa (Bookworm Lisa) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, paranormal

I started out really enjoying this book. While it was a good book, it dragged in places to me. Making it a book that I could set aside for a bit.

This book is told in a narrative style. Liz has been transformed into a vampire. It is a mystery for a while, because it usually takes three bites to transform a human. Michael only bit her once, thinking that she would make a great snack. She is also a mystery because she masters the vampire powers much sooner than a newly formed vampire should. Plus t...more

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Dec 16, 2011 Amanda rated it 5 of 5 stars

I truly enjoyed this book! Willow makes her characters come alive and I couldn't help but care about them. Birthright was a new and unique take on vampires and it was very easy to get pulled into this story! The setting is vividly described and the characters are explored enough that their reactions and decisions make sense. I had a hard time putting this book down. It is full of action, drama, and romance with a splash of horror and suspense!

I would highly reccomend this book to any lovers o...more

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Aug 18, 2011 Kitty Bullard rated it 5 of 5 stars

"THE DARK GIFTS: BIRTHRIGHT" BY WILLOW CROSS

I am on a continuous search for something different when it comes to vampires. Not necessarily that the entire concept has to be changed but at least that the story is different and not the same old vampire falls in love with human type deal. I can even deal with that as long as there is an underlying story that drives the synopsis further than just revolving around the romance.

I can honestly say that Willow Cross has done just that, she has written a...more

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Oct 28, 2012 Charlene rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebook, review-request

I was drawn immediately into the story by the first few chapters in this book. The author sets up all the drama and danger very quickly and expertly while relating the turning of Liz by Michael. The world that is inhabited by these vampires and the talents and powers they possess were very imaginative and added much depth to the world-building. Somewhere in the middle of the book I started to become a little disappointed. The danger and complications that arose from the war that starts among the...more

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Jun 27, 2012 Gulnaz K. rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: do-not-read, paranormal, ya, vampires

After reading Birthright, by Willow Cross, I’m quite shocked that this book has such a high rating. This story opens up with the main character, Liz, who finds herself drawn to a handsome stranger, Michael, at a local fair. As you may have guessed, Michael turns out to be a vampire, feeds on Liz, and turns her into a vampire without actually meaning to. Soon after Liz arrives in the vampire underground, a sort of civil war breaks out between the vampires who are after power. Liz learns that she...more After reading Birthright, by Willow Cross, I’m quite shocked that this book has such a high rating. This story opens up with the main character, Liz, who finds herself drawn to a handsome stranger, Michael, at a local fair. As you may have guessed, Michael turns out to be a vampire, feeds on Liz, and turns her into a vampire without actually meaning to. Soon after Liz arrives in the vampire underground, a sort of civil war breaks out between the vampires who are after power. Liz learns that she is actually descendant from a family of witches, and becomes an integral part of the battle between good and evil.

Cross’ story and concepts were in fact interesting—but these concepts should have been developed over the course of multiple books (i.e. a trilogy). I say this because the book was so fast-paced that the reader is constantly presented with these new ideas without really being able to absorb or understand them. For example, Liz’s transition from human to vampire happens within the span of a few hours. This in itself is not bothersome, however Liz’s thought processes are extremely juvenile—they are along the lines of “I like blood, OMG I must be a vampire, I’m so sad I can’t see my family, wait this is sort of cool”. There is no depth of emotion or thought that you would think accompanies such a drastic and abrupt change.

Other concepts that occur throughout are presented like this as well—suddenly time travel is possible, suddenly witches can create portals, suddenly there a prophecy that Liz should be queen of the vampires. The relationships in the book are just as frustrating—after Michael turns Liz, they supposedly form a deep connection that happens when any vampire turns a companion. For the focal relationship of the story, Michael and Liz virtually don’t have any interaction. The book simply states that their feelings for each other are becoming stronger without really telling us why. This book breaks that fundamental rule of “show, don’t tell”—this book was all “tell”.

As I mentioned, these would be interesting concepts, but they are ultimately unsuccessful because the author failed to take adequate time to explain them. I personally do not recommend this book—it was a frustrating read for me.
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Mar 03, 2012 Jacquie Talento rated it 5 of 5 stars

Michael found what he thought was only going to be his lunch, but once he bit into Liz it was something more than he ever thought. Michael was a hunter bringing bad vampires to justice but his life as he knew it was changing. Liz was a vampire after one bite. He knew this wasn’t possible so he had to get answers from the Council. When he went to see his father, things changed for him and Liz and a war was in the making. Angie is a young minded vampire with many skills and William is a ghost that...more

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Nov 03, 2012 Leigh (Little Book Star) rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 012, a-d, book-tour, dnf, disliked, fantasy, paranormal, ya

ORIGINAL REVIEW AT: Little Book Star

So I was part of the Birthright tour during the month of October and unfortunately this book wasn’t my cup of tea and that is why I posted a teaser instead of a review during that time. I really like the cover though, it matches the plot of the story and it convinced me to read this book. Honestly the only part that was interesting to me were the first two chapters of the book. The rest had a lot of awkwardly phrased sentences and spelling mistakes. This book...more ORIGINAL REVIEW AT: Little Book Star

So I was part of the Birthright tour during the month of October and unfortunately this book wasn’t my cup of tea and that is why I posted a teaser instead of a review during that time. I really like the cover though, it matches the plot of the story and it convinced me to read this book. Honestly the only part that was interesting to me were the first two chapters of the book. The rest had a lot of awkwardly phrased sentences and spelling mistakes. This book has potential, but wasn’t developed. There were great ideas that were left hanging and it moved quickly to a new scene. Also, I could see how the title fits the story since Liz was turned into a vampire but she found out that her family’s a witch, but the book is mainly about war.

For the characters, I couldn’t really relate to them. They all looked the same to me so I couldn’t distinct what type of person they were, meaning their personalities and characteristics. That really disappointed me because if you can’t relate to the characters then it’s like you’re reading space. If you can’t attach yourself to the characters then how can you even understand and like the whole story? Of course there’s romance between our boy and girl (Michael and Liz) but it was just like “We will be together forever.” “I love you.” “Nothing can tear us apart.” Now that wasn’t exactly from the book, but what I’m saying is they were just saying that to each other and not really showing that they loved one another. How was I suppose to believe that they really felt in love when they didn’t show it? There wasn’t any efforts and most of the time they were apart. It was only once or twice when Michael crossed in Liz’s mind and vice versa. For me, if I love a guy, then the guy would cross my mind like everyday because I miss him. Not in their lovey-dovey world. I don’t know what love means to Liz and Michael.

Overall this book left me very confused especially when the time traveling was thrown in during the middle of the story. Like I said, the author had some great ideas, but there was just something lacking so that the idea would actually attract the reader. I found myself most of the time pushing myself to read up to the end and sometimes I just fell asleep because the whole story was TELLING NOT SHOWING. You know what I mean? I also read other people’s reviews on Goodreads and I see that you will either love or strongly dislike Birthright. It’s up to you to read it, I’m not convincing or stopping you. I’m just stating what I got out from the book.(less)

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Sep 14, 2011 Cassandra rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: e-book

Not the typical vampire story. Interesting from the very beginning. Liz is brought forth to the Vampire Council to learn her fate and the fate of her Maker. Liz has been accidentally turned by Michael, who is a Vampire. It all started with a kiss... He is confused because it takes 3 encounters to be turned, but he was only with Liz this one time. Liz is special. She has powers that she shouldn't have so early on. As soon as Liz is turned, she and Michael have this intense connection and they don...more

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Nov 19, 2012 Claire Taylor rated it 5 of 5 stars

Willow Cross
Birthright
Book 1 in The Dark Gifts Series

I bought this book immediately after finishing Afterlife (the companion to this book) as I had fell in love with the characters William and Angie, and wanted to read more. I was a little apprehensive but thankfully I wasn’t disappointed at the full length novel, it delivered everything I wanted and so much more.

Within a first few chapters, I was completely gripped and couldn’t wait to continue reading each night to see where things would l...more

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Oct 25, 2012 Benavis1489 rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: dnf, terrible

Terrible. Are y'all sure we read the same book? I have no idea how it got such good ratings. I DNF... I returned it for a refund. I normally try as hard as I can to finish a book I started, and I promise I put all my effort into it. Just couldn't this time... Disappointed.

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Oct 14, 2012 Rachel Simons rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is book 1 in the Dark Gifts series and it has exceeded my expectations. I love vampires and witches, paranormal, action and romance so this book suited me perfectly. There were a lot of twists in the book that kept me captivated throughout.

Liz was bitten by vampire Michael and she turned, and no one could believe she would turn after just one bite. I don’t really want to say another else because it really is a must read book and I don’t want to spoil it for anyone else that buys the book so...more

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Oct 23, 2012 Novareylin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

First of all, this book was absolutely perfect for the Fall season! There are vampires, witches, ghosts and even yes, demons!! And these creatures are not just thrown in there for fluff, oh no! Willow Cross does a great job at making them make sense!

So, the plot was really good. I loved additions as I said above but it was such a good read. Not exactly candy easy but easy enough to plow through and beg for more! The beginning was the only thing that got me a little thrown off but really that was...more First of all, this book was absolutely perfect for the Fall season! There are vampires, witches, ghosts and even yes, demons!! And these creatures are not just thrown in there for fluff, oh no! Willow Cross does a great job at making them make sense!

So, the plot was really good. I loved additions as I said above but it was such a good read. Not exactly candy easy but easy enough to plow through and beg for more! The beginning was the only thing that got me a little thrown off but really that was less than five percent until I started getting what was going on. And once I did, man oh man, I loved every word to the end!

The characters were great. I really like Liz even though she’s your average girl become vamp that doesn’t see her true potential. She’s very human. It’s almost odd to think of her as a vampire but yes, she definitely does drink blood and has fangs, so whether I believe it or not it’s true. But maybe that’s because her humanity is also so close to the surface. She has a huge amount of empathy for everyone and I just love that about her.

I really like all the character but I think my personal favorite is Big Jon. He’s a riot!

“I don’t believe I like your tone, youngster.” Big Jon’s clipboard dropped to the ground as he began rolling up his sleeves.

“Oh yeah? Well I don’t think I like you period. You seem to think you’re pretty big shit around here.” He looked around at the others. The onlookers stared back.

“You have about two seconds to reconsider your tone, boy.”

That was it. The young one flew across the meager space between them and unloaded several blows against Jon’s head. Jon didn’t so much as flinch as the young man threw three solid punches against his jaw. After the third hit, he stopped and stared incredulously at Big Jon.

Big Jon’s mouth slid into a crooked vicious smile. “My turn.” He threw one punch that bowled him end over end into the group of onlookers. Fists began flying and an all out brawl ensued. By the time the fracas was over, there were black eyes, cuts and scrapes for nearly thirty of them.

This is the first of three and this does leave you on a bit of a cliffhanger. You get enough answers to keep you happy but not enough to let the series go! I’m seriously looking foward to the second and third in the series now. Willow’s writing is definitely something that I look forward to. Just enough information for the story, fighting to keep you entertained and conversations to keep the flow.(less)

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Birthright (The Dark Gifts #1)

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