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The Willow (The Magical Sword #1)

by Stacey Kennedy (Goodreads Author)

3.85 of 5 stars 3.85 · rating details · 231 ratings · 59 reviews

In Carson City, Nevada a tragic car accident has claimed the lives of Nexi Jones’ adoptive parents. Now, without them, her reason to live has vanished and she is determined to end her pain.

The problem with that, it’s not heaven she wakes up to, it’s the Otherworld. Nexi must reconcile the truth about her past, and her heritage as part guardian/part witch, while she begins...more

ebook, 124 pages

Published July 19th 2010 by Liquid Silver Books

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Best Adult Paranormal Books of 2010

81st out of 104 books — 355 voters

Destined for an Early Grave by Jeaniene Frost

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Dec 30, 2010 I ♥ Bookie Nookie rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Those who liked Chicagoland Vampires

Recommended to I ♥ Bookie Nookie by: Stacey Kennedy

Shelves: z-fictionwise, genre-pnr-uf, 2010-read-in, zz-reviewed, a-series

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This is one of those books that sat on my to read shelf for a while...collecting dust...we all have them. This is a first read by this author for me and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised from the very first page!

The Willow had all the elements I enjoy in a paranormal read; action, romance, mystery & intrigue...let us not forget a very likable cast of characters. There is nothing worse that having a bunch of duds or obnoxious personalities to have to suffer through.

As outlined in the...more

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Sep 05, 2010 Laurie (Bitten by Paranormal Romance) rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: paranormal and urban fantasy readers

Shelves: requests, paranormal-romance, urban-fantasy, favorites, keepers

I was amazed at the world the author has set up with all the magic, mystery, excitement and adventure. In this world you find witches, vampires and shape-shifters Oh My! This is a wonderful love story between the hero and heroine that I hope as I keep reading I will see it keep growing. If your one that’s ever wanted a mixture of PNR and UF well you got it in this one!

This one doest carry a HEA as a PNR does, but it does have a good ending. This book is a series about Nexi part witch and Guardia...more

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Mar 05, 2013 Netha rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy-supernatural

Nexi Jones kehilangan semangat hidupnya setelah ditinggal mati ke 2 orang tua angkatnya.
nexi merasa hidupnya tidak berarti lagi. sehari2 nexi menghabiskan harinya di pohon willow - pohon yang entah kenapa bisa membuat perasaan nexi tenang & nyaman.
hal itu berlangsung berhari2 hingga suatu saat tiba2 seorang pria tampan hadir dihadapan nexi & membawa nexi ke otherworld.

pria tersebut bernama drake (kl ga salah) mengaku adalah ayah kandung nexi.
disana nexi dijelaskan bahwa nexi bukan manusi...more

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Jun 05, 2012 Suzan rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Fans of paranormal Romance

Recommended to Suzan by: awesomesauce book club

I enjoyed this, it was quite fast-paced and I loved the pretty much instant attraction between Nexi and Kyden! Those two have to be soul mates! I also love the concept of soul sisters, kinda like what my best friend would call Kindred spirits but more intense as (like the term suggests!) it's a soul deep connection that binds them as friends and links them emotionally! Nexi faced a lot of heartache in this, in fact it opens with her trying to kill herself because she lost her adopted parents to...more

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Jan 14, 2012 Julie rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: dnf, read-2011, paranormal-romance

I tried to finish this book. I really did. Unfortunately, the plot is inane, the characters are juvenile, and the world-building is practically non-existent. I quit about 60% of the way through the book.

The plot: Nexi Jones' adoptive parents die in a car accident. One week later, she tries to kill herself but instead of dying, she wakes up in high school..., er, Otherworld. She learns that her biological parents were residents of Otherworld, makes friends with the cool kids...er, three other Gu...more I tried to finish this book. I really did. Unfortunately, the plot is inane, the characters are juvenile, and the world-building is practically non-existent. I quit about 60% of the way through the book.

The plot: Nexi Jones' adoptive parents die in a car accident. One week later, she tries to kill herself but instead of dying, she wakes up in high school..., er, Otherworld. She learns that her biological parents were residents of Otherworld, makes friends with the cool kids...er, three other Guardians, witches, etc. Within 24 hours, she is "happy". The kids go clubbing, and Nexi goes out on a date, all while training in hand-to-hand combat to become a Guardian herself. After just two weeks, she is so accomplished that she can defeat the king of the weres and the master of the vampires. With a sword...which she has never used until the day she has to fight these two to prove her merit. Um, yeah.

Then she is sent out with Kyden (her lover and trainer) as a partner to kill the bad guys who are killing humans. In a kilt and an armored bra. Because skimpy, highly-reflective clothing is soooo low visibility when stalking creatures of the night and soooo practical against fangs and claws. Another female character - a witch - who helps them out has a rare and super-secret power to be able to "manipulate time" and create a vision of how each killing occurred. Her talent is so super-secret that she performs this task in front of the Guardians' random informants in the human police force.

From there, the story became about why some wolves were killing maliciously for pleasure....blah, blah, blah. By this point, the plot is so ridiculous that I just don't care anymore.

The characters: How old are these kids anyway? Supposedly, they're in their twenties, but they act like they are 16. Remember I mentioned high school above. Nexi is the perfect plain-Jane new girl whom everyone immediately loves. She can do no wrong. Quickly, she is transformed into a beauty with a little make-up and a new hair style (compliments of another character). The other main female character giggles a lot and bounces up and down when excited; she behaves more like a five-year-old than even a 16-yr-old. Adult men have a pillow fight during a serious conversation. *sigh*

The world-building: What world-building? The Guardians supposedly protect humans from being preyed on by supernatural creatures. We are never told any history of the Guardians, where they came from, how they came to be. There are also witches living with the Guardians. What role do they play? What's their history? Sorry, don't know. How extensive is Otherworld? What does it look like beyond the castle and the Witches Meadow? Never learn that either. Why are there apparently modern "apartments" and modern appliances in a castle in a different dimension? How do all of Nexi's clothes mysteriously appear in her new apartment? Don't know. *sigh*

Overall, I sighed (not in a good way) and laughed (also not in a good way) a lot while struggling through the first half of this book. The combined problems with world-building, plot, and characters made this a DNF. (less)

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Jun 14, 2011 Nicole Deatherage rated it 4 of 5 stars

I rarely listen to reviews given by other readers; sometimes what one person doesn't like, another will find amazing. I am really glad I didnt listen to the reviews on the Kindle site and actually gave this book a chance. I actually bought another book by this author thinking it was a stand-alone, but once I read the first 2 pages I found that the book (A Warrior's Witch) actually tied into another series, so i just had to read that one first.

**Some spoilers**

I find that this book would have b...more

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Feb 21, 2011 Renee Rearden rated it 3 of 5 stars

The Willow started a little rocky for me. The fact that Nexi, the book's heroine, kills herself on the first page didn't bother me. She had some serious emotional pain that pushed her toward a dramatic solution. Great setup.

My frustration was how Nexi coped with the startling events that occurred after her attempted suicide. First, a strange man appears under her willow tree. She passes out and wakes up somewhere else...another dimension as it turns out.

She discovers the man that found her is he...more

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Jan 25, 2011 Kienna Riley rated it 5 of 5 stars

Stacey Kennedy has crafted a world which immediately draws the reader into the story from paragraph one. The heroine in this tale is strong, witty, skilled and full of conflict and emotion that keeps the reader turning pages. The Otherworld is a place easily identifiable with common fantasy elements, but unique enough when written in Kennedy's voice to make the Otherworld a memorable, fantastic, and action-packed read.

Ms. Kennedy has a knack for creating character names and traits that are iden...more

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Jan 07, 2011 Donna (BLHmistress) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

How do I begin to explain just how much I enjoyed this book, could it be when I started reading the prologue. I have read tons of books and as far as I can recall I haven't had a book start out the way this one did. While there might be some readers that might be turned off, I wasn't in fact I was able to connect with Nexi's pain from the beginning.

I also connected with her roller coaster ride of emotions of when she was introduced to her Father and his world and laughed out loud each time she j...more

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Dec 22, 2010 Jessica (Taking It One Book at a Time) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Nexi is a woman who doesn't take shit from anyone, speaks her mind, & makes jokes in awkward situations. Not to mention she's got the temper of someone who's been stuck in mid-town traffic for hours, with a bunch of stupid drivers.

After losing everything that she has, and attempting to take her own life, Nexi is thrust into a place she never imagined existed. Having to face the transformation of becoming the warrior she never knew she could be, Nexi finds something within herself she never...more

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Jul 27, 2010 Ronda Tutt rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal-romance, erotic

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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May 19, 2011 Amber R at Awesomesaucebookclub rated it 5 of 5 stars

All I can truly say is, Wow! I am usually a fan of huge books. In my world the longer the better. However I love, love, love this series by Stacey Kennedy. Did I mention I love it? The story line is so full and intricate it's not even like you're only reading 124 pages. I love Nexi's determination and attitude. She's very fiesty and I love that about her. She's thrust into this world that she doesn't understand logically but she knows in her heart and in her soul this is where she belongs. The r...more

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Oct 06, 2011 Tracey rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction-young-adult, xx-2011-reads, fiction-paranormal

Rating: 2.5 Stars

This book wasn't quite the read I expected for the books overall rating.

The way it was written was a bit of a mixed bag as I felt like the story just coasts over so many explanations or emotions that should have been more in-depth; there needed to be more 'oomph' to the storyline.

It was certainly a dramatic start in the first chapter but then Nexi wakes up and everything she knew about herself has changed...and she just accepts it all and smiles and moves on. Well that is what...more

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Jan 11, 2011 Lea rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2011

“The Willow”, is written in the first person POV and told by the story’s heroine Nexi. In the story’s prologue Nexi is laying under a willow tree hidden in a forest away from the world’s prying eyes. She is suicidal in the wake of a tragic motor vehicle accident which claimed the lives of her beloved adoptive parents, has slashed her wrists and dies. You are probably thinking "Yikes", as I did, but hang on, things look up for Nexi. ;) She then awakens to find herself in the Otherworld, a place t...more “The Willow”, is written in the first person POV and told by the story’s heroine Nexi. In the story’s prologue Nexi is laying under a willow tree hidden in a forest away from the world’s prying eyes. She is suicidal in the wake of a tragic motor vehicle accident which claimed the lives of her beloved adoptive parents, has slashed her wrists and dies. You are probably thinking "Yikes", as I did, but hang on, things look up for Nexi. ;) She then awakens to find herself in the Otherworld, a place that is home to various supernatural beings including witches, vampires, wolfshifters and Drake, her biological father, a Guardian. Nexi is also introduced to Haven, her quirky, spirited “soul sister” who is a witch with a special power. Nexi learns she was sent to the human world as child for her protection because her biological mother, a witch, was killed for her power by an evil vampire named Lazarus.

“The Willow” is a story that took some initial reading perseverance on my part as there are a number of characters introduced within the first couple of chapters who play key roles in the plot and I found some of the narrative explaining Otherworld and it’s inhabitants a little confusing. However, I was happy that I stuck with the story because Ms. Kennedy did some solid world building and it did turn out to be a good fast paced paranormal romance with plenty of action. Further, I grew to like Nexi very much and enjoyed her voice.

Guardians of the Otherworld investigate crimes against mortals caused by other supernatural beings and exact justice. As it turns out Nexi is a powerful Guardian and she trains with Kyden, a hotter than hell Guardian leader who she is immediately attracted to, they eventually become involved. Kyden is an exceedingly strong alpha hero with dominant tendencies. He is well matched with Nexi who matures into a feisty kickass warrior able to beat the crap out of any number of nasty supernatural bad guys. She earns her magical, lethal sword by proving herself worthy in a Guardian trial where she demonstrated her skills. Nexi also possesses a rapier wit, a wicked temper and a has mouth like a guttersnipe (I loved it). lol

Ms. Kennedy adds conflict to the romance plot by making Kyden a ladies man prior to becoming involved with Nexi. When she finds out about his love em and leave em ways it takes some determination and sacrifice on Kyden’s part before he is able to convince Nexi of his honorable intentions. “The Willow” is not a sexually explicit erotic novel, but I did find it sensual and there is plenty of sexual tension.

His expression softened and he reached out, running his fingers up my arm softly. He stopped when he reached my shoulder, then moved his fingers under my chin. His lips met mine again in a soft passionate kiss that was more than lips meeting—it was love blossoming. He could be tough as nails and extremely cocky—and that side of him sent desire running through my veins—but this soft, gentle side of him was one I could get lost in.

When he released my mouth, my gaze met his and I realized how lucky I’d become. When I thought I’d lost everything, I ended up gaining more than I could ever imagine. “It’s hard to believe how much my life has changed,” I told him. “Just a week ago, I was trying to kill myself. Now look, things are pretty damn great.”

He smiled softly, brushing his fingers along my cheek. “You have changed things for me as well.”

The Willow © Stacey Kennedy

Ms. Kennedy developed a stellar cast of supporting characters who all play key roles in advancing a plot that has a number of tense action packed scenes. Nexi has suffered heartbreaking loss at the hands of Lazarus and when he returns she learns the true magnitude of his treachery, and, she is in for the battle of her life and is at risk of losing her new found family and world. “The Willow”, has plenty of bloody battle scenes, there are eviscerations, decapitations, limbs flying, you name it you got it as observed and told by Nexi, who softens the more gruesome aspects of the battles through the use of a witty monologue. Readers don’t learn the special significance of Nexi’s willow tree or whether she and Kyden prevail against the evil Lazarus until the closing pages of the story. If you enjoy a fast paced, action packed paranormal romance told in the first person, you may like to give, “The Willow” a try. (less)

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Dec 01, 2010 Belinda Boring rated it 5 of 5 stars

The moment I finished reading the opening prologue, having watched an intimate moment of Nexi as she lay under her beloved willow alone, I knew that this would be a book I wouldn't be able to put down. Three hours later and buzzing with excitement, I finished devouring The Willow and immediately reached for the next book in the series The Wicked. A definite sign that what I had just read was amazing.

Straight away I was drawn to Nexi, really wanting to find out who she was and how she was going t...more The moment I finished reading the opening prologue, having watched an intimate moment of Nexi as she lay under her beloved willow alone, I knew that this would be a book I wouldn't be able to put down. Three hours later and buzzing with excitement, I finished devouring The Willow and immediately reached for the next book in the series The Wicked. A definite sign that what I had just read was amazing.

Straight away I was drawn to Nexi, really wanting to find out who she was and how she was going to handle being brought into a world where she had always belonged but had been kept from to protect her. At first it seemed a little strange, that with the rapid fire changes happening in her life, she seemed to accept everything a little too easily. It wasn't until I continued reading that I began to see it was something that worked well for her because she wasn't then prone to wasting a lot of time whining (I loathe whiny characters) about how terribly unfair her life was. It helped her develop into a stronger character that even as she was pushed to her limits through the story, she was smart enough to realize there wasn't much she could do and instead focused on her own attitude. She faced a lot in this story, discovering things about herself and her past, about loved ones she didn't know she had and about what she was truly capable of when forced to fight for herself and those she had grown to love. She has all the potential for a great female character, filled with sass and energy and just so you know, she and Kyden are SPECTACULAR!

This story introduced Kyden, the guardian warrior assigned to train Nexi who inevitably falls in love with her and sets the book on FIRE. If you love your male leads passionate, over protective and alpha with a capital A, look no further than Kyden because he is the poster child for them. There's not much not to love about him. He's incredibly sexy with an often laid back flirty nature one moment but flip that switch and he becomes this fierce warrior who has such a power-packed presence bullies would cross the road to avoid him. I have to say he got my blood boiling when he turned all seductive and alpha male and the more I read the deeper I fell in love with him. He was what pushed the book over the top for me and guaranteed I'd keep reading the series.

This is the first time reading something by Stacey Kennedy and I have to say I was extremely impressed with just how easy it was to become immersed in the story and how effortless it was to read it. I was a little reserved at first because the book wasn't as long as I'm used to so I was worried that either the story was a few basic scenes strung together that would leave me feeling blah or that it would be so incredibly fast-paced because the author raced to cram everything in. There was no racing in this story, no huge gaps of unexplained time and although it was fast-paced, everything had a purpose and there was a very natural flow and rhythm to it. When I finished, I was left not only feeling satisfied and grateful for an amazing read but also with the sense that the author had really enjoyed writing it. This is definitely a series and author to keep an eye on. What a great way start to a new series!

Review also found at The Romance Reviews(less)

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Sep 25, 2012 Stephanie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal-romance, suprise-your-not-human

I wanted to give this book a 3.5 rating since I liked the characters and the world created in this first book. But I felt everything was too easy, she tried to kill herself at the beginning and then was introduced into this new world where she met her biological father. There was no real shock she just got over everything from one minute to the next. The were things to justify it I supposse "look at this vision they didn´t want to give you up it was because they loved you, you never felt like yo...more

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Jan 18, 2011 Julie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2011

Originally posted here: http://yummymenandkickasschicks.com/?...

The Willow is the first book in Stacey Kennedy’s ‘The Magical Sword’ series. It’s the story of Nexi Jones and how she discovers that she is not what she seems. After Nexi’s parents die in a car accident, and with no other family around, she feels that she doesn’t want to live anymore. The book starts with Nexi committing suicide by her beloved willow tree not too far from her family’s home. Sounds like a happy book right? Don’t desp...more Originally posted here: http://yummymenandkickasschicks.com/?...

The Willow is the first book in Stacey Kennedy’s ‘The Magical Sword’ series. It’s the story of Nexi Jones and how she discovers that she is not what she seems. After Nexi’s parents die in a car accident, and with no other family around, she feels that she doesn’t want to live anymore. The book starts with Nexi committing suicide by her beloved willow tree not too far from her family’s home. Sounds like a happy book right? Don’t despair. Once she comes to, she discovers that she is not intended to die, but to live out the rest of her existence the way it was meant to be. Because you see, Nexi is part Guardian, part Witch and where she really belongs is in Otherworld.

Nexi is yet to discover her magic, but she is ready to learn about her Guardian side. Guardians are responsible for dealing with vampires and werewolves who commit crimes against humans. Basically if a human dies and it’s because of a supe, Guardians are sent out to…take care of the problem. Nexi’s trainer is Kyden. No, let me try that again. Nexi’s trainer is yummy yum yum Kyden. Soon, Nexi is ready to take on her new role of chasing down the bad guys. Especially one bad guy in particular…

I enjoyed this book. It was very cute and surprisingly light (for a paranormal book). None of the concepts were new, but they were written in a way that made that okay. Nexi is a spitfire! Sometimes I felt that she lacked maturity, but that is just her character. She is used to being coddled by her adoptive parents and her character is still getting used to being without them.

Kyden was fine. I liked how we saw a few sides to him. His professional side while training and while working, his playful side with his friends and his softer side with Nexi and Haven. It was nice to know that he wasn’t just a one dimensional hunk. Finn, Haven, Zia and all the other supporting characters all added to the story nicely too. I think the villain could have been a little creepier, but that’s just me.

The only issue I really had with this book is that well, it needed to be longer. The story was a little choppy at times because it just went from one scene to the next to the next. It would have been much smoother if more time had been allocated to the transitional moments. And even though I got a good feel for the characters, I would have loved to see more from them. More time between Nexi and Kyden would have been good. That way we really could have seen their relationship grow into love. More time with Nexi and Haven to witness their friendship and their bond as opposed to just being told about it would have made Haven that much more fun. And just getting a little more insight into how the characters were feeling here and there would have made the story that much richer.

I found myself looking forward to picking up this book whenever I had to put it down. It was a nice story with characters I do want to see again. And I liked how magic is mixed into things. I like magic…what can I say?! Overall, I did like this book. With what happened at the end of this book, the next book in the series, The Wicked, should be full of excitement!

3.5 stars(less)

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Jan 02, 2011 Nikki Brandyberry rated it 3 of 5 stars

Stacey is a new to me author, but based on the size of her book list, she’s been around a while. Her books are sold both in e-format as well as several in print format. The Willow was given to me by Stacey for review on Amazon and B&N but of course I’m going to talk about it here as well.

Nexi has had a rough go of things recently. Her adoptive parents have just died in a car wreck and left her alone in this world. She is extremely depressed and decides she no longer wants to live. She goes t...more Stacey is a new to me author, but based on the size of her book list, she’s been around a while. Her books are sold both in e-format as well as several in print format. The Willow was given to me by Stacey for review on Amazon and B&N but of course I’m going to talk about it here as well.

Nexi has had a rough go of things recently. Her adoptive parents have just died in a car wreck and left her alone in this world. She is extremely depressed and decides she no longer wants to live. She goes to the only peaceful place she knows, underneath her favorite tree, a willow, to die. As she lays there, bleeding out she has a vision of a man coming for her, to take her home.

When she awakens she realizes that this wasn’t death, she’s been saved…and her whole life has been a lie. Her true father has come for her and has taken her to another dimension to train as a Guardian. A league of supernaturals who police other supes. Nexi is half Guardian and half powerful witch, a combination no one has ever seen before. Along with her sexy trainer Kyden they begin searching for a dark force that is using shape shifters to do his dirty work. When it’s revealed that Nexi is the intended target and Kyden is taken….well hell itself won’t hold Nexi back.

I enjoyed Stacey’s storytelling very much. The world building was done expertly and was extremely lush and complex. I love a heroine that is completely kick ass and Nexi doesn’t disappoint. While I thought her acceptance into the new world was fast…the training took place over several chapters and felt in line with the story pace. She is damn near indestructible and so the fight scenes were lively and very well wrote.

Kyden is our sexy Guardian and trainer. He is completely cocky and has no trouble pissing Nexi off so she will train harder. His protectiveness of her is sweet if not a little over the top at times. I got tired of him slapping her ass every five seconds. However, when he is taken by the villain , her attempts to get back the man she loves is very well done. It was nice to see the tables turned and the woman going for her man.

The secondary characters were all very vividly wrote and picturing them wasn’t ever an issue. I will be curious to see how the interpersonal relationships with everyone holds up in the next books in the series. I had some issues with Haven…I found her completely annoying. I’m not sure if that’s what Stacey intended with her character or not..but seriously if I were Nexi I would have knocked that girl out about the second time I met her. She is sickenly sweet one minute and then extremely bitchy the next. Her mind seems nearly like a childs except when she is hanging off her muscled Guardian hunk, Finn. Finn seems to take it all in stride, but really…I wanted to hurt her. Her connection with Nexi makes the situation kinda sticky (they are soul sisters), and Nexi seems to switch between loving her and being constantly annoyed by her.

The wolf shifters added another level that I enjoyed. The hierarchy was done very well and was new to me. I am definitely wanting to know what it going to happen with Valor, who seemed to be particularly protective of Nexi….even though she is in love with Kyden….now.

Stacey does a wonderful job for the first book in her Magical Sword series, The Willow. I was interested, intrigued and the sensual writing will definitely work your mojo.

I give The Willow 3.25 stars!
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Jan 11, 2011 Alisha rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: UF fans of origin stories

Recommended to Alisha by: I ♥ Bookie Nookie

Rating: 2.5
Quick Take:
The mechanics of the story were a mixed bag; interesting overall world building, alongside rushed (and perhaps uneven) manner of exposition. All told, it didn't offend or wholly satisfy me, but did provide moments of excitement and adventure.

Well. We can't love everything all the time, can we? ^_^ The Willow has many elements that usually perk me up over a book: a heroine who discovers and develops her own amazing abilities and origins; playful romantic intrigue; a team of...more Rating: 2.5
Quick Take:
The mechanics of the story were a mixed bag; interesting overall world building, alongside rushed (and perhaps uneven) manner of exposition. All told, it didn't offend or wholly satisfy me, but did provide moments of excitement and adventure.

Well. We can't love everything all the time, can we? ^_^ The Willow has many elements that usually perk me up over a book: a heroine who discovers and develops her own amazing abilities and origins; playful romantic intrigue; a team of supernatural-regulatin' badazzes. Cracking open to the beginning of this story was also intriguing. A grieving, devastated young woman sits under her favorite willow tree, in the middle of a suicide attempt. She wants to end her lonely existence, and almost immediately gets her wish, though not in the way she expects.

From the start, and for the first several pages, there's quite a bit of exposition. I mean, a lot. This is not an inherently negative thing; it's just that it didn't feel all that smooth, but rather stilted and rushed. The progression of events--as well as Nexi's reaction to them--just didn't ring believable to me. Suspension of disbelief--not for the fantastical elements, but the mundane--only took me so far.

About halfway through the book, things did get pretty fun. The overall tone (and pace) was infused with excitement and intriguing twists. It'd be a lie for me to say there weren't some high-octane, tension-filled segments.

…but it's too bad I was unimpressed with the main villain of the story. he was mentioned early in the tale and was built up as intimidating, worthy of fear and wariness. Indeed, he was powerful being that caused trouble…but to me, he never really made it out of mustache-twirling territory. He remained pretty one-dimensional and thus not engaging.

Now, I'm not usually one to delve into the more technical aspects of a book (I hesitate to even mention it now)…but in this case I can't not bring it up, since it was actually distracting. I'm referring to the legion grammatical errors. In some places it was a few per page. Now I know such a factor does not have bearing on the "meat" of a story…but seriously, it kept pulling me out of the tale. (If you know me, that's saying something.)

The structure of the supernatural world was a big point of interest. Head of each supe "species" forming a council; an "enforcement" crew who carries out the law…I really dug it! I anticipate the politics being quite a complex and engaging draw in future books, now that a bit of world building has been done.

So yeah. I didn't outright dislike this book, so I can't rate it lower. But I didn't find it wholly satisfying, either, so I can't rate it any higher. I know I'll eventually pick up the next book, though (I don't give up on a series after one book, period), and do look forward to it.

(less)

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Dec 21, 2010 Sharon rated it 3 of 5 stars

I won this book and probably wouldn't have bought it on my own cause it isn't my type of story, but this book has left me in a pickle as far as how to review it. I love a cheesy bull-headed alpha-male. The hero, Kyden, has this in spades (did I mention armored kilts?) . I like feel for my heroine, but Nexi just didn't touch me. I think because the story seemed rushed. There was so much story to put into such a short book and I prefer long character building books. This book has some writing flaw...more

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Mar 09, 2011 jD rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 1_library-no, fantasy_adventure_worldbuilding, fantasy_romance, 2011-read

I am sure this book will find a following but I will not be joining the ranks. There were too many problems with the plot development and delivery. It was like half the story wasn't even there. It was like a 'fill in the blank' book.

First, only one thing happened in the book that was a surprise -- every other scene was predictable to the point of mental anguish. The name of the book is The Willow after a tree the heroine sat under as a kid. I suppose that since the tree was her place of peace it...more I am sure this book will find a following but I will not be joining the ranks. There were too many problems with the plot development and delivery. It was like half the story wasn't even there. It was like a 'fill in the blank' book.

First, only one thing happened in the book that was a surprise -- every other scene was predictable to the point of mental anguish. The name of the book is The Willow after a tree the heroine sat under as a kid. I suppose that since the tree was her place of peace it makes sense on some level but there was not enough narrative provided to make it make sense as a book title. That's especially true since we meet her when she is 24 years old. We don't get to experience the tree's role in her earlier years. As far as I was concerned, was no more significant than her sitting on a pier. Next up, the series title -- The Magical Sword. I am going to guess that since humans can't see a Guardian's sword when they are walking in our world that makes it magical. I am guessing here but I really hope that future installments reveal that these things have names, histories, and unique abilities 'cause right now, they are just swords. There was not even a ceremony to get one. It's part of their uniform. Also, why not shoot the shifters? That was never explained. This writer would have earned some points with guns and stakes. The swords are used more to finish a fist fight cause their opponents do not have swords.

Our heroine is Nexi Jones. We find her devastated after the loss of her adoptive parents. She is under the Willow tree and wants to die. A man appears and takes her to another dimension called Otherworld (I swear it was that creative) and informs her she is a guardian/witch hybrid. She accepts this along with the fact that she has a 'soul' sister named Hayden. That whole 'soul' mate/sister thing is never explained as to why it happens and what are the benefits. BTW -- there is no blood relation. Nexi accepts that she will become a protector of mankind from vamps and weres/shifters (I think witches will make an evil appearance at some point). Kyden is her trainer, he's major eye candy so of course she falls in love with him right off the bat. The bad guy is a vamp and he is a-typical with the usual delusions of grander. Okay, I am just done.

I give it 2 stars because the humor and sex was very well done. Everyone can't pack that kind of sexual heat in their writing so props to Ms. Kennedy. I actually ordered this book in hardcopy and wasted a perfectly good gift card. I would burn it but I am going to see if I can swap it on Goodreads. (less)

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Jul 19, 2010 Liia rated it 5 of 5 stars

WOW doesn't even begin to describe this book.
I've been waiting for this for a while. After meeting Stacey on facebook and twitter, I've read through all her teasers which only made me more keen to read her debut, The Willow.
I am happy and sad to say I read this book in mere hours.
Happy because I couldn't put it down, it's just that good.
Sad because I read it so fast and now I have to wait for the follow up :)

I still cannot believe this was a debut novel; it has the signature of a very skille...more

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Dec 21, 2010 Tammy rated it 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book. I liked the quick pace . It had a very interesting story. The author did a very good job telling the backstory. Instead of a boring "history" she weaves the backstory in. The reader learns with Nexi, the History of her new world. the story moves very quickly , with just the right amount of humor to warrant a laugh out loud at times.The romance was very sexy and the Hero certainly the stuff of fantasies. The villian was scary, and the danger and fight scenes very exci...more

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Sep 11, 2010 LynnMarie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Hunter’s Review

For me, The Willow: The Magical Sword Book One started out a little rough around the edges. Our heroine, Nexi, commits suicide. This happens on the first page of the book and as she lays dying beneath her favorite tree, a Willow, a man appears to her and tells her he has found her. She has a moment where she finds him very attractive before she passes out. The man, we soon find out, is Drake her father. (Cue a little ick music here.)

Nexi, we find out, is half-guardian, half-witc...more Hunter’s Review

For me, The Willow: The Magical Sword Book One started out a little rough around the edges. Our heroine, Nexi, commits suicide. This happens on the first page of the book and as she lays dying beneath her favorite tree, a Willow, a man appears to her and tells her he has found her. She has a moment where she finds him very attractive before she passes out. The man, we soon find out, is Drake her father. (Cue a little ick music here.)

Nexi, we find out, is half-guardian, half-witch who was sent from the Otherworld to Earthworld as a baby after a really bad vampire names Lazarus killed her mother. Now that she’s back she has to be trained to be a guardian, whose job it is to protect humans from being hurt by ‘supes’ or Supernatural people like Werewolves and Vampires. Not to worry, she is going to have lots of help from her mentor, the very hot, very delicious Kyden, and her ‘soul-sister’ Haven.

The book is a first person narrative that allows us the reader to come along with Nexi on her journey of self-discovery as she lusts after Kyden and tries to come to terms with the things she doesn’t know. Now, the book is packed with lots of humor, which is nice, but it seems to come across as false in a lot of places where seriousness would be called for. She’s just been through a major trauma—the suicide is dealt with twice, first with her father who doesn’t seem bothered by it and then by Kyden and Haven, who also don’t have much to say on the subject and as for Nexi she moves forward like not much happened to her at all.

Ms. Kennedy has crafted a wonderful hero in Kyden, he has just enough swagger to make the reader wonder about his intentions even as Nexi starts to trust him. For me, while I was able to snicker some of the time—particularly when Nexi is learning to fight and landing on her rear end more than anywhere else—there were times I really wanted to tell her to stop making snide remarks and to get with the program. Also, there is a kind of ambiguity left between Nexi and Haven. Are they sisters? Do they have deeper feelings for each other? Is there a threesome coming?

But, Ms. Kennedy is a wonderful writer. She weaves a story well balancing a lot of different plots that ultimately come together well at the end. Nothing gets forgotten. It is my hope that in the follow up book—The Wicked, which I think has just come out—we will get to see a little more of the true Nexi and not so much of her surface humor. I think fans of lighthearted paranormals will really enjoy reading this. Do be prepared to laugh sometimes with, sometimes at the heroine.

3 Tea Cups! (less)

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Mar 11, 2011 Amber I. (AwesomeSauce Book Club) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Another awesome book. I am starting to love these books that are not that long. Nothing seems to ever get dragged out. Its all non stop action. This book was only 124 pages and I had to read it all at once.

The World Stacey has built is amazing. We get all kinds of supernaturals and one kick ass leading lady. I love her way to turn everything into a joke when things get serious. Totally can relate. Plus she is one of those who will speak her mind no matter who she is talking to.

I love the sister...more

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May 05, 2011 Evelyn Amaro rated it 5 of 5 stars

Originally posted on Paromantasy

My Review
This amazingly witty, action-packed, romance-sizzling, mystery-filled book is like a twister that hits you like a ton of bricks, completely absorbs you into its world, then leaves you completely breathless and mind-blown in the end! This simile pretty much sums up The Willow, the first book of the Magical Swords series.

Nexi has always felt lost and out of place. After her parents die in an accident she decides she much rather join them, but things don't...more Originally posted on Paromantasy

My Review
This amazingly witty, action-packed, romance-sizzling, mystery-filled book is like a twister that hits you like a ton of bricks, completely absorbs you into its world, then leaves you completely breathless and mind-blown in the end! This simile pretty much sums up The Willow, the first book of the Magical Swords series.

Nexi has always felt lost and out of place. After her parents die in an accident she decides she much rather join them, but things don't go exactly as planned. Not only does she not die, but she awakens in the Otherworld - a realm which house the Council and their team consisting of a head honcho of each race: a Witch, a Wolf. a Vampire, and a Guardian. Along with the Council are their team of guardians and witches who come together to protect the innocents from the Otherworlders who turn to the dark side. With this life comes the revelation that she was never human, but is part guardian-part witch and must now train in what turns out to be the first day of her new life. Problem is, before she can fall into step with her new life, she must train to battle evil and that's when she battles the scariest thing she's ever had to face: love. In walks Kyden, her completely sexy guardian trainer who oozes sex and badassness. The moment they meet the sparks fly and so do their fists, but behind each ass wiping and back talk is a love that is undeniable.Soon they are inseparable and the world is looking up for Next, but all good things must come to an end. Suddenly she is not only battling to save the lives of other innocents, but of those she loves most. When a vampire with a mysterious tie to her sets his eyes on Nexi, the new life she created and everyone in it is in danger. It is up to her to save not only the world and the ones she loves, but also herself. Time is ticking and the life of her loved ones and herself hangs in the balance. Can she save the ones she loves or will she die in the process? This book is a series of twists, turns, mystery and romance that will have you on the edge of your seat, and racing through the pages. Combine this with a definite "bang" of an ending and you have an amazingly, "un-put-downable" read that will have you reaching for part 2,The Wicked, immediately!

This book is rated 5 fangs by Paromantasy(less)

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Dec 11, 2010 Bookworms rated it 5 of 5 stars

Well, this book from the newcomer Stacey Kennedy is such great. I liked it very well. I start to read it today and finished it today because it was very difficult to lay this book away. The story is very good. Nexi is a interesting and fascinating woman. The Otherworld, her new world, is fascinating, too. All the character are strong and good described. You have no problems to follow Nexi in this new world and see with her eyes her environment. Keyden, her love and all the other lovely charakter...more

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Jul 31, 2011 Alyssa (Hesperia Loves Books) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2011

Review originally posted at Hesperia Loves Books

I'm going to change it up and combine the reviews for these first two books of the Magical Swords series! These are my very first reads of Stacey Kennedy's & I'd heard alot about Nexi & Kyden, so I was super excited to read them.

The premise & basis for this series was very interesting and I was intrigued. Overall I really enjoyed the stories and can't wait to see how the series ends with Devil's Kiss and First & Last. Nexi is a ver...more

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Apr 24, 2013 Tia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Can you say awesome? While this novel wasn't something that I completely loved, I did like it. I loved the storly line even though it was horribly sad at times. I also enjoyed the characters. When the novel ended, I thought "Oh damn, that was good. Can't wait for the second!" It's really true, I can't wait for the second and to watch Nexi grow. However that werewolf dude, Valor or whatever should be Nexi's mate, as well as Kyden. There is just something about him, that is unbelievably epic!!

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Aug 25, 2011 Lynsey (The Demon Librarian) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: squee-worthy, book-boyfriend, bad-ass-dude, magic-tastic, rotflmao, werewolf-tastic, vampire-ific

I really enjoyed this book. If I were to rate it purely on enjoyment and entertainment it would be a 5, but because I felt certain sections of the story were slightly rushed as well as a couple of other little niggling things, it's only a 4 (but a really big shiny 4 with a cherry on the top!).

If you like the light-hearted, funny and sexy slant on paranormal romances that authors such as Katie MacAllister and G.A. Aiken take, you should definitely enjoy this book!

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topics	posts	views	last activity
A Hot & Sexy 1NightStand Story From Stacey Kennedy	1	1	Nov 26, 2011 06:22am
Sizzling New Vampire Erotica From Stacey Kennedy	1	1	Oct 23, 2011 07:34am
Stacey Kennedy's New Release Kicks Off Her New Series With Loose ID	1	1	Oct 12, 2011 08:18am
A Steaming Hot Menage From Stacey Kennedy	1	4	Sep 13, 2011 10:55am
Stacey Kennedy's New Book Kicks Off Her New Dark Element Series	1	1	Jul 09, 2011 05:12am
Stacey Kennedy Releases New M/M 1NightStand Story	1	1	Jun 11, 2011 07:15am
Stacey Kennedy Kicks Off New Sexy Paranormal Series	1	2	May 28, 2011 03:57am

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About Stacey Kennedy

Stacey Kennedy is an urban fantasy lover at heart, but she also enjoys losing herself in dark and sensual worlds. She lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, who gave her a happily-ever-after. Together, they have two small children who can always make her smile, and who will never be allowed to read Mommy’s books. If she’s not plugging away at a new story, you’ll find her camping, curling...more

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The Willow (The Magical Sword #1)

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