This honestly had alot going for it- loved the levels of hell the author had the H/h go thru to rescue the herione's son's imprisoned soul, reminded m...moreThis honestly had alot going for it- loved the levels of hell the author had the H/h go thru to rescue the herione's son's imprisoned soul, reminded me a bit of Good Omens by Terry Prachett & Neil Gaimen which i consider the funniest book ever- but the author tended to info dump backstories and had the most awkward segues into a sex scene i've ever encountered!
But again, at no time did i want to dnf it- so there is that. The parts i considered eye rolling might not bother some so i'd recommend this one for a different sort of pnr read!(less)
Very well done! Shana Abe opens her world with a myth about dragons and brings it into the Georgian period. The story revolves around the alpha of the...moreVery well done! Shana Abe opens her world with a myth about dragons and brings it into the Georgian period. The story revolves around the alpha of the dragon shifting pack known as the Drakon and the woman who would become his mate.
It starts off with them as children. Clarissa is an intense, shy child born of a lower class mother. She is picked on by the supposed alpha female and her pack of meangirls until the day of her eighteenth birthday when she fakes her death and escapes the land of her ancestors for the anonymity of London England.
When it comes to the attention of the Drakon council that one of their own is on the loose and using their shifting powers to steal from the rich, they are shocked. Not so much by the thievery but moreso for the fact that a Drakon has escaped their level eye. Fewer and fewer Drakons are making the transition to shifter and everyone is accounted for- accept for this one. So they send their alpha to bring the rogue shifter home.
When Christoff, Earl and alpha of the Drakons, susses out the even more shocking news- that the defiant shifter is female- he's determined to bring her in and will stop at nothing to get her by his side- now more than ever, it's personal- for this headstrong girl is meant to be his bride.
A historical romance novel,(yes there is sex in this book!), but with a paranormal/fantasy romance heavy hand- I of course couldnt resist it. Cristoff pretty much wants Clarissa from the very beginning altho it took her growing up to finally realize that- and the heroine of course always loved him. What she couldnt handle however, was the pack that comes along with him- which of course sets up the major conflict in the story. It takes them working together to catch another thief to work it all out.
Fantastic heroine and I love the dragon shifter theme, so yes I do recommend The Smoke Thief for those who like shifters and magic mixed with their romance. I've read so many mixed reviews on the sequels I'm a little wary about moving on to the next but I will try it for sure!(less)
Holy barbarian aliens from outerspace uber-alpha Dom/sub polyamorous tricked out weirdness.
Someone rec'd this one to me here and they were right- I l...moreHoly barbarian aliens from outerspace uber-alpha Dom/sub polyamorous tricked out weirdness.
Someone rec'd this one to me here and they were right- I loved it. :P
(You should read Alien Overnight, book one, before you attempt this one because the author jumps right in where she left off - but I liked Enemy Overnight way better!)(less)
Because of the circumstances at the end of the first book of Thea Harrison’s Elder Races series, the faery known as Tricks is frightened to leave the...moreBecause of the circumstances at the end of the first book of Thea Harrison’s Elder Races series, the faery known as Tricks is frightened to leave the safety of the shifters under Wyr Lord Dragos’s authority. But leave she must, because The Dark Fae King- her power hungry uncle- is now dead thanks to Dragos and its time for her to become the next heir to the Dark Fae Throne.
Only someone doesn’t want that to happen.
After two attempts on her life in 36 hours, Dragos and his Army commander, Tiago, decide it’s time to send in the reinforcements for their old friend.
Tiago is a shifter of the Elder race- once revered as a God, he’s about to step into something altogether new as well, body guard for one erotic little Faerie. However, intimacy- and certainly not love- is the last thing on his mind, but it’s what he gets when forces join to keep he and Tricks, nee Ninianne, glued to each other’s side.
Its obvious to everyone they'r destined as mates- but how can Ninianne ask this powerful man to step down as a God and become her Consort?
Okay 1? Tiago. Thunderbird shifter. So Cool. 2? Big lug breaks down and takes the embattled little faery under his massive power. Awwwww! And 3? You cant beat the heat when an uber alpha male decides he cant live without his mate beside him for another minute. grrrrrrrrrrrr
Sure there’s a lot of blahdy blah blah about who’s after Ninianne and what are the councils and creatures gonna do with a faery queen and a shifter consort, but who gives a rip? I was lost in their world the entire time I read it, because these stories are all about the characters. (Whether the author knows this or not.)
Dragon Bound begins with a gal on the run. Forced into stealing an object from an all powerful dragon shifter, Pia Giavanni is sure of one thing- her...moreDragon Bound begins with a gal on the run. Forced into stealing an object from an all powerful dragon shifter, Pia Giavanni is sure of one thing- her looming death. Dragos, ancient dragon shifter and top of the food chain, has never, ever, had anything he claims as his own taken from him- until recently. Now he’s determined to catch up to the thief and make her pay- perhaps even with her life.
But when he catches the thief's scent on the wind, priorities shift and within the space of seconds, Dragos goes from hunter to protector.
What a fun new paranormal romance book. Dragon Bound has been pimped quite a bit around here and, naturally, we all get a little skeptical when we see that- because c’mon, we all have different tastes and opinions, how can it be that one book is universally liked? Well this is one of them. (Ok, mabe universally might be a bit of stretch- but you get the idea.)
I was a bit disappointed that the book ended so quickly with a rapid resolution that had me looking up and saying "it's over already?!", but I’ll forgive the author that this time since it is a first in a series - and I suspect a first novel for the author. (At least it read like that anyway.)
The hero is uber alpha- all, mine mine MINE!- but I happen to like that in my romance novel, (only if it tracks with the hero's personality), so where it might be a detraction for some, it certainly wasn’t for me. I loved these two together and tho Pia tended to be a little weepy- I forgave her much because she ended up being a fascinating creature (especially in the mystical realm) AND her reactions felt rather genuine. (I think I'd burst into tears a time or two if I had to go thru what she did.) Still, she held her ground when needed and that's why I fell for her.Plus Dragos the dragon was definitely tamed by Pia the... well, I'm not gonna tell you that! You'll have to read for yourself!
Much to my great joy I did enjoy this book and am looking forward to more! (less)
In Dagmar Reinholdt’s world of Northlanders- you have to be strong to survive. As a small woman in a family of burtish men, she developed her strength...moreIn Dagmar Reinholdt’s world of Northlanders- you have to be strong to survive. As a small woman in a family of burtish men, she developed her strengths of cunning and trickery to get ahead. Now a rather devious politician, she uses words to defeat her foes- along with her clever mind. When a golden dragon of the Southland appears at her castle, everyone else is ready to war- and although she wasn’t expecting this particular dragon shifter, she’s perpared to do the opposite and make an alliance.
Gwenvael, middle child and golden boy- literally- of the Southland dragons, wasn’t prepared to meet a tiny woman when he answered the summons for his fierce warlord sister-in-law, but something about the keen intellect he sees behind her eyes stirs his blood. He may be considered a lazy, lay-about, male-ho by his over-the-top family of warriors, but he’s determined to find out what these Northlanders know about his sister-in-law’s pregnancy- and why it’s not going well- because they do know something. So, he decides to haunt her castle for a day or two and find out what makes her tick. If he talks her into his bed? All the better.
Like a spark to dry tinder these two light up when together- but Dagmar’s determined to keep all the fire hidden and Gwenvael’s equally sure he needs to draw it out. He talks her into accompanying him to his home in the Southlands and good thing he does because when the final battle comes down for the lives of the twins about to join his family, they will need Dagmar’s skills of politicking- with gods no less- to make it out alive.
Dagmar and Gwenvael, seem an unlikely match at first blush- her so serious, him so not. But she needs him to ground her(and lighten her up!) and that’s good enough for me. I love that they find each other and are secure enough in their love to see beyond their differences- more than that, to appreciate each other for them. Much of this story is tied up with securing the Southland Dragons’ rulling stronghold from invaders- and the safety of Gwenvael’s oldest brother’s family. (I was bawling my eyes out at the end and also crossing my fingers Aiken wouldn’t really do that to her readers. Shhh, no spoilers). I loved how Dagmar had such a huge part of it all.
As I’ve stated in my previous reviews for this series, The Dragon Kin sorta drags for me for some reason, but I always end up liking it. (By far my favorite series by this author is her Pride Series.)
Although I liked this tale overall, there were pieces of it that bogged the story down for me.
The Dragon Queen is yet another entry into the tales of...moreAlthough I liked this tale overall, there were pieces of it that bogged the story down for me.
The Dragon Queen is yet another entry into the tales of Arthur and The Knights of the Round Table. For those who love their Arthurian legends with Merlin as the big bad- then this book's for you. For those who don't-then Run away!
TDQ centers around Guinevere, the warrior queen of Arthur and in Borchardt's version she is indeed a warrior. Guinevere, has the beauty of previous Arthurian tales, but in TDQ she's not the sweet little misguided star-crossed lover of Lancelot that we usually see her portrayed to be. Courageous and bold she has power in her right hand where ferocious fire emanates (grand super power that!), and healing in her left. Moreover, arrows flyout her bow as if an extension of her arm, she communicates with dragons- as well with the dead- displays prophetic abilities, and audaciously defeats asundry of evil beasts that Merlin flings at her.
The story begins with Maeniel, Guinevere's soon to be foster father. Maeniel, otherwise knows as the Gray Watcher, is a shapeshifting man/wolf who has personally felt the destructive powers of Merlin. Deciding that being a wolf was much preferred to living with the humans, he escapes to the wilds and begins a family. It is during his time with the wolves that Guinevere falls into his care, and the Gray Watcher, along with the sorcerer Dugald- who Merlin chased into hiding long ago- take up the charge of raising her. The Gray Watcher's wolf mate nurses Guinevere from the time they find her left on a cliff and later a woman joins them who will teach her the ways of her people- a people she never knew.
As a child, Guinevere helps her village to defeat a marauding group of seafarers- and it is here where we see her potential for greatness begin to come forth. Guinevere grows in stature, wisdom and power and, though still only a young teen through much of the story, she quickly finds herself thrust into peril. Merlin wants her dead, and though the author details many things in TDQ, I never quite got the gist of his motive for seeking to destroy her so passionately. The only thing I can figure is that she must be the one who either precipitates or actually carries out Merlin's eventual destruction.
Many other side characters show up to aid or engage her in battle. There are all kinds of fantasy creatures- including mythological gods- that she meets up with and, eventually, she meets her future in the boy of Arthur.
Arthur is just as strong as she- and closer to her age then what I've seen portrayed before. Set long before Camalot, he's young and only discovering who and what he's eventually going to be. Much of the middle of the book is from his POV, where he meets the Lady of the Lake. I was disappointed however, that at the end of TDQ, he and Guinevere do not meet up again. (I suppose that will come in later installments.)
The jumping around of POV's was rather confusing for me and the author lost me a bit until it began to pick up again toward the end. The book is full of detailed descriptions of the world Borchardt has created and some of it became overwhelming. To me her descriptions dragged the story down and lost me for most of the middle of the book. But, as I said before, by the end I was back with her.
This is definitely sequel bait- the story is far from over. I'm interested to see where the author- who was Anne Rice's sister, btw- will take it.(less)
Those with Elf blood have infiltrated Georgian England and are now part of the ruling class. In fact, with displays of fear and supernatural power the...moreThose with Elf blood have infiltrated Georgian England and are now part of the ruling class. In fact, with displays of fear and supernatural power they are the true rulers of our world and keep everyone enslaved because of it. None more so than The Fire Lord Mor'ded himself.
Cassandra has been sequestered all her life awaiting her destiny- to become the wife of the Fire Lord's son. However, few know the reason why she has agreed to such a life. But to fulfill her true purpose of getting close enough to kill the evil Elvin Fire Lord himself she will stop at nothing and do whatever she has to, even if it means marrying the coldest man she's ever met.
But Dominic is not the man she supposes him to be and, it is the passion they feel for each other which will give them strength to do what is in them to do- set their people free once and for all.
I enjoyed this read- found the mix of fantasy/hist-rom/alternate earth timeline really fun but ultimately much too sweet for my tastes. For those that enjoy historical romance but may be bored with the same old, same old, The Fire Lord's Lover certainly fits the bill. It has court life and imperial intrigue for those that like that sort of thing AND magic and magical creatures for the change up- which I of course normally love.
However I need a little more bite to my stories and for some reason the H/h lacked the chemistry needed to get me to call this one a book to die for. Plus the author's explanation of what everyone was wearing just sorta made me feel like it was some sort of role playing game for the author. Not sure why I had that feeling, but it made me slightly uncomfortable.
Still I liked the world enough to possibly read more in this series so we shall see...(less)
In the world McDonald created, warrior Slyphs (creatures similar to faeries I believe) called Battle Sylphs, are enslaved by brutal trickery, tying th...moreIn the world McDonald created, warrior Slyphs (creatures similar to faeries I believe) called Battle Sylphs, are enslaved by brutal trickery, tying them to men of the upper ruling classes. When the King decides it’s time for his weakling of a son to have a battle sylph of his own, something goes awry during the ceremony binding the creature to a helpless female instead.
Solie has no idea the turmoil she’s created by just surviving- all she knows is that something has irrevocably connected her to a fearsome battle sylph and that she is helpless to resist the creature she has inadvertently named Heyou. Still, the attraction she feels frightens her and she runs back home to escape the strange feelings constantly assaulting her whenever around him.
Heyou doesn’t know much, but he knows this- he cannot leave the beautiful girl he left his home to find. But a brutal attack and almost certain death at the hands of other battlers will separate them, only to bring them back together to create a new world where one girl will rise to rule- whether she wishes to or not.
I became excited as I started this story, because there is nothing I enjoy more than romantic tales in a classic fantasy setting. The instant chemistry between the H/H combined with the fact the author is not shy in her descriptions of their heated encounters, left me almost giddy with the thought of a new series to be enraptured by!
Only to be plummeted to earth by the silly heroine Solie becomes. It seriously annoys me to have to say I would call this an excellent romantic fantasy novel if it weren’t for the immature lead characters Solie & Heyou (yes, his name is Hey You), written as if from the pen of a teenager.
Made queen of the sylphs by sheer accident, Solie giggled and stammered her way through this book till I wanted to scream- “You’re a Queen, woman! Show some backbone and regal grace for crying out loud!”
And how does she become Queen of the World??
By having sex. Yeah. You heard me. All powerful queens are made by mating with the warrior sylph she loves. ::rolleyes::
Then, THEN, because she’s got some influential hooha I suppose, these all powerful warriors are so enamored with her, they turn into slobbering fools, following her around lusting and molesting her for all to see, hanging onto her every stammered word, and obeying her orders just because… well, just because!?
Very VERY bothersome.
And yet…
The plotting and action were so tense, so edge of your seat, that I was racing to get to the end to see how the epic battle of good vs. evil McDonald sets up would conclude!
That's right, despite her immature characterizations, McDonald manages to create such engaging good vs. evil battles, they rival any popular fantasy novel out there! Top that off with allowing the reader to have the payoff they deserve - all I can say is... I'm hooked! Yep, I'll be coming back for more-
I only hope Solie grows up before I see her again.
I'm struggling how to grade this-If I was grading on characterization alone, I would give this book a 2 out of 5- but because it ends up being a thoroughly entertaining read- I'm gonna go with 3.5 out of 5. Probably more than generous, but I'm sticking to it.(less)
In Katsa's world, people are born with "graces"- a supernatural ability that sets them apart from the rest. Since a young age, when she accidentally k...moreIn Katsa's world, people are born with "graces"- a supernatural ability that sets them apart from the rest. Since a young age, when she accidentally killed an Uncle who threatened her, everyone has cut Katsa a wide berth because it was obvious her "grace" was killing. Everyone, that is, but another Uncle who happens to be the King of the Middluns.
A cunning man, he didn't have her put to death as some would have wanted. (For a grace such as Killing was indeed dangerous if not controlled.) Nor did he exile her. No, he took her in and had her trained to be his top assassin.
Because Katsa learned to fear her grace, she did as her Uncle told her. She trained hard and when he began to use her, she obeyed, no matter how disgusting it made her feel.
Until she met Po, a Graceling from another land graced in the art of fighting. He has come to Katsa's city to find his Grandfather and he knows Katsa knows something about it.
She does of course, because though the king would use her as a mindless enforcer, she and the trusted people she's gathered around her are secretly doing what they deem right. And rescuing The abducted King from another land was the right thing to do.
Po and Katsa soon find they are almost evenly matched as fighters, (Almost. Katsa seems to get the upper hand every time!), and slowly Katsa begins to trust Po. Po gives her the strength she needs to make a break from her arrogant Uncle and together they begin to unravel the puzzle of Po's Grandfather's abduction.
Billed as a Young Adult novel, the prose did lend to the fact that the author may indeed be young, but it's subject matter is adult enough to satisfy any reader of fantasy. This isn't hardcore fantasy and may be better classified as "Fantasy Lite", in my opinion. But that's what made this novel work!
I really loved the idea of the Graces and the author displays them well. Some are extreme and useful- others are not so much. But they certainly have room to grow as I believe this world might. (I'm sensing a series down the road!)
Katsa and Po are great together. The way there graces fit is endearing and the author gave them a way of connecting to each other that I've always found intoxicating.
The big bad in this story is truly evil, which I just loved- I hate ambiguous bad guys- but the resolution of their conflict was rather abrupt and that is perhaps my biggest issue with this novel.
Never-the-less, I'm giving it a high grade. If you like fantasy with a strong, independent female lead, mixed with a dash of romance, this one's for you! I'm looking forward to reading more from this world!(less)
Lisa Singleton's world is like no others. She lives with a real, live golden dragon whom she inherited along with her grandmother's property.
The snark...moreLisa Singleton's world is like no others. She lives with a real, live golden dragon whom she inherited along with her grandmother's property.
The snarky Caleb is a surprisingly good companion for the lonely young gal trying to make her way in a new city, but when a black dragon in the form of a human sets his eyes on Lisa, Caleb decides it's time to become more than just an impotent watcher from dragonspace.
When Lisa finds herself in the middle of a attack by one bent on capturing her for the black dragon, the last thing she expects is for Caleb to show up in human form and save the day. And what a sexy rescuer Caleb turns out to be!
Caleb and Lisa quickly find themselves falling in love but can they learn to work together before the black dragon completes his plan to use Lisa to get back to his own world, as well as get to the heart of another wicked alliance that threatens their very existence, before the forces arrayed against them destroy the earth and all its inhabitants.
At first, I found the premise of Dragon Heat to be a wonderfully refreshing hook in the wildly popular paranormal sub-genre of romance, unfortunately the plot ended up being convoluted, the characters lacking in heat and the narrative just all around- Blah. I did enjoy discovering the mystery behind the heroine, however that could not make up for the fact this couple had zero chemistry to hold my interest long enough to care what happened to them.
In the end, a big disappointment as well as a big snore.(less)
This one was, so many times, almost a dnf for me. It took the author far too long to engage the audience as her characters wandered around meeting mor...moreThis one was, so many times, almost a dnf for me. It took the author far too long to engage the audience as her characters wandered around meeting more and more characters, all the while tryinig to find others.
But I liked the ending, and the promise of how it might end is what kept me reading.
Briar Blue has a big secret- oh not that her husband and his dreaded machine known as the Boneshaker set off an explosion that caused a blight to occur which turns people into Zombies, whilst extending the American Civil War- everyone knows that. No, her secret is wrapped up in far more guilt and shame concerning her late husband. Because of this, she's told her son Ezekiel nothing of his father and his past. To clear his name, Zeke decides to go into the very heart of the blight- and into the heart of danger- and Briar must follow him and bring him out before he dies any number of deaths... not the least of which is getting turned into a Zombie.
A little bit steampunk, a smidge of Mad Max, a whole heap of apocalyptic alternate reality and you get Boneshaker.
(btw, for you romance readers- there's nil in this one. In the end, it's the boring cataloging of her world that killed it for me. Hopefully by the next book it'll be more about the story.) (less)
Where as I can dig the intricate plotting and political intrigue this author has going on, Kushiel's Chosen was not as good for me as the first. Altho...moreWhere as I can dig the intricate plotting and political intrigue this author has going on, Kushiel's Chosen was not as good for me as the first. Although the rescue of her beloved friend Hyacinthe is of vast importance to Phedra, this book really wasn't about that. Chosen is more about Phedra finding Melisande, the traitor who almost brought Terre D'Ange to war at the end of Kushiel's Dart, the first book in the series.
There is a thing as TOO much political intrigue however and, for me at least, this book had that in spades-especially for the first half of the book. Once Phedra and the boys left the courts of Elua for the city of La Serenissima in Caerdicci Unitas it picked up, thank God. (All places slightly familiar to us though given their own spin in this author's "alternate history" universe.)
Still, Chosen is bogged down with way too much information as far as I'm concerned and one has to concentrate to keep all the threads together.
Despite all the info- or perhaps because of it- I was as surprised as Phedra with where Melisandre finally turned up! It was a good twist and the fall out after made the book much more interesting.(less)
Tight, intricate plotting, side characters with a mythological flavor (I swear The Master of the Straights came right out of The Odyssey), And Phedre-...moreTight, intricate plotting, side characters with a mythological flavor (I swear The Master of the Straights came right out of The Odyssey), And Phedre- the heroine of the story.
Never would I have guessed I would like a character with masochistic tendencies who sleeps with "whoever she wilt". But I did.
I also liked the way the author weaves politics, war, betrayal, treachery and love into this story, and rather adeptly in my opinion.
Such intricate plotting can often get tangled and leave open ends that frustrate a reader, but by the end of Kushiel's Dart, one feels satisfied that loose ends are tied up (At least most loose ends. Others are left wide open purposefully- for the next novel.)
Carey also meshes different genres well, though for romance reading purists this story probably won't receive high marks. Oh there is sex- and plenty of it, but hardly graphic and THANK GOD for that! ( I don't think I couldn've handled reading full on anguisette loving.)
I think what I like best about the book is the world Carey created.
The world-building! I'm in awe. The time and effort she must have put in can only be a labor of love- which I'm sure it was for her.
She put everything into it. Land, Language, History, Religion, and Culture. Yes it mirrors the time before the dark ages, but it has a an alternate take on that time that is fun to dive into.
In the end, I liked Carey's world and I look forward to visiting it again- but I may give it some time. It's just that type of read.(less)
I must say, Shadowed Legacy, is a different one for Lora Leigh. Entering into the fantasy realm- it took me a bit to get into it. Not that I don’t LOV...moreI must say, Shadowed Legacy, is a different one for Lora Leigh. Entering into the fantasy realm- it took me a bit to get into it. Not that I don’t LOVE fantasy stories, but you can’t really classify this as “fantasy”. It’s more like Romantica with fantasy elements. Again normally I’m all over that, however, written early on in her writing career, I believe it shows some immaturity.
Don’t get me wrong, I did like this book. It’s the SECOND in the Legacy series- of which I had not idea I had picked up- and the time has moved forward into the present- or very near future. The sex is characteristically graphic, and plentiful, and I enjoyed the hero Develin and heroine Chantal (ugh, enough with the pretentious names, dear Authors!)... despite the fact I found Chantal a tad annoying with her hissy fits and all. Still I found in her shades of Jude Devereaux’s heroines, which I simply adore. Chantal was noble, kind and strong and made this story for me.
I believe part of the reason it took me awhile to get into the book was because I hadvn’t read the first one. But because the characters of this book, whose memories of the time before had been erased, were in much the same shoes as I, I eventually caught up. As they remembered the past I was able to connect the dots. Now that I’ve finished it, I probably won’t go back to the first in the series, Shattered Legacy (Book 1) , before I read the next Savage Legacy (the set up in this one was a perfect teaser!)
My suspicions is that IF you are to read Shattered Legacy first LIKE I SHOULD HAVE- be sure to have Shadowed Legacy (book 2) nearby, because apparently she left Shattered with a sad cliff hanger.
Gotta love the Leigh! I'm giving this one 3.8 licks out of 5.(less)
Poison Study is indeed an enjoyable read, with a strong heroine discovering she's more than what she thought she was. The action flowed easily and bec...morePoison Study is indeed an enjoyable read, with a strong heroine discovering she's more than what she thought she was. The action flowed easily and because of this, I would have finished the book in one sitting- if I had the time!
I loved the world building, although not as defined as classic epic fantasy books, and I fell for the characters. Yelena is an excellent heroine, full of nobility and strength. The book ends wide open for the sequel (Magic Study).(less)
Ashwini is a Guild Hunter, a human who hunts vampires. In this world, Vamps are made and controlled by Angels and one such Angel is not happy with the...moreAshwini is a Guild Hunter, a human who hunts vampires. In this world, Vamps are made and controlled by Angels and one such Angel is not happy with the powerplay taking place below him.
Ashwini wants no part of the politics surrounding Angels and Vamps but she has no choice when the fierce Archangel Nazarach comes a calling. Now she and her arch nemesis, the Cajun Vamp Janvier- who btw, happens to built like "the sexiest dream she'd ever had"- are contracted to retrieve a kidnapped member of the vampire nobility- or face the wrath of one fearsome, powerful Angel.
Blood, guts, passion and terrible fear collide in this the prequel to Singh's popular UF Guild Hunter series. I understand the h/h in this one is not the h/h in the Guild Hunter series. Still, the novella is certainly a good hook to the series. I'll be reading on! :) (less)
Oddly this was not my favorite of the Tairen Souls series. Previous entries I devoured- couldnt get through them fast enough. This one took way too lo...moreOddly this was not my favorite of the Tairen Souls series. Previous entries I devoured- couldnt get through them fast enough. This one took way too long to get to the epic battle between light and darkness, which is of course the climax of the book- and series really.
But once it did, the pages began to finally come to life again. The ending was a bit too saccharine for epic fantasy such as this but then again, so are hobbits bouncing around on a bed. (Ok that was only in the movie, but you get my drift.)
So there you have it. The ending of a fantastic fantasy/rom series. Probably should have had the great dance off between Elly/Rain and the eeevvil High Mage of Eld at the end of the last book, but hey, I was happy to see Rain and Elly one more time.
That said, I will def. be reading her next series set in this world! :)(less)
Wilson hits the mark once again with this the third installment in Wilson's Tairen Souls series! The characters are finally coming into their own and...moreWilson hits the mark once again with this the third installment in Wilson's Tairen Souls series! The characters are finally coming into their own and Elly is FINALLY learning to let go and trust her mate. Not enough to complete the bond, which is sorta frustrating, but she's getting there. And let me tell you, these two are generating some steam when they get together!
In KOS&S, Elly and Rain are on their way to The Fading Lands, the home of the Fey and where Rain is King. This book focuses much on a lingering mystery, thread through out the series- why the Kits of the Tairen- the winged ferocious cats of which Rain just happens to transform into- are dying before they are hatched. The Tairen are the source of magic for the Fey and if they die out, so does the land.
Rain is sure Elly has the answers, after all, the all seeing eye originally sent him to her when he sought answers for himself. Elly is not so sure. But she's willing to try.
Rain also has another reason for getting her into the Fading lands-protection! The Big Bad- Vadim Maur & Evil Mages of Eld- are still after his powerful mate and only the fading lands can protect her.
All the side characters are here as well and help to fight off the Mages, though not everyone in the Fading Lands is happy about Rain's choice as mate who will someday, of course, be Queen. (She's been marked by evil, how can such a one lead in purity?) But in the end, Elly's strength will defeat all murmurers and back biters- have no fear!
Things really came together for me in this installment even though it ends on a cliff hanger.
Wilson really does some quality work. If you like fantasy then THIS is a must read!(less)
Second in C. L. Wilson's impressive Tairen Soul series, I couldn't get this one read fast enough. (At one point I was so anxious to see what happens n...moreSecond in C. L. Wilson's impressive Tairen Soul series, I couldn't get this one read fast enough. (At one point I was so anxious to see what happens next, I had to actually take a deep breath and slow myself down!)
Starting right where the first, (Lord of The Fading Lands), left off, we are thrust back into the intricately woven world Wilson has created, with every page an entertaining revelation.
The courtship between Ellysetta Baristani and the Fey Lord Rain, is moving along at a fast clip, but of course not fast enough for Rain. He's ready to complete the mating bonds and get her back to safety in the Fading Lands, for the evil mages known as the Eld are on the move and would like nothing more than to capture Elly. But he's made a vow to her mortal father that he will not touch her until they marry in the mortal tradition and he means to honor it.
Elly is helplessly drawn to Rain- they are destined to be mates- but the slow courtship works well for her as she is just coming into her powers. Powers long thought to be evil. (What's girl to do? She instinctively knows this isn't the case, but it's difficult getting past old mindsets, ya know?)
Little does she know how much the magic is ingrained in her and how powerful she really is! Not even Rain knows, though he suspects she is more than the common woodcarver's daughter everyone thinks she is, until one frightening moment when it all comes pouring out.
Along with her power, old superstitions come to the forefront, and the fall out is so moving- with loved ones running scared all around- it grabbed my heart and didn't let go. The way The Evilest of Mages uses the betrayals against her in the final battle scene is particularly effective.
Wilson weaves together many threads so masterfully you just can't help be in a bit of awe while reading it. I LOVED that aspect of this novel.
Second to that are the excellent characters that populate this novel. Their motivations ring true and make me anxious to read some of their stories sometime in the future! **hint, hint**
I even loved the political machinations going on around them, and you know how that can bog down a book!
This book does romance and fantasy the way I always dreamed it could be. (less)
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