What do you think?
Rate this book
The Elder Blood Chronicles #1
In Shades of Grey
In a breath it was gone -- her home, her family, her future. For Jala, the first taste of magic was a brutal one. Spared from death by the protection of a god, Jala is rescued by outlaws and taken to a remote country temple to be raised. Thinking herself no more than a farmer’s orphan, Jala is caught completely off guard when told that she is to train at the High Academy. With no escape from this new future, Jala finds herself cast out of the temple and forced into a world of magic and intrigue. Now she must learn quickly about her world as well as herself if she is going to survive. As Jala's magic unfolds she is drawn back to her ruined homeland by nightmares and acquires a Familiar like no other. Realizing she is far more than a simple farmer‘s daughter, Jala begins searching for the secrets of her past. As the truth unfolds and her reputation in the city of Sanctuary grows, so does the danger. With half of the Elder Blood houses wanting her dead and the other half wanting her help, Jala finds herself the center of more attention than she ever wanted.
385 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 4, 2011
3 people are currently reading
385 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
November 5, 2017
A friend and I were talking about children's books, and one lifelong reading preference that I've only gradually reined in is a preference for fantasies that include animals. I have no idea how this book came to my attention, as none of my friends have added or reviewed, but it undoubtedly remained due to the heroine being described as acquiring "a Familiar like no other" and then a lovely picture of a silver lion on the cover. What retained my attention was bits of intriguing world building, including the idea of Aspects (done best in Fred Saberhagen's Gods series) and Houses (done best by Steven Brust's Taltos series).
It begins with Jala as a small girl, clearly the darling of the household and the daughter of her father's eye. They are heading out to work in the fields one day when a wave of death overtakes them, killing everything in its path. Somehow, Jala survives, is found by two vigilantes and taken to a nearby temple devoted to the aspect of Fortune. The story jumps forward in time, to when Jala needs to leave the temple and travel to the city of Sanctuary to be trained in the use of her magic. Before she leaves, the Aspect of Fortune stops by for a little chat with her, info-dumps about her parents (specifically, her dads) and national politics, gives her a ton of money, and in a move worthy of the Fairy Godmother, updates her wardrobe and baubles. She travels to the harbor and by an odd stroke of luck, meets a young pilot, Shade, who just happens to be heading to Sanctuary as well. Turns out he is the first surviving son of one of the major Houses, is very kind and filthy rich.
Jala's journey to Sanctuary and the first few weeks there is one of the fuller sections of the story, and remains intriguing despite the Orphan Destined for Greatness trope. Jala is quick (avoiding the TSTL trait), curious, open-minded and generally kind, so it's a pleasure to spend time with her. Friend Shade has a cousin, Finn, who's a renowned duelist and full-time cad, and it isn't long before Jala meets Finn and is suckered into drinking a few too many. It's the set-up for a love triangle, but thankfully, Myers avoids the full-blown trope. Finn brings Jala to his super-talented older brother who 'unblocks' her magic and we discover her magic is Amazing. Jala also has to contend with romantic attention from an unwanted admirer. Myers takes some time to build a nice picture of Sanctuary and of the personal politics that surround her new friends.
Strangely, however, the book skips almost everything to do with classes and learning magic, instead jumping forward three months to a more proficient Jala (Harry Potter this ain't). She's having terrible nightmares, dreaming of the burning of her home and hearing someone calling to her. She and her friends go on an expedition by magic portal to the area she came from and discover a Familiar waiting. This is generally billed as a very amazing thing, except her Familiar does nothing further except threaten to eat people and offer mating advice. It's very odd because the character is hugely underutilized and seems to provide no actual value. Compare, for instance, magic reservoir of Companions in the Valdemar series, or the aid in witchcraft from lizard familiars in Taltos. From there, the boon companions go on another quest where Jala does some Amazing, Unheard-of Magic. After she recovers, they meet up with the lawmen. Then Jala gets married, and meets with the leaders of many of the Houses about taking back her historical lands.
I have a very mixed reaction to this story. Based on the edition I read, I wanted to suggest one more major edit if Myers wanted to reach blockbuster potential. There's some really great bones in here, but the trouble is that the world-building feels a little kitchen sink. We don't need every device available (magic portals, airships, horses), 'schooling' versus other kinds of learning, or the idea that the population was 'imprisoned' on this world through a particular barrier.
More importantly, the drastic time-skips through this particular book don't allow as detailed of development as the story needed. Think of The Belgariad, and how Garion's travel through the land gave opportunity for character development and a paced plot.
Although Myers avoids some tropes, others she dives into head first. Jala befriends a notorious womanizer ("bedded every woman in this tavern") who stops two or three months into their friendship, realizing Jala is his soulmate. Jala is independent enough to ultimately want space away from Shade, but although she supposedly strikes out for her own apartment, it's only a short time before she's moving in Finn's compound. And, sadly, it pretty much solidly fails the Bechdel test with a couple token women in Shade's household and only one in Finn's. It's still the affirmative action type of world-building instead of something truly representational and random as seen in Steven Aryan's Mageborn series.
Most of the writing is decent, above average for a first book. There were a few parts where I thought the wording sounded stilted, but overall, I read without being distracted by the writing. Occasionally, dialoge felt a little too modern. When it came to world-building, I didn't understand why Shade, who supported the idea that there are 'shades of grey,' was such an outlier. Everyone we meet is operating in shades of grey and understands a few smaller sacrifices may be made for larger ones. There's also a repeated statement that seems to be a philosophy for the entire population, but was immensely puzzling: "There are two types of Immortals in the prison, those with the will to fight, and those that provoke the fights."
I'll finally note, for the love of a thesaurus, please stop using the word 'smirked.' There's at least 16-17 and it started to grate.
Had Brandon Sanderson written this book, it would have been stretched to at least two more books, if not three. It feels a great deal like a novella or two tied together with a short story. That said, I think I'd comfortably recommend this to people who enjoy fantasy, particularly the Lackey's Valdemar series and Rothfuss' Wise Man's Fear.
It begins with Jala as a small girl, clearly the darling of the household and the daughter of her father's eye. They are heading out to work in the fields one day when a wave of death overtakes them, killing everything in its path. Somehow, Jala survives, is found by two vigilantes and taken to a nearby temple devoted to the aspect of Fortune. The story jumps forward in time, to when Jala needs to leave the temple and travel to the city of Sanctuary to be trained in the use of her magic. Before she leaves, the Aspect of Fortune stops by for a little chat with her, info-dumps about her parents (specifically, her dads) and national politics, gives her a ton of money, and in a move worthy of the Fairy Godmother, updates her wardrobe and baubles. She travels to the harbor and by an odd stroke of luck, meets a young pilot, Shade, who just happens to be heading to Sanctuary as well. Turns out he is the first surviving son of one of the major Houses, is very kind and filthy rich.
Jala's journey to Sanctuary and the first few weeks there is one of the fuller sections of the story, and remains intriguing despite the Orphan Destined for Greatness trope. Jala is quick (avoiding the TSTL trait), curious, open-minded and generally kind, so it's a pleasure to spend time with her. Friend Shade has a cousin, Finn, who's a renowned duelist and full-time cad, and it isn't long before Jala meets Finn and is suckered into drinking a few too many. It's the set-up for a love triangle, but thankfully, Myers avoids the full-blown trope. Finn brings Jala to his super-talented older brother who 'unblocks' her magic and we discover her magic is Amazing. Jala also has to contend with romantic attention from an unwanted admirer. Myers takes some time to build a nice picture of Sanctuary and of the personal politics that surround her new friends.
Strangely, however, the book skips almost everything to do with classes and learning magic, instead jumping forward three months to a more proficient Jala (Harry Potter this ain't). She's having terrible nightmares, dreaming of the burning of her home and hearing someone calling to her. She and her friends go on an expedition by magic portal to the area she came from and discover a Familiar waiting. This is generally billed as a very amazing thing, except her Familiar does nothing further except threaten to eat people and offer mating advice. It's very odd because the character is hugely underutilized and seems to provide no actual value. Compare, for instance, magic reservoir of Companions in the Valdemar series, or the aid in witchcraft from lizard familiars in Taltos. From there, the boon companions go on another quest where Jala does some Amazing, Unheard-of Magic. After she recovers, they meet up with the lawmen. Then Jala gets married, and meets with the leaders of many of the Houses about taking back her historical lands.
I have a very mixed reaction to this story. Based on the edition I read, I wanted to suggest one more major edit if Myers wanted to reach blockbuster potential. There's some really great bones in here, but the trouble is that the world-building feels a little kitchen sink. We don't need every device available (magic portals, airships, horses), 'schooling' versus other kinds of learning, or the idea that the population was 'imprisoned' on this world through a particular barrier.
More importantly, the drastic time-skips through this particular book don't allow as detailed of development as the story needed. Think of The Belgariad, and how Garion's travel through the land gave opportunity for character development and a paced plot.
Although Myers avoids some tropes, others she dives into head first. Jala befriends a notorious womanizer ("bedded every woman in this tavern") who stops two or three months into their friendship, realizing Jala is his soulmate. Jala is independent enough to ultimately want space away from Shade, but although she supposedly strikes out for her own apartment, it's only a short time before she's moving in Finn's compound. And, sadly, it pretty much solidly fails the Bechdel test with a couple token women in Shade's household and only one in Finn's. It's still the affirmative action type of world-building instead of something truly representational and random as seen in Steven Aryan's Mageborn series.
Most of the writing is decent, above average for a first book. There were a few parts where I thought the wording sounded stilted, but overall, I read without being distracted by the writing. Occasionally, dialoge felt a little too modern. When it came to world-building, I didn't understand why Shade, who supported the idea that there are 'shades of grey,' was such an outlier. Everyone we meet is operating in shades of grey and understands a few smaller sacrifices may be made for larger ones. There's also a repeated statement that seems to be a philosophy for the entire population, but was immensely puzzling: "There are two types of Immortals in the prison, those with the will to fight, and those that provoke the fights."
I'll finally note, for the love of a thesaurus, please stop using the word 'smirked.' There's at least 16-17 and it started to grate.
Had Brandon Sanderson written this book, it would have been stretched to at least two more books, if not three. It feels a great deal like a novella or two tied together with a short story. That said, I think I'd comfortably recommend this to people who enjoy fantasy, particularly the Lackey's Valdemar series and Rothfuss' Wise Man's Fear.
July 3, 2011
I loved the story line, it was original once you got into it. The characters came to life for me with their different emotions. it was filled with bits of humor that made me laugh, sadder times that made me cry. Even though Jala was the main character, Finn and Marrow quickly became my favorites. I can't wait for the second book to come out.
August 19, 2011
I truly loved this book. Unlike most series where the first book normally drags...this one does not. From page one to the end In Shades of grey will keep you captivated and begging for the next in the series. Honestly I'm truly amazed that this is an Indie book. It is as good as any I've read from a major publisher and better than most.
The plot is well developed, the world is unique and it doesn't have the typical ancient time line setting. The characters are extremely well done with dialogue that is both witty and flows naturally. Perhaps the best part of the characters themselves is how well they evolve through the story. Most authors tend to have the same character at the beginning as they do at the end. However with Myer's characters you can see how the events are shaping their personalities and watch them evolve. If I cannot form attachment with the characters in a book I do not get the sequel. With this book there are several characters that I consider myself attached to, though Finn is probably my favorite...or Havoc...or Marrow...you see my point it's very hard to decide.
I personally like a book that has a bit of a dark appeal to it. While In Shades of Grey is not yet dark; I can see difficulties for the characters developing and it makes me quite eager for the sequel. I am also emotional when I read, I want a book that can make me laugh and cry, this one did...and unlike George r. r. Martin, Myers didn't kill off any of my favorite characters.
I know quite a few are scared of Indie Authors due to the amount of time you have to spend digging to find a good one...trust me..this is one of the gems. Bravo to Myers may she write many more.
~Jordan W.
The plot is well developed, the world is unique and it doesn't have the typical ancient time line setting. The characters are extremely well done with dialogue that is both witty and flows naturally. Perhaps the best part of the characters themselves is how well they evolve through the story. Most authors tend to have the same character at the beginning as they do at the end. However with Myer's characters you can see how the events are shaping their personalities and watch them evolve. If I cannot form attachment with the characters in a book I do not get the sequel. With this book there are several characters that I consider myself attached to, though Finn is probably my favorite...or Havoc...or Marrow...you see my point it's very hard to decide.
I personally like a book that has a bit of a dark appeal to it. While In Shades of Grey is not yet dark; I can see difficulties for the characters developing and it makes me quite eager for the sequel. I am also emotional when I read, I want a book that can make me laugh and cry, this one did...and unlike George r. r. Martin, Myers didn't kill off any of my favorite characters.
I know quite a few are scared of Indie Authors due to the amount of time you have to spend digging to find a good one...trust me..this is one of the gems. Bravo to Myers may she write many more.
~Jordan W.
November 8, 2011
"In Shades of Grey" has it everything my fantasy/sci-fi loving soul needs: magic, mystery, adventure, danger, love, suspense... (sigh)
Many new fantasy writers entertain me briefly but don't really impress me; others fall very short on both counts. Myers is not one of these. Though she is a brand new author, her talent for storytelling is natural and her book is superior. It's well above what I have come to expect from current fantasy/paranormal authors.
I don't want to give much of the story away so I'll just say I was quickly drawn in to Jala's life and addicted to the story. The character development is appealing and the plot twists kept me on my toes. And even when they weren't anything I could have anticipated, I ended up loving those twists and wanting to know more. It's nice that this book isn't just like everything else that's out there. Myers knows how to weave into my emotions and keep my imagination spinning.
"In Shades of Grey" is now high on my list of recommendations to friends as it was better than many other downloads I've been reading lately. When I found Myers website (melissamyersbooks), I read the 1st chapter of her next book and I can't wait for it to come out this fall.:)
Bravo Myers!
Many new fantasy writers entertain me briefly but don't really impress me; others fall very short on both counts. Myers is not one of these. Though she is a brand new author, her talent for storytelling is natural and her book is superior. It's well above what I have come to expect from current fantasy/paranormal authors.
I don't want to give much of the story away so I'll just say I was quickly drawn in to Jala's life and addicted to the story. The character development is appealing and the plot twists kept me on my toes. And even when they weren't anything I could have anticipated, I ended up loving those twists and wanting to know more. It's nice that this book isn't just like everything else that's out there. Myers knows how to weave into my emotions and keep my imagination spinning.
"In Shades of Grey" is now high on my list of recommendations to friends as it was better than many other downloads I've been reading lately. When I found Myers website (melissamyersbooks), I read the 1st chapter of her next book and I can't wait for it to come out this fall.:)
Bravo Myers!
January 22, 2012
HIGHLY recommended! Such a refreshing change in the world of fantasy. It is far from your typical fantasy and exactly what I've been looking for in a new book. Myers is an absolute natural! I have been addicted from the beginning. The storyline is so well laid out, with the perfect amount of detail, not lacking or overbearing, that you become very familiar with each character and their personality and can truly relate to them. There is such wonderful character structure that I found myself becoming so attached to them that my own emotions surfaced and I was brought to tears at certain moments. The array of emotions Myers can evoke is astonishing. She is far from predictible in her writing, keeping you on your toes consistantly and leaving you begging for more! I would love to someday see her story on the big screen, especially for those who don't read. It would be a shame not to share her work further! Before I had finished the last chapter I was anxious for the second book. I must say that the second is no less incredible and is another MUST read from Myers! I can't say enough good things about this author, but don't just take my word for it, experiance it yourself! Keep them coming!
March 24, 2016
I am a bit torn rating this! As far as the storyline and characters go, this book, for me, would merit 4 stars. The world building was interesting, the plot well paced and the cast of characters entertaining. However, I did find the writing a little unpolished in places, and this spoiled the flow a little. Careful editing could definitely remedy this though, and all in all I thought this was a very good debut fantasy novel.
October 19, 2015
Melissa Myers has a knack for description. Her characters come alive in a way that make you feel as though you are walking through their lives with them as the story unfolds.
December 10, 2017
Ahh now I never leave reviews ever EVVER. But I really loved this series like I had my mock weeks and I blasted through like all 4 of them and am on the 5th like iz a good time. How I see it is this story has been WOVEN like there’s shit happening here there he’s munipulating her who’s being munipulated by him who’s reason is cos she loved his dad who’s mortal enemies with his mum ectttt ( that didn’t actually happen ) . Like I dug all the characters, every character was a main character with feeling and story I DUG IT! Character growth, story growth, plot development 👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻 Like a lot of shit goes down and I love a book with pace, I never got bored and I kept reading 😂
March 23, 2018
Self-published. From Smashwords. This book should have been doomed from the start; I've never had a single good experience with a book that started on Smashwords.
And yet, this book was actually okay. Even good in some sections! The writing was fine, the editing was good enough, the story and world were interesting.
Fantasy, set on some different world that was actually a trap/prison, immortals had children, ran things, and plotted endlessly against each other.
While it wasn't bad, it didn't hold my interest, so stopped reading at 32%.
And yet, this book was actually okay. Even good in some sections! The writing was fine, the editing was good enough, the story and world were interesting.
Fantasy, set on some different world that was actually a trap/prison, immortals had children, ran things, and plotted endlessly against each other.
While it wasn't bad, it didn't hold my interest, so stopped reading at 32%.
February 2, 2018
2.5 stars.
If not for the annoying romance, it could've been such a great book. Promising world, promising creatures. Alas, author fell into teenage romance trap. Also, someone in another review mentioned how annoying use of 'smirk' was. I so agree. People can not smirk all the time. It's just annoying. Use a thesaurus.
If not for the annoying romance, it could've been such a great book. Promising world, promising creatures. Alas, author fell into teenage romance trap. Also, someone in another review mentioned how annoying use of 'smirk' was. I so agree. People can not smirk all the time. It's just annoying. Use a thesaurus.
November 9, 2015
The Formatting is Terrible & Distracting
I loved the premise of the story and I will still try to finish it, but.... The formatting/editing is completely distracting.
The apostrophe has been replaced by a quotation mark; instead of reading Jala's, it's Jala"s. It wouldn't seem a big deal, but I couldn't even get halfway through chapter 1 before checking if this was simply the mishap of a forgotten section or throughout the whole book.
Unfortunately, it was the whole book. And to make it worse, spaces between words were missing and the overall affect was such that I couldn't finish the story before and instead felt the need to write this review.
Other reviews point to a promising story. And as I said, I'll still finish the book (mostly because of these said reviews). However, I disagree with what one reviewer wrote saying you can't expect much from a $3 story; $3 is too much to pay for such extensive, simple mistakes that interrupt the flow of the story. I've read many an Indie author and I deeply love the books I have come across from these authors. In fact, if I were to formalize a list of my favorite authors, indie and traditionally published authors would be in equal amounts. However, these indie authors do not use their status as indie/self-published to lower the bar. If nothing else, it makes them even more competitive and strict in regards to quality control.
I gave 3 stars because the author SERIOUSLY needs to consider re-editing and then uploading a new version for readers to enjoy. I truly considered giving only 2 stars to indicate just how such a simple thing can be disastrous in a competitive industry since reviews can really hurt a book's success.
The truth is most readers won't check to see if these formatting issues continue to book 2. I've done the work and it would appear from one review that the editing issues are gone, which has restored some enthusiasm towards the series in what currently feels like a chore when I consider the endeavor.
I cannot help but feel that the success of this series is being stonewalled by the editing of this first book. Most readers will not even finish book 1 and instead write off the series as poorly done. It's been several years since this book and the rest of the series has been published, however, it's never too late to go back and adjust the text. From what I've gleaned, it is labor-involved to ensure the corrected version goes to all the right channels, but I know the effort can only help and not hinder the success of the series. And I'll admit to being selfishly motivated - the other books look interesting and I'd like to read them, but first I have to slough through this one to proceed to the next. :)
I can't help but cringe at all the portrayals and characters that have said the words that will follow, but I do truly only mean this as friendly advice. There's not enough people with reading addictions who love fantasy stories with female protagonists and will read absolutely anything that falls into this category to base a career off of. As an avid k-board reader and Restaurant Impossible watcher, things like the appearance of book covers, text, and overall feel of a restaurant leave the customer with an impression of the place (or book ;) ) before they take their first bite. I may not have the expertise of an author (self-pinned or traditional), nor the big burly muscles surrounding a soft heart like Robert Irvine, but I truly just want authors to succeed at what they love and that includes Melissa Myers. :)
So if you've come this far readers, still grab the book, but be prepared for the editing issues. The readers who have gone before us deem this a good series and as I said, I have a book addiction that must be fulfilled :).
Also, the day a new edited edition is uploaded is a day I'll gladly go back and change this review (so feel more than welcome to ask when that time comes - I'm not a Capitol B like what I might/probably came across as).
I loved the premise of the story and I will still try to finish it, but.... The formatting/editing is completely distracting.
The apostrophe has been replaced by a quotation mark; instead of reading Jala's, it's Jala"s. It wouldn't seem a big deal, but I couldn't even get halfway through chapter 1 before checking if this was simply the mishap of a forgotten section or throughout the whole book.
Unfortunately, it was the whole book. And to make it worse, spaces between words were missing and the overall affect was such that I couldn't finish the story before and instead felt the need to write this review.
Other reviews point to a promising story. And as I said, I'll still finish the book (mostly because of these said reviews). However, I disagree with what one reviewer wrote saying you can't expect much from a $3 story; $3 is too much to pay for such extensive, simple mistakes that interrupt the flow of the story. I've read many an Indie author and I deeply love the books I have come across from these authors. In fact, if I were to formalize a list of my favorite authors, indie and traditionally published authors would be in equal amounts. However, these indie authors do not use their status as indie/self-published to lower the bar. If nothing else, it makes them even more competitive and strict in regards to quality control.
I gave 3 stars because the author SERIOUSLY needs to consider re-editing and then uploading a new version for readers to enjoy. I truly considered giving only 2 stars to indicate just how such a simple thing can be disastrous in a competitive industry since reviews can really hurt a book's success.
The truth is most readers won't check to see if these formatting issues continue to book 2. I've done the work and it would appear from one review that the editing issues are gone, which has restored some enthusiasm towards the series in what currently feels like a chore when I consider the endeavor.
I cannot help but feel that the success of this series is being stonewalled by the editing of this first book. Most readers will not even finish book 1 and instead write off the series as poorly done. It's been several years since this book and the rest of the series has been published, however, it's never too late to go back and adjust the text. From what I've gleaned, it is labor-involved to ensure the corrected version goes to all the right channels, but I know the effort can only help and not hinder the success of the series. And I'll admit to being selfishly motivated - the other books look interesting and I'd like to read them, but first I have to slough through this one to proceed to the next. :)
I can't help but cringe at all the portrayals and characters that have said the words that will follow, but I do truly only mean this as friendly advice. There's not enough people with reading addictions who love fantasy stories with female protagonists and will read absolutely anything that falls into this category to base a career off of. As an avid k-board reader and Restaurant Impossible watcher, things like the appearance of book covers, text, and overall feel of a restaurant leave the customer with an impression of the place (or book ;) ) before they take their first bite. I may not have the expertise of an author (self-pinned or traditional), nor the big burly muscles surrounding a soft heart like Robert Irvine, but I truly just want authors to succeed at what they love and that includes Melissa Myers. :)
So if you've come this far readers, still grab the book, but be prepared for the editing issues. The readers who have gone before us deem this a good series and as I said, I have a book addiction that must be fulfilled :).
Also, the day a new edited edition is uploaded is a day I'll gladly go back and change this review (so feel more than welcome to ask when that time comes - I'm not a Capitol B like what I might/probably came across as).
November 3, 2014
I had this one sitting on my e-reader for awhile and couldn't remember what it was about or why I chose it. Based on the cover I was expecting a standard shifter/paranormal type romance (as that is what I read most). Instead I got a great fantasy story with interesting world building and a story that pulled me in and kept me reading long past my bed time. I enjoyed Jala and how although innocent and a bit naïve from her upbringing she wasn't stupid and learnt quickly. I also liked how the fortuitous circumstances of being in the right place at the right time & meeting the right people had a tangible explanation given Fortune's interest in Jala. I liked her interactions with both Shade & Finn and I love Marrow.
January 23, 2012
May I say wow?! Myers has taken fantasy to a whole new level. From the start the story line hools you in. You begin to feel emotions as you read through the first chapters and quickly find yourself flipping the next page and before you know it your halfway through! I am amazed at this being a first time author. And as far as the punctuality and grammer goes, this is a first time Indie writer and the publisher should be catching this. Not Myers fault. Absolutely love and cannot wait for the third book! Kudos to melissa for a fantastically refreshing fantasy novel!
January 8, 2014
I liked the concept but I a lot of parts didn't sit right with me. Also, sometimes I felt I would understand one part but then something would dangerously to make another character better or worse. I also felt extremely sorry for one character but telling why would be spoiling the book so I won't say who or why.
July 7, 2015
Oh I don't know how I can put into words how much I love this book. The humor and wit. The characters. Finn, Jala, Marrow, Fortune (I wish there was more of him to be honest), Havoc. Too many wonderful characters to pick a favorite. Typos and grammar errors to be sure, but if you're willing to look past that, a great book that will suck you in.
August 7, 2015
This book was written in such a way that you would find it very hard to drop it. I tend to picture the world in the book when I read and Melissa paints a pretty good picture of Sanctuary. Awesome book
June 30, 2016
That was a good story. Well the beginning of one, love, intrigue, politic... the only reason it doesn't have five star is because of the format of the text, it was bothersome.
July 12, 2015
The romantic sexism lost a point, otherwise might have given 3 stars for the world-building, pacing and writing skill.
November 14, 2016
I absolutely LOVED this series....except for one thing....
WHERE ARE THE REST OF THE BOOKS???
I need to know what happens with Shade!
WHERE ARE THE REST OF THE BOOKS???
I need to know what happens with Shade!
May 31, 2012
Very good start to the "Elderblood Chronicles" series!!
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews