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Realm of Nine #1
Blood Rose
To save his people, a half-mad prince must enlist the aid of a woman who has no reason to help him...and who he has every reason to desire.
At sixteen, Rose Carrison lost both her parents and her freedom. Since her father's death, Rose has had to pick up the mantle of her family's legacy and guard an object of incredible power, one the monsters who murdered her parents would kill to get their hands on. After ten years on the run, Rose's luck finally runs out. A fate worse than death threatens to consume her. Then, out of the darkness, comes the most unlikely of rescuers...
Grayson van Court is a man skating on the edge of damnation. He's a revenant: a powerful, blood-drinking, returned-from-the-dead, magical creature that no other magical species wants anything to do with. For centuries, Gray has bargained and fought for the revenants' right to survive, but his efforts are hampered by his sociopathic mother and the madness that permeates his own soul. When Gray rescues Rose from his mother's machinations, his intention is only to stop the attacks against his people that would surely come if Rose were harmed. But then he sees her, and everything changes. Two people who should never have met soon find themselves fighting side by side for the chance at a love that could prove to be their salvation.
Note: This book contains explicit sexual situations, graphic language, violence, and material that some readers may find objectionable.
At sixteen, Rose Carrison lost both her parents and her freedom. Since her father's death, Rose has had to pick up the mantle of her family's legacy and guard an object of incredible power, one the monsters who murdered her parents would kill to get their hands on. After ten years on the run, Rose's luck finally runs out. A fate worse than death threatens to consume her. Then, out of the darkness, comes the most unlikely of rescuers...
Grayson van Court is a man skating on the edge of damnation. He's a revenant: a powerful, blood-drinking, returned-from-the-dead, magical creature that no other magical species wants anything to do with. For centuries, Gray has bargained and fought for the revenants' right to survive, but his efforts are hampered by his sociopathic mother and the madness that permeates his own soul. When Gray rescues Rose from his mother's machinations, his intention is only to stop the attacks against his people that would surely come if Rose were harmed. But then he sees her, and everything changes. Two people who should never have met soon find themselves fighting side by side for the chance at a love that could prove to be their salvation.
Note: This book contains explicit sexual situations, graphic language, violence, and material that some readers may find objectionable.
- GenresParanormalRomance
352 pages, Paperback
First published November 29, 2011
549 people want to read
About the author
Riley Shane
14 books54 followersI am a native Californian who has spent the years since graduating high school bouncing around the world at every opportunity. I am a graduate of Vassar College where—despite often being distracted by British Literature—I received my Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. I'm an avid reader who spends much of my time engrossed in romance novels...when I'm not being shanghaied by the loud, demanding, often-crazy characters that live in my head. Right now you can find me in Northern California, but who knows where I'll be next? So long as I have my laptop and most discerning critic with me, I'm ready to travel and write from wherever the wind may take me.
Enough about me—I'd love to hear from readers. You can find me on the Web at http://www.rileyshane.com via email at riley@rileyshane.com, on Twitter (@rileyshanebooks), and on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Riley-...).
Enough about me—I'd love to hear from readers. You can find me on the Web at http://www.rileyshane.com via email at riley@rileyshane.com, on Twitter (@rileyshanebooks), and on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Riley-...).
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 29, 2014
I have to start this off talking about the two main characters - who drive this story. When we first, really, meet Rose, she's a young woman that's having everything stripped from her. Her family is dead, her control over her life is done, and her very survival is dependent on those more powerful. She's just a human, surrounded by eight species that are all contain magic and strength in abundance. But that doesn't take anything away from her. She's strong, with opinions of her own, smart, able to reason through things others often overlook, and incredibly caring.
Gray is honorable at his core, but he's fighting a pretty damning madness - one that's threatening to overtake him. While fighting for his people, against his mother no less, he certainly doesn't need anything more pulling at him. Honor pulls his to rescue Rose, but then he gets something he never bargained for. Rose pulls him, eases him, challenges him as nothing ever before. He's thrilled by this, and scared by the possibility of following a little too closely to his father's footsteps. The line he walks between good and evil is as sharp as a blade, and I was pulling for him to overcome everything and get his happiness throughout the book - even when I sometimes wondered how that'd come to be.
The Realm of Nine is the world that Rose and Gray inhabit. So called because of the Nine species that make up the balance of magic: Fae, Elf, Shifter, Merrow, Sylph, Shadowkin, Goblins, Witches/Revenants, and Humans. I loved how the world was, at the same time, incredibly intricate and detailed, and practical and easy to understand. Everything made sense within the world, I never felt lost on how the magic worked or why, and there's definitely enough there to keep me wanting more. With so many species in the world, I know that Ms. Shane has a lot more up her sleeves for me to learn!
Blood Rose fairly thrums with tension, from beginning to end! I couldn't wait to see how Rose and Gray could work through their incredible difficulties and tasks. And they never let me down. One of the true pleasures of this story was seeing them work as a team. They went from attraction, to lust (oh-so-sexy times!), to love beautifully. It was easy to see why they fell in love with each other, because they fit one another.
Because I usually like to know this, there is some deception (by omission) in this story. While this is usually a hot-button issue for me, I thought it was well done, the reasoning for it was completely understandable, and it was perfectly handled. In fact, I'd say this is how it should be done.
I'm so excited to see where Ms. Shane takes me next in the Realm of Nine. I'm particularly interesting in a certain cousin to Gray - and definitely interested in the mystery that pops up near the end. I've got some ideas and can't wait to see if I end up right!
Highly, highly recommend for those looking for an excellent paranormal romance. This one has everything I look for. Characters you can love and root for, a world you could live in, and tight plotting that keeps you turning pages.
Gray is honorable at his core, but he's fighting a pretty damning madness - one that's threatening to overtake him. While fighting for his people, against his mother no less, he certainly doesn't need anything more pulling at him. Honor pulls his to rescue Rose, but then he gets something he never bargained for. Rose pulls him, eases him, challenges him as nothing ever before. He's thrilled by this, and scared by the possibility of following a little too closely to his father's footsteps. The line he walks between good and evil is as sharp as a blade, and I was pulling for him to overcome everything and get his happiness throughout the book - even when I sometimes wondered how that'd come to be.
The Realm of Nine is the world that Rose and Gray inhabit. So called because of the Nine species that make up the balance of magic: Fae, Elf, Shifter, Merrow, Sylph, Shadowkin, Goblins, Witches/Revenants, and Humans. I loved how the world was, at the same time, incredibly intricate and detailed, and practical and easy to understand. Everything made sense within the world, I never felt lost on how the magic worked or why, and there's definitely enough there to keep me wanting more. With so many species in the world, I know that Ms. Shane has a lot more up her sleeves for me to learn!
Blood Rose fairly thrums with tension, from beginning to end! I couldn't wait to see how Rose and Gray could work through their incredible difficulties and tasks. And they never let me down. One of the true pleasures of this story was seeing them work as a team. They went from attraction, to lust (oh-so-sexy times!), to love beautifully. It was easy to see why they fell in love with each other, because they fit one another.
Because I usually like to know this, there is some deception (by omission) in this story. While this is usually a hot-button issue for me, I thought it was well done, the reasoning for it was completely understandable, and it was perfectly handled. In fact, I'd say this is how it should be done.
I'm so excited to see where Ms. Shane takes me next in the Realm of Nine. I'm particularly interesting in a certain cousin to Gray - and definitely interested in the mystery that pops up near the end. I've got some ideas and can't wait to see if I end up right!
Highly, highly recommend for those looking for an excellent paranormal romance. This one has everything I look for. Characters you can love and root for, a world you could live in, and tight plotting that keeps you turning pages.
February 20, 2012
Blood Rose is a Joyfully Recommended Read
Rosaline Carrison is the last of her family’s line. For generations her family has been responsible for a box that holds the key to the revenants existence. If the box were to fall into the wrong hands it could spell danger for the world. At sixteen Rosaline lost her parents as the vicious revenant Queen tried to get the box and she has been running ever since. With only her bodyguards as friends, her life has become a lonely and frustrating one but she is determined to keep her family’s legacy alive.
Grayson van Court is the revenant Prince. He leads a faction of revenants that have turned against the Queen and her abhorrent ways. He will do anything to keep the box out of the Queen’s deadly grip. When the keeper of the box is captured by the Queen’s minions, Gray must race to save her and the world. However, Gray never expected his heart to be awakened by the stunning Rosaline. Rescuing her may be easy but keeping her safe is another story. The Queen has her scent and is determined to dominate the world with the secrets within the box.
Grayson and Rosaline are an unlikely duo but together they may be the only way to stop the Queen. The other leaders in the Realm of Nine are not too keen on Gray and Rose making nice and may attempt to keep them apart. The battle is only just beginning. Can Gray and Rose survive with their hearts and minds in tact?
Riley Shane’s Blood Rose is a sublime paranormal romance set in an ingenious world. Ms. Shane got the story started with an intense scene that mesmerized me. I find the premise of Blood Rose to be a fresh and compelling new take on vampire romance. The characters are complex and easy to become enamored with. I cannot wait to read more about all of these people I’ve become invested in. Gray and Rose share a scorching chemistry. The passion between them is sizzling! I love these two! I also love that Ms. Shane kept surprising me.
There are so many twists and turns in Blood Rose. I truly was not expecting all the things that happened. The action sequences are fast and powerful you will feel like you are a part of the action. One of the things I love about Gray is that he rides the line of good and evil. He is constantly doing battle with himself. Sometimes this can go wrong in a story and become tiring but Ms. Shane manages to turn Gray into an undeniably strong character that you want to cheer on. What comes off exceptionally well in Blood Rose is the feeling that the world truly hinges on the contents of the box that Rose is charged with protecting. I definitely felt the apocalyptic tension that accompanies the box legacy. And the fact that in a world filled with supernatural entities the box is entrusted to a human just increases the palpable suspense in Blood Rose. I can’t wait to find out what happens next in the Realm of Nine!
*Please note that Blood Rose does feature a m/m, ménage, BDSM and voyeuristic scene.
Reviewed by Miranda
For Joyfully Reviewed
Rosaline Carrison is the last of her family’s line. For generations her family has been responsible for a box that holds the key to the revenants existence. If the box were to fall into the wrong hands it could spell danger for the world. At sixteen Rosaline lost her parents as the vicious revenant Queen tried to get the box and she has been running ever since. With only her bodyguards as friends, her life has become a lonely and frustrating one but she is determined to keep her family’s legacy alive.
Grayson van Court is the revenant Prince. He leads a faction of revenants that have turned against the Queen and her abhorrent ways. He will do anything to keep the box out of the Queen’s deadly grip. When the keeper of the box is captured by the Queen’s minions, Gray must race to save her and the world. However, Gray never expected his heart to be awakened by the stunning Rosaline. Rescuing her may be easy but keeping her safe is another story. The Queen has her scent and is determined to dominate the world with the secrets within the box.
Grayson and Rosaline are an unlikely duo but together they may be the only way to stop the Queen. The other leaders in the Realm of Nine are not too keen on Gray and Rose making nice and may attempt to keep them apart. The battle is only just beginning. Can Gray and Rose survive with their hearts and minds in tact?
Riley Shane’s Blood Rose is a sublime paranormal romance set in an ingenious world. Ms. Shane got the story started with an intense scene that mesmerized me. I find the premise of Blood Rose to be a fresh and compelling new take on vampire romance. The characters are complex and easy to become enamored with. I cannot wait to read more about all of these people I’ve become invested in. Gray and Rose share a scorching chemistry. The passion between them is sizzling! I love these two! I also love that Ms. Shane kept surprising me.
There are so many twists and turns in Blood Rose. I truly was not expecting all the things that happened. The action sequences are fast and powerful you will feel like you are a part of the action. One of the things I love about Gray is that he rides the line of good and evil. He is constantly doing battle with himself. Sometimes this can go wrong in a story and become tiring but Ms. Shane manages to turn Gray into an undeniably strong character that you want to cheer on. What comes off exceptionally well in Blood Rose is the feeling that the world truly hinges on the contents of the box that Rose is charged with protecting. I definitely felt the apocalyptic tension that accompanies the box legacy. And the fact that in a world filled with supernatural entities the box is entrusted to a human just increases the palpable suspense in Blood Rose. I can’t wait to find out what happens next in the Realm of Nine!
*Please note that Blood Rose does feature a m/m, ménage, BDSM and voyeuristic scene.
Reviewed by Miranda
For Joyfully Reviewed
July 2, 2012
I'm SUPER picky about my romances, and I don't generally like paranormals but Ms. Shane somehow manages to overcome my prejudice by creating a compelling relationship between a brave heroine and a strong, sexy hero.
Rose and Gray are a perfect fit, and though the plot is filled with plenty of action and drama, Shane doesn't neglect the growing relationship between her two leads. I blew through the story and was surprised--and sorry--to see it end.
Given the extensive and detailed world the author builds, the first couple of chapters are less action-packed than the rest of the plot, but once the plot gets rolling, well...there's a reason I stayed up until 4 am to finish it.
I'm really hoping to see a sequel to this one; I can't imagine the author meant to leave this as a stand-alone. I'm DYING to know what happened between Rihannon and Cael!
Rose and Gray are a perfect fit, and though the plot is filled with plenty of action and drama, Shane doesn't neglect the growing relationship between her two leads. I blew through the story and was surprised--and sorry--to see it end.
Given the extensive and detailed world the author builds, the first couple of chapters are less action-packed than the rest of the plot, but once the plot gets rolling, well...there's a reason I stayed up until 4 am to finish it.
I'm really hoping to see a sequel to this one; I can't imagine the author meant to leave this as a stand-alone. I'm DYING to know what happened between Rihannon and Cael!
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February 10, 2014Ebook edition being reissued February 2014 (originally published by Loose Id on November 29, 2011).
Paperback edition of Blood Rose published by Createspace/Amazon on December 14, 2012.
Paperback edition of Blood Rose published by Createspace/Amazon on December 14, 2012.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews