Colour Wielders (Colour Wielders, #1) by Dawna Raver

May 12, 2013 Tribala rated it liked it

Shelves: paranormal-romance, pnr-nauba-r2r, romance

First I would like to say that I did enjoy reading this book but, I had a hard time getting into this novel at first, initially I was thinking this was adult PNR but its more like YA. Except for the occasional curse words, there wasn't much adult content with very clean sex scenes, minus the initial virginity scene...
There were several things that were amiss throughout the story adding to my difficulty tucking in and enjoying fully,
1. The effing was truly distracting. Either swear or don't this
First I would like to say that I did enjoy reading this book but, I had a hard time getting into this novel at first, initially I was thinking this was adult PNR but its more like YA. Except for the occasional curse words, there wasn't much adult content with very clean sex scenes, minus the initial virginity scene...
There were several things that were amiss throughout the story adding to my difficulty tucking in and enjoying fully,
1. The effing was truly distracting. Either swear or don't this made Quinn sound so childish it was disturbing. She is a 22 year old woman and a college graduate, but every time she said eff or effing it made her seem 16. Her brother initially started out as a strong soldier male who was bound to protect his sister then turned into a silly childish guy with the way he became in awe of the Magykals. Not at all a strong male expected to one day become King.
2. The story jumped around too much. There was so much back story for character development and world development Ravers attempted to create, that it became difficult to follow. Meaning than the story at times came to a stand still while the back story was filled in then all of a sudden.. Something happened to move the story forward. In this it was a bit disjointed and I found myself having to re-read sections.
3. The language... The Magykals language although pretty in print was distracting in that I almost felt that I missed the first book that explained what all these words meant. The glossary at the end helped but I didn't know it was there until I finished the book!!! :)
Ok things I liked. This world has the potential to become one of my favorite places to hang out in... I hope there are more books coming. The characters are interesting and bringing to light some not often mentioned gods: Loki and Tyr as well as the bad girl of bad girls, Morgana le Fey. Can't get much more evil than her!!! I liked how the author put Loki in a more positive light than most stories about him. He is usually the evil plotting one...in this story he is mischievous but kind helping his nephew find his path to the light. I was very surprised by the reveal of Ariks powers. I am dying to know if his response is faked or truth!! I'm hoping for fake!!! I would like to see the Quinn get a backbone and wield her Magyk without fear. I also liked the idea of the Colours and that wielding magic didn't mean witches and worlocks but Druids and Demigods which is a new take in PNR. I am looking forward to reading the next book to discover more about this world and its characters.

Note: The author provided this book to me in exchange for an honest review. ...more

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Apr 22, 2013 Jamie rated it really liked it

Shelves: upcoming-challenge, series-in-progress, next-challenge, fantasy, lore-mythology-legnds

A most enjoyable fantasy! However, I would like to state right off that this is not a YA novel. Content is definitely more appropriate for mature audiences. So while the cover may look sweet and innocent, this book is not.

This story has several key characters, but the perspectives are with young Quinn, a 22 year old who has been rushed into a whole different reality, and Arik, of the Magykal Realm. This book kicks us into high gear right from the beginning with the end of a sex scene that quickl A most enjoyable fantasy! However, I would like to state right off that this is not a YA novel. Content is definitely more appropriate for mature audiences. So while the cover may look sweet and innocent, this book is not.

This story has several key characters, but the perspectives are with young Quinn, a 22 year old who has been rushed into a whole different reality, and Arik, of the Magykal Realm. This book kicks us into high gear right from the beginning with the end of a sex scene that quickly becomes quite violent for Quinn. Soon she is left questioning who her father is, who she can and can't trust and more.

Then there is Arik. I love his character. The good guy with the chip on his shoulder and can therefore easily come across as the bad guy. I almost always love that character complex though. Arik has been around for quite a while and seen his share of good and evil. Yet ties with family and friends have been tested over the years and now he tries to stand alone, both sides wanting him. But want Arik wants is Quinn, and he feels he can't have her.

Yes, there is also some sweet (and not so sweet) romance here too. Although the romance is why I am not a big fan of Quinn as well. After being used by a changeling at the beginning, then falling for a Highlander named Devin (under an influence but still) within a day, then literally hours after making out with him, she plasters herself to Arik. Tricked or not, she burns through the men WAY too fast for me.

Anyways, in this story we also have Loki (yes THAT Loki, trickster God), Morgana Le Fey and other wonderful characters both common and original. Dawna Raver did a great job breathing (or writing I should say) life into each character. Various personalities, stories, expressions, and styles of speech made them all endearing.

Lots of myth and Celtic references, a bit over the top, especially when it isn't English. Also, while I liked how the story draws you in right away, the first few chapters is just too much to process right away. Also, time lines seem a bit jumpy but there are two realms so that may be causing it, I just don't know.

Otherwise, I really liked this. Each characters had different motives and purposes. Some good, others less so. The cool thing is, you never fully know who is going to be good or what secrets some of them have, until the end. The author does a great job to keep the reader wanting answers, but withholding just enough to keep them going. Also the use of colors to determine energy, health, emotions, etc I thought was very neat. And often pretty to hear described. I would have loved to see things through Quinn's eyes the first time she sees them. I look forward to the next book in this series!
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Jun 26, 2013 Claire Taylor rated it it was amazing

Dawna Raver
Colour Wielders
Heirs of the Magykal Realm #1

I loved this story from start to finish. There is never a dull moment and you'll soon find yourself completely engrossed in the world the author has created. Quinn and Iain have no idea of their family lineage, but have always had special gifts. On the night of her 16th birthday, Quinn's world comes crashing around her, and they slowly learn the truth about who they really are. You are slowly introduced to more characters, some not being wha ...more

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Jun 11, 2013 Nicole M. Hewitt rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fiction-addiction-read

This review and many others can be found on my blog - Feed Your Fiction Addiction.

It should be noted that this book is NA, not YA, and contains sexual situations!

4.5 Stars I think that this is the best Indie published book I've ever read. I could easily have seen myself picking this book up off the shelf at Barnes & Noble and I would have been very happy with my purchase.

The story is told from two perspectives. First, there is Quinn, a 22-year-old girl who discovers that she is not who she think ...more

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May 22, 2013 Stephanie rated it really liked it

Check out my review at my blog A Secret Book Affair

First and foremost I have to say how much Curiosity Quills continues to impress me. You guys obviously have a great eye for new amazing talent because once again I'm shocked to find out at the end of the book that this is Dawna Raver's DEBUT novel! Curiosity Quills has quickly climbed to the top of my favorite publishing houses; I have yet to be disappointed by any novels they have backed (I have reviewed two other titles, one of which was also Check out my review at my blog A Secret Book Affair

First and foremost I have to say how much Curiosity Quills continues to impress me. You guys obviously have a great eye for new amazing talent because once again I'm shocked to find out at the end of the book that this is Dawna Raver's DEBUT novel! Curiosity Quills has quickly climbed to the top of my favorite publishing houses; I have yet to be disappointed by any novels they have backed (I have reviewed two other titles, one of which was also an impressive debut novel, from some of their other authors, here are my reviews: Nefertiti's Heart and Scrapbook of My Revolution.) Not only is it refreshing to see a publishing house take risks and work so hard to help new talent but they find writers with fresh new perspectives who aren't afraid to go against what is current and have the moxy to write something original. Okay, okay, I've said my peace (Hint Hint: Check out Curiosity Quills, you won't be disappointed!) so now on to the actual review.

There are a few elements of Colour Wielders that really truly impressed me, especially knowing now that it is a DEBUT novel. First off, I love the way Raver weaved in a variety of mythical elements, and not all exclusively from one nation's culture alone. There were many references (some were mythical beings/Gods, mythical creatures, or locations/realms) and although they all ultimately reference Gaelic backgrounds, I was still pleasantly surprised that it wasn't exclusively the Irish faery realms or the Scottish druids. Raver proved herself extremely resourceful by using all things Celtic in nature, and she even goes as far as to show elements of Arthurian lore. Not only is she creative enough to pull this off, but she even throws in her own creations making it %100 original!

The way that Colour Wielders started off was another thing that really impressed me. Raver didn't make everything all magical with unicorns (although we do get unicorns later, and they end up not only being the expected pure beauties they are, but for lack of a better way to say this... bad ass) and rainbows, but she gives us dark and gritty with a dash of heartbreak and whole lot of breaking down all in the first couple chapters. It was beyond refreshing, and to be honest it really did make any beautiful or happy moments that showed up later in the novel that much brighter. Also not to mention as a reader we tend to root more for the people we have already seen kicked in the mud rise above it later. I'm not going to give any more details on this aspect because I don't want to spoil the journey through this title for anyone else.

Another aspect I found myself appreciating was the flow of the writing. There was some back and forth between different characters, but I felt it was minimal enough to not be overwhelming, and having the other perspectives really did enhance the story overall. There wasn't a single point throughout reading Colour Wielders that was difficult to follow, and there were no chapters that felt like unnecessary fillers. I think the only thing I took issue with was how abruptly the story ended! On one hand I was incredibly disappointed with where Raver decided to end her first installment of this series because it was right in the middle of the story's climax and it literally... just ended. However, admittedly on the other hand it did serve its purpose... now I can't wait to read the next installment! Even though I gripe like a child throwing a temper tantrum about the abrupt ending, I really did enjoy reading this title and will most definitely be reading the next one as soon as it comes out:) ...more

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Apr 17, 2013 Brianna rated it liked it

I'd like to thank the author for giving me a free copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a really unique mix of a fantasy, romance, and coming-of-age story. When I saw that there were living gods in this book, I knew I had to see what it was like, since I'm a huge lover of mythology. I'm glad to say that I wasn't disappointed, and I had a fun time reading it.

The story starts off with a love scene that quickly goes wrong. Quinn lost her virginity to a guy that she I'd like to thank the author for giving me a free copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a really unique mix of a fantasy, romance, and coming-of-age story. When I saw that there were living gods in this book, I knew I had to see what it was like, since I'm a huge lover of mythology. I'm glad to say that I wasn't disappointed, and I had a fun time reading it.

The story starts off with a love scene that quickly goes wrong. Quinn lost her virginity to a guy that she thought her psychic visions said was the right one, but she quickly finds out that she interpreted her visions wrongly, as he just wants her power. From there, she starts to get deeply involved in the world of magyk, myth, and gods. I'm a sucker for stories where the main character finds out there's a world hidden from ordinary people, and that they're a part of, and I really liked that aspect of this story. Quinn herself was an interesting person to follow. She was way too trusting at times, but overall, she was a loyal, caring, and strong individual, and I highly respected that about her.

Arik is the other main character of this tale. As we get both his and Quinn's point of view, it made for an interesting contrast. Quinn is really trusting and open, and Arik starts off trying to straddle the line between good and bad, and he's out for his own self. However, we find out that he helps the magykal world's outcasts, and you start to figure out that he isn't as bad of a guy as he seems. I liked him a lot. I could understand why he was out for himself, and his backstory was so sad. I rooted for him all the way.

There were a lot of side characters in this book. There were Fae, gods, mythical creatures, and family members and friends. Out of all the side characters, my favorites definitely had to be Quinn's brother Iain, and Loki, who is Arik's uncle. Yes, that Loki, the Viking trickster god. Iain was an awesome brother figure. He was really protective of Quinn, and he would do whatever he had to to help her, no matter if he was facing beings that were centuries old. I totally loved that. Loki was just fun, and a great uncle to Arik. I am sad that we didn't get a whole lot of mischievous Loki, but then, this book had a lot of things going on in it, so it's understandable. When he wasn't pulling funny pranks, Loki was busy trying to help his nephew figure things, out, and trying to protect him. He was awesome.

The plot of this novel was pretty interesting. Quinn finds out that she's part of this hidden Fae world, and that everyone wants her power. It goes from there, and we meet Arik, who feels a pull towards Quinn, and is trying to resist. This book doesn't really get good until the two of them meet, in my opinion. After that, all the action happens, and there's some great fighting and magyk scenes. I loved it.

All in all, this was an interesting novel. I'm definitely glad I read it, since there were Norse gods as characters. I liked Quinn and Arik's relationship, and the last half went better than the first for me. This book has a cliffhanger ending, so I definitely need to read the next book in this series. If you love mythology, as well as Irish and Scottish myths, I definitely think you should give this book a try. ...more

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Mar 27, 2013 Krystle ~A Booknatic~ rated it it was amazing

Shelves: dangerous-heroes, fantasy-romance, kindle-owned, fae, highlanders, greek-mythology, urban-fantasy

I enjoyed the Hell out of this book!!!! It's so much fun, I love the concept of it. Fantasy mixed with romance and some mystery.... Epic Win for me, I know a lot of others out there who will like this as well.

Starts out with the heroine Quinn “losing it” to a man she thinks she's in love with named Thaene on her birthday. Poor girl never knew what hit her. Turns out Thaene is a “Changeling” A gross practically faceless looking creature who can morph himself to look like anyone/anything. He's tr I enjoyed the Hell out of this book!!!! It's so much fun, I love the concept of it. Fantasy mixed with romance and some mystery.... Epic Win for me, I know a lot of others out there who will like this as well.

Starts out with the heroine Quinn “losing it” to a man she thinks she's in love with named Thaene on her birthday. Poor girl never knew what hit her. Turns out Thaene is a “Changeling” A gross practically faceless looking creature who can morph himself to look like anyone/anything. He's trying to awaken Quinns Magyk that resides within her. Quinn has no idea what's going on, two minutes ago all she knew was that she's just a mortal girl losing her virginity to a guy she thought she loved/was in love with her. Now he's holding a knife to her throat, calling her princess, and demanding she show him her Magyk so they can go free some guy named Moincata and live out their days together for eternity.. Meanwhile a mysterious NFL size man materializes in the room all dressed in medieval garb holding a broadsword and tells Thaene to let go of his daughter..

That's a hell of a prelude to a story dont'cha think? :)

So you have the hunky Hero of the book Arik, son of Týr- God of War, and nephew to Loki - God of Mischief. He's a bit of an outcast in the Magykal Realm, used to be Adviser to the King, but after an incident he left and has yet to declare his allegiance. He's walking a fine line between light and dark Magyk. People are talking as to whether he'll follow in his mothers steps and embrace the Dubh Magyk (Dark) or stick to Soluis Magyk (light).. Altho he has this side to him that helps the Bizarrelings, ran the High Kings brother Kaelin. A Bizarreling is a Magykal who has been banned from living in the Magykal Realm. You'll read about why they're banned..
So why's this hunky bad boy who's putting on a show that he's going dark helping them? He doesn't have me fooled.. =)

Thru the first part of the book you have a lot of information being given to you to help create the history and world building for Flaitheas Draíochta (Magykal Realm) and all of the Magykals. Which by the way she does an excellent job at doing. As I was reading it I could play it in my head like a movie. And it was so beautiful! I love anything that has to do with Fantasy.

I loved the battle scenes, the relationship that Quinn and her brother Iain have (hope to see more of him in the next book, especially after his awakening), and the chemistry that Arik and Quinn have with each other. He fights the feelings he has for her so hard in the beginning, but love conquers all. The half Druid in him made sure of that ha! Cannot wait to see what happens next from the suspenseful ending we had with Morgana, Arik and Quinn!!! Just wait for Quinn's awakening, I know she'll be one powerful Magykal..

5 Stars!

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May 12, 2013 Natalie rated it it was amazing

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I am already looking forward to the next, it’s very exciting and you will puzzle over mysteries and motives.

It was well written with miniscule errors and the writing style was unique and had the ‘magyk’ to pull you into the story.

This book has it all, Love, lies, tricks, power hungry beings, passion, hurt, betrayal, magyk, quests, mysteries and an ending that will leave you frantic to read more. The plot of the story is great and you will not want to put the b I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I am already looking forward to the next, it’s very exciting and you will puzzle over mysteries and motives.

It was well written with miniscule errors and the writing style was unique and had the ‘magyk’ to pull you into the story.

This book has it all, Love, lies, tricks, power hungry beings, passion, hurt, betrayal, magyk, quests, mysteries and an ending that will leave you frantic to read more. The plot of the story is great and you will not want to put the book down.

Unknown to Quinn and her brother Iain, they are descended from a magykal realm. Brought up in the mortal realm, by her uncaring mother and the person who they believed was their loving father is a lie and life as they knew it isn’t what they think it is at all. And now pawns on a chess board, Quinn and Iain face a danger, lies and manipulation for others own gain, including two powerful evil magykals that want Quinn for her power.

With their powers bind at birth, Quinn finds that her boyfriend Thaene, tricks, lies and persuades Quinn to give her virginity to him, believing he is the one, to only find out he is a soulless creature of evil. Trying to unbind Quinn’s powers and for her to wield a suspension of time, Thaene takes advantage of Quinn in order to release his master a powerful magykal Moincata from his prison and for Mointcata to control Quinn’s powers so he can rule the Mortal and Magykal realm. Quinn’s saving grace is her ignorance and unknown heritage as Thaene nearly succeeds in this quest.

Now trying to learn about her real father, what’s up with her mother and her torq, her abilities, the laws of magykal world and who to trust and who to avoid and trying to fight Thaene’s dark Dubh Magyk that has seeped into her and the mysterious man with the beautiful tourmaline-blue eyes of her visions, Quinn‘s life is beyond” effed up” and that’s just for starters!

So looking forward to Dawna’s next book in this series, hopefully it won’t be a long wait!

...more

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May 13, 2013 Heather book whore & shifter slut extrordinaire rated it really liked it

Shelves: to-re-read, free-book, review-copy-from-author, book-1-in-series, paranormal-female-other, paranormal-male-other

Intriguing and thoughtful first book in a series (bk 2 in NOV 2013) that shows imagination, courage and confidence in a first book. I enjoyed the story, appropriately loved and/or hated the characters (someone needs a "Gibbs head slap") and am in awe of the imagination and creativity it takes to create this world.

Quinn, our heroine, is a series of contrasts that come together through the book as she matures and learns to trust the voices/pictures in her head. She first strikes you as a very imm ...more

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Apr 26, 2013 Jen rated it it was amazing

I have a HUGE bone to pick with Ms. Dawna Raver...how DARE you release this book without the next to follow! This story was sensational...and all though at times I found myself wanting to strangle Quinn (a bit of a whiny brat tht uses the word effin to the point I wanted to strangle her) every other character was fabulous. Thank you for a great book, on to next one please.

*sigh* I LoVE Nanny Fi...

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Sep 18, 2013 Rosanna Leo rated it really liked it

This was my introduction to Ms. Raver's writing and I thoroughly enjoyed it. She writes with attitude and style and does justice to her intriguing characters. This is an interesting blend of various mythologies, fantasy and magic. I very much liked the heroine Quinn, who is thrust into a world that has been kept hidden from her. Her journey rang true to me, and I enjoyed each step. I will look forward to more by this author. ...more

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Dec 20, 2013 Sarah Peduzzi rated it really liked it

I read this nearly a year ago and only just remembered to mark it in Good Reads! (Yikes!) Despite my forgetfulness, I do remember how amazing I though the book was while I was reading it. I think Raver has created a world that I won't soon forget, with characters that are lovable and relatable, and I definitely think it's time that I get my hands on her newest release. Read this book if you want to be immersed in a new world and are looking for an adventure and sweet love story. ...more

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Jan 02, 2014 Michelle ♣ Ndayeni rated it really liked it

Shelves: romance, paranormal-romance, fantasy, fairies, magic, gods-and-goddesses, read-in-2014

This book was far more than I really expected, especially given that it's the author's first novel. While it does suffer a bit of freshman-effort awkwardness at times, the depth of the worldbuilding and the intricacy of the interwoven plots shows a strong grasp of the craft of story writing even at such an early stage of her career. There are so many layers here, and characters and creatures that are familiar from well known mythologies, yet are handled in unique and unexpected ways that keep th This book was far more than I really expected, especially given that it's the author's first novel. While it does suffer a bit of freshman-effort awkwardness at times, the depth of the worldbuilding and the intricacy of the interwoven plots shows a strong grasp of the craft of story writing even at such an early stage of her career. There are so many layers here, and characters and creatures that are familiar from well known mythologies, yet are handled in unique and unexpected ways that keep the reader guessing and slightly off balance. By the end you're still not entirely sure who to trust, and whether or not this story will make it to the sort of HEA you'd normally expect from something that is so heavily a romance story.

Quinn is a very satisfying heroine despite the fact that she definitely has her faults. She's quite young, and it shows, but she's also courageous and not afraid to stand up for herself or for those she loves. Her youthful impetuosity and impatience leads her into trouble right from the start when she's just given her virginity to someone she really shouldn't have. Over the course of the story it's clear that her agreeing to such intimacy with Thaene compromises her and the larger situation to a significant extent. I liked that it wasn't treated as an irredeemable mistake - she doesn't necessarily become irrevocably bound to him in some way or anything because of it - but it's still made clear that it was a serious mistake and I don't know that we've learned all of the ramifications of it by the end of this book. I have a feeling that Quinn's refusal to play the victim and refusing to just let herself be used by everyone in her life will factor into how much it ultimately matters who her first was as well as many other things.

Arik is very much the textbook anti-hero in many ways. He's a rebel, and a borderline bad boy, but it's clear that his intentions are largely good and that he's on the side of the light even if his methods at times are rather unorthodox. He's been masterfully flirting with darkness for most of his life and managed to stay on the right side of the line, even if only by a hairsbreadth at times, and he definitely has the maturity and wisdom of experience that Quinn lacks. Still, he definitely has his flaws, starting with the huge chip he has on his shoulder regarding "the establishment" and how he feels he's been sorely used by his family and peers most of his life, not to mention the personal tragedies and regrets for poor decisions he's made that still haunt him. Because of all his issues, and because it's clear that he's a master at playing the political games that many of the others are playing, it's hard to tell with any certainty if he's really to be trusted. What is real and what is a ruse is a question I frequently found myself asking, particularly at the end.

Overall I felt the author did a superb job with the way she throws you into the middle of a situation without much explanation of what's going on and then drags you along for the ride without providing much more than cursory explanations for a long while. When done right it piques the interest, and makes you keep turning the pages to find out just what the heck is going on here, but it's a tricky balancing act because it can so easily tip the other way and alienate the reader instead and make them quit caring and stop reading. Ms. Reader definitely did it right in this book for I found myself sucked into the story right from the start and kept reading with growing fascination as the story slowly unfolded and the various cards in play were slowly revealed. Then just when it seemed that everything had been resolved and things seem to be heading toward at least a solid happily-for-now ending she throws us a major curve ball that turns everything upside down and makes you wonder all over again just what and who you should believe. Even though I know I should have been expecting another major twist, it still took me by surprise when it came and I couldn't help but stare at the screen in disbelief at how things were ending here. A gut-punch of a cliffhanger to be sure.

I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy and/or paranormal romance, particularly those who like stories that use familiar mythologies as a base but give them a unique twist. Just be aware that you'll be left with as many questions as you're given answers and that the story is far from over at the end of this book. If that kind of thing bothers you, make sure you have book two handy to keep reading. I'll certainly be starting it sooner rather than later to find out what happens next. 4.25 stars to a great book and a very promising new author.

Note: I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. ...more

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Sep 20, 2013 Zachary Flye rated it really liked it

Originally posted on my blog Zach's YA Reviews (zachsyareviews.com)

Review:

Protagonists: This book is told from two third-person perspectives, Quinn and Arik. As far as heroines go, I really liked Quinn she was someone that wouldn't be taken advantage of. While she is still flawed, it only makes her more relateable, and makes her feel all the more real. However, while she may feel real in that aspect there are moments when Quinn's actions just seem... too convenient for the story to move on, and Originally posted on my blog Zach's YA Reviews (zachsyareviews.com)

Review:

Protagonists: This book is told from two third-person perspectives, Quinn and Arik. As far as heroines go, I really liked Quinn she was someone that wouldn't be taken advantage of. While she is still flawed, it only makes her more relateable, and makes her feel all the more real. However, while she may feel real in that aspect there are moments when Quinn's actions just seem... too convenient for the story to move on, and it felt as though the author didn't want to spend a little extra time fleshing certain parts out a bit more. Arik, well he's a bit different, sure he wouldn't let anyone push him around and he is most definitely flawed, but where Quinn is a heroine, he is much more of an anti-hero. He's always had a bad boy reputation and while his identifiers may sound cliche, he's actually much better than most "bad boy" love interest types.

Romance: The romance was something I wasn't too happy about and was one of the flaws that made Quinn a bit less lovable. While Quinn has a boyfriend in the beginning of the book, that gets quickly resolved in the beginning, so then you'd think she'd get with the obvious love interest and things would be set straight, but no she quickly falls for someone else and that doesn't really turn up all sunshine and roses either. Honestly, it takes a while for anything real or substantial to happen in the romance department, and while I'm all for a slow substantial romance, I don't really care for frivolous side stuff that is easy to see right through.

World-Building: This was something I loved. While the world-building is hard to grasp in the beginning it becomes much easier once it's actually explained to the reader and the world this author has created is just magnificent. There is so much detail it's just amazing, and while the author did base her book in mythology the added details are great, and while my knowledge of Norse and Celtic mythology is a bit lax compared to my knowledge of Greek and Egyptian but I could tell that she wove some pretty amazing additions into her world that work very well with existing mythology.

Predictability: Being that this was a New Adult book, something I'm fairly unfamiliar with, it was harder to anticipate what was coming and so for those who have a fair bit more experience you may not have my exact experience, but I have to say I was really surprised this book throws a few curve balls and I was really happy with how this book turned out since it was harder to tell what was coming and I wasn't slugging on and on to discover the twist I already knew.

Ending: Holy Ba-Jezus that's a nice cliffhanger you got there. So, usually the first books in series end in a way that sort of closes it off just in case there's an off chance no more books in that series will be published, that way there's enough closure so riots don't form. That being said, while I very sure there will actually be a second book, if , for some bizarre reason, there isn't let me be the first to grab my torch and begin the riot. Yeah, that's how crazy this ending is, honestly I've seen worse, but not in a first installment and I just cannot wait to get back to this world and find out what happens next.

Rating:

While this book begins slow and takes about halfway through to really start to heat up, once it's started it won't stop, this was a very hard book to put down at times and despite not being perfect it's something I highly suggest picking up.
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Apr 19, 2013 Susie rated it really liked it

Shelves: romance, fantasy, 2013

Twenty-two year old Quinn thinks she's losing her virginity to the love of her life - to the man she's seen in her visions. But after the deed is done, things quickly go bad. Not only is Thaene not who he seems, he is much worse - an evil changeling. Quinn's world continues to be turned upside down when she discovers that her father is a Magyikal (Fae) King, her mother is a Fae Goddess and she is a Princess. Also, an evil Magykal is going to use her to get out of his prison, so she is in danger. Twenty-two year old Quinn thinks she's losing her virginity to the love of her life - to the man she's seen in her visions. But after the deed is done, things quickly go bad. Not only is Thaene not who he seems, he is much worse - an evil changeling. Quinn's world continues to be turned upside down when she discovers that her father is a Magyikal (Fae) King, her mother is a Fae Goddess and she is a Princess. Also, an evil Magykal is going to use her to get out of his prison, so she is in danger. She needs to learn to trust new and magical (magykal even) people and beings to help keep her safe.

Six hundred year old Arik - nephew to Loki (Norse God of Mischief) and son of Tyr (Norse God of War. Side note: his name is Tiw in Old English, and Tuesday was originally Tiw's Day. Fact.) and Morgana le Fey (evil sorceress of Arthurian legend) - feels pulled to Quinn but is fighting it tooth and nail. 18 years prior, he had a falling out with his father and Finn, the man who raised him (coincidentally, Quinn's father)and after threatening the Princess, he banished himself. Living only for himself and between the Light and Dark, no one trusts him except for the one person who shouldn't: Quinn. And she may be the one who can turn his life around and save him.

So to start with, readers should know the basic mythology here: Norse and Fae/Arthurian. Magykals are people with colorful powers who live in another world (like old Ireland), Flaitheas Draiochta. Their main god is Dagda and Quinn's mother is a Goddess, Corra. They are able to shift from one place to another, change their clothing and each have "special" powers specific to them. Also, their eyes change colors depending on their emotions. Norse gods also live in this world, hence Loki and Tyr. No other Norse gods are mention, nor any other mythology, so you don't need to worry too much about that. The Magyicals and Gods are ruled by the Triarchia. They are mystical, not so nice beings who somehow got power after Morgana le Fey entombed Merlyn (who in this book called Myrddin Emrys). The Triarchia made a ruling stopping procreation, so any Magyikals who want children are banished to the Mortal realm (our world) and are outcast as Bizzarelings.

So now that you've got that, you can read the story and not be quite as confused as I was. The reader learns all this at the same time that Quinn does. Turns out there is a glossary at the end of the book, but I didn't know that until, well, the end. Anyway, about half way through, things start getting explained. This also coincides with Arik and Quinn interacting. At this point, the story is easy sailing and totally enjoyable. Arik is swoon-worthy and his romance with Quinn is just awesome. Sure, he's a bad boy with mommy and daddy issues, but he's still pretty awesome. Quinn is naive and I have some serious issues with her boy-craziness and decision making skills (lack there of), but she's an immature 22 year old, so I suppose it's to be expected. I look forward to seeing her mature in future books.

The ending leaves us with a cliff hanger for book 2, and it is quite an ending: a jaw dropping, OMG did that just happen ending! I cannot wait to see how things progress from here. ...more

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Mar 31, 2013 Fel rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2013, top-10-covers, 2013-paranormal-challenge, 2013-new-adult-challenge, proof-or-beta

Disclaimer: I proofread the book.

Color Wielders begins in the most unexpected of scenes--Quinn's birthday, just after losing her virginity to her boyfriend Thaene. Completely in love, and convinced that her visions had shown them together over and over. Except, her interpretation was wrong. Thaene's violent demand that she show her Magyk is only the beginning. She learns that she is a princess, hidden away from her own world, the world of Gods and Faeries. Within that Magyk world, we also have A Disclaimer: I proofread the book.

Color Wielders begins in the most unexpected of scenes--Quinn's birthday, just after losing her virginity to her boyfriend Thaene. Completely in love, and convinced that her visions had shown them together over and over. Except, her interpretation was wrong. Thaene's violent demand that she show her Magyk is only the beginning. She learns that she is a princess, hidden away from her own world, the world of Gods and Faeries. Within that Magyk world, we also have Arik Morgaine, who made an angry promise years ago to turn young Quinn over to the very ones who threaten her. Now, the rebellious demigod can't shake the thoughts of her from his consciousness, not even for a night of mindless sex, he needs to see her.

I'm not the "giddy schoolgirl type," but that's almost what this story turns me into. I entered the world of Colour Wielders when I was asked to proofread it, I'd seen the cover and blurb floating around the internet, and was pretty excited to get the request--the book didn't disappoint. It's obvious from the start that this book holds nothing back. Take chapter 1, Virgin Territory, well...it isn't anymore and talk about a botched first time.

I found the story addictive and the characters intriguing. The book switched between the POV of Arik and Quinn, starkly different personas, but they share a history of betrayal resulting in distrust. Even after they meet, Arik tries to keep his distance, but every second he spends with Quinn weakens his resolve. He shows her the promise he made, to turn her over to Moincata, but rather than push her away, it seems to convince her of how much he has changed. In the beginning of the book, Quinn seems a bit wishy-washy (especially around certain men), but it's great to watch her grow as a character from a naive girl who experienced the deepest betrayals, to a strong young woman who fights through the pain for what she wants.

There are other fantastic characters as well, some of whom readers will recognize like Loki and Morgana le Fay. My favorite (along with Arik) was Quinn's brother Iain. He simply doesn't get enough attention. He and Quinn share a telepathic connection, and some of my favorite parts in the book included their private and sometimes unintentional exchanges. I loved his sense of humor and his protective nature.

Like Quinn, every time I thought I had things figured out, some new information or event would pop up and send my expectations to shambles. This was one of those books that I had to keep reminding myself to check the punctuation and formatting as I was hopelessly getting lost in the story. And the ending, I was staring at the page with my mouth gaping open. I think some of my guts are still on that last page where they got kicked out, but I love a good cliffhanger.

Before I reveal too much of the awesomeness, I'll stop and say 5 stars, go check it out!

Full review originally written for The Peasants Revolt ...more

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Jun 11, 2013 Ashley rated it really liked it

This review and others can be seen on my blog at Book Nerd Paradise

When I picked up the Colour Wielders by Dawna Raver I didn't know quite what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it had some of my favorite things:
1. Mythology? Check
2. Magic? Check
3. Fairies? Check
4. Lots of yummy men? Double check

Our story starts off with a bang. One heroine Quinn Sinclair makes a very bad choice in men on her 22nd birthday. Quinn, it turns out to be, is a princess to the fairy kingdom with some This review and others can be seen on my blog at Book Nerd Paradise

When I picked up the Colour Wielders by Dawna Raver I didn't know quite what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it had some of my favorite things:
1. Mythology? Check
2. Magic? Check
3. Fairies? Check
4. Lots of yummy men? Double check

Our story starts off with a bang. One heroine Quinn Sinclair makes a very bad choice in men on her 22nd birthday. Quinn, it turns out to be, is a princess to the fairy kingdom with some very special powers. Power that everyone else wants to control. Having been left in the dark her entire life, along with her brother Iain, Quinn is confused by the red-haired man circled with colored ribbons who busts in to save the day.

Quickly we find out that this man is Finn, her father and the king. However, he erases Quinn's memories as he previously did and she has no idea who he is.

Soon we are introduced to a whole cast of characters who each have their part to play. We have two Norse gods, Tyr (the god of War) and Loki (the Trickster God). As well as Morgan Le Fey, straight from the Arthurian legend.

All the baddies in this book are after Quinn for her unique and powerful gifts. It will be up to the crew of characters to keep her safe and complete the quest they are give.

Here's what I liked about the story: It captured me from the beginning with action. Something I'm always a fan of. I love the large cast of characters, each with their own interesting story. I also like that Raver was able to convey which characters had Scottish or other accents and I could clearly hear it in my head.

Here's what I didn't like: In the first few pages, after living a mostly normal life, Quinn is told she's fae. Her reactions was a little too "Oh, I'm a fairy? That's cool. I completely believe the crazy man wielding a knife at me. I have no objections what so ever." She accepted the truth with absolutely no question. The second problem I had with this book is the fact that she goes through a pretty traumatic experience in the first chapter with her so called boyfriend. A typical person her age would be a little jaded afterwards or at least cautious regarding men. But Quinn for some reason has no reservations about throwing herself at two men she's never met before, in the sequence of two days. If you've read my blog you know I'm not a fan of this. At all.

But with all that being said. The plot line and characters were more than enough for me to look past those few dislikes and stay invested in the story. I really loved the blending of Norse and Arthurian mythology along with fairies, Druids and all kinds of other creatures. There's even freaking unicorns!

Overall, this book get a sold rating of 4 from me. I'll be looking forward to the next book in this series. ...more

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May 13, 2013 Aseel rated it liked it

Shelves: for-review

Colour Wielders has to be one of the most exhausting books I've read because of the information overload with it being a mix between Fay and Norse mythology. There was just so much being told, so many things that I have never encountered before and many creatures. I felt like I was missing something half the time and was waiting for an explanation. Half-way through the book, I had to take a break and sort through the information that was given and what was happening.

Colour Wilders is told from b Colour Wielders has to be one of the most exhausting books I've read because of the information overload with it being a mix between Fay and Norse mythology. There was just so much being told, so many things that I have never encountered before and many creatures. I felt like I was missing something half the time and was waiting for an explanation. Half-way through the book, I had to take a break and sort through the information that was given and what was happening.

Colour Wilders is told from both Quinn and Arik's third POVs. The book starts with Quinn being betrayed on her birthday by the man she thought she loved and then she is saved by another man she'd never seen before, but the next day, her memories are muddled and she doesn't remember much, but she knows that the man who betrayed her is not the one she saw in her visions. Arik is drawn to Quinn for reasons he doesn't understand, but he'd resisted her for more than eighteen years and when the threat on her life grows, he has to step in which results in both their lives changing forever is ways none of them thought possible.

Arik is the badboy of the Magycal realm. He left his home with threats of killing the princess of the land which made him the enemy, and the fact that he straddles the line between good and evil most of the time doesn't make him much fun to hang around, but deep inside he's just hurt and betrayed by the people he loved most. I liked his character, but I had some problems with Quinn. She wasn't so easy to understand. I thought some of her action were just selfish and she thought too much of herself, pretty much verbally attaching the King and people who had the power to kill her, simply because she refused to believe she wasn't human when she had the Sight that allowed her to see the future and she shared a mind connection with her brother. Doesn't seem 'normal' or 'human' to me.

Even though at times I thought 'this is too much' or 'what does that mean' I truly enjoyed Colour Wielders. It was well written and I liked that some gods and magicians from different worlds were mixed together. Now that I've finished the book, I'm really look forward to reading the second book. I have a better understanding of the world Dawna Raver built and I think the second book will be much better and easier to follow than Colour Wielders, not to mention with how things ended in book one. There definitely is going to be more action and and I'm hoping more of Arik. ...more

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Feb 05, 2014 Merril Anil rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: author-s-handdown, e-book

Author's Hand down

First of all thanks to the shut up and read community and the author for lending me a copy to read and review.

To me the book felt like as if i have opened an ancient book and have started reading from its center with no knowledge of its head or tail. Till the first three chapters i was really finding it hard to understand where the story has started, where is it going and what is exactly going on in the very page i m reading.

What i like about the book is pretty much nothing exc Author's Hand down

First of all thanks to the shut up and read community and the author for lending me a copy to read and review.

To me the book felt like as if i have opened an ancient book and have started reading from its center with no knowledge of its head or tail. Till the first three chapters i was really finding it hard to understand where the story has started, where is it going and what is exactly going on in the very page i m reading.

What i like about the book is pretty much nothing except that, had it been beautifully and easily written the story would have been somewhat interesting

What i did not like about the book is of course the language and a narration style that comes with no head and tail and made it difficult to understand the basic plot and the events happening in the book. it drags too much with whole lot of unnecessary details and missing on the actual required details that would have helped me with the book. The dialogues goes in lengths without coming to the main point and that too these are spoken in ancient language which did not sit well with me but can be appealing for others.

The most pricking fact is that the author has written the book clearly assuming that anyone picking up this book will be well aware of the Norse gods and Celtic folklore and have every events and facts on their tips because there is no easy explanation to the gods and the folklore being used as the central plot of the story and going back to the glossary is not a perfect option. Had squeezed in a bit of relevant information about the background or basic information of the folklore,the read would have been much more interesting rather than filling the pages with uneventful and unnecessary conversations.

I hate tarnishing an author's effort as i know the pain and the efforts required in writing a book but this book made me angry and fuming and that is the only reason why i went ranting through these many lines

only pick this book if you have an in depth knowledge about the Norse gods and Celtic folklore otherwise you would not have a single clue as to what is happening, otherwise you will end up understanding only the few pages in the book that is without any reference to the folklore and those pages are filled with the lovemaking details which to me was not the whole purpose of picking up a book since i see hormone sick teenagers " at it " everyday and do not need a book to tell me that
...more

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Jul 07, 2013 Mad about rated it liked it

Shelves: goblins-elves, fairies, gods

Quinn has waited a long time for love and finally believes her visions have shown her the man of her dreams but after her first time with him his polished veneer changes and she see's him for the evil that he is. Not only does this creature demand her magic which she has no knowledge of but a man claiming to be her father appears.

Quickly her world unravels and she realises that the man who raised her was just a figure and she and her brother Ian are the heirs to a Magykal empire in an alternate Quinn has waited a long time for love and finally believes her visions have shown her the man of her dreams but after her first time with him his polished veneer changes and she see's him for the evil that he is. Not only does this creature demand her magic which she has no knowledge of but a man claiming to be her father appears.

Quickly her world unravels and she realises that the man who raised her was just a figure and she and her brother Ian are the heirs to a Magykal empire in an alternate world. Her magyk was bound at birth but after losing her virginity it starts to seep out and an ancient prophecy begins all centered around her and a Druid named Arik.

Now that she's been exposed to her world her father the King prepares for a war between the light and dark sides with his advisors and fellow Norse Gods to control the Faery Mists.

It's a mix of different stories and myths with the best elements put together such as the original king arthur characters of Morgana and Merin with the Norse god Loki, fairies and unicorns. It's a unique and seemless blend that hasn't been done before.

Quinn didn't have the best relationship with her mother so has an impenetrable bond with her brother and cousin Maddy. She sadly doesn't seem to have much of an outside life but does know to stand on her own two feet. Couldn't relate to her much but I usually go for stronger characters.

The book has alot of it's own words that need abit of translating or it takes a while to get used to their meaning so wish there was an index at the beginning to save time and confusion.
The beginning where Quinn first has sex is pivotal to the story but it did get a little irritating when it was referred to so often and infront of alot of the characters such as her father as it's just a very emotional thing to go through anyway but when everyone knows about it it must be mortifying.
The men disregaurding Quinn got abit tedious as they continously kept things from her and spoke as if she wasn't there but the whole story centers around her so it was moments like that where I wish she'd told them where to go.

It was a very interesting book with lots of twists and turns but it just didn't do it for me 100%. It's not bad by far but think it just wasn't my type of book. ...more

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Aug 24, 2013 Heather rated it it was amazing

I love that Dawna mixes in a variety of mythical elements. There is reference to mythical beings (Gods), mythical creatures, and locations/realms as well as Arthurian Legend. Although there are parts of mythology that are still foggy to me, I found myself completely enamored by every event in this tale. It took some time for the story to really heat up but there was so much going on and so much information packed into this novel that I had to hold on to my seat so I wouldn’t get tossed about by I love that Dawna mixes in a variety of mythical elements. There is reference to mythical beings (Gods), mythical creatures, and locations/realms as well as Arthurian Legend. Although there are parts of mythology that are still foggy to me, I found myself completely enamored by every event in this tale. It took some time for the story to really heat up but there was so much going on and so much information packed into this novel that I had to hold on to my seat so I wouldn’t get tossed about by the whirlwind of events.

Holy hell, there is so much about this book that I want to share with you but that wouldn’t be fair… you would have no reason to pick up a copy of your own! The characters that we meet are well developed, absolutely amazing, and loveable; especially Arik Morgaine *swoon*. I think I fell for Arik right away as I am completely drawn to the bad-boy vibe. I love that he is painted as the antihero and we get to watch his veneer chip away as the story moves forward and the real him is revealed. Did I mention that he is the second main character in the book and Dawna writers her novel from the perspective of Quinn and Arik? Hmm… love interest? Ahh… I must stop typing.

Colour Wielders is filled with intrigue, action, suspense, romance, and even sex. The story is well-written, creative, and enthralling. I would not classify this novel as a young adult story as I feel the scenes and language are for a mature, adult audience; however, that is just me.

I apologize if this review seems askew…I am all a flutter as I write this because the author left the story with a complete cliffhanger. I’m not sure if I am excited or completely perturbed. I am sitting here bouncing and wishing I knew what happened next. I can’t wait for the next installment of this book and guarantee I will be picking up a copy as soon as it is available.

If you are a lover of paranormal, fantasy, magic, and/or mythology then this is definitely the book for you. I highly recommend this novel and can’t wait to see what Dawna Raver comes up with next.

Please check out our FULL review by visiting Griffin's Honey http://www.griffinshoney.com/colour-w... ...more

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Oct 04, 2013 Megan rated it really liked it

The Pot. I thought the plot was so amazing and I loved the very idea of it. This book appealed to me in so many ways! I loved the way this book was put together and thought that the author did an amazing job of making this idea into a reality. I had a few problems with the book but I enjoyed it overall. One of the problems I had was Quinn’s reaction to Arik. I understood her instant attraction but I felt like she fell into the romance way too fast. Especially after finding out that her last boyf ...more

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Jun 05, 2013 Farrah rated it liked it

This book didn't have the greatest start. I was lost for about the first half, not entirely sure what was going on at all. But, I persevered and, after that first half, things picked up and I was hooked. Despite its shaky beginning Colour Wielders was a great read.

The world building in this book was slow coming, which is why I was confused for the first part. But, by the end, the author had created an interesting magical world. There are a few more things I want to know about it, but I assume th ...more

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Jul 09, 2013 Kendra rated it really liked it

I really liked this book. It took me a little bit to really get into it, but I love the story itself. There are a lot of new terms to learn, but there is a glossary at the back, and they're mostly explained as they're used throughout the story. There was a lot going on, with very little background, at the beginning, so it was a bit confusing, but as the story went on, it started flowing so much easier.
There were a few spelling/grammar/punctuation errors, but I'm going to say less than about 20 t ...more

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Sep 16, 2013 Alison (Ali's Books) Flores rated it really liked it

Wow! This one had a whopper of an ending! I absolutely can NOT wait for the next book!
I really enjoyed both of the main characters. I enjoyed everything about their relationship, and the fictitious world they were a part of. I was annoyed with Quinn to begin with; she would jump from one guy to the next, but after straightening things out with Arik it was all good! Quinn's brother Iain got on my nerves when he started taking on the high school cheerleader persona. I preferred his tough, protecti ...more

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May 08, 2013 Anna Burttram rated it it was amazing

I got this book as a free read and while at first I was horribly lost at the start of it I eventually found myself unable to stop reading it.
It does take a bit to get into but once you are in you are there to stay so my advice stick it out its worth the wait. Plus the first book in any series can seem drag because its the introduction. It does pick up!
I adore Arik and Quinn's relationship and the pull that is painted so wonderful throughout the book. I love Arik and the bad boy image. what can ...more

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Feb 15, 2014 Tonya rated it really liked it

I was provided a copy of this book by Wicked Reads Review Team, in exchange for an honest review. The story line is great, the only reason I'm not giving it a 5 star is because, for me, it took awhile to get into the book. It was a slow start for me, but was still a great read and a different story line, that I haven't read before. Once I made it to about 45/50% mark it really picked up for me and I was having problems putting the book down. Quinn is just a normal girl, when all of a sudden ever ...more

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Feb 25, 2014 Renee Deschamps rated it liked it

I was given the book "Colour Wielders (Book One)" by Dawna Raver, in exchange for a honest review via Goodreads RI &R group.

The opening had me hooked, between Quinn and Thaene's "love" for each other to the wicked twist of plot in the first chapter, made me have high expectations for the remaining story to unfold.

However, I felt the remainder of the first half, while interesting, had to much information, and some repetitiveness, that could have been possibly better as a stand alone novella. The ...more

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May 03, 2013 Simone rated it it was amazing

Shelves: books-read-2013

I received a free copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. Quinn Sinclair thought she had a normal life; she gives herself to a guy despite her visions’ warnings. Then she finds out she’s actually the Princess of a Fae world. She meets Arik, a demigod bad boy of sorts, and there’s an instant attraction. He seemed rather self-centered, but if you knew his story you’d understand why.

This novel was like ultimate fantasy/mythology book. The characters were amazing, there are Gods, Faes, ...more

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Aug 04, 2013 Dakota Storm rated it really liked it

Colour Wielders by Dawna Raver

This was a fascinating story. The writer created magical characters that I couldn't help but be amazed at. This books takes you on a thrill ride of ups and downs and twists and turns , I thought I had it figured out but then it changes. I believe their will be a book two and I hope it will be as great as this one. Quinn is my favorite next to Arik amazing both of them. Quinn gets screwed over in the beginning and things in her life aren't what they seem but then as ...more

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