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The Vistira Trilogy #1
Remembered
A sweet story of love and romance
303 pages, Paperback
Published March 26, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
January 5, 2017
Very good
January 24, 2013
Wow, hadn’t expected to enjoy this book even half as much as I did! A tale that is beautifully told, well-paced, with a unique story line. I found the story wholly unpredictable and eagerly turned (or should that be tapped on a kindle..?) the pages to see what would happen next, often finding myself totally surprised as each turn of events unfolded. The parallel worlds are very well linked and I have every intention of reading the next instalment to discover what happens next in Emily/Annie’s world. A truly excellent debut novel that I note is the first of a trilogy that I’m certain will leave readers as enchanted as I was. Could not recommend more highly to readers who enjoy romantic fantasy.
March 11, 2013
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest (non-reciprocal) review.
CONS:
- There were a lot of errors in the book. The biggest one I found repeatedly was missing quotation marks or quotations that didn't need to be there.
Much less of a problem, but there were also times like this:
"The scream of a police car, blazing down Queens Boulevard, ripped Emily from sleep."
This is the opening line and I thought the awkward pauses in the middle kept it from having the intended impact. It's full of strong words (scream, blazing, ripped) that seem to have their oomf punched out of them. (Compare it to "The scream of a police car ripped Emily from sleep.").
Or awkward phrasing.
""Never leave me," he breathed into her mouth."
"This was not a house she'd been in as a child. She grew up in this little house with her mother and father, as well as her brother and sister."
- ""That means very little," the doctor countered. "Most young girls have their first sexual fantasy about their own father, or at least Freud thought so.""
Genetic sexual attraction is actually a known phenomenon where family members who meet as adults are drawn to each other. Most people probably won't think much of this, it just happened to be something I've looked into before so I was waiting for the psychiatrist to mention it.
- I enjoyed some of the buildup between Annella and Kellus, like the part where he walked backwards to look back at her, but I think it's important to keep in mind that there is a line where looking at someone goes from cute to creepy. The next time when he was watching her shop and staring at her, unflinching, came off as creepy and obsessive. If he had a more natural reaction, like looking away when she spotted him, it would have come off better to me than staring. There was too much staring. Having someone stare at you all the time is uncomfortable and creepy.
There was something bugging me for a portion of the story. Kellus was an apprentice, and he wasn't supposed to be in a relationship, but once he graduated (five years from start to finish, and it didn't say what year he was) he could have a lover. The story constantly states how useless it was to fall for him, but the fact was that they could be together if they waited awhile and it wouldn't have been breaking any rules.
When the story finally acknowledges that point he makes a big deal about how he wouldn't be home often enough. I know it sucks if you want to be home more and you can't be, but a lot of people live in this situation. It's not the end of the world. (I forgive this a bit since they're teenagers).
PROS:
- "Danus is in charge of making sure the hospital is clean and orderly," Nordorum explained. "It seems that Cora has been amusing him with funny stories all week."
I wish we saw more of this. I liked Cora and I liked Danus, and when this was said I was almost hoping they'd end up together.
- The last about 15% of the story picks up a lot and I was happy to read that section.
I think I need to explain in more detail how I felt about the overall story.
I'm not big on romances, but I'm fine with them when they're done well. The story starts off with Annie living in New York under a different name, not remembering any of her past. She keeps having a dream about a guy. It was a little slow but I went with it.
The first thing that bugged me was that she was being treated like a bizarre woman and an "Ice Queen" because she was a virgin at 22. I suppose there are some people who would believe something like that, but for me you'd have to be way older for me to think, "That's a really long time". I've known so many people who were still engrossed in other things in their twenties to think it's weird that a 22 year old hasn't dated yet. There's other things to do in the world!
When she traverses to the other dimension and regains her memories we go back in time to see how she met Kellus. At first I thought it started off strong. As I mentioned before, when they first meet she goes to glance back at him, only to find he's walking backwards and looking back at her. It was fine. He was with a group of guys who were having a good time. That he would do something silly like that wasn't odd.
Then he starts the staring. So much staring.
Another thing that bothered me was the "she's pretty", "he's pretty". Attraction is great and all, but if I'm to be convinced these two have a special sort of love I need a lot more than that. About 95% of their love was them swooning over how the other looked.
It reminds me of a story about a blind shamisen player. The man who helped her fell for her, but another man wanted her. When she rejected him he threw acid in her face, and she didn't want anyone to see her anymore. So the man who loved her poked out his own eyes, and they lived happily ever after.
It wasn't about the way she looked. He didn't care that she was burned and scarred.
I didn't get the same feeling from these two, so when the book was trying to convince me that they had a special love than transcended others I didn't buy it. Almost the entire first half of the book was about how much she was attracted to him. I wish it had been cut down to a few cute scenes.
At about 50% in the story it picked up and we finally got to the part where she ended up in New York. I was happy because now it could move onto the plot with how she ended up in New York.
But then we see Kellus' side of the story. A lot of parts are shown over again from Kellus' point of view. I didn't mind some, but I think too much got repeated. My view of him actually lowered because of the insane amount of jealousy he seemed to have. He was jealous of any male who talked to Annie, even his own dad. It was too much. His thought process rarely strayed far from the groin area, too.
Then there were a couple, "Oh, by the way..." moments. Two of these really stick out in my mind:
- The first time they're discussing the plot and Kellus' parents bring up out of nowhere, "Oh yeah, and there's this whole prophecy about Kellus and how he'll give birth to a super baby." It's brushed off as something they didn't believe in so they never told anyone.
- The second one, and the one that really left me going, "Huh?", was someone attempting to seduce Kellus. Remember, there's a whole section devoted to the story from Kellus' point of view. We see how he felt about Annie, we see what happened when she was kidnapped, and we see him start drinking and end up back at the Citadom. More angst than I like, but okay.
Then, after his section the plot gets moving again. When he's back home and everyone is discussing what's going on he suddenly brings up that a woman was entering his bedroom at the Citadom and attempting to seduce him.
My immediate thought was, "What? I don't remember that part."
I even went back and read his chapters again but I don't see anything about someone in the Citadom trying to seduce him. It was brought up later out of nowhere. I'd think that would be something important to mention when he's the main character for a few chapters.
Several of the characters spent time training with swords, including Annie. When it finally got around to them going after the bad guy I was looking forward to seeing her and Cora taking part in the action. Unfortunately, when he was confronted Cora wasn't even there and Annie had her wrist broken in about a sentence. I was left wondering why I read so much about them training with swords; it made no difference at all. Then she got shoved around until the men saved her. I wanted to see her and Cora take part in the fight (although Danus, the cool guy who doesn't let things get him down, was nearby, so that counts for something).
I think a huge problem with much of the story was the lack of real conflict. Most of the story spends time on the dilemma that Kellus and Annie had because he's not supposed to have a lover as an apprentice. However, everyone around them seemed to be understanding, and even their leader nudged Kellus towards being with her.
There was some conflict when she first got back from New York to Kellus' family and his brother was mad at Annie, but that was resolved with him apologizing. There were two bad guys, one who we never really see and the other we only see at the end of the book.
One other note I was disappointed on was that Annie lived an entire second life in New York, but after she got all her memories of her old life it was all but forgotten. I think she mentioned her friend of ten years about once after that, and none of her other life seemed to seep into her new life. She was never upset by anything, like how men and women were treated differently, and never had a different way of thinking through problems. Even when the women decided to learn to use swords she wasn't the one who brought it up; Cora did. I'd have loved to see more of how living an entirely separate life in another dimension changed her view of the world.
It wasn't all bad. I was fine with Annie for the most part. I felt like Kellus had a lot of worrisome traits (especially with the horrid jealousy). A lot of the side characters I was fine with. I liked Danus because he was an awesome guy who took care of his friends, and I liked Cora because she was assertive and confident.
The plot itself was also all right. It just got shoved to the side for so much of the book. If the flashback of Annie and Kellus' romance was limited to some cute moments, and possibly some things they have in common rather than how much they want to have sex, and it got on with the plot sooner I think it would be a lot better.
I was confused why they didn't do certain things (Annie was back and she knew who kidnapped her. Even if he was in a position of power, no other characters were shown as bad. Why not build up support and around town with her story then confront him?)
HOWEVER, I am interested in the story with the krogs and where that is going. I'm also curious about Dinora, who escaped, and why she's with them. Despite all my criticisms, there is a plot going on here that has a lot of potential, and I'm actually curious where it's going and what is happening behind the scenes. I wish this book had an editor to cut out a lot of the filler, but I'd be willing to give it another chance. Hopefully book 2 will have more Danus and Cora.
CONS:
- There were a lot of errors in the book. The biggest one I found repeatedly was missing quotation marks or quotations that didn't need to be there.
Much less of a problem, but there were also times like this:
"The scream of a police car, blazing down Queens Boulevard, ripped Emily from sleep."
This is the opening line and I thought the awkward pauses in the middle kept it from having the intended impact. It's full of strong words (scream, blazing, ripped) that seem to have their oomf punched out of them. (Compare it to "The scream of a police car ripped Emily from sleep.").
Or awkward phrasing.
""Never leave me," he breathed into her mouth."
"This was not a house she'd been in as a child. She grew up in this little house with her mother and father, as well as her brother and sister."
- ""That means very little," the doctor countered. "Most young girls have their first sexual fantasy about their own father, or at least Freud thought so.""
Genetic sexual attraction is actually a known phenomenon where family members who meet as adults are drawn to each other. Most people probably won't think much of this, it just happened to be something I've looked into before so I was waiting for the psychiatrist to mention it.
- I enjoyed some of the buildup between Annella and Kellus, like the part where he walked backwards to look back at her, but I think it's important to keep in mind that there is a line where looking at someone goes from cute to creepy. The next time when he was watching her shop and staring at her, unflinching, came off as creepy and obsessive. If he had a more natural reaction, like looking away when she spotted him, it would have come off better to me than staring. There was too much staring. Having someone stare at you all the time is uncomfortable and creepy.
There was something bugging me for a portion of the story. Kellus was an apprentice, and he wasn't supposed to be in a relationship, but once he graduated (five years from start to finish, and it didn't say what year he was) he could have a lover. The story constantly states how useless it was to fall for him, but the fact was that they could be together if they waited awhile and it wouldn't have been breaking any rules.
When the story finally acknowledges that point he makes a big deal about how he wouldn't be home often enough. I know it sucks if you want to be home more and you can't be, but a lot of people live in this situation. It's not the end of the world. (I forgive this a bit since they're teenagers).
PROS:
- "Danus is in charge of making sure the hospital is clean and orderly," Nordorum explained. "It seems that Cora has been amusing him with funny stories all week."
I wish we saw more of this. I liked Cora and I liked Danus, and when this was said I was almost hoping they'd end up together.
- The last about 15% of the story picks up a lot and I was happy to read that section.
I think I need to explain in more detail how I felt about the overall story.
I'm not big on romances, but I'm fine with them when they're done well. The story starts off with Annie living in New York under a different name, not remembering any of her past. She keeps having a dream about a guy. It was a little slow but I went with it.
The first thing that bugged me was that she was being treated like a bizarre woman and an "Ice Queen" because she was a virgin at 22. I suppose there are some people who would believe something like that, but for me you'd have to be way older for me to think, "That's a really long time". I've known so many people who were still engrossed in other things in their twenties to think it's weird that a 22 year old hasn't dated yet. There's other things to do in the world!
When she traverses to the other dimension and regains her memories we go back in time to see how she met Kellus. At first I thought it started off strong. As I mentioned before, when they first meet she goes to glance back at him, only to find he's walking backwards and looking back at her. It was fine. He was with a group of guys who were having a good time. That he would do something silly like that wasn't odd.
Then he starts the staring. So much staring.
Another thing that bothered me was the "she's pretty", "he's pretty". Attraction is great and all, but if I'm to be convinced these two have a special sort of love I need a lot more than that. About 95% of their love was them swooning over how the other looked.
It reminds me of a story about a blind shamisen player. The man who helped her fell for her, but another man wanted her. When she rejected him he threw acid in her face, and she didn't want anyone to see her anymore. So the man who loved her poked out his own eyes, and they lived happily ever after.
It wasn't about the way she looked. He didn't care that she was burned and scarred.
I didn't get the same feeling from these two, so when the book was trying to convince me that they had a special love than transcended others I didn't buy it. Almost the entire first half of the book was about how much she was attracted to him. I wish it had been cut down to a few cute scenes.
At about 50% in the story it picked up and we finally got to the part where she ended up in New York. I was happy because now it could move onto the plot with how she ended up in New York.
But then we see Kellus' side of the story. A lot of parts are shown over again from Kellus' point of view. I didn't mind some, but I think too much got repeated. My view of him actually lowered because of the insane amount of jealousy he seemed to have. He was jealous of any male who talked to Annie, even his own dad. It was too much. His thought process rarely strayed far from the groin area, too.
Then there were a couple, "Oh, by the way..." moments. Two of these really stick out in my mind:
- The first time they're discussing the plot and Kellus' parents bring up out of nowhere, "Oh yeah, and there's this whole prophecy about Kellus and how he'll give birth to a super baby." It's brushed off as something they didn't believe in so they never told anyone.
- The second one, and the one that really left me going, "Huh?", was someone attempting to seduce Kellus. Remember, there's a whole section devoted to the story from Kellus' point of view. We see how he felt about Annie, we see what happened when she was kidnapped, and we see him start drinking and end up back at the Citadom. More angst than I like, but okay.
Then, after his section the plot gets moving again. When he's back home and everyone is discussing what's going on he suddenly brings up that a woman was entering his bedroom at the Citadom and attempting to seduce him.
My immediate thought was, "What? I don't remember that part."
I even went back and read his chapters again but I don't see anything about someone in the Citadom trying to seduce him. It was brought up later out of nowhere. I'd think that would be something important to mention when he's the main character for a few chapters.
Several of the characters spent time training with swords, including Annie. When it finally got around to them going after the bad guy I was looking forward to seeing her and Cora taking part in the action. Unfortunately, when he was confronted Cora wasn't even there and Annie had her wrist broken in about a sentence. I was left wondering why I read so much about them training with swords; it made no difference at all. Then she got shoved around until the men saved her. I wanted to see her and Cora take part in the fight (although Danus, the cool guy who doesn't let things get him down, was nearby, so that counts for something).
I think a huge problem with much of the story was the lack of real conflict. Most of the story spends time on the dilemma that Kellus and Annie had because he's not supposed to have a lover as an apprentice. However, everyone around them seemed to be understanding, and even their leader nudged Kellus towards being with her.
There was some conflict when she first got back from New York to Kellus' family and his brother was mad at Annie, but that was resolved with him apologizing. There were two bad guys, one who we never really see and the other we only see at the end of the book.
One other note I was disappointed on was that Annie lived an entire second life in New York, but after she got all her memories of her old life it was all but forgotten. I think she mentioned her friend of ten years about once after that, and none of her other life seemed to seep into her new life. She was never upset by anything, like how men and women were treated differently, and never had a different way of thinking through problems. Even when the women decided to learn to use swords she wasn't the one who brought it up; Cora did. I'd have loved to see more of how living an entirely separate life in another dimension changed her view of the world.
It wasn't all bad. I was fine with Annie for the most part. I felt like Kellus had a lot of worrisome traits (especially with the horrid jealousy). A lot of the side characters I was fine with. I liked Danus because he was an awesome guy who took care of his friends, and I liked Cora because she was assertive and confident.
The plot itself was also all right. It just got shoved to the side for so much of the book. If the flashback of Annie and Kellus' romance was limited to some cute moments, and possibly some things they have in common rather than how much they want to have sex, and it got on with the plot sooner I think it would be a lot better.
I was confused why they didn't do certain things (Annie was back and she knew who kidnapped her. Even if he was in a position of power, no other characters were shown as bad. Why not build up support and around town with her story then confront him?)
HOWEVER, I am interested in the story with the krogs and where that is going. I'm also curious about Dinora, who escaped, and why she's with them. Despite all my criticisms, there is a plot going on here that has a lot of potential, and I'm actually curious where it's going and what is happening behind the scenes. I wish this book had an editor to cut out a lot of the filler, but I'd be willing to give it another chance. Hopefully book 2 will have more Danus and Cora.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 11, 2013
REMEMBERED is the first book of E.D. Brady's Vistira Trilogy. I am happy to say that it works both as a stand-alone novel and as the introduction to a longer series. After having been abandoned at six and surviving the foster care system, Emily Smith seems to have carved out satisfying life in NYC, where she lives with her best friend Cappy and pursues a career in interior design. Though Emily remembers nothing of her early years, she is plagued by dreams of a handsome young man with whom she feels a powerful connection. Hoping to learn something about her past, Emily reluctantly undergoes hypnosis and finds out that she was the victim of a violent abduction. Before she can decide what to do about this troubling discovery, she has to travel to England with her boss. There, haunted by the pleas of her dream lover, Emily finds a doorway to another world. Her world. Vistira. The balance of the book focuses on Emily rediscovering her true identity, reuniting with her husband, and ferreting out the truth behind her kidnapping.
Overall, the plot and the characters are engaging and offer plenty of dramatic tension. Brady manages to take multiple genres--romance, fantasy, suspense--and weave them into a fast-paced, coherent whole. She does a great job building romantic suspense and her erotic scenes, while titillating, don't stray into the vulgar.
I did have a few issues with REMEMBERED. Vistira as a setting isn't as clearly drawn as it could be. They have modern medicine but ride around in carriages. The women don't wear trousers, but their dresses and skirts don't appear to be the Medieval costumes prevalent in fantasy fiction. I also question the author's decision to change points of view right before Emily ("Annella") is reunited with her husband. We learn their history through her recollections. Then the reader has to go through it all again through the husband's eyes. This does serve to extend the dramatic tension and to offer a little insight into Kellus as a character, but it also slows down the entire narrative and adds a degree of redundancy. Another double-edged sword is the couple's close bonds with their extended families. These relationships add a lot of texture and warmth to the novel, however, there are times when the sexual innuendo gets a little uncomfortable. Maybe this reader is just getting old, but there are certain jokes a new husband, especially a man as honorable as Kellus, DOES NOT share with his parents. Certainly not in the presence of his bride.
In the end, REMEMBERED is an enjoyable read. It offers a fine entry point for a trilogy. The characters and the plot are complex enough to support multiple books. I am looking forward to book two.
Overall, the plot and the characters are engaging and offer plenty of dramatic tension. Brady manages to take multiple genres--romance, fantasy, suspense--and weave them into a fast-paced, coherent whole. She does a great job building romantic suspense and her erotic scenes, while titillating, don't stray into the vulgar.
I did have a few issues with REMEMBERED. Vistira as a setting isn't as clearly drawn as it could be. They have modern medicine but ride around in carriages. The women don't wear trousers, but their dresses and skirts don't appear to be the Medieval costumes prevalent in fantasy fiction. I also question the author's decision to change points of view right before Emily ("Annella") is reunited with her husband. We learn their history through her recollections. Then the reader has to go through it all again through the husband's eyes. This does serve to extend the dramatic tension and to offer a little insight into Kellus as a character, but it also slows down the entire narrative and adds a degree of redundancy. Another double-edged sword is the couple's close bonds with their extended families. These relationships add a lot of texture and warmth to the novel, however, there are times when the sexual innuendo gets a little uncomfortable. Maybe this reader is just getting old, but there are certain jokes a new husband, especially a man as honorable as Kellus, DOES NOT share with his parents. Certainly not in the presence of his bride.
In the end, REMEMBERED is an enjoyable read. It offers a fine entry point for a trilogy. The characters and the plot are complex enough to support multiple books. I am looking forward to book two.
January 26, 2013
Remembered is a book that will leave you on the edge of your seat, pushing you to read it to the end. It grabs you with suspense in the beginning and from there on adds twist and turns, a reader wouldn’t see coming. There are a few taboo statements that make you think, which makes this book a great read.
The protagonist is Emily. She is a young woman searching for the truth behind her life and her forgotten childhood. She and her best friend, Cat, try to uncover the romantic dreams Emily has. The twist is if her dreams are real or not and how they tie to her missing childhood.
I was impressed how E.D. Brady was able to capture my attention. I would read the rest of the trilogy. I think she is a talented writer.
R.Kline
The protagonist is Emily. She is a young woman searching for the truth behind her life and her forgotten childhood. She and her best friend, Cat, try to uncover the romantic dreams Emily has. The twist is if her dreams are real or not and how they tie to her missing childhood.
I was impressed how E.D. Brady was able to capture my attention. I would read the rest of the trilogy. I think she is a talented writer.
R.Kline
March 9, 2013
The plot of 'Remembered' revolves around a young woman- Emily-living in New York who is found abandoned as a child and has no recollection of her past. When she begins to have disturbing dreams about a mysterious young man, her friend Cappy schedules an appointment for her with psychiatrist which Emily finds not only more disturbing but propels her to leave for London on a business trip with her boss. On one of their excursions, Emily disappears into another dimension where she uncovers her lost past, her name(Annella Derlyn)and Kellus,the man of her dreams. At first I was captured by the opening chapters of the story but was disappointed when it began to disintegrate into nothing more than a sexually provocative romance novel. Fortunately, the last half of the story redeemed itself and turned into a half decent mystery; the head Master of Citadom is missing, a peaceman named Loca is found slain and Kellus is arrested for the murder. I'm going to read the next in this series, hoping the story focuses on the mystery and adventure rather than the obsessive romance between Kellus and Annella.
March 9, 2013
My friend at work has been gushing about this series for the past week and practically forced me to buy it. Boy am I glad she did. This is a great story. Annie and Kellus's love affair is so beautiful. It's also filled with mystery and intrigue. I'm getting starting on Reclaimed right away as I can't wait to see what happens next.
April 22, 2013
I couldn't put this one down until I finished it. What an excellent book to escape in! I did expect the differences of the modern world in New York to be brought up tho. It could've slowed the story down but I can't imagine it not being brought up. I liked the change in pov, but it seemed to retell too much and left me skimming some. Overall - loved it and will continue the series
March 4, 2013
I really enjoyed this book. I could hardly put it down. You will fall in love with Annie and Kellus. The story line was written beautifully. You are rooting for the couple through the whole book. I can't wait to read the rest of the trilogy. I hope I get to see Cappy again.
March 1, 2013
This story sucked me in from the start and left me wanting more. The romance is sweet and pure, and the part written in Kellus's POV was adorable. I can't wait to read the next two books in the Trilogy.
March 15, 2013
I really enjoyed this book. I received the first one as a gift and liked it so much that I've already purchased the second in the series. The characters are interesting and the story moves at a good pace.
March 1, 2013
This story was one of the best I have read in ages. I found it hard to put it down. The love between Annie and Kellus is sweet that I was really routing for them. What a wonderful series.
April 14, 2013
First in the series
May 8, 2019
interesting dimensions
I do love this love story between kellus and annie. Their love seems timeless. The different dimensions and her living life as an orphan in the modern world for years is what was really interesting then coming back to vistira and having only been missing for six months. I'd definitely like to read how this story ends.
I do love this love story between kellus and annie. Their love seems timeless. The different dimensions and her living life as an orphan in the modern world for years is what was really interesting then coming back to vistira and having only been missing for six months. I'd definitely like to read how this story ends.
June 14, 2013
Warning: Spoiler Alert!
I’ve been wanting to read Remembered by E.D. Brady for a while now, and I’m glad I did. It’s a great book and E.D. is a wonderful writer. I was surprised another reviewer had said this book was confusing and the story wasn’t sticking to certain elements regarding the world in Vistira. For the record, it wasn’t confusing and E.D.’s creativity spun details of both worlds in a magical tapestry of wonder and curiosity.
The story begins with Emily who was abandoned at the age of six and doesn’t remember her parents, or the time before that. She grew up in foster homes and became friends with Cappy, who by the way, is a wonderful friend and great character. Years later, Emily begins having dreams about a hot guy who adores her and seems very real. She becomes baffled by these dreams and decides to see a psychologist in hope to root out her problems and deal with them. When Emily agrees to be hypnotized, frightening memories of being kidnapped resurface. After the disturbing session, she decides to never see the doctor again and welcomes Cappy’s unrelenting support in the matter.
When Emily decides to go on a business trip to Europe with her boss, she wanders off and finds herself in another world, and her name is Annella Derlyn.
Here is where I’m starting to love this book.
A floodgate of memories washes over Annella. She remembers the house she grew up in and goes there. She remembers her parents had died, leaving her to care for her brother Max and sister Cora who are twins and years younger than she.
I think E.D. has a gift for writing fairytale type books, because when the story shifts into the land of Vistira, her ability as a writer, dances off the page in a wonderful performance that had me smiling.
When Annella (Annie) goes to town, she sees the words The Citadom, etched on a stone building. She feels a strange flutter in her belly, but doesn’t know why. However, she does remember the building houses the Vistira’s government and law enforcers. But the men of the Citadom aren’t typical policemen, they’re more like peacekeepers, healers, and spiritual advisors wrapped into one. They’re referred to as Peacemen who took vows of celibacy. One of the Peacemen happens to be Kellus Kir. He’s an apprentice and the hot dude who was in Annie’s dreams-- when she was living the life as Emily.
Deciding to change her modern clothes before she calls attention to herself, she goes home to her little cottage and sits down, absorbing all the memories of this life.
The story then shifts to when Annie meets Kellus, and a good portion of the book is backstory. But that’s okay, because it’s all good.
Kellus and Annie are instantly attracted to each other, but Kellus tries to fight it, due to his obligation as a Peaceman and the vow he took. However, eventually he gives in and admits to Annie he’s in love with her. In secret they get married. Blissfully happy, they later go back to Annie’s house. While Kellus is outside, she gets kidnapped. A spell is performed on her which propels her to an alternate universe as Emily. And though she’s only gone for six months, according to Vistira’s time, in the time of Emily, it has been sixteen years. So when Emily turns twenty-two–the same age she was when she got kidnapped–the dreams of Kellus began and the enchantment placed upon her breaks.
The story rewinds back to Annie sitting on her floor in the cottage. She hops to her feet, changes her clothes and finds Cora and Max residing with Kellus’ family. His family is awesome, and I really like his brother Markum. It’s a heartfelt reunion because everybody thought she was dead . . . well, except for Kellus. He believes she’s still alive, telling everybody he would know if she past from their world. But Kellus is in bad shape. He’s grief-stricken and discovers how to remedy it.
Alcohol.
With the urging of the Under Master at the Citadom, Kellus goes back as a Peaceman. Meanwhile, Annie tells his family and her two siblings exactly what happened to her. They believe her and figures out who did it and why. After Kellus is reunited with Annie, they all devise a plan to expose her captors. But things don’t go as planned and now the whole family is in danger.
What will they do to get out of this ugly mess?
You’ll have to read it to find out.
It’s a great book.
I enjoyed it and will be reading the second one in the near future.
I’ve been wanting to read Remembered by E.D. Brady for a while now, and I’m glad I did. It’s a great book and E.D. is a wonderful writer. I was surprised another reviewer had said this book was confusing and the story wasn’t sticking to certain elements regarding the world in Vistira. For the record, it wasn’t confusing and E.D.’s creativity spun details of both worlds in a magical tapestry of wonder and curiosity.
The story begins with Emily who was abandoned at the age of six and doesn’t remember her parents, or the time before that. She grew up in foster homes and became friends with Cappy, who by the way, is a wonderful friend and great character. Years later, Emily begins having dreams about a hot guy who adores her and seems very real. She becomes baffled by these dreams and decides to see a psychologist in hope to root out her problems and deal with them. When Emily agrees to be hypnotized, frightening memories of being kidnapped resurface. After the disturbing session, she decides to never see the doctor again and welcomes Cappy’s unrelenting support in the matter.
When Emily decides to go on a business trip to Europe with her boss, she wanders off and finds herself in another world, and her name is Annella Derlyn.
Here is where I’m starting to love this book.
A floodgate of memories washes over Annella. She remembers the house she grew up in and goes there. She remembers her parents had died, leaving her to care for her brother Max and sister Cora who are twins and years younger than she.
I think E.D. has a gift for writing fairytale type books, because when the story shifts into the land of Vistira, her ability as a writer, dances off the page in a wonderful performance that had me smiling.
When Annella (Annie) goes to town, she sees the words The Citadom, etched on a stone building. She feels a strange flutter in her belly, but doesn’t know why. However, she does remember the building houses the Vistira’s government and law enforcers. But the men of the Citadom aren’t typical policemen, they’re more like peacekeepers, healers, and spiritual advisors wrapped into one. They’re referred to as Peacemen who took vows of celibacy. One of the Peacemen happens to be Kellus Kir. He’s an apprentice and the hot dude who was in Annie’s dreams-- when she was living the life as Emily.
Deciding to change her modern clothes before she calls attention to herself, she goes home to her little cottage and sits down, absorbing all the memories of this life.
The story then shifts to when Annie meets Kellus, and a good portion of the book is backstory. But that’s okay, because it’s all good.
Kellus and Annie are instantly attracted to each other, but Kellus tries to fight it, due to his obligation as a Peaceman and the vow he took. However, eventually he gives in and admits to Annie he’s in love with her. In secret they get married. Blissfully happy, they later go back to Annie’s house. While Kellus is outside, she gets kidnapped. A spell is performed on her which propels her to an alternate universe as Emily. And though she’s only gone for six months, according to Vistira’s time, in the time of Emily, it has been sixteen years. So when Emily turns twenty-two–the same age she was when she got kidnapped–the dreams of Kellus began and the enchantment placed upon her breaks.
The story rewinds back to Annie sitting on her floor in the cottage. She hops to her feet, changes her clothes and finds Cora and Max residing with Kellus’ family. His family is awesome, and I really like his brother Markum. It’s a heartfelt reunion because everybody thought she was dead . . . well, except for Kellus. He believes she’s still alive, telling everybody he would know if she past from their world. But Kellus is in bad shape. He’s grief-stricken and discovers how to remedy it.
Alcohol.
With the urging of the Under Master at the Citadom, Kellus goes back as a Peaceman. Meanwhile, Annie tells his family and her two siblings exactly what happened to her. They believe her and figures out who did it and why. After Kellus is reunited with Annie, they all devise a plan to expose her captors. But things don’t go as planned and now the whole family is in danger.
What will they do to get out of this ugly mess?
You’ll have to read it to find out.
It’s a great book.
I enjoyed it and will be reading the second one in the near future.
May 26, 2015
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I received this book free from the author in exchange for my honest review.
A fun fast read that I couldn't put it down once I stared. Everything from the character building to the world itself. This story was filled with vivid texture and a solid foundation that stayed true throughout the story.
I never felt lost or confuse, a few times I was biting my nails and trying to keep my heart from exploding from the suspense.
I don't want to give anything away. I always find that the hardest when reviewing a mystery. You want to give a clue, but in the end you'll probably end up spoiling the whole thing.
I loved Emily, for one her name is Emily :P, but I found her intriguing. Shrouded in a mysterious past, left abandoned as a child, without her memories she had to cope with trying to understand how to live, function without the support or love ones. I was hooked on her, on her story. You just want to know more and more about her, and what happen to her to be left with the police. Again I will not give anything away, you'll just have to read this wonderful story in order to solve the mystery that is Emily.
The twist and turns, the love and mystery, will keep you reading, biting your nails and most of all, have you engrossed for hours until you get to the end, to see it solved, to understand what happened, only be left feeling sad because it's over. But, this is the first book to three part series.
I will be picking up the second book. I can't wait to start reading and be pulled more and more into Emily's world.
I highly recommend this book. It's everything you every wanted in a fast pace, heart gripping mystery that will have you on the edge of your seat, and get those feels burning.
I would like to thank E.D. Brady for giving my the opportunity to read that outstanding work of fiction.
Happy Reading
-Emily
A fun fast read that I couldn't put it down once I stared. Everything from the character building to the world itself. This story was filled with vivid texture and a solid foundation that stayed true throughout the story.
I never felt lost or confuse, a few times I was biting my nails and trying to keep my heart from exploding from the suspense.
I don't want to give anything away. I always find that the hardest when reviewing a mystery. You want to give a clue, but in the end you'll probably end up spoiling the whole thing.
I loved Emily, for one her name is Emily :P, but I found her intriguing. Shrouded in a mysterious past, left abandoned as a child, without her memories she had to cope with trying to understand how to live, function without the support or love ones. I was hooked on her, on her story. You just want to know more and more about her, and what happen to her to be left with the police. Again I will not give anything away, you'll just have to read this wonderful story in order to solve the mystery that is Emily.
The twist and turns, the love and mystery, will keep you reading, biting your nails and most of all, have you engrossed for hours until you get to the end, to see it solved, to understand what happened, only be left feeling sad because it's over. But, this is the first book to three part series.
I will be picking up the second book. I can't wait to start reading and be pulled more and more into Emily's world.
I highly recommend this book. It's everything you every wanted in a fast pace, heart gripping mystery that will have you on the edge of your seat, and get those feels burning.
I would like to thank E.D. Brady for giving my the opportunity to read that outstanding work of fiction.
Happy Reading
-Emily
March 4, 2018
Original Review found: www.literarychaos.com
I was honestly hesitant to read this novel at first. I am not a big romance reader. I, however, enjoyed reading this novel immensely. It was very well written, and I was very pleased with the plot. I often find that I can guess the plot of romance novels from the first few pages, but this novel was not even close to what I expected. It definitely exceeded my expectations. One of the things I liked most about the novel was the differing points of view. The author showed certain scenes of the book through both Kellus and Annie’s point of view. I really enjoyed this because the same event was so different depending on whether it was looked at via Annie or via Kellus. Seeing both points of view really helped with the development of the characters. E.D. Brady did an exquisite job of showing the characters personality through both dialog and through their thoughts.
At first, I was a little troubled with the world that E.D. Brady created; it had an interesting mix of historical and modern aspects. However, I reminded myself that this was an alternate world so anything was possible. That makes the use of modern medicine and horse-drawn carriages plausible. Overall I thought the world Vistira was an intriguing one. I hope to learn more about it in the sequels.
The only issue I can find with the novel is what about Emily’s life in the modern world. What must her boss think? What must Cappy think? Or do they even remember her? There are so many questions I would like answered when it comes to Emily’s life. I hope that they are addressed in the sequel.
I was honestly hesitant to read this novel at first. I am not a big romance reader. I, however, enjoyed reading this novel immensely. It was very well written, and I was very pleased with the plot. I often find that I can guess the plot of romance novels from the first few pages, but this novel was not even close to what I expected. It definitely exceeded my expectations. One of the things I liked most about the novel was the differing points of view. The author showed certain scenes of the book through both Kellus and Annie’s point of view. I really enjoyed this because the same event was so different depending on whether it was looked at via Annie or via Kellus. Seeing both points of view really helped with the development of the characters. E.D. Brady did an exquisite job of showing the characters personality through both dialog and through their thoughts.
At first, I was a little troubled with the world that E.D. Brady created; it had an interesting mix of historical and modern aspects. However, I reminded myself that this was an alternate world so anything was possible. That makes the use of modern medicine and horse-drawn carriages plausible. Overall I thought the world Vistira was an intriguing one. I hope to learn more about it in the sequels.
The only issue I can find with the novel is what about Emily’s life in the modern world. What must her boss think? What must Cappy think? Or do they even remember her? There are so many questions I would like answered when it comes to Emily’s life. I hope that they are addressed in the sequel.
March 23, 2014
Who doesn’t love a good romance?
When I started reading Remembered, I had no idea what it was about, but I was hooked instantly. The love between Annie and Kellus was beautiful. They were destined to be but when supernatural events ripped Annie from Kellus’ life, he was devastated.
Catapulted to another time, place, and age, Annie had no memory of the life she once led. Her age having been reversed to six, she turned up alone on the doorstep of a New York police station. With no identity or family, Annie lived her life as Emily until recurring dreams of a handsome man forced her to seek counseling.
Kellus’ desperate love for Annie reached through time, space, and worlds, to finally bring her back to him, only to have her face once again, the threat that ripped them apart.
Unfortunately, the mixture of future and past items within the same world, such as the use of carriages alongside modern day medicine was troubling. I also wanted to know more about how her friend in New York dealt with her disappearance. Since this is a trilogy, I hope her other life is revisited.
None of the negative points of this book detracted from that fact that it kept me up reading way past my bedtime for more than one night. After all, this is a work of fiction and I keep my mind open–anything can happen. The love story was wonderful and I really enjoyed the action at the end. It was a real page turner and I honestly couldn’t put it away.
I can’t wait to read the next books in the series.
Loved it!
When I started reading Remembered, I had no idea what it was about, but I was hooked instantly. The love between Annie and Kellus was beautiful. They were destined to be but when supernatural events ripped Annie from Kellus’ life, he was devastated.
Catapulted to another time, place, and age, Annie had no memory of the life she once led. Her age having been reversed to six, she turned up alone on the doorstep of a New York police station. With no identity or family, Annie lived her life as Emily until recurring dreams of a handsome man forced her to seek counseling.
Kellus’ desperate love for Annie reached through time, space, and worlds, to finally bring her back to him, only to have her face once again, the threat that ripped them apart.
Unfortunately, the mixture of future and past items within the same world, such as the use of carriages alongside modern day medicine was troubling. I also wanted to know more about how her friend in New York dealt with her disappearance. Since this is a trilogy, I hope her other life is revisited.
None of the negative points of this book detracted from that fact that it kept me up reading way past my bedtime for more than one night. After all, this is a work of fiction and I keep my mind open–anything can happen. The love story was wonderful and I really enjoyed the action at the end. It was a real page turner and I honestly couldn’t put it away.
I can’t wait to read the next books in the series.
Loved it!
February 27, 2013
With all 4 and 5 star reviews I really wanted to give good points. It all started out so well. Good plot with an interesting start. Then, instead of getting on with the story, there comes an unnecessary longwinding description of how the hero and the heronie met and fell in love. I understand, that their love is central to the plot, but that doesn't mean I need to know about every glance, every touch and every kiss. After what seemed like forever the story eventually went on, up until the point where the author felt it necessary to tell the story of their falling in love AGAIN, only now from the viewpoint of the other. One of the most annoying books ever, and there was so much promise in the plot. And yes, the hero and the heroine are both perfectly beautiful. And too many things left unexplained at the end (I suppose so that you would want to buy book 2, which I wont)
April 24, 2013
I'm not sure how I feel about this book. Overall I really did enjoy it, but I was left with so many unanswered questions. Maybe the rest will come out in the following novels. This book was definitely not what I was expecting. Annie(Emily) has no memory of her past and just falls back into a time warp? That's all I can guess being that her time as Emily seems more present times than when she is Annie. What happened to her other life? What's with the spell that made her into someone else? I will read the next book in hopes that I get some answers!
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February 10, 2016311p HOW FAR WOULD YOU TRAVEL FOR TRUE LOVE?
When Emily seeks professional help to deal with haunting dreams of a handsome stranger, she is thrown into horrifying memories of being kidnapped and almost murdered.
She embarks on an astonishing journey where she uncovers her true identity and is reunited with the only man she will ever love. But the evil that tore them apart still lurks, threatening to destroy their love and more than likely end their lives.
When Emily seeks professional help to deal with haunting dreams of a handsome stranger, she is thrown into horrifying memories of being kidnapped and almost murdered.
She embarks on an astonishing journey where she uncovers her true identity and is reunited with the only man she will ever love. But the evil that tore them apart still lurks, threatening to destroy their love and more than likely end their lives.
August 21, 2013
This was a very interesting story. Emily/Annie thought her life began when she arrived at a police station at six years old. When strange dreams of a man begin to plague her at age 22, she begins to remember another life. A magic spell had reversed her age, and the strange dreams were of her forbidden love. When she returns to him, they have to face those that had taken her away.
April 25, 2013
My sister got this book for free a few days ago. After she read it, she passed it on to me. Wow, what a great story. We are both excited to read the next in the Trilogy.
April 25, 2013
I really enjoyed this!
June 10, 2013
Not something I would normally read, but it caught my attention from the beginning. I finished it in a day or two, and am now halfway through the second book and can't wait to see the 3rd!
July 22, 2013
I loved this series so much. I want more.
July 22, 2013
Just bought this by accident and I'm glad I did. What a great story.
July 22, 2013
Good book. Really enjoyed it.
April 23, 2013
Good book
April 25, 2013
Fabulous series!
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