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The Eternal Balance #1
Ruined
Hell is looking for a way to break loose…
Jax lost the genetic lottery. Descended from Cain, the world's first murderer, he's plagued by a curse that demands violence in exchange for his happiness. He left everything behind, including the girl he loved, but thriving on the pain of others is lonely… And it's killing him.
After a series of heartbreaking losses, Samantha put rubber to pavement and headed for college as fast as her clunker could carry her. But she can't outrun her problems. When an attack at school drives her back home, she's thrown into the path of a past—and a guy—she's been trying to forget.
Sam strains Jax's control over his darkness, but running isn't an option this time. Someone—or, something—followed her home from school: a ruthless monster with a twisted plan centuries in the making. Forced together to survive, and fighting an attraction that could destroy them both, Jax and Sam must stop a killer bent on revenge.
Jax lost the genetic lottery. Descended from Cain, the world's first murderer, he's plagued by a curse that demands violence in exchange for his happiness. He left everything behind, including the girl he loved, but thriving on the pain of others is lonely… And it's killing him.
After a series of heartbreaking losses, Samantha put rubber to pavement and headed for college as fast as her clunker could carry her. But she can't outrun her problems. When an attack at school drives her back home, she's thrown into the path of a past—and a guy—she's been trying to forget.
Sam strains Jax's control over his darkness, but running isn't an option this time. Someone—or, something—followed her home from school: a ruthless monster with a twisted plan centuries in the making. Forced together to survive, and fighting an attraction that could destroy them both, Jax and Sam must stop a killer bent on revenge.
325 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 30, 2013
37 people are currently reading
2908 people want to read
About the author
Jus Accardo
23 books1,496 followersJUS ACCARDO spent her childhood reading and learning to cook. Determined to follow in her grandfather’s footsteps as a chef, she applied and was accepted to the Culinary Institute of America. But at the last minute, she realized her true path lay with fiction, not food.
Jus is the bestselling author of the popular Denazen series from Entangled publishing, as well as the Darker Agency series, and the New Adult series, The Eternal Balance. A native New Yorker, she lives in the middle of nowhere with her husband, three dogs, and sometimes guard bear, Oswald.
Jus is the bestselling author of the popular Denazen series from Entangled publishing, as well as the Darker Agency series, and the New Adult series, The Eternal Balance. A native New Yorker, she lives in the middle of nowhere with her husband, three dogs, and sometimes guard bear, Oswald.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 196 reviews
December 28, 2013
I’m just gonna come out and say it: If you have even the smallest soft spot for Daemon and Katy, you are gonna LOVE Jax and Sam. I’ve read some of Jus’s other novels and RUINED is by far my favorite. A twisted plot, realistic characters, and some major ‘kiss or punch’ chemistry that keeps you flipping pages.
Jax, a descendant of Cain, is one serious dude to be reckoned with. With a violence craving demon living inside him, Jax has to go to some serious ends in order to keep the demon fed and satisfied. If not, the demon brings the pain on Jax.
Samantha is just your average nineteen year-old. Her parents were killed in a home invasion, her aunt is a wannabe match-maker, and her job at the local dive isn’t exactly stellar. College didn’t work out either. After a random almost mugging after a party, Sam headed home with a bucket of insecurities.
What I liked most about RUINED was the ease of familiarity between the characters. These characters really knew each other, and nothing was forced between them. Sam, Jax, and Chase (Jax’s polar opposite but equally hot twin) all grew up together. Sam and Jax were inseparable after her parents were killed. Jax may or may not have been the cause of Sam getting into trouble as a kid, the mischievous and bored-in-a-small-town kind of trouble. Because of that, Jax was shunned most of his life. Chase, on the other hand, was the clean-cut golden boy everyone loved. Except Sam. Her heart would always belong to Jax.
When Jax turns up back home, the heat cranks into sweltering between Sam and Jax. She wants him in all the right ways, but she also wants to junk-punch him for being a total insensitive prick to her. But that’s the only way to keep Sammy safe, unharmed, and away from the monster that resides in Jax.
RUINED started with a little more backstory than I would normally like, but when it planted its feet in, it grabbed me by the hand and wouldn’t let go. The fast pace kept me flipping the digital pages and provided for a twist that I (sheepishly enough) didn’t really see coming. And that’s fantabulous in my book. Pardon the pun.
I’m not familiar with the story of Cain and Abel, but RUINED lays down enough ground rules that the average non-church going Jane Doe can follow along. The hot chemistry between Jax and Sam scorched to singeing, but kept things nice and clean so I didn’t feel the need to hide in a ’50 Shades of Good Lord’ way. Very tasteful, Jus! I bow before thee.
Of course, Jus leaves us with a bit of a cliffhanger and I for one cannot wait for the next. So keep her comin’ Jus! RUINED was a deeply satisfying read full of an interesting plot, super cool characters, and hot chemistry. In other words, the trifecta of awesome!
Jax, a descendant of Cain, is one serious dude to be reckoned with. With a violence craving demon living inside him, Jax has to go to some serious ends in order to keep the demon fed and satisfied. If not, the demon brings the pain on Jax.
Samantha is just your average nineteen year-old. Her parents were killed in a home invasion, her aunt is a wannabe match-maker, and her job at the local dive isn’t exactly stellar. College didn’t work out either. After a random almost mugging after a party, Sam headed home with a bucket of insecurities.
What I liked most about RUINED was the ease of familiarity between the characters. These characters really knew each other, and nothing was forced between them. Sam, Jax, and Chase (Jax’s polar opposite but equally hot twin) all grew up together. Sam and Jax were inseparable after her parents were killed. Jax may or may not have been the cause of Sam getting into trouble as a kid, the mischievous and bored-in-a-small-town kind of trouble. Because of that, Jax was shunned most of his life. Chase, on the other hand, was the clean-cut golden boy everyone loved. Except Sam. Her heart would always belong to Jax.
When Jax turns up back home, the heat cranks into sweltering between Sam and Jax. She wants him in all the right ways, but she also wants to junk-punch him for being a total insensitive prick to her. But that’s the only way to keep Sammy safe, unharmed, and away from the monster that resides in Jax.
RUINED started with a little more backstory than I would normally like, but when it planted its feet in, it grabbed me by the hand and wouldn’t let go. The fast pace kept me flipping the digital pages and provided for a twist that I (sheepishly enough) didn’t really see coming. And that’s fantabulous in my book. Pardon the pun.
I’m not familiar with the story of Cain and Abel, but RUINED lays down enough ground rules that the average non-church going Jane Doe can follow along. The hot chemistry between Jax and Sam scorched to singeing, but kept things nice and clean so I didn’t feel the need to hide in a ’50 Shades of Good Lord’ way. Very tasteful, Jus! I bow before thee.
Of course, Jus leaves us with a bit of a cliffhanger and I for one cannot wait for the next. So keep her comin’ Jus! RUINED was a deeply satisfying read full of an interesting plot, super cool characters, and hot chemistry. In other words, the trifecta of awesome!
January 10, 2014
Dark, intoxicating, demonic, sexy, action packed, thrilling, exciting and every bit raw and RAWR! This book had me absolutely enthralled and captivated, and feeling all kinds of different emotions as I read along. It's a brilliantly written story that is definitely different and every bit as exciting and mysterious.
Ruined isn't your average story about Demon possession. In fact, Jus Accardo has cleverly used the story of Cain and Abel and modernised it, but not as a re-telling. She exceptionally flipped it and created a whole new meaning to the word, tainted. You see, our main protagonist, Jax is one seductive bad apple that has been cursed by the Mark of Cain. He is the descendant of him and therefore he has to share himself with a demon, who feeds himself on the dirty and most sinful of humans, in order to calm his ferocious need. Jax is extremely tortured and struggling with keeping his humanity. He really doesn't see his worth and this breaks your heart, reading how he fights himself day in and day out. But damn, it was pure sin experiencing his point of view. I hung on his every word and couldn't get enough of his mesmerising and hypnotic voice.
Jax, also has a twin brother, Chase, whom in comparison to him, is the Saint to Jax's sin. Chase can do no wrong in everyone's eyes and everyone loves him, while Jax is shunned and considered the bad boy they want gone and lock their doors at night for. Only one other person is as important to him, beside's his Uncle Rick, who has loved Jax for who his is, and that is Sammy. Sammy, who herself has lived a life full of tragedy and heartache. She is the only one that was ever truly there for Jax and loved him unconditionally, no matter what. They shared everything together and kept no secrets, except for one. That Jax was a danger not only to himself but to those all around him and that is why he had leave her behind before his insatiable desires took over his whole being.
Three years later, Jax re-enters their lives only to find that his need to hurt has become unbearable and that someone is after Sammy and it's all because of him. Jax must strive and restrict himself from not only being around Sammy but also resisting her, which is extremely difficult to say the least. But, no matter how much Jax persists that he is no good for her and that she must never be around him, Sammy is reluctant to let him go again and wants nothing more than to stay by his side and never give up. They have gone through enough for her to just stand aside and let him walk away, again. I loved how stubborn and tenacious Sammy is. Strong, feisty, independent and unwavering. No matter what is thrown her way, she never backs down and keeps on fighting. Not only for herself but for Jax too.
How can he withstand her?! How can they both step away when all that's trying to tear them apart is only creating a stronger bond between them?
I absolutely loved everything about Ruined. From the brilliant character development, the flow of the story and to the many twists and turns that knock you out and make you get back up again, only to discover something else to top it off. I highly recommend that you get this book now and take a leap of faith in the most biblical proportions. You will not be disappointed.
Ruined isn't your average story about Demon possession. In fact, Jus Accardo has cleverly used the story of Cain and Abel and modernised it, but not as a re-telling. She exceptionally flipped it and created a whole new meaning to the word, tainted. You see, our main protagonist, Jax is one seductive bad apple that has been cursed by the Mark of Cain. He is the descendant of him and therefore he has to share himself with a demon, who feeds himself on the dirty and most sinful of humans, in order to calm his ferocious need. Jax is extremely tortured and struggling with keeping his humanity. He really doesn't see his worth and this breaks your heart, reading how he fights himself day in and day out. But damn, it was pure sin experiencing his point of view. I hung on his every word and couldn't get enough of his mesmerising and hypnotic voice.
Jax, also has a twin brother, Chase, whom in comparison to him, is the Saint to Jax's sin. Chase can do no wrong in everyone's eyes and everyone loves him, while Jax is shunned and considered the bad boy they want gone and lock their doors at night for. Only one other person is as important to him, beside's his Uncle Rick, who has loved Jax for who his is, and that is Sammy. Sammy, who herself has lived a life full of tragedy and heartache. She is the only one that was ever truly there for Jax and loved him unconditionally, no matter what. They shared everything together and kept no secrets, except for one. That Jax was a danger not only to himself but to those all around him and that is why he had leave her behind before his insatiable desires took over his whole being.
Three years later, Jax re-enters their lives only to find that his need to hurt has become unbearable and that someone is after Sammy and it's all because of him. Jax must strive and restrict himself from not only being around Sammy but also resisting her, which is extremely difficult to say the least. But, no matter how much Jax persists that he is no good for her and that she must never be around him, Sammy is reluctant to let him go again and wants nothing more than to stay by his side and never give up. They have gone through enough for her to just stand aside and let him walk away, again. I loved how stubborn and tenacious Sammy is. Strong, feisty, independent and unwavering. No matter what is thrown her way, she never backs down and keeps on fighting. Not only for herself but for Jax too.
How can he withstand her?! How can they both step away when all that's trying to tear them apart is only creating a stronger bond between them?
I absolutely loved everything about Ruined. From the brilliant character development, the flow of the story and to the many twists and turns that knock you out and make you get back up again, only to discover something else to top it off. I highly recommend that you get this book now and take a leap of faith in the most biblical proportions. You will not be disappointed.
August 21, 2014
4,5 Stars for this greedy, intoxicating book.
I loved it! Sam and Jax are not just your everyday couple. They are hot, smart, a little cynical, funny and Jax is a bit of a demon!
As in real demon! He has one living inside him his whole life, Azirak, and he demands from Jax to kill his twin brother Chase constantly. After too much pressure on him at the age of 17 Jax decides to leave from his town, to save his brother and the girl he loves, Sam!
Sam never forgave Jax for his abrupt departure shortly after their first kiss, after all he was her best friend and the boy she was in love with since 6 years old.
3 years later they are both crazily in love with each other still, and fate along with a sympatic, demonic prophecy brings them back together because Sam is in grave danger and Jax can not let anything bad happen to her.
Sam finally finds out his inner most secrets and Jax keeps fighting his demon. But he will realise soon that maybe Azirak is not the enemy. And that will result as a change for his whole life again.
I liked this book very much. The characters were great and their journey also. The tension between Jax and Sam was palpable and the sexuall chemistry of the charts. I can not wait for the next book!
THOUGHTS ABOUT THE BOOK
- The writing is very good!
- Azirak is kind of hot!!*gigles* Yes the demon.. When he comes out to play he is really fun.
- I didn't like Chase, he is such an ass.
- The passion and sexuall innuendos were undeniable.
- Their sex scene was awesome.
- Samantha Merrick is a gifted girl and a riddle.
- Dual POV.
- Multilayered plots from demon clans to witches and magical bonds and common crimes.
- Action packed.
- Their feelings were everywhere.
- So many unexplored ways it could go..
ARC provided via Netgalley in exchange of an honest review. Thank you!
I loved it! Sam and Jax are not just your everyday couple. They are hot, smart, a little cynical, funny and Jax is a bit of a demon!
As in real demon! He has one living inside him his whole life, Azirak, and he demands from Jax to kill his twin brother Chase constantly. After too much pressure on him at the age of 17 Jax decides to leave from his town, to save his brother and the girl he loves, Sam!
Sam never forgave Jax for his abrupt departure shortly after their first kiss, after all he was her best friend and the boy she was in love with since 6 years old.
3 years later they are both crazily in love with each other still, and fate along with a sympatic, demonic prophecy brings them back together because Sam is in grave danger and Jax can not let anything bad happen to her.
Sam finally finds out his inner most secrets and Jax keeps fighting his demon. But he will realise soon that maybe Azirak is not the enemy. And that will result as a change for his whole life again.
I liked this book very much. The characters were great and their journey also. The tension between Jax and Sam was palpable and the sexuall chemistry of the charts. I can not wait for the next book!
THOUGHTS ABOUT THE BOOK
- The writing is very good!
- Azirak is kind of hot!!*gigles* Yes the demon.. When he comes out to play he is really fun.
- I didn't like Chase, he is such an ass.
- The passion and sexuall innuendos were undeniable.
- Their sex scene was awesome.
- Samantha Merrick is a gifted girl and a riddle.
- Dual POV.
- Multilayered plots from demon clans to witches and magical bonds and common crimes.
- Action packed.
- Their feelings were everywhere.
- So many unexplored ways it could go..
ARC provided via Netgalley in exchange of an honest review. Thank you!
August 14, 2015
Ruined was a very different take on demons, Cain and Abel, and on how the choices we make can make a difference for so many more people than those we take into account at the time we make those choices.
COYER scavenger hunt item #64 : Read a book you've won in a giveaway (4 points)
This and all my other reviews are originally posted on my blog (un)Conventional Bookviews
COYER scavenger hunt item #64 : Read a book you've won in a giveaway (4 points)
This and all my other reviews are originally posted on my blog (un)Conventional Bookviews
May 9, 2016
I loved the unique plot of Ruined. A demonic twist to the story of Abel and Cain, it's dark, twisted and steamy!
October 16, 2015
I was gifted a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
A good paranormal romance isn’t easy to find. It takes a lot of creativity and talent on the part of the author and the more elaborate the story is, the harder it gets.
Jus Accardo definitely doesn’t have a problem to get it right.
With “Ruined” she shows how it should be done, how to perfectly blend reality and fantasy and make it appear real to the reader.
The story and characters have blown me away. The plot was as unique as it was beautiful, the dark elements making the story shine and stand out. I’m a sucker for a good vs. evil story and this one is up there with the best of them.
Jax is a descendant of Cain and as such he’s cursed. His forefather murdered his brother and he’s the one stuck sharing his body with a demon as a punishment. That would be bad enough as it is but the demon thrives on pain, violence, lust and other sins. To survive, Jax has to feed the demon, but feeding it leaves him hating himself. He sees himself as a monster – undeserving and incapable of being close to people, having relationships and being loved.
So he stays by himself, which isn’t hard since not many people would be eager to spend time with him.
He’s crude, brash and speaks his mind without engaging a filter. But he’s equally smart, sexy, loyal and loving, even though he may not see it. The one person he can’t stop thinking about, can’t stop wanting, is the one person he can’t have – Samantha.
But when she needs him, he’s willing to go through hell to ensure her safety.
I’m totally crushing on Jax – demon inside and all. His devil-may-care attitude, his darkness have really drawn me in.
But I’m not the only one. Samantha can’t resist him either, no matter what he does. She’s like a moth to the flame and with a demon being involved, there is a high chance of getting burned.
She’s been in love with him since she can remember, always feeling loved, safe and understood. After the tragic losses she experienced, he was the one person she could rely on. The harder it hit her, when he just left her behind – without an explanation or goodbye. And now not only is he back in her life, but is all up in her business after she’s been the victim of multiple attacks.
So in addition to having to fear for her life, she is now constantly confronted with the man who broke her heart. And who much to her dismay still owns it.
But Samantha is a fighter. No matter how often life knocks her down, she stands back up – screaming and kicking. She’s loyal to the core, accepting and caring, not willing to give up on people despite the hardships it might bring.
Both of them have no idea what they are up against though. The things they thought they knew turn out to be lies. Secrets are revealed that have the power to not only destroy them, but the world as they know it.
The question is, how much they are willing to sacrifice?
I’m still totally in awe and can’t wait for the next installment in the series.
Until then, I’ll just keep on drooling over Jax.
4.5 evil-was-never-this-sexy stars.
A good paranormal romance isn’t easy to find. It takes a lot of creativity and talent on the part of the author and the more elaborate the story is, the harder it gets.
Jus Accardo definitely doesn’t have a problem to get it right.
With “Ruined” she shows how it should be done, how to perfectly blend reality and fantasy and make it appear real to the reader.
The story and characters have blown me away. The plot was as unique as it was beautiful, the dark elements making the story shine and stand out. I’m a sucker for a good vs. evil story and this one is up there with the best of them.
Jax is a descendant of Cain and as such he’s cursed. His forefather murdered his brother and he’s the one stuck sharing his body with a demon as a punishment. That would be bad enough as it is but the demon thrives on pain, violence, lust and other sins. To survive, Jax has to feed the demon, but feeding it leaves him hating himself. He sees himself as a monster – undeserving and incapable of being close to people, having relationships and being loved.
So he stays by himself, which isn’t hard since not many people would be eager to spend time with him.
He’s crude, brash and speaks his mind without engaging a filter. But he’s equally smart, sexy, loyal and loving, even though he may not see it. The one person he can’t stop thinking about, can’t stop wanting, is the one person he can’t have – Samantha.
But when she needs him, he’s willing to go through hell to ensure her safety.
I’m totally crushing on Jax – demon inside and all. His devil-may-care attitude, his darkness have really drawn me in.
But I’m not the only one. Samantha can’t resist him either, no matter what he does. She’s like a moth to the flame and with a demon being involved, there is a high chance of getting burned.
She’s been in love with him since she can remember, always feeling loved, safe and understood. After the tragic losses she experienced, he was the one person she could rely on. The harder it hit her, when he just left her behind – without an explanation or goodbye. And now not only is he back in her life, but is all up in her business after she’s been the victim of multiple attacks.
So in addition to having to fear for her life, she is now constantly confronted with the man who broke her heart. And who much to her dismay still owns it.
But Samantha is a fighter. No matter how often life knocks her down, she stands back up – screaming and kicking. She’s loyal to the core, accepting and caring, not willing to give up on people despite the hardships it might bring.
Both of them have no idea what they are up against though. The things they thought they knew turn out to be lies. Secrets are revealed that have the power to not only destroy them, but the world as they know it.
The question is, how much they are willing to sacrifice?
I’m still totally in awe and can’t wait for the next installment in the series.
Until then, I’ll just keep on drooling over Jax.
4.5 evil-was-never-this-sexy stars.
July 29, 2016
Entre 3,5 y 4 estrellas
He disfrutado mucho el libro aunque me haya faltado un algo, creo que el que las relaciones estén ya tan establecidas desde el principio le ha restado algo de puntos.
Sin embargo, la historia me ha gustado mucho, el tema paranormal de los demonios con ese toque a lo Supernatural me ha enganchado desde el principio y casi no hay un momento de respiro. A ver qué tal el segundo libro y ojalá vayan saliendo más autoras que se adentren en lo paranormal y new adult (de momento ya tenemos Wicked en diciembre jiji).
He disfrutado mucho el libro aunque me haya faltado un algo, creo que el que las relaciones estén ya tan establecidas desde el principio le ha restado algo de puntos.
Sin embargo, la historia me ha gustado mucho, el tema paranormal de los demonios con ese toque a lo Supernatural me ha enganchado desde el principio y casi no hay un momento de respiro. A ver qué tal el segundo libro y ojalá vayan saliendo más autoras que se adentren en lo paranormal y new adult (de momento ya tenemos Wicked en diciembre jiji).
January 2, 2014
My Thoughts:
The premise of the main character Jax, descending from, Cain, completely intrigued me. Most of the New Adult books available on the market right now are contemporary, so I was really excited to dig in to a New Adult Paranormal story. This was the first book, I read by Jus Accardo. I loved it, and am highly anticipating the next installment in this series.
Jax and Chase are identical twin brothers, but appear to be complete opposites in temperament and personality. Jax carries a demon inside of him that constantly demands violence. He cannot control this demon, but does his best to limit the violent acts, and tends to engage the darker side of humanity with this vice. Jax keeps to himself, has a brooding personality, and is treated like he is the spawn of satan in his hometown. He has always loved Samantha (Sam). They grew up together, became best friends, and fell in love with one another. However, Jax feels he's undeserving of Sam's love, and whenever he is with her, the urge for violence tends to get intense and hard to control. So he left town three years ago to protect her.
Chase is the "golden boy," who can do no wrong. Girls are always throwing themselves at him, and he never gets serious about anyone. Chase and Sam are best friends, and while he has feelings for her as more than a friend, she does not return them. Jax and Chase cannot stand to be around one another, because Jax always has extremely violent urges toward his brother, due to the demon inside of him, and the Cain curse. Parentless, both brothers were raised by their uncle Rick. As death draws near to Rick due to his terminal illness, Jax returns to his hometown. He realizes that his feelings for Sam never changed, and on top of that, her life is consistently being threatened. Jax is determined to protect Sam from peril, and once he removes the danger, he plans on leaving her forever.
Ruined was a very unique story. I enjoyed the fresh topic, the creative and intricate plot, as well as the very steamy and swoon-worthy scenes between Jax and Sam. The story started off at a slow pace, as Ms. Accardo took the time to really develop the story, and give us the necessary background information. A lot of the story focuses on Jax's constant challenge with fighting the demon inside of him. Ms. Accardo did an excellent job of making Jax and his demon, really distinct entities. While the demon fed on the anger and fear of others, Jax would constantly fight against his need for violence. He felt guilty, and believed himself to be truly evil. The demon had no remorse, and learned about human emotion from Jax. The demon also learned about love from Jax, as he too fell in love with Sam. The two were united when it can to there deep love for her, as well as their need to protect her.
At about the halfway point, the story really picked up pace! I needed to unravel all the clues, and figure out who was trying to kill Sam. There were so many twists, turns, and surprises along the way. The more I learned about the origination of the curse, demons, and other paranormal entities, the more I became completely immersed in the story. I loved Jax and Sam's character's. Jax was so loyal, loving, and protective when it came to Sam, and I appreciated his willingness to sacrifice anything for her. Sam was great too. She never stopped believing in Jax, and no matter how much she got hurt, she let herself be vulnerable when it came to him. She saw him for who he was, and her good heart really shined through.
My Rating:
I give Ruined by Jus Accardo 4 Addicting, Unpredictable, Fascinating, and Steamy Stars!!! For a unique, paranormal, New Adult Story, with a twist, look no further than Ruined! I can't wait to read the next installment in The Eternal Balance Series! Ms. Accardo has completely hooked me with Jax and Sam's story!
My Favorite Quotes:
"Even then, so early in my life, I saw pieces of myself mirrored in her eyes. Lost. Alone. Separated. Ruined. It was another one of those defining moments. I'd known, even then, that this girl would play a monumental role in my life." (eARC, Loc. 2226)
~Jax
"Doesn't matter that you won't admit it," she continued. "The truth is, you're a good man-not a demon-and I love you. I've always loved you." Warmth enveloped me as she placed her hand on the side of my face. "Always been in love with you." (eARC, Loc. 2534)
~Sam
"Love you?" he whispered at my ear. Breath warm and voice a deep, velvety whisper. "I fu**ing breathe you. Your face, your laugh, the way you chew at your bottom lip...All of it. All of you. Any light you think you see in me is an echo of you." (eARC, Loc. 2683)
~Jax
*To Read More Book Reviews, Visit A Bookish Escape at http://www.abookishescape.com
The premise of the main character Jax, descending from, Cain, completely intrigued me. Most of the New Adult books available on the market right now are contemporary, so I was really excited to dig in to a New Adult Paranormal story. This was the first book, I read by Jus Accardo. I loved it, and am highly anticipating the next installment in this series.
Jax and Chase are identical twin brothers, but appear to be complete opposites in temperament and personality. Jax carries a demon inside of him that constantly demands violence. He cannot control this demon, but does his best to limit the violent acts, and tends to engage the darker side of humanity with this vice. Jax keeps to himself, has a brooding personality, and is treated like he is the spawn of satan in his hometown. He has always loved Samantha (Sam). They grew up together, became best friends, and fell in love with one another. However, Jax feels he's undeserving of Sam's love, and whenever he is with her, the urge for violence tends to get intense and hard to control. So he left town three years ago to protect her.
Chase is the "golden boy," who can do no wrong. Girls are always throwing themselves at him, and he never gets serious about anyone. Chase and Sam are best friends, and while he has feelings for her as more than a friend, she does not return them. Jax and Chase cannot stand to be around one another, because Jax always has extremely violent urges toward his brother, due to the demon inside of him, and the Cain curse. Parentless, both brothers were raised by their uncle Rick. As death draws near to Rick due to his terminal illness, Jax returns to his hometown. He realizes that his feelings for Sam never changed, and on top of that, her life is consistently being threatened. Jax is determined to protect Sam from peril, and once he removes the danger, he plans on leaving her forever.
Ruined was a very unique story. I enjoyed the fresh topic, the creative and intricate plot, as well as the very steamy and swoon-worthy scenes between Jax and Sam. The story started off at a slow pace, as Ms. Accardo took the time to really develop the story, and give us the necessary background information. A lot of the story focuses on Jax's constant challenge with fighting the demon inside of him. Ms. Accardo did an excellent job of making Jax and his demon, really distinct entities. While the demon fed on the anger and fear of others, Jax would constantly fight against his need for violence. He felt guilty, and believed himself to be truly evil. The demon had no remorse, and learned about human emotion from Jax. The demon also learned about love from Jax, as he too fell in love with Sam. The two were united when it can to there deep love for her, as well as their need to protect her.
At about the halfway point, the story really picked up pace! I needed to unravel all the clues, and figure out who was trying to kill Sam. There were so many twists, turns, and surprises along the way. The more I learned about the origination of the curse, demons, and other paranormal entities, the more I became completely immersed in the story. I loved Jax and Sam's character's. Jax was so loyal, loving, and protective when it came to Sam, and I appreciated his willingness to sacrifice anything for her. Sam was great too. She never stopped believing in Jax, and no matter how much she got hurt, she let herself be vulnerable when it came to him. She saw him for who he was, and her good heart really shined through.
My Rating:
I give Ruined by Jus Accardo 4 Addicting, Unpredictable, Fascinating, and Steamy Stars!!! For a unique, paranormal, New Adult Story, with a twist, look no further than Ruined! I can't wait to read the next installment in The Eternal Balance Series! Ms. Accardo has completely hooked me with Jax and Sam's story!
My Favorite Quotes:
"Even then, so early in my life, I saw pieces of myself mirrored in her eyes. Lost. Alone. Separated. Ruined. It was another one of those defining moments. I'd known, even then, that this girl would play a monumental role in my life." (eARC, Loc. 2226)
~Jax
"Doesn't matter that you won't admit it," she continued. "The truth is, you're a good man-not a demon-and I love you. I've always loved you." Warmth enveloped me as she placed her hand on the side of my face. "Always been in love with you." (eARC, Loc. 2534)
~Sam
"Love you?" he whispered at my ear. Breath warm and voice a deep, velvety whisper. "I fu**ing breathe you. Your face, your laugh, the way you chew at your bottom lip...All of it. All of you. Any light you think you see in me is an echo of you." (eARC, Loc. 2683)
~Jax
*To Read More Book Reviews, Visit A Bookish Escape at http://www.abookishescape.com
November 3, 2016
* I received an ARC of this book courtesy of Entangled Publishing in exchange for an honest review* (spoilers)
Based on the book description and a supporting blurb from one of my favorite authors, I had high hopes for this book. The author blurb was actually a testament to how hot the main character is. Well, that's true. Jax is hot. And a bad boy, of course.
The book is well written. The premise of this book was promising, but there is a LOT going on/backstories, etc. I had too many questions right from the beginning and the main characters didn't draw me in as I had hoped. I didn’t really care about them. I am all for the suspension of some disbelief, but this one was tough for me. On a positive note, there is no insta-love and technically there is no love triangle (I'll get to that in a bit). But there is insta-acceptance of demonic possession.
One major issue I had was the creative license (or completely basic concept) taken with the story of Cain and Abel . The children of Adam and Eve, Cain killed his brother Abel out of jealousy. But which biblical story and details the author followed is unclear and trying to make sense of things or answer questions that arise from the book plot is difficult. It was a distraction while I was reading.
So at the beginning of the story we are told Jax is supposedly avoiding his family because as a descendant of Cain, he has the urge to kill his brother and his demon side needs to feed. Yet on the first page it is noted he is six miles away from his home. On a bus. Heading away(?). Why was he so close? And if he had been on the fringes of his home town he should have known that Sam, the other main character/his love interest was back from college as well (since we find out that he had sort of been checking up on her (cough, stalking) periodically from the time I guess he really left.
So the story broke down a little for me right there. Onto the characters:
Jax - yes, hot. Walks around in a black trench coat? People in town are actually frightened of him? It wasn't clear if everyone just thought he was a bad boy or truly evil. Not even Sam knew he had a demon inside (or even thought he was bad and she was one of the closest to him) so I doubt the town did. His "curse" was the almost overwhelming desire to kill his brother. From what I understood, the worst he did to his brother was push him down the stairs. (not downplaying it, but brothers roughhouse all the time and get hurt without someone considering one a demonspawn) Otherwise he kept his demon (who actually has a name) in check and stifled all other urges to harm his brother. Yes he had to feed the demon, but he only did it to bad people (a la Edward Cullen). He and Sam were a little wild when they were younger, committed petty larceny when they were teens but what else had he done so horribly for all the town to know? And he acts fairly noble and tries to protect Sam. He pretty much has his demon under control, but in certain situations, Jax takes a back seat.
Sam - another girl who thinks there is nothing special about her and also has no real ambition. I didn’t see much else to her. She is back to her hometown after a brief stint at college where she was attacked after a party. She had been best friends with Jax for a long time, had a thing for him, was devastated when he left town after their first kiss. Later we find out she had become more of a part of Jax’s world when her family was murdered when she was young.
Jax’s brother Chase. He’s supposed to be a good guy. Well, he’s not. Somehow he is also possessed by a demon. And that demon wants to take Jax’s demon down because that will tip the balance of good and evil, and evil will reign supreme. And Chase is tied to Sam (a la Jace and Sebastian from City of Lost Souls /Mortal Instruments).
So finally the eww/SMH moment. While there is no love triangle, Jax’s demon takes an interest in Sam and she gets to interact with/glimpse it a couple of times.
I feel strange being one of the few not raving about this and I never saw any inkling of Daemon and Katy (who I love). This is also the first book I’ve read by Jus Accardo. I would definitely try another book by this author though, and I might look into the next book in the series just to see where the story goes.
Based on the book description and a supporting blurb from one of my favorite authors, I had high hopes for this book. The author blurb was actually a testament to how hot the main character is. Well, that's true. Jax is hot. And a bad boy, of course.
The book is well written. The premise of this book was promising, but there is a LOT going on/backstories, etc. I had too many questions right from the beginning and the main characters didn't draw me in as I had hoped. I didn’t really care about them. I am all for the suspension of some disbelief, but this one was tough for me. On a positive note, there is no insta-love and technically there is no love triangle (I'll get to that in a bit). But there is insta-acceptance of demonic possession.
One major issue I had was the creative license (or completely basic concept) taken with the story of Cain and Abel . The children of Adam and Eve, Cain killed his brother Abel out of jealousy. But which biblical story and details the author followed is unclear and trying to make sense of things or answer questions that arise from the book plot is difficult. It was a distraction while I was reading.
So at the beginning of the story we are told Jax is supposedly avoiding his family because as a descendant of Cain, he has the urge to kill his brother and his demon side needs to feed. Yet on the first page it is noted he is six miles away from his home. On a bus. Heading away(?). Why was he so close? And if he had been on the fringes of his home town he should have known that Sam, the other main character/his love interest was back from college as well (since we find out that he had sort of been checking up on her (cough, stalking) periodically from the time I guess he really left.
So the story broke down a little for me right there. Onto the characters:
Jax - yes, hot. Walks around in a black trench coat? People in town are actually frightened of him? It wasn't clear if everyone just thought he was a bad boy or truly evil. Not even Sam knew he had a demon inside (or even thought he was bad and she was one of the closest to him) so I doubt the town did. His "curse" was the almost overwhelming desire to kill his brother. From what I understood, the worst he did to his brother was push him down the stairs. (not downplaying it, but brothers roughhouse all the time and get hurt without someone considering one a demonspawn) Otherwise he kept his demon (who actually has a name) in check and stifled all other urges to harm his brother. Yes he had to feed the demon, but he only did it to bad people (a la Edward Cullen). He and Sam were a little wild when they were younger, committed petty larceny when they were teens but what else had he done so horribly for all the town to know? And he acts fairly noble and tries to protect Sam. He pretty much has his demon under control, but in certain situations, Jax takes a back seat.
Sam - another girl who thinks there is nothing special about her and also has no real ambition. I didn’t see much else to her. She is back to her hometown after a brief stint at college where she was attacked after a party. She had been best friends with Jax for a long time, had a thing for him, was devastated when he left town after their first kiss. Later we find out she had become more of a part of Jax’s world when her family was murdered when she was young.
Jax’s brother Chase. He’s supposed to be a good guy. Well, he’s not. Somehow he is also possessed by a demon. And that demon wants to take Jax’s demon down because that will tip the balance of good and evil, and evil will reign supreme. And Chase is tied to Sam (a la Jace and Sebastian from City of Lost Souls /Mortal Instruments).
So finally the eww/SMH moment. While there is no love triangle, Jax’s demon takes an interest in Sam and she gets to interact with/glimpse it a couple of times.
I feel strange being one of the few not raving about this and I never saw any inkling of Daemon and Katy (who I love). This is also the first book I’ve read by Jus Accardo. I would definitely try another book by this author though, and I might look into the next book in the series just to see where the story goes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 15, 2014
**Find this and other reviews at The Demon Librarian**
One Helluva Dark & Sexy Ride
Wow. Author Jus Accardo just took all of my expectations, lined them up in a pretty row, and blew 'em right out of the water. I might actually drown in all the awesomeness. Quick, someone throw me a life preserver!
I'm joking, but not really. Ruined was an insanely enjoyable read that contained everything I could ever ask for in a book. Action, romance, fantastic characters, great world-building, a steady stream of surprises, aaaaand some seriously delicious dark undertones. It was like Jus Accardo somehow found a copy of my "Things I Love In Books" list and made it her mission to check off each and every item for me. I mean, I know she didn't really, but damn, it sure felt like it!
So here's the set-up: You remember Cain, right? As in Cain and Abel? Yeah, THAT guy. Well, Ruined's leading man Jax is one of Cain's (unlucky) descendants, which means he's cursed to spend his life with a demon living inside of him - a very hungry demon that is constantly pushing him to put the hurt on the people around him, especially those closest to him. So he left town. Packed up and left and tried his darndest not to look back. But it's hard to walk away, and sometimes, no matter how far and fast you run, you find yourself right back where you started. In Jax's case, his home town, the last place on earth he wants to be. And because that's not difficult enough, the girl he left behind is back in town as well, stirring up old feelings Jax can never act on and riling up the demon inside of him.
I really have to hand it to Jus Accardo for doing such an exceptional job with Jax's character. He had so much anger and darkness swirling around inside of him, and not all of it came from the demon. There was a part of Jax that perfectly understood the demon's twisted hungers. Every day he had to wage a war on two fronts - on one side, with the demon, and on the other, with himself. From a purely selfish reader's POV, I'm glad he struggled, because the more he fought that internal battle, the more heavily invested I became in his character. I was breaking out the pom-poms and putting on my "Jax's Cheerleader" outfit before the first chapter came anywhere close to ending. Nothing floats my boat more than a well-written, totally badass and thoroughly tortured hero, and Jax was a spectacular one.
As for Sam, I have massive, embarrassing amounts of love for that girl. None of that shrinking violet or boring, doe-eyed heroine stuff for her! She was a certified spitfire with her own reckless past, and she didn't take crap from anyone, least of all Jax. She was a perfect match for him, able to hold her own and give as good as she got. The best thing about her, though, was that she saw the real Jax, the guy nobody else took the time to know, and nothing and no one was going to convince her he wasn't worthy of her heart.
Like the rest of the book, the romance had a distinctly dark thread running through it. Every moment was heavily charged, and because of the demon, the promise of violence was always hanging over their heads. That led to some very intense interactions which only added to the thrill. There were a few brief instances where the romance slowed down the action, but never for very long. Overall, I thought Sam and Jax's relationship played out beautifully on the page.
There are a ton of other things I could talk about, such as the author's ability to keep the surprises coming, right to the end, and the bits of Sam and Jax's shared past that were sprinkled at key points into the narrative, adding depth to the characters and the story. Or how about the excellent world-building, and the eye-opening revelations about the demon inside of Jax? Or...well, it's a long list, and it all adds up to one helluva great read.
4.5 Stars ★★★★1/2
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
One Helluva Dark & Sexy Ride
Wow. Author Jus Accardo just took all of my expectations, lined them up in a pretty row, and blew 'em right out of the water. I might actually drown in all the awesomeness. Quick, someone throw me a life preserver!
I'm joking, but not really. Ruined was an insanely enjoyable read that contained everything I could ever ask for in a book. Action, romance, fantastic characters, great world-building, a steady stream of surprises, aaaaand some seriously delicious dark undertones. It was like Jus Accardo somehow found a copy of my "Things I Love In Books" list and made it her mission to check off each and every item for me. I mean, I know she didn't really, but damn, it sure felt like it!
So here's the set-up: You remember Cain, right? As in Cain and Abel? Yeah, THAT guy. Well, Ruined's leading man Jax is one of Cain's (unlucky) descendants, which means he's cursed to spend his life with a demon living inside of him - a very hungry demon that is constantly pushing him to put the hurt on the people around him, especially those closest to him. So he left town. Packed up and left and tried his darndest not to look back. But it's hard to walk away, and sometimes, no matter how far and fast you run, you find yourself right back where you started. In Jax's case, his home town, the last place on earth he wants to be. And because that's not difficult enough, the girl he left behind is back in town as well, stirring up old feelings Jax can never act on and riling up the demon inside of him.
I really have to hand it to Jus Accardo for doing such an exceptional job with Jax's character. He had so much anger and darkness swirling around inside of him, and not all of it came from the demon. There was a part of Jax that perfectly understood the demon's twisted hungers. Every day he had to wage a war on two fronts - on one side, with the demon, and on the other, with himself. From a purely selfish reader's POV, I'm glad he struggled, because the more he fought that internal battle, the more heavily invested I became in his character. I was breaking out the pom-poms and putting on my "Jax's Cheerleader" outfit before the first chapter came anywhere close to ending. Nothing floats my boat more than a well-written, totally badass and thoroughly tortured hero, and Jax was a spectacular one.
As for Sam, I have massive, embarrassing amounts of love for that girl. None of that shrinking violet or boring, doe-eyed heroine stuff for her! She was a certified spitfire with her own reckless past, and she didn't take crap from anyone, least of all Jax. She was a perfect match for him, able to hold her own and give as good as she got. The best thing about her, though, was that she saw the real Jax, the guy nobody else took the time to know, and nothing and no one was going to convince her he wasn't worthy of her heart.
Like the rest of the book, the romance had a distinctly dark thread running through it. Every moment was heavily charged, and because of the demon, the promise of violence was always hanging over their heads. That led to some very intense interactions which only added to the thrill. There were a few brief instances where the romance slowed down the action, but never for very long. Overall, I thought Sam and Jax's relationship played out beautifully on the page.
There are a ton of other things I could talk about, such as the author's ability to keep the surprises coming, right to the end, and the bits of Sam and Jax's shared past that were sprinkled at key points into the narrative, adding depth to the characters and the story. Or how about the excellent world-building, and the eye-opening revelations about the demon inside of Jax? Or...well, it's a long list, and it all adds up to one helluva great read.
4.5 Stars ★★★★1/2
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
February 2, 2015
Okay, if you’ve read my blog for any amount of time you’ve probably noticed a theme when it comes to my reviews. I only post reviews of books I like. First, because—big surprise—I like them and think you might like them too. And second, because I don’t like posting bad reviews. I know how much work goes into writing a book and how personal an author’s work becomes. I don’t want to write a review, which are always subjective, that may be considered negative. After all, what I don’t like, you may and vice versa. I mean, I remember when Pulp Fiction (the movie…remember that one?) came out and the critics fell all over it. They thought it was the best thing since the invention of the wheel. Me? I turned it off twenty minutes in. I didn’t see the appeal. To each his or her own. So there. That’s why all my reviews are positive. The negative reviews I file away in my secret little drawer called the shredder.
So, that being said (or typed as the case may be), you won’t be surprised by my next sentence. I LOVED “Ruined” by Jus Accardo. I could end my review right now because, really, enough said. The book is that good. It doesn’t need a review. It stands on its own. So, since I wrote this review, and, therefore, know how boring it is, you can now stop reading and go get a copy of "Ruined" and start reading that. Believe me, the real thing is so much better than my review.
“Ruined” was one of the most original, creative pieces I’ve read relating to demons in, well, ever. In fact, it’s probably one of the most creative stories I’ve read in months. I loved the whole Cain and Abel angle. The “demon within” and fratricide thing. It was so very new and exciting. I read the book in a day and still wanted more.
This was the first book of Accardo’s that I’ve read. It’s always a crap shoot when you pick up a new author’s work. You never know what you’re going to get (yeah, I thought about making that whole “life’s like a box of chocolates” joke. I barely restrained myself. Mainly because I’d really like some chocolate right now.) But I was really surprised by “Ruined.” Accardo’s work is not only original, but well thought out, has great pacing and well-defined, likable characters. And a writing style that most readers will appreciate. What more can a reader ask for?
Oh, I’ll answer my own question…Jax. More Jax, puhleese! Yeah, he’s part demon, but he’s all kinds of swoony-male-hotness. Just the kind of brooding bad boy that makes for great male characters. But the thing about this bad boy? He’s not all bad. Even if he thinks he is. And that just makes him all the more swoon-worthy. Yeah…Jax. Sigh.
But the good characters might start with Jax, but they don’t stop there. “Ruined” is filled with them. Jax is the evil twin, so of course there is a “good twin.” Enter Chase. He seems to have life wrapped up and tied with a golden bow, but things aren’t all that they seem. Then there’s Samantha, the jilted ex. She’s a great female lead. She’s not perfect. She has her own set of problems to deal with. She’s relatable and likable. She makes the perfect second half of Jax’s character. “Ruined” also had a well-rounded cast of secondary characters that I found added a lot to the story, instead of being storyboard cut-outs.
Bottom Line: Jus Accardo hit a home run with “Ruined.” She’s written a great story that’s entertaining and has a cast of great, well-rounded characters. But it’s also a story about familial ties, forgiving yourself, trusting others, and learning to believe in yourself. Layers, layers, layers. It’s more than just a paranormal romance. There’s substance between the lines of “Ruined” if you look for it. And that’s what’s going to make me search out more of Accardo’s work!
So, that being said (or typed as the case may be), you won’t be surprised by my next sentence. I LOVED “Ruined” by Jus Accardo. I could end my review right now because, really, enough said. The book is that good. It doesn’t need a review. It stands on its own. So, since I wrote this review, and, therefore, know how boring it is, you can now stop reading and go get a copy of "Ruined" and start reading that. Believe me, the real thing is so much better than my review.
“Ruined” was one of the most original, creative pieces I’ve read relating to demons in, well, ever. In fact, it’s probably one of the most creative stories I’ve read in months. I loved the whole Cain and Abel angle. The “demon within” and fratricide thing. It was so very new and exciting. I read the book in a day and still wanted more.
This was the first book of Accardo’s that I’ve read. It’s always a crap shoot when you pick up a new author’s work. You never know what you’re going to get (yeah, I thought about making that whole “life’s like a box of chocolates” joke. I barely restrained myself. Mainly because I’d really like some chocolate right now.) But I was really surprised by “Ruined.” Accardo’s work is not only original, but well thought out, has great pacing and well-defined, likable characters. And a writing style that most readers will appreciate. What more can a reader ask for?
Oh, I’ll answer my own question…Jax. More Jax, puhleese! Yeah, he’s part demon, but he’s all kinds of swoony-male-hotness. Just the kind of brooding bad boy that makes for great male characters. But the thing about this bad boy? He’s not all bad. Even if he thinks he is. And that just makes him all the more swoon-worthy. Yeah…Jax. Sigh.
But the good characters might start with Jax, but they don’t stop there. “Ruined” is filled with them. Jax is the evil twin, so of course there is a “good twin.” Enter Chase. He seems to have life wrapped up and tied with a golden bow, but things aren’t all that they seem. Then there’s Samantha, the jilted ex. She’s a great female lead. She’s not perfect. She has her own set of problems to deal with. She’s relatable and likable. She makes the perfect second half of Jax’s character. “Ruined” also had a well-rounded cast of secondary characters that I found added a lot to the story, instead of being storyboard cut-outs.
Bottom Line: Jus Accardo hit a home run with “Ruined.” She’s written a great story that’s entertaining and has a cast of great, well-rounded characters. But it’s also a story about familial ties, forgiving yourself, trusting others, and learning to believe in yourself. Layers, layers, layers. It’s more than just a paranormal romance. There’s substance between the lines of “Ruined” if you look for it. And that’s what’s going to make me search out more of Accardo’s work!
January 26, 2014
Review Incoming.I got a copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.
For Jax, Demons are real and not just something that haunts him from his past. Jax has lost the lottery and because of his family history he has descended from Cain and has a demon living inside of him. The demon wants nothing more then to murder his own brother. Unable to do it, Jax leaves everything behind including happiness and the only girl he ever loved.
Heartbroken, Samantha run away for college as soon as she could. Hoping to escape all of her problems, but instead she only encountered more. After being attacked in College, she finds herself home once more facing the only man she did not think she would ever seen again.
This was my first book by Jus Accardo, and I have heard a lot of great things about her earlier writing so I was very curious. That and the fact that Entangled Teen has been putting out some very interesting books.
Although I did enjoy the overall story, the ending had both thrown a few curve balls and surprises that kind of left me scratching my head. I think I am getting ahead of myself here, so here is a few things I liked and did not about this book.
The writing was great! I really loved the way Jus Accardo can tell a story, it really pulls you in. She had created a bunch of great characters in an interesting world that had you guessing until the very last page...like literally. Thought the pace was slow in some parts, I enjoyed the general picture.
Jax and Samantha. Really very polar opposite. Samantha is kind of sweet and confused. She wants answers, she wants to know why Jax had dumped and left her after that earth shattering kiss and even after learning his secret she doesn't give up. Of course finding out your ex-boyfriend/friend is a demon brings out a new different kind of disbelief and terror, but she manages to work through it. I did enjoy the romance between them, it was very realistic, given the situation. Really, I couldn't help but connect with them.
The plot. I feel like demons can be a hard subject to write correctly much less alone get it write and Jus Accardo made it readable and done a fairly well job with it. I liked that Jax had all these struggles inside of him with this thing that was as much a part of him as he was a part of the demon. Two different souls in one body, fighting for all kinds of control with emotions.
What made me er...
The book was slow in some places and maybe even dragged a little for me. But the good storyline did keep me very immersed so I was able to come back to it easily, unfortunately this did take me longer to finish the book then I originally wanted to.
Thought I enjoyed the romance I think there was too much tugging and pulling between Jax and Samantha that at times left me kind of frustrated.
The ending... The ending really left me scratching my head. I don't want to go too much into it for the people that did not read it, but the whole deals part left me kind of "huh...who...what...when did this happen?" and Jax was suddenly involved in it too with Heckle? I was so confused... I thought it was only Samantha... besides the fact that we never even see it coming or get a hint, it was just.. random.
Overall I am curious to see where this story goes, especially with everything that has happened in the end. It was a lot to chew on, but it seems to set up book two nicely.
For Jax, Demons are real and not just something that haunts him from his past. Jax has lost the lottery and because of his family history he has descended from Cain and has a demon living inside of him. The demon wants nothing more then to murder his own brother. Unable to do it, Jax leaves everything behind including happiness and the only girl he ever loved.
Heartbroken, Samantha run away for college as soon as she could. Hoping to escape all of her problems, but instead she only encountered more. After being attacked in College, she finds herself home once more facing the only man she did not think she would ever seen again.
This was my first book by Jus Accardo, and I have heard a lot of great things about her earlier writing so I was very curious. That and the fact that Entangled Teen has been putting out some very interesting books.
Although I did enjoy the overall story, the ending had both thrown a few curve balls and surprises that kind of left me scratching my head. I think I am getting ahead of myself here, so here is a few things I liked and did not about this book.
The writing was great! I really loved the way Jus Accardo can tell a story, it really pulls you in. She had created a bunch of great characters in an interesting world that had you guessing until the very last page...like literally. Thought the pace was slow in some parts, I enjoyed the general picture.
Jax and Samantha. Really very polar opposite. Samantha is kind of sweet and confused. She wants answers, she wants to know why Jax had dumped and left her after that earth shattering kiss and even after learning his secret she doesn't give up. Of course finding out your ex-boyfriend/friend is a demon brings out a new different kind of disbelief and terror, but she manages to work through it. I did enjoy the romance between them, it was very realistic, given the situation. Really, I couldn't help but connect with them.
The plot. I feel like demons can be a hard subject to write correctly much less alone get it write and Jus Accardo made it readable and done a fairly well job with it. I liked that Jax had all these struggles inside of him with this thing that was as much a part of him as he was a part of the demon. Two different souls in one body, fighting for all kinds of control with emotions.
What made me er...
The book was slow in some places and maybe even dragged a little for me. But the good storyline did keep me very immersed so I was able to come back to it easily, unfortunately this did take me longer to finish the book then I originally wanted to.
Thought I enjoyed the romance I think there was too much tugging and pulling between Jax and Samantha that at times left me kind of frustrated.
The ending... The ending really left me scratching my head. I don't want to go too much into it for the people that did not read it, but the whole deals part left me kind of "huh...who...what...when did this happen?" and Jax was suddenly involved in it too with Heckle? I was so confused... I thought it was only Samantha... besides the fact that we never even see it coming or get a hint, it was just.. random.
Overall I am curious to see where this story goes, especially with everything that has happened in the end. It was a lot to chew on, but it seems to set up book two nicely.
July 19, 2014
More Reviews Here: Readers Live A Thousand Lives
When I picked this book up I was in a major reading slump, probably my worst yet. With me being very busy at work I didn’t have time to read and then I just never got the desire to read anything. When I finally made myself pick up a book again I was so glad it was Ruined. I finished this in one sitting and it kicked that slumps butt. I love paranormal reads and I especially love when they are mixed with New Adult, because those are few and far between.
Jax is cranky… so naturally I like him a lot. He is an antihero at its finest. He isn’t exactly a good guy, but he has a lot of redeeming qualities and he tries to do what is right. Also, it’s not really his fault and a lot of times that sounds like a cop out to make a bad guy good, but with Jax it is the truth. It’s kinda hard to be an angel when you have to share your body with a demon. He really has been dealt a crappy hand and my heart broke for him. His situation is pretty much impossible to deal with.
Then there is Sam and I really liked her. She is a wonderful heroine, not whiny or clingy and she deals with the paranormal aspects realistically without being frustrating. She is also strong and determined. She wants to be involved but realizes that she can’t do it all herself. I love that she knows what she wants and goes for it and that she is willing to sacrifice for things bigger than herself.
I really love the paranormal aspect to this one. It wasn’t just your typical demons and Jus Accardo gave them her own flair. Our story centers around the decedents of Cain (you know Cain and Abel). His descendants are still paying for his sins and that is how Jax ended up sharing a body with a demon. Not so fair if you ask me, but nobody ever said life is fair. As you can guess, that makes life difficult. Especially when you love a girl named Sam, but being near her makes you happy and happy isn’t so good for the demon since he feeds off fear and rage. Really all these things combined nicely for an awesome paranormal read. Now add in the other New Adult elements I love and we have a winner.
Now while I did really enjoy this book, I do have some complaints. Jax was moody and he is very much stuck on the “he is no good for Sam” thing. Which does have some truth, but Sam is a big girl and is making an informed decision. Also that repeats a lot throughout the story. I also wanted a bit more happily ever after in my conclusion. I know it’s a series and there is more to come, but throw me a bone! Give me some sort of hope. Right now I’m sad. I mean I still am dying for more, but I’m sad.
All in all, Ruined is a great read and one that paranormal fans are sure to enjoy. It’s a fresh twist on demons and also has a great forbidden romance that you root for.
When I picked this book up I was in a major reading slump, probably my worst yet. With me being very busy at work I didn’t have time to read and then I just never got the desire to read anything. When I finally made myself pick up a book again I was so glad it was Ruined. I finished this in one sitting and it kicked that slumps butt. I love paranormal reads and I especially love when they are mixed with New Adult, because those are few and far between.
Jax is cranky… so naturally I like him a lot. He is an antihero at its finest. He isn’t exactly a good guy, but he has a lot of redeeming qualities and he tries to do what is right. Also, it’s not really his fault and a lot of times that sounds like a cop out to make a bad guy good, but with Jax it is the truth. It’s kinda hard to be an angel when you have to share your body with a demon. He really has been dealt a crappy hand and my heart broke for him. His situation is pretty much impossible to deal with.
Then there is Sam and I really liked her. She is a wonderful heroine, not whiny or clingy and she deals with the paranormal aspects realistically without being frustrating. She is also strong and determined. She wants to be involved but realizes that she can’t do it all herself. I love that she knows what she wants and goes for it and that she is willing to sacrifice for things bigger than herself.
I really love the paranormal aspect to this one. It wasn’t just your typical demons and Jus Accardo gave them her own flair. Our story centers around the decedents of Cain (you know Cain and Abel). His descendants are still paying for his sins and that is how Jax ended up sharing a body with a demon. Not so fair if you ask me, but nobody ever said life is fair. As you can guess, that makes life difficult. Especially when you love a girl named Sam, but being near her makes you happy and happy isn’t so good for the demon since he feeds off fear and rage. Really all these things combined nicely for an awesome paranormal read. Now add in the other New Adult elements I love and we have a winner.
Now while I did really enjoy this book, I do have some complaints. Jax was moody and he is very much stuck on the “he is no good for Sam” thing. Which does have some truth, but Sam is a big girl and is making an informed decision. Also that repeats a lot throughout the story. I also wanted a bit more happily ever after in my conclusion. I know it’s a series and there is more to come, but throw me a bone! Give me some sort of hope. Right now I’m sad. I mean I still am dying for more, but I’m sad.
All in all, Ruined is a great read and one that paranormal fans are sure to enjoy. It’s a fresh twist on demons and also has a great forbidden romance that you root for.
January 7, 2014
I fell in love with this book as soon as I read the synopsis and saw the cover. I am happy to say it didn’t disappoint, surpassing my expectations completely; and believe me, I had high expectations.
The concept is unique and expertly executed, weaving the biblical tale of Cain and Abel into a modern-day setting with an ingenious twist involving the battle of good versus evil. Not only on a large-scale but also on a personal level with the choices we face in our everyday lives and the decisions we make. The concept of actions and consequences plays a significant role within the narrative.
The characters are completely engaging; the dual narrative adding clarity to the actions within the plot. I adore being able to get inside the minds of characters; Jus Accardo does a fantastic job of bringing the characters to vivid life within the imagination. While it was sometimes disturbing to be in Jax’s mind it did provide a deeper level of understanding to his unique situation. Able to feel his struggle on a personal level, I couldn’t help but fall in love with him.
Sam understands Jax on a deep level that he doesn’t give her credit for initially. She has such a wonderful nature about her, events within the story make perfect sense while simultaneously frying your brain a little :) Damn, I wish I could tell you exactly why but then it would spoil it and I seriously think you lovelies need to read this book.
The plot is fast paced and action packed, a surprise twists accelerate the action in all the right ways ;) The tension is like a tightrope through the book, adding to the excitement. The chemistry between Sam and Jax is combustible, making it fire extinguisher worthy :) Believe me, you won’t be disappointed in any way.
Jus Accardo is fast tracking to my list of authors I have to read everything by. I was desperate to read Ruined from the moment I saw it; take that and multiply it by 100 and now you can imagine how I feel while I wait for book 2.
The concept is unique and expertly executed, weaving the biblical tale of Cain and Abel into a modern-day setting with an ingenious twist involving the battle of good versus evil. Not only on a large-scale but also on a personal level with the choices we face in our everyday lives and the decisions we make. The concept of actions and consequences plays a significant role within the narrative.
The characters are completely engaging; the dual narrative adding clarity to the actions within the plot. I adore being able to get inside the minds of characters; Jus Accardo does a fantastic job of bringing the characters to vivid life within the imagination. While it was sometimes disturbing to be in Jax’s mind it did provide a deeper level of understanding to his unique situation. Able to feel his struggle on a personal level, I couldn’t help but fall in love with him.
Sam understands Jax on a deep level that he doesn’t give her credit for initially. She has such a wonderful nature about her, events within the story make perfect sense while simultaneously frying your brain a little :) Damn, I wish I could tell you exactly why but then it would spoil it and I seriously think you lovelies need to read this book.
The plot is fast paced and action packed, a surprise twists accelerate the action in all the right ways ;) The tension is like a tightrope through the book, adding to the excitement. The chemistry between Sam and Jax is combustible, making it fire extinguisher worthy :) Believe me, you won’t be disappointed in any way.
Jus Accardo is fast tracking to my list of authors I have to read everything by. I was desperate to read Ruined from the moment I saw it; take that and multiply it by 100 and now you can imagine how I feel while I wait for book 2.
Want to read
March 27, 2020🎁 FREE on Amazon today (3/27/2020)! 🎁
December 22, 2019
DNF @ 20%
Just couldn’t get into it. Interesting story but there was so much back story that I left like I missed a whole book before this one.
Just couldn’t get into it. Interesting story but there was so much back story that I left like I missed a whole book before this one.
January 16, 2014
Originally posted at:
* I used Grammarly's Plagiarism Detect feature because I wanted to be on the safe side. I wouldn't want to be abducted by 'aliens', now would I? XD
Ranting starting in 3... 2... 1....
I'll just start off by saying how I eventually will be truly impressed with how Mrs. Accardo wrote this novel, but at the moment I want to HURT something. You may find yourself asking why. Well, for starters, this novel ended in a kind of cliffhanger that is killing me right now (considering it's 2 in the morning while I'm writing this...). Have you no mercy, Mrs. Accardo?!
With that off my chest, onto the rest of this so called review (I'm sorry if it turns into a huge blob of a 50 lined paragraph. Blame Mrs. Accardo for her superior writing skills....)
I LOVED everything about this book. The characters, the narrating and general dialogue and, hell, even the villains were off the chain (Excuse the expression. I've been listening to too much rap in the past few days...hehe).
My favorite character in this book is JAX! I just love tortured heroes who still fight for what's right, no matter what the cost. I can gush about him all day, but one thing that stood out to me in this book that involved him was: He. Couldn't. Catch. A. Damn. Break. When the metaphorical poop hit the very real fan, it was ALWAYS aimed at him.
From that being said, you can assume a lot of things, but you know what they say about assuming. It involves someone's butt, you and me. You caught my drift? Well, that plot twist got me nice and good. I was beginning to think, that for the first time in my life, I was rooting for the villain. Well, turns out, Jax was the lesser of two evils when compared to his so called 'saint' of a twin. I mean that literally and philosophically.
Jax Description: I couldn't help myself....C;
Chase (as above mentioned) is considered the 'saint' brother. I, personally, found him annoying as all h*ll (excuse the pun...hehe). I can't say anything about him, or I'll spoil the a good chunk of the book for you. From me to you: Read. This. Book.
Sam. I love how Mrs. Accardo can create such relatable, spunky, with-a-backbone heroines. This is the second series I'm reading by her, and I'm impressed. It amazed me how forward and caring Sam could be. Even when scared she fought for what she believed in, no matter the cost. She simply made it happen.
The ending was terrible. By terrible, I mean I'm suffering from a mild-cliffhanger-too-many-loose-endings-left-behind syndrome. Please leave me in my corner to obsess and make a diagram of possible outcomes to sooth my inner turmoil...
In other words: I. Need. Book. Two.
NOW.
Favorite Quotes:
"She was my anchor and kryptonite all at the same time. Salvation and damnation in one beautiful package."
"Fate was a cruel bitch with serious PMS."
"I'd find it because there was no alternative. I'd fine it because I couldn't live without her."
* I used Grammarly's Plagiarism Detect feature because I wanted to be on the safe side. I wouldn't want to be abducted by 'aliens', now would I? XD
Ranting starting in 3... 2... 1....
I'll just start off by saying how I eventually will be truly impressed with how Mrs. Accardo wrote this novel, but at the moment I want to HURT something. You may find yourself asking why. Well, for starters, this novel ended in a kind of cliffhanger that is killing me right now (considering it's 2 in the morning while I'm writing this...). Have you no mercy, Mrs. Accardo?!
With that off my chest, onto the rest of this so called review (I'm sorry if it turns into a huge blob of a 50 lined paragraph. Blame Mrs. Accardo for her superior writing skills....)
I LOVED everything about this book. The characters, the narrating and general dialogue and, hell, even the villains were off the chain (Excuse the expression. I've been listening to too much rap in the past few days...hehe).
My favorite character in this book is JAX! I just love tortured heroes who still fight for what's right, no matter what the cost. I can gush about him all day, but one thing that stood out to me in this book that involved him was: He. Couldn't. Catch. A. Damn. Break. When the metaphorical poop hit the very real fan, it was ALWAYS aimed at him.
Where she viewed Chase as a saint - an exemplary specimen of a man that could do no wrong - Jax was the devil incarnate.
From that being said, you can assume a lot of things, but you know what they say about assuming. It involves someone's butt, you and me. You caught my drift? Well, that plot twist got me nice and good. I was beginning to think, that for the first time in my life, I was rooting for the villain. Well, turns out, Jax was the lesser of two evils when compared to his so called 'saint' of a twin. I mean that literally and philosophically.
Jax Description: I couldn't help myself....C;
'Godlike? Try pasty and...' Yeah, I had nothing. Godlike was a good word. Drool-worthy. Focus-stealing... Holy s*it.
Chase (as above mentioned) is considered the 'saint' brother. I, personally, found him annoying as all h*ll (excuse the pun...hehe). I can't say anything about him, or I'll spoil the a good chunk of the book for you. From me to you: Read. This. Book.
Jax was always dark and sarcastic. Chase, on the other hand, bounced back and forth on the tip of a pen.
Sam. I love how Mrs. Accardo can create such relatable, spunky, with-a-backbone heroines. This is the second series I'm reading by her, and I'm impressed. It amazed me how forward and caring Sam could be. Even when scared she fought for what she believed in, no matter the cost. She simply made it happen.
This Sam could take on the world all by herself. She didn't need anyone.
The ending was terrible. By terrible, I mean I'm suffering from a mild-cliffhanger-too-many-loose-endings-left-behind syndrome. Please leave me in my corner to obsess and make a diagram of possible outcomes to sooth my inner turmoil...
In other words: I. Need. Book. Two.
NOW.
Favorite Quotes:
"She was my anchor and kryptonite all at the same time. Salvation and damnation in one beautiful package."
"Fate was a cruel bitch with serious PMS."
"I'd find it because there was no alternative. I'd fine it because I couldn't live without her."
December 15, 2020
"My life was twisted. The more misery I caused people, the happier the demon was"
Let's start by saying that this book had so much potential to be awesome but can only be described by: yeah, it's kinda good (or maybe just yeah, it was nice)
I picked up this book because someone told me it was similar to the Lux Saga by JLA; that saga is one of my most favorite sagas ever, and I just love JLA's fast/funny writing so much that I had to grab this.
Turns out it was not like the Lux Saga, at all. Yes, Jax has a similar personality to Damon, but just at the beginning, and he tried to stay away from Samantha to protect her, but I don't think the similarities go beyond those points.
I was a bit disappointed but I kept reading and I started to enjoy the story on its own -not comparing it to Lux so much anymore-.
Sometimes, I felt like it was hard to read, I lost interest very easily at some points. I found some parts unnecessary, then others caught my attention and I was back at it again, like the plot twist! I really enjoyed it, I wasn't expecting it. Now that I think about it, it was pretty obvious but it didn't cross my mind, so that was a nice surprise for me.
Overall, I had fun but I think the story would have been so much better if the author had explained certain points with more detail, for example, the demon/Son of Cain drama going on, which is extremely important. Yes, it is explained later, but it's not enough for me.
Now getting more "spoilery" (is that even a word)
Samantha for me was just so, so plain. I seriously don't get why Jax is so attracted to her, for me she was just there, suspended in the air. She was a fundamental point of the story, obviously, but I feel like I could have had any other girl and it would have been the same story.
She has been in love with Jax for as long as they have known each other, as well as Jax has been in love with her; but then Jax leaves her to protect her and she starts to"hate him" until he comes back.
I think the only part when I liked her was when she kills herself so she is not an obstacle for Jax anymore, and yet was so cliché (and not really well written in my opinion) because it was the first time she showed personality, she sort of became a character for the first time in that moment.
Jax was nice, he was a good person with veeeeeeery bad luck. But I didn't like the whole "I sacrificed what I love the most, you Sammy" I didn't buy it, I know he loves her, yet it was too cheesy for me to feel anything more than "cringey-ness".
Another character, I did not like -but I guess it was kinda the point- Chase. Chase was a bastard. I didn't care about him, he was this random, yet important character that appeared at some points, and it turned out to be the plot twist! He is a bastard, that made Jax felt miserable his whole life and enjoyed it. Ugh, hate him; it's sad Jax can't kill him.
And then there's that I guess!
The whole "not spilling each other's blood will make the earth hell" I didn't get it ????? I guess it will be in the following books, as well as the whole enemy armies the demons had. I wish I could have seen a little more of that.
Anyways, writing this I realize that this book is more of an introduction to the world that a story itself, and it's fine it's the first book in the series after all, but I was expecting more :(
I'll read the following books? I guess I will, I just don't knwo when.
Let's start by saying that this book had so much potential to be awesome but can only be described by: yeah, it's kinda good (or maybe just yeah, it was nice)
I picked up this book because someone told me it was similar to the Lux Saga by JLA; that saga is one of my most favorite sagas ever, and I just love JLA's fast/funny writing so much that I had to grab this.
Turns out it was not like the Lux Saga, at all. Yes, Jax has a similar personality to Damon, but just at the beginning, and he tried to stay away from Samantha to protect her, but I don't think the similarities go beyond those points.
Sometimes, I felt like it was hard to read, I lost interest very easily at some points. I found some parts unnecessary, then others caught my attention and I was back at it again, like the plot twist! I really enjoyed it, I wasn't expecting it. Now that I think about it, it was pretty obvious but it didn't cross my mind, so that was a nice surprise for me.
Overall, I had fun but I think the story would have been so much better if the author had explained certain points with more detail, for example, the demon/Son of Cain drama going on, which is extremely important. Yes, it is explained later, but it's not enough for me.
Now getting more "spoilery" (is that even a word)
Samantha for me was just so, so plain. I seriously don't get why Jax is so attracted to her, for me she was just there, suspended in the air. She was a fundamental point of the story, obviously, but I feel like I could have had any other girl and it would have been the same story.
She has been in love with Jax for as long as they have known each other, as well as Jax has been in love with her; but then Jax leaves her to protect her and she starts to"hate him" until he comes back.
I think the only part when I liked her was when she kills herself so she is not an obstacle for Jax anymore, and yet was so cliché (and not really well written in my opinion) because it was the first time she showed personality, she sort of became a character for the first time in that moment.
Jax was nice, he was a good person with veeeeeeery bad luck. But I didn't like the whole "I sacrificed what I love the most, you Sammy" I didn't buy it, I know he loves her, yet it was too cheesy for me to feel anything more than "cringey-ness".
Another character, I did not like -but I guess it was kinda the point- Chase. Chase was a bastard. I didn't care about him, he was this random, yet important character that appeared at some points, and it turned out to be the plot twist! He is a bastard, that made Jax felt miserable his whole life and enjoyed it. Ugh, hate him; it's sad Jax can't kill him.
And then there's that I guess!
The whole "not spilling each other's blood will make the earth hell" I didn't get it ????? I guess it will be in the following books, as well as the whole enemy armies the demons had. I wish I could have seen a little more of that.
Anyways, writing this I realize that this book is more of an introduction to the world that a story itself, and it's fine it's the first book in the series after all, but I was expecting more :(
I'll read the following books? I guess I will, I just don't knwo when.
July 22, 2016
ALSO CROSS POSTED ON MY BLOG.
Actual Rating: 4.5 stars
Whew! I didn't think I would finish it in a day, but I did and I'm glad! Great book! :)
As for the plot, the connection with Cain and Abel was really interesting. I can't remember the last time I had read a book going on that route. It's interesting and refreshing to read.
I like the narrating points of view in the book. The pov of Jax and Sam make it easier to understand and delve into the story all the more. It also helped me to understand their characters. As characters, both of them are really good. Jax has his own "inner demon" to fight with. Here, I must acknowledge Jus's accomplishment as an author in portraying Jax's character. It's like he is constantly walking on a thin thread balanced between his demonic and non-demonic side. And being cursed to live with that demon for the rest of his life is not easy at all. His demon ends up hurting people and to keep the ones he loves safe, he has no other choice except leaving them. All is not well for him, of course. His anger, violence and turmoils are very, very well portrayed in the book.
Personally I like Samantha more. I have already developed this huge crush for her (in a non platonic way of course). If I say she is a badass, that would be wrong because then it may seem like she doesn't have much of a romantic side to her. But she is a mix of both. She is basically a no-shit girl. Her personal and non-personal life are total mess but she is not the type of a girl to just whine about it and do nothing. She is headstrong and her unbenting attitude in facing adverse situations made me fascinate her even more. She also can't seem to forget the guy that had left her, heartbroken. But I like how she is able to see the real Jax behind that cursed persona of his, unlike anybody else.
I like the connection both Jax and Samantha share. There is this theme of conventional dark and violent romance there and it is quite enjoyable to read. Some things seems a little cliche, like Jax not wanting Sam anywhere near him for her own good and all. Also, I feel there was room for more development between Jax and Samantha's relationship. Even then, the plot seems to carry out on its own pretty well and altogether creates an interesting effect.
Apart, from these two, I think I would have liked Chase as well. I mean, he sounds pretty hot too :D But he seems a little selfish compared to Jax and that made him less favorite to me:p
I feel that there are few instances where some things seem to be presented without a proper logic, but I think I can overlook it because the story is impressive in itself.
The surprise element is pretty good. The twists and turns that is seen throughout the book, until the end made me keep going without getting bored. The ending is kind of a cliffhanger. It would have made me really sad and unforgiving(!) if I didn't know it to be a series. I hope the story is carried out well in those books.I'll surely be looking forward to reading the next installment.
Overall, Jus Accardo's efforts as an author is very much successful in this book. You can see her talent as an author turning a pretty conventional story into something more interesting, fascinating and worth-waiting for. If you are into NA fantasy and romance like me, this book is sure to satisfy you :)
Actual Rating: 4.5 stars
Whew! I didn't think I would finish it in a day, but I did and I'm glad! Great book! :)
As for the plot, the connection with Cain and Abel was really interesting. I can't remember the last time I had read a book going on that route. It's interesting and refreshing to read.
I like the narrating points of view in the book. The pov of Jax and Sam make it easier to understand and delve into the story all the more. It also helped me to understand their characters. As characters, both of them are really good. Jax has his own "inner demon" to fight with. Here, I must acknowledge Jus's accomplishment as an author in portraying Jax's character. It's like he is constantly walking on a thin thread balanced between his demonic and non-demonic side. And being cursed to live with that demon for the rest of his life is not easy at all. His demon ends up hurting people and to keep the ones he loves safe, he has no other choice except leaving them. All is not well for him, of course. His anger, violence and turmoils are very, very well portrayed in the book.
Personally I like Samantha more. I have already developed this huge crush for her (in a non platonic way of course). If I say she is a badass, that would be wrong because then it may seem like she doesn't have much of a romantic side to her. But she is a mix of both. She is basically a no-shit girl. Her personal and non-personal life are total mess but she is not the type of a girl to just whine about it and do nothing. She is headstrong and her unbenting attitude in facing adverse situations made me fascinate her even more. She also can't seem to forget the guy that had left her, heartbroken. But I like how she is able to see the real Jax behind that cursed persona of his, unlike anybody else.
I like the connection both Jax and Samantha share. There is this theme of conventional dark and violent romance there and it is quite enjoyable to read. Some things seems a little cliche, like Jax not wanting Sam anywhere near him for her own good and all. Also, I feel there was room for more development between Jax and Samantha's relationship. Even then, the plot seems to carry out on its own pretty well and altogether creates an interesting effect.
Apart, from these two, I think I would have liked Chase as well. I mean, he sounds pretty hot too :D But he seems a little selfish compared to Jax and that made him less favorite to me:p
I feel that there are few instances where some things seem to be presented without a proper logic, but I think I can overlook it because the story is impressive in itself.
The surprise element is pretty good. The twists and turns that is seen throughout the book, until the end made me keep going without getting bored. The ending is kind of a cliffhanger. It would have made me really sad and unforgiving(!) if I didn't know it to be a series. I hope the story is carried out well in those books.I'll surely be looking forward to reading the next installment.
Overall, Jus Accardo's efforts as an author is very much successful in this book. You can see her talent as an author turning a pretty conventional story into something more interesting, fascinating and worth-waiting for. If you are into NA fantasy and romance like me, this book is sure to satisfy you :)
December 30, 2013
Jus has done it again.....
An awesome storyline....
The descendents of Cain & Abel. This makes for an exciting read! Jus kept me on my toes trying to figure out the who done it ! It was intriguing the way that she had incoorporated the "demons" into the story.
I do not care if Jax has a demon....
I really want a Jax for myself! I really felt for this character and all that he has to deal with on a daily basis just to keep his " inner demon " in check! The two brothers, Jax and Chase, were different in so many ways and yet alike in so many other. While Jax is willing to lose everything for the ones he loves, Chase just seemed very selfish to me by trying to hold on and not willing to fight. But, on the other hand, they both were very sorrowful for the things that they had to do in order to stay alive and sane!
Samantha is a fighter.....
OMG! I loved her! She was snarky at times, and full of sass! Jax had no idea of what to do with her sometimes because she pushed all of his buttons with a single look. She knew that she was playing with fire, but she was tired of sitting around and hoping/wanting. So, at times, she took matters into her own hands!
The ending was sad for me:(
That ending! Grrr! Jus! You dropped a bomb just when I thought that things were going to be okay with Jax and Sam! I sat and re-read that last few paragraphs over again and insisted that I was missing something cuz that could not possibly be correct???
In Conclusion....
Jus is always on my radar! Any book that she writes, I HAVE to read! I can add this book to the favorites list! I beleive that this was Jus's first time with New Adult and in my opinion, she did a fantastic job! Can't wait for the next book in the series!!!
Oh!! and if you are fan of Jus's just like me....There is going to be more of the Denazen series! I honestly thought that book 3 was the last but, I just saw at least 2 more!!!
Jus has created an awesome storyline and amazing (I mean hawt!) characters that I have fallen completely in love with! As I expected, I was done for after the first chapter and sucked into the world of Cain & Abel.
An awesome storyline....
The descendents of Cain & Abel. This makes for an exciting read! Jus kept me on my toes trying to figure out the who done it ! It was intriguing the way that she had incoorporated the "demons" into the story.
I do not care if Jax has a demon....
I really want a Jax for myself! I really felt for this character and all that he has to deal with on a daily basis just to keep his " inner demon " in check! The two brothers, Jax and Chase, were different in so many ways and yet alike in so many other. While Jax is willing to lose everything for the ones he loves, Chase just seemed very selfish to me by trying to hold on and not willing to fight. But, on the other hand, they both were very sorrowful for the things that they had to do in order to stay alive and sane!
Samantha is a fighter.....
OMG! I loved her! She was snarky at times, and full of sass! Jax had no idea of what to do with her sometimes because she pushed all of his buttons with a single look. She knew that she was playing with fire, but she was tired of sitting around and hoping/wanting. So, at times, she took matters into her own hands!
The ending was sad for me:(
That ending! Grrr! Jus! You dropped a bomb just when I thought that things were going to be okay with Jax and Sam! I sat and re-read that last few paragraphs over again and insisted that I was missing something cuz that could not possibly be correct???
In Conclusion....
Jus is always on my radar! Any book that she writes, I HAVE to read! I can add this book to the favorites list! I beleive that this was Jus's first time with New Adult and in my opinion, she did a fantastic job! Can't wait for the next book in the series!!!
Oh!! and if you are fan of Jus's just like me....There is going to be more of the Denazen series! I honestly thought that book 3 was the last but, I just saw at least 2 more!!!
Yippee!!!
December 15, 2014
I received an ARC through NetGalley.
Ruined was interesting. Jax is tainted, and a descendant of Cain. What this ultimately means is that he shares his body with a demon and has uncontrollable urges for violence. He's stayed away from his hometown for three years, because he was going to kill his twin. His brother is the person his demon hates the most, of course. But he comes back when he learns that his uncle is dying, but he stays when he finds out that the girl he loves is being stalked by demons. He wants to protect her, but he also needs her to hate him, so he'll stay away before he hurts her too.
I really liked the premise of Ruined. Ever since Cain killed Abel, his sons have had a mark on their souls. Not all of them, as it can skip generations, but his descendants are paying for his crime. Jax is currently that one, and he tries to control it by creating fear or anger in humans to feed his demon. It's not enough though, so he does kill every few days to keep the urges at bay. At least he targets criminals and not the innocent. I generally enjoy stories where the hero attempts to use a curse for good.
Ruined also has a really awesome kind of, but not really, sorta love triangle. No, it's not between Jax and his brother, although in the beginning it does look like it'll go that way. It doesn't. It's between Jax and his demon. Jax has been in love with Sam forever, but being with her literally causes him pain. The happiness essentially drains the demon, making him need to feed again that much sooner. But Jax's demon can take control of the body, while still having Jax aware so that he can be with Sam. She just has to accept and want both of them, not just Jax. I loved that! It's so bizarre! She has to love the body and the invading demon, and it's kind of awkward, but also kind of hot. It's just great!
The plot of Ruined was okay. I liked it better in the beginning and middle, when it was all about not letting hell break loose. Literally. But toward the end, it kind of morphed into something else. Of course, Jax saves the world (temporarily), but then there's this issue of balance and sacrifices. And it starts to focus on the romance. Like instead of saving the world from demons, Jax has to find a way to be with Sam. It was a weird switch, and doesn't really leave me wanting to read more.
I like Ruined a lot, especially the romance. But I'm not sure that I'd like all of this awesome mythology being wasted on the romance. If that make sense? I want interesting plot with demons and curses, with a side of bizarre romance. I may or may not continue this series.
Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.
Ruined was interesting. Jax is tainted, and a descendant of Cain. What this ultimately means is that he shares his body with a demon and has uncontrollable urges for violence. He's stayed away from his hometown for three years, because he was going to kill his twin. His brother is the person his demon hates the most, of course. But he comes back when he learns that his uncle is dying, but he stays when he finds out that the girl he loves is being stalked by demons. He wants to protect her, but he also needs her to hate him, so he'll stay away before he hurts her too.
I really liked the premise of Ruined. Ever since Cain killed Abel, his sons have had a mark on their souls. Not all of them, as it can skip generations, but his descendants are paying for his crime. Jax is currently that one, and he tries to control it by creating fear or anger in humans to feed his demon. It's not enough though, so he does kill every few days to keep the urges at bay. At least he targets criminals and not the innocent. I generally enjoy stories where the hero attempts to use a curse for good.
Ruined also has a really awesome kind of, but not really, sorta love triangle. No, it's not between Jax and his brother, although in the beginning it does look like it'll go that way. It doesn't. It's between Jax and his demon. Jax has been in love with Sam forever, but being with her literally causes him pain. The happiness essentially drains the demon, making him need to feed again that much sooner. But Jax's demon can take control of the body, while still having Jax aware so that he can be with Sam. She just has to accept and want both of them, not just Jax. I loved that! It's so bizarre! She has to love the body and the invading demon, and it's kind of awkward, but also kind of hot. It's just great!
The plot of Ruined was okay. I liked it better in the beginning and middle, when it was all about not letting hell break loose. Literally. But toward the end, it kind of morphed into something else. Of course, Jax saves the world (temporarily), but then there's this issue of balance and sacrifices. And it starts to focus on the romance. Like instead of saving the world from demons, Jax has to find a way to be with Sam. It was a weird switch, and doesn't really leave me wanting to read more.
I like Ruined a lot, especially the romance. But I'm not sure that I'd like all of this awesome mythology being wasted on the romance. If that make sense? I want interesting plot with demons and curses, with a side of bizarre romance. I may or may not continue this series.
Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.
December 28, 2013
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Entangled publishing and Netgalley.)
Jax and his twin Chase are descended from Cain, and Jax lives with a demon inside him who constantly urges him to kill his brother. Throw in a gorgeous girl for the boys to argue over and there is even more trouble.
Which brother does Sam (Samantha) really like? And can she learn to live with his demon?
This was an okay story, but I liked the sexual tension more than any other part of the story.
I liked Jax, and I liked his struggle with the demon. I liked how overcome he was around Sam, and how she was the one thing that really pushed his buttons.
Sam was an interesting character, and I liked how she managed to get past her issues to realise how much she wanted Jax.
I liked the storyline in this book, but what really made it interesting for me was the spark between Jax and Sam. I loved their flirting, and I loved the constant tension of ‘will they, won’t they?’. I did get a little frustrated with how long we had to wait for some saucy scenes, but when we eventually got there things got pretty steamy, and even a little bit kinky.
The rest of the book wasn’t so good for me though, I didn’t really appreciate the humour, the intro was a bit rocky, and I found it difficult to really get into the story. The fact that Sam’s surname was Merrick only kept making me think of the Merrick brothers from the Elemental series, and little things irritated me like the use of terms such as ‘eye-humping’ and ‘cougaring it up’.
I can’t say I was all that impressed with the ending either, although we did get a bit of an interesting little twist. I would like to see these characters get a happy ending though, even if that means two more books.
Overall; okay story with some interesting sexual tension.
6.75 out of 10.
Jax and his twin Chase are descended from Cain, and Jax lives with a demon inside him who constantly urges him to kill his brother. Throw in a gorgeous girl for the boys to argue over and there is even more trouble.
Which brother does Sam (Samantha) really like? And can she learn to live with his demon?
This was an okay story, but I liked the sexual tension more than any other part of the story.
I liked Jax, and I liked his struggle with the demon. I liked how overcome he was around Sam, and how she was the one thing that really pushed his buttons.
Sam was an interesting character, and I liked how she managed to get past her issues to realise how much she wanted Jax.
I liked the storyline in this book, but what really made it interesting for me was the spark between Jax and Sam. I loved their flirting, and I loved the constant tension of ‘will they, won’t they?’. I did get a little frustrated with how long we had to wait for some saucy scenes, but when we eventually got there things got pretty steamy, and even a little bit kinky.
The rest of the book wasn’t so good for me though, I didn’t really appreciate the humour, the intro was a bit rocky, and I found it difficult to really get into the story. The fact that Sam’s surname was Merrick only kept making me think of the Merrick brothers from the Elemental series, and little things irritated me like the use of terms such as ‘eye-humping’ and ‘cougaring it up’.
I can’t say I was all that impressed with the ending either, although we did get a bit of an interesting little twist. I would like to see these characters get a happy ending though, even if that means two more books.
Overall; okay story with some interesting sexual tension.
6.75 out of 10.
January 30, 2014
you can check out this review here http://silenttbookblog.blogspot.com/2...
Who knew coming back home would lead to even more destruction. Jax left his uncle Rick and his twin brother Chase, because it was the right thing to do. Except of course he left behind someone who meant everything to him, the girl in question is Samantha. After being attacked at school the only thing to do was go home. Even though her aunt has always wanted her to end up with Chase who she never felt connected with. She always knew that deep down Jax was the one to make her happy.
What brought him back was Rick he knew about the attack at the school with Sam but knew he had to stay away because he had to hide what he was. Being a monster is a strong word but that is what he is, a demon. A decedent of Cain, with a inkling to torture those wrong doers, he is able to stop himself if only to satisfy the demon within. But being back in the same town he left all those years before is hard enough, seeing Sam hinging out with Chase starts up the demon to go farther than any torture, Chase's presence brings out the worst. With Rick going and Sam's attacker still gunning to finish the job, Jax must put aside what is may be wrong but feel oh so right.
I just couldn't help but love this story, Jax is the type you want to see be rescued himself, because when things are right you're not supposed to question it. Sam of course comes in and is all over him either telling him off or just saying what feels right she knows what she wants. What I liked though was that his demon side to me had a more charismatic feel to him, but at the same time you felt that these two were one and the same. I couldn't put it down, and instantly would have kicked a few demons myself. In honesty, you looking for a captivating character, Jax fits the bill and then some.
Who knew coming back home would lead to even more destruction. Jax left his uncle Rick and his twin brother Chase, because it was the right thing to do. Except of course he left behind someone who meant everything to him, the girl in question is Samantha. After being attacked at school the only thing to do was go home. Even though her aunt has always wanted her to end up with Chase who she never felt connected with. She always knew that deep down Jax was the one to make her happy.
What brought him back was Rick he knew about the attack at the school with Sam but knew he had to stay away because he had to hide what he was. Being a monster is a strong word but that is what he is, a demon. A decedent of Cain, with a inkling to torture those wrong doers, he is able to stop himself if only to satisfy the demon within. But being back in the same town he left all those years before is hard enough, seeing Sam hinging out with Chase starts up the demon to go farther than any torture, Chase's presence brings out the worst. With Rick going and Sam's attacker still gunning to finish the job, Jax must put aside what is may be wrong but feel oh so right.
I just couldn't help but love this story, Jax is the type you want to see be rescued himself, because when things are right you're not supposed to question it. Sam of course comes in and is all over him either telling him off or just saying what feels right she knows what she wants. What I liked though was that his demon side to me had a more charismatic feel to him, but at the same time you felt that these two were one and the same. I couldn't put it down, and instantly would have kicked a few demons myself. In honesty, you looking for a captivating character, Jax fits the bill and then some.
January 3, 2015
3.5 stars. I ended up loving this more than I thought I would.
I'm not going to go into the story details too much. I think there was just so much to get through in the beginning, to establish the background...I dunno, I can't really put my finger on it but I just wasn't connecting with the story in the first half. I remember at one point where Sam was thinking (again) of "the thousands of times she had seen Jax" do/act/feel whatever was going on, and I thought "OKAY, I get it, you know each other so well, you have this history/connection, OKAY". I also didn't really care too much about Sam or Jax. I didn't dislike them but I didn't care either.
Then about the time Sam has to go on the run with Jax, the story started picking up and by the end, damn! I was absolutely interested at that point. I also found myself caring what happened to Jax and Sam and really want to see things work out for them, and was a bit surprised at how bummed I was that it just doesn't seem possible.
The plot is pretty well done and an interesting twist on two different paranormal storylines, the way they're entwined. I really liked how Jus Accardo combined those elements and made them something new. There is a lot of action in the story, and once things start really happening, it's fast-paced and exciting.
My one big issue, and I really hate this, is that I saw the bad guy a mile away. This took away some of the tension for me but thankfully it didn't take away from the ending, which I thought was very well done. I'll definitely be checking out the next book in the series to see what happens.
I'm not going to go into the story details too much. I think there was just so much to get through in the beginning, to establish the background...I dunno, I can't really put my finger on it but I just wasn't connecting with the story in the first half. I remember at one point where Sam was thinking (again) of "the thousands of times she had seen Jax" do/act/feel whatever was going on, and I thought "OKAY, I get it, you know each other so well, you have this history/connection, OKAY". I also didn't really care too much about Sam or Jax. I didn't dislike them but I didn't care either.
Then about the time Sam has to go on the run with Jax, the story started picking up and by the end, damn! I was absolutely interested at that point. I also found myself caring what happened to Jax and Sam and really want to see things work out for them, and was a bit surprised at how bummed I was that it just doesn't seem possible.
The plot is pretty well done and an interesting twist on two different paranormal storylines, the way they're entwined. I really liked how Jus Accardo combined those elements and made them something new. There is a lot of action in the story, and once things start really happening, it's fast-paced and exciting.
My one big issue, and I really hate this, is that I saw the bad guy a mile away. This took away some of the tension for me but thankfully it didn't take away from the ending, which I thought was very well done. I'll definitely be checking out the next book in the series to see what happens.
January 11, 2014
Mientras leía el libro pensaba: bien, bien, creo que le daré 4 stars... Pero ha llegado al final y han pasado tantas cositas interesantes que creo que se merece mis 5 estrellitas. También tiene que ver que amo supernatural y todo lo demons related :P.
Tampoco es que sea un libro que digas: OMG no puedo vivir sin él!! (Aka fever), pero me ha mantenido intrigada durante toda la lectura y me ha dejado con ganas de leer el segundo libro y creo que para ser el primero de una saga es un principio muy bueno (espero que siga así y no se me chafe por el camino como muchos otros).
Una de las cosas que más me gustó es que está escrito desde el pov de los dos protagonistas, jax y sam, y eso es algo que siempre encuentro positivo en un libro (pienso que más autores deberían hacerlo y así no le cogería tanta manía a tantos protagonistas solos de libros).
"They were mine."
Gifs representativos del libro:
Y no explico más porque no quiero largar ningún spoiler hasta que las chicas lo lean ;).
Tampoco es que sea un libro que digas: OMG no puedo vivir sin él!! (Aka fever), pero me ha mantenido intrigada durante toda la lectura y me ha dejado con ganas de leer el segundo libro y creo que para ser el primero de una saga es un principio muy bueno (espero que siga así y no se me chafe por el camino como muchos otros).
Una de las cosas que más me gustó es que está escrito desde el pov de los dos protagonistas, jax y sam, y eso es algo que siempre encuentro positivo en un libro (pienso que más autores deberían hacerlo y así no le cogería tanta manía a tantos protagonistas solos de libros).
"They were mine."
Gifs representativos del libro:
Y no explico más porque no quiero largar ningún spoiler hasta que las chicas lo lean ;).
November 19, 2014
* I received an ARC of this book courtesy of Entangled Publishing, LLC, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest reivew*
5 stars
What a way to start a new series and new to me author! I devoured this book, and loved every minute. The characters, the story, the twists turns and heartbreak all had me hanging on to every word. Smooth transitions between point of views and strong emotions that came off the page mixed with palapble character chemistry left me ready for book 2 and with a neon blinking 5 stars. Jax is the ceremonious half good half evil struggle in the flesh, but of course with a non-figurative twist, he really shares his body with a demon. A very strong character, I relished being a voyeur while he matured and embraced his lot in life and found a way to work with it. The chemistry was copacetic and almost it's own being. The sex was appropriate but very hot. No excessive paranormal world building or outrageous character guidelines, confusing the reader and taking away from the story. This book created an alternative to our daily lives that could be real and you'd never know it, struggles between good and evil the average mortal never would see.The Cain & Abel explanation was a great way to make this fantasy even more real. It's funny how Chase started out essentialy the "good brother" but I never liked him, maybe subconciously there were hints of his character twists all along blended in. Book 2 can't come soon enough!
http://www.busymomsbookreviews.blogsp...
5 stars
What a way to start a new series and new to me author! I devoured this book, and loved every minute. The characters, the story, the twists turns and heartbreak all had me hanging on to every word. Smooth transitions between point of views and strong emotions that came off the page mixed with palapble character chemistry left me ready for book 2 and with a neon blinking 5 stars. Jax is the ceremonious half good half evil struggle in the flesh, but of course with a non-figurative twist, he really shares his body with a demon. A very strong character, I relished being a voyeur while he matured and embraced his lot in life and found a way to work with it. The chemistry was copacetic and almost it's own being. The sex was appropriate but very hot. No excessive paranormal world building or outrageous character guidelines, confusing the reader and taking away from the story. This book created an alternative to our daily lives that could be real and you'd never know it, struggles between good and evil the average mortal never would see.The Cain & Abel explanation was a great way to make this fantasy even more real. It's funny how Chase started out essentialy the "good brother" but I never liked him, maybe subconciously there were hints of his character twists all along blended in. Book 2 can't come soon enough!
http://www.busymomsbookreviews.blogsp...
June 23, 2016
'Ruined' was a solid start to this very engaging series. In a world where the descendants of Cain, the world's first murderer, carry a curse, Jax's life has not been easy. Imagine fighting the demon within yourself, trying to do the best you can, but knowing only violence will appease it, and only temporarily? Talk about a tortured existence. I really felt for the guy. But even demon-possessed, I couldn't help but like Jax. Then there's Samantha, the girl he loves but can't be with because of what he is. Ouch! Talk about throwing salt on the wound. And I can't blame him for feeling tortured, because Sam is a great girl. They also had great chemistry and a sweet backstory, so I couldn't help but root for these two.
But then we don't just have a miserable existence and future. Nope, this story steps it up with the nefarious goings on amongst the demon world. And this demon world is in no hurry to leave Jax and Sam alone. This story became a mystery, which I really liked. I'm normally pretty good at figuring things out, but this story kept me guessing. Which was great! And which is also why I won't go into details about the plot. I loved the mystery, and I hope you do too. The ending was also quite exciting, and I love that there was resolution but also anticipation for what's coming next. Looking forward to the next book!
But then we don't just have a miserable existence and future. Nope, this story steps it up with the nefarious goings on amongst the demon world. And this demon world is in no hurry to leave Jax and Sam alone. This story became a mystery, which I really liked. I'm normally pretty good at figuring things out, but this story kept me guessing. Which was great! And which is also why I won't go into details about the plot. I loved the mystery, and I hope you do too. The ending was also quite exciting, and I love that there was resolution but also anticipation for what's coming next. Looking forward to the next book!
January 14, 2014
I was just talking to someone the other day about how saturated the New Adult market is with Contemporary stories. Which is not to say I don't love a good Contemp, but I think that if "New Adult" is to become a solid, recognized genre, there needs to be a broader range of Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Paranormal and Dystopian available.
RUINED is a great start to the NA Paranormal! It''s unique, entertaining, and puts a whole new spin on the "bad boy". The story of Cain and Abel and the curse their descendants have to deal with is one that I have not come across yet in any level of my reading. It's fast paced, action packed with plenty of romance but the romance isn't what drives the plot - another plus in my book. It's nice to read a NA that doesn't just focus on getting to the sexy parts and staying there for the rest of the book. I enjoyed this, and I'm curious to see where the next installment of this series goes.
RUINED is a great start to the NA Paranormal! It''s unique, entertaining, and puts a whole new spin on the "bad boy". The story of Cain and Abel and the curse their descendants have to deal with is one that I have not come across yet in any level of my reading. It's fast paced, action packed with plenty of romance but the romance isn't what drives the plot - another plus in my book. It's nice to read a NA that doesn't just focus on getting to the sexy parts and staying there for the rest of the book. I enjoyed this, and I'm curious to see where the next installment of this series goes.
December 31, 2013
This was my 1st Jus Accado book and I must read the others! The main character Jax (like the name) was wonderful. He had an edge and loads of sex appeal. I am always a fan of the rebels and bad boys. The story of Jax and him being a descendant of Cain was what grabbed me. Very well done.
I thought this was really different with a special kind of edge. Sam was the classic heroine. I liked her character and attitude. If you are a paranormal fan then grab this one it is a fab read. Loads of action here so there is a little bit for everyone to enjoy.
If you never read any of her books, then this is the perfect one to start with. I hope it is a series
I thought this was really different with a special kind of edge. Sam was the classic heroine. I liked her character and attitude. If you are a paranormal fan then grab this one it is a fab read. Loads of action here so there is a little bit for everyone to enjoy.
If you never read any of her books, then this is the perfect one to start with. I hope it is a series
April 29, 2014
I got this book when it was on sale for .99 and it has been sitting in my TBR pile. Well I picked it up to read yesterday and lets just say that no work was done in my office at all by me. What a great story! I can not wait for the next in the series and I plan on picking up more books by Jus Accardo if they are as good as this one.
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