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The Artisans #2
The Paladins
The Artisan curse is broken. Souls trapped in a mysterious otherworld called The Void are finally released. Now, Raven Weathersby, Gideon Maddox, and Cole Wynter can finally move on with their lives...or so they thought. If the ancient magic is truly dead, then why are mystical fires plaguing Gideon at every turn? What accounts for Raven’s frightening visions of her dead mother? And who is the beautiful, tortured girl haunting Cole’s dreams?
Last year, a group of lonely teens sacrificed secrets, battled the supernatural, and faced their own demons to set one another free. Yet six months later, the heart of evil still beats within The Void. And the trio is forced to face the horrific truth: that their only way out is to go back in.
The Paladins completes this eerie YA Southern Gothic where loyalties are tested, love is challenged, and evil seeks them on the ultimate battlegrounds—in their minds, their souls, and their hearts.
Last year, a group of lonely teens sacrificed secrets, battled the supernatural, and faced their own demons to set one another free. Yet six months later, the heart of evil still beats within The Void. And the trio is forced to face the horrific truth: that their only way out is to go back in.
The Paladins completes this eerie YA Southern Gothic where loyalties are tested, love is challenged, and evil seeks them on the ultimate battlegrounds—in their minds, their souls, and their hearts.
300 pages, Paperback
First published May 3, 2016
7 people are currently reading
792 people want to read
About the author
Julie Reece
7 books373 followers Julie Reece writes YA stories. Many inspired by life in the southeastern states where she grew up. She's passionate about family, friends, animals, underdogs, and writing, but bubble baths and dark chocolate make the list, too.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 31, 2016
Wow! I was totally blown away by this one. The second book was even better than the first. The adventure was epic. If you have ever seen the movie Labyrinth with David Bowie (please tell me you have!) you will LOVE this book. It was full of magic, mysteriousness, and puzzlement. This book was inventive, fun, and whimsical. This book had some darker moments than the first with a creep factor with cringe worthy moments. ! I loved the first book so much but this one just blew me away. It was impossible to put this book down, even for a second. Every couple pages something captivating would draw me in. It was brilliant, hilarious, and maybe even one of the most enjoyable books I have read this year.
Read the rest of my review at www.bookaholicbanter.com
*I received an eARC of this book from the publisher in return for my honest review.
Read the rest of my review at www.bookaholicbanter.com
*I received an eARC of this book from the publisher in return for my honest review.
June 21, 2015
Mysterious, magical, and alluring. Reece weaves another fantastic tale of loyalty and love. Full review to come later.
Want to read
June 22, 2015My WANT for this is off the charts!!!
Want to read
June 21, 2015This just made my day!! I had no idea that this book existed!! I need it NOW!!
April 6, 2016
Oh wow. Wowza. Whoa.
Alice in Wonderland meets Southern goth meets Johnny Depp in his finest roles.
Hey, film agents--this book needs its own MOVIE. Do you hear me?! Do yourselves a favor and bring this brilliance to vibrant, onscreen life!
Reece's brain is a world unto itself and one in which I would willingly get lost. The technicolor experience she has created is all-encompassing, her characters swoon-y, witty and delicious, and the plot is a summertime somersault down a grassy hill. Meaning one you start, you're not stopping, and you'll squeal inwardly (and perhaps outwardly) all the way down that bad boy.
If you haven't read THE ARTISANS, go forth and do so. Then, quickly--like, whiplash fast--get your hands on THE PALADINS and dive into it. Go! Quickly!
Alice in Wonderland meets Southern goth meets Johnny Depp in his finest roles.
Hey, film agents--this book needs its own MOVIE. Do you hear me?! Do yourselves a favor and bring this brilliance to vibrant, onscreen life!
Reece's brain is a world unto itself and one in which I would willingly get lost. The technicolor experience she has created is all-encompassing, her characters swoon-y, witty and delicious, and the plot is a summertime somersault down a grassy hill. Meaning one you start, you're not stopping, and you'll squeal inwardly (and perhaps outwardly) all the way down that bad boy.
If you haven't read THE ARTISANS, go forth and do so. Then, quickly--like, whiplash fast--get your hands on THE PALADINS and dive into it. Go! Quickly!
May 3, 2016
Just amazing. Oh how I've missed these characters. Raven is back with her usual sizzling stubborn streak and Gideon sucked me in with his dark brooding...hotness ;) Add to that an ambitious 3rd POV, Reece has outdone herself, yet again.
Reece writes with magical prose that compliments this southern gothic novel where mystery abounds, romance lingers, and somethings reaches from the other side.
*I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
Reece writes with magical prose that compliments this southern gothic novel where mystery abounds, romance lingers, and somethings reaches from the other side.
*I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
May 10, 2016
This was a fast-paced, crazy-inventive book that had me cheering for the main characters and seriously wondering if "Happily Ever After" was even a possibility at some points. I'd compare it to the Labyrinth but with a captivating love story. Hats off to Julie Reece on another success!
May 12, 2016
This review and more can be found at The A P Book Club!
*I received an advanced copy of this book as a part of the blog tour in exchange for an honest review*
I really enjoyed The Artisans, so even though it ended with a Happily Ever After, I was still excited to find out that there was going to be a sequel! I definitely still had a few questions left over, and even more about what would happen moving forward. The Paladins was a great continuation of Raven, Gideon, and Cole's story and I'm so glad I got the chance to read it!
While The Artisans is pretty obviously a new take on the classic "Beauty and the Beast" story, The Paladins is quite a bit different. I felt like there were several fairy tales and myths incorporated in this book, and I actually thought that was much more exciting than just retelling one specific story. There's a little Rapunzel, a little generic damsel in distress, and a lot of Greek mythology (especially centering around Pan and the Labyrinth). For me, everything meshed together well and it didn't feel like Reece was trying to do too much. I'm sure there were references to things that I didn't catch because I wasn't familiar with certain elements of the stories, but I did enjoy all of the things I did recognize. I think this would still be a fun read for someone who isn't familiar with much of the mythology or anything, because Reece establishes the rules of the world in her own way so that things still feel fresh and new.
The Paladins is written from Gideon, Cole, and Raven's perspectives, and I was so glad to be able to see what the boys were thinking. Don't get me wrong, I loved being in Raven's head for The Artisans, but I don't think this book would have been anywhere near as good if we had only seen things from Raven. The fresh viewpoints really added a depth to this story that helped move events along at a great pace, especially when everyone was split up. There was also some relationship drama that wouldn't have worked nearly as well if we hadn't been able to see the explanations from both sides.
I'm still a huge fan of Gideon, and just when I thought he was stable and maturing nicely, he grows into a completely different person over the course of this book. Events and people change him for the better, and I really enjoyed watching him turn into this incredible young man. He learns quite a bit about himself and how he should be treating other people, and it was just really refreshing that he was the one who really needed saving instead of having the hero being the one doing the saving.
Julie Reece has constructed such a fantastic world with characters that I felt were my own friends and just enough magic to keep everyone on their toes. Even though The Artisans would be an excellent standalone novel, I was so happy to be able to visit this world again in The Paladins! If you've read and loved The Artisans, you definitely want to get your hands on this book as soon as possible! I would also recommend this series to anyone who is a fan of fairy-tale/mythology reimaginings, especially those with a Southern Gothic aura to them. I can't wait to find out what Julie is going to be working on next! 4/5.
*I received an advanced copy of this book as a part of the blog tour in exchange for an honest review*
I really enjoyed The Artisans, so even though it ended with a Happily Ever After, I was still excited to find out that there was going to be a sequel! I definitely still had a few questions left over, and even more about what would happen moving forward. The Paladins was a great continuation of Raven, Gideon, and Cole's story and I'm so glad I got the chance to read it!
While The Artisans is pretty obviously a new take on the classic "Beauty and the Beast" story, The Paladins is quite a bit different. I felt like there were several fairy tales and myths incorporated in this book, and I actually thought that was much more exciting than just retelling one specific story. There's a little Rapunzel, a little generic damsel in distress, and a lot of Greek mythology (especially centering around Pan and the Labyrinth). For me, everything meshed together well and it didn't feel like Reece was trying to do too much. I'm sure there were references to things that I didn't catch because I wasn't familiar with certain elements of the stories, but I did enjoy all of the things I did recognize. I think this would still be a fun read for someone who isn't familiar with much of the mythology or anything, because Reece establishes the rules of the world in her own way so that things still feel fresh and new.
The Paladins is written from Gideon, Cole, and Raven's perspectives, and I was so glad to be able to see what the boys were thinking. Don't get me wrong, I loved being in Raven's head for The Artisans, but I don't think this book would have been anywhere near as good if we had only seen things from Raven. The fresh viewpoints really added a depth to this story that helped move events along at a great pace, especially when everyone was split up. There was also some relationship drama that wouldn't have worked nearly as well if we hadn't been able to see the explanations from both sides.
I'm still a huge fan of Gideon, and just when I thought he was stable and maturing nicely, he grows into a completely different person over the course of this book. Events and people change him for the better, and I really enjoyed watching him turn into this incredible young man. He learns quite a bit about himself and how he should be treating other people, and it was just really refreshing that he was the one who really needed saving instead of having the hero being the one doing the saving.
Julie Reece has constructed such a fantastic world with characters that I felt were my own friends and just enough magic to keep everyone on their toes. Even though The Artisans would be an excellent standalone novel, I was so happy to be able to visit this world again in The Paladins! If you've read and loved The Artisans, you definitely want to get your hands on this book as soon as possible! I would also recommend this series to anyone who is a fan of fairy-tale/mythology reimaginings, especially those with a Southern Gothic aura to them. I can't wait to find out what Julie is going to be working on next! 4/5.
May 13, 2016
Thank you, Julie Reece, for upping the creepiness in round two of The Artisans. Creepiness is a favorite thing of mine, and this book delivered. As a matter of fact, everything about The Paladins felt like it was upped a notch. And I loved it, so much!
The Paladins was a non-stop thrill ride. Magic abounds, with a nice little gothic-y vibe happening. With multiple POV's (Cole, Raven and Gideon), done perfectly, we get to see things in so many different lights, it brings the story to a whole new dimension. Each POV is done well, and the switch offs are smooth. After the events of The Artisans, even though things ended relatively well, I still had a few questions. Mostly, is it REALLY over? And I got my questions answered, and then some.
Raven is the same girl from book one, with her self-doubt but fierce stubborness. Gideon is as dark and brooding as ever, and incredibly aggravating. I loved these two in book one, and I love them even more this time. But things are definitely different. And I adore Cole. It was wonderful getting to know him more, and I loved having his voice as one of the POV's.
I couldn't have asked for a better story than the one this author delivered. Julie Reece has such a strong voice, and quite the wonderful imagination. I knew when I read The Artisans that this would be an author to watch, and she cemented that fact with this sequel. Now that The Artisans series is complete, I very much look forward to whatever she has coming for us next.
The Paladins was a non-stop thrill ride. Magic abounds, with a nice little gothic-y vibe happening. With multiple POV's (Cole, Raven and Gideon), done perfectly, we get to see things in so many different lights, it brings the story to a whole new dimension. Each POV is done well, and the switch offs are smooth. After the events of The Artisans, even though things ended relatively well, I still had a few questions. Mostly, is it REALLY over? And I got my questions answered, and then some.
Raven is the same girl from book one, with her self-doubt but fierce stubborness. Gideon is as dark and brooding as ever, and incredibly aggravating. I loved these two in book one, and I love them even more this time. But things are definitely different. And I adore Cole. It was wonderful getting to know him more, and I loved having his voice as one of the POV's.
I couldn't have asked for a better story than the one this author delivered. Julie Reece has such a strong voice, and quite the wonderful imagination. I knew when I read The Artisans that this would be an author to watch, and she cemented that fact with this sequel. Now that The Artisans series is complete, I very much look forward to whatever she has coming for us next.
June 22, 2016
The Paladins took me places I just didn't see coming. This fast-paced sequel to The Artisans features a dangerous trip through the Void, a between-worlds place filled with ghosts, monsters, nightmares, and truly horrific scenarios. The characters remain ground, real, and relatable. The dialogue is witty and engaging. My favorite part about these books is that the author doesn't shy away from the horror. This book is downright scary in places. It's good scary, bravery-inducing scary. I love seeing horrific situations treated as such in young adult novels because life can be scary and terror exists. The Paladins told us plainly: it’s okay to be afraid but that doesn’t have to mean you stop fighting. The horror was skillfully balanced in a beautiful world with wonderful characters through gorgeous writing. I'm looking forward to grabbing more of Julie Reece's work.
June 13, 2016
What a compelling read! This second installment in The Artisans duology finds our heroes, Raven, Gideon, and Cole, on a quest to save a girl trapped in the Void. Along the way they go through some trippy, scary, and violent experiences. (I wish I could use the monkey covering his eyes emoji right now.) :D
Anyway, the lovely writing and intense pace made this book a page-turner that I would have finished in less time had I not been traveling. The ending brought everything together nicely with all romantic entanglements taken care of. And so, of course, I was left with a smile on my face. Ah, Cole!
Great read!
Anyway, the lovely writing and intense pace made this book a page-turner that I would have finished in less time had I not been traveling. The ending brought everything together nicely with all romantic entanglements taken care of. And so, of course, I was left with a smile on my face. Ah, Cole!
Great read!
February 3, 2018
While I did enjoy the book and love Julie's writing style, when I started reading book 2, it felt like a completely different story line. The plot threads felt disjointed; some of the things set up in book one and book two were never brought up again or explained, and the end didn't wrap things up for me. Still deserves a 4-star, I just wish I didn't feel so left out and empty at the end.
April 17, 2018
While the first one was more of a mystery with both intense and calm moments, Paladins is a non-stop adventure. The fantasy world they are in reminded me of the movie Labyrinth, but with a different plot.
April 22, 2016
A great compliment to THE ARTISANS. I really didn't need a sequel after reading the first book because Ms. Reece did an excellent job of tying up the loose ends. I give this a 4.3 out of five stars because it felt a little more melodramatic than the first and had less of a real-life appeal.
BUT did you wonder what happened with Cole? Did you think Raven and Gideon could make things last?
And what about all the magic they "destroyed"? We all know the magic had to go somewhere.
And that's what this book is about. It starts with Cole in France. We get to hear the story from three separate points of view, which definitely enhanced my enjoyment of the events. Reece did an awesome job of making each character's chapters sound unique to their personal style. Of course, Cole was easy with all his British euphemisms. (Yes, I'm enamored with Cole after reading this book).
If you love fantasy, you want to read this book. Mythology is more your thing? You'll get that here too. I suppose you adore paranormal? No ghosts in this book, but that doesn't mean creepy, unexplainable things aren't happening every other page.
The romance here feels a little thin, but that is often the case in a sequel. You might find yourself throwing up your hands and yelling at Gideon. I know I did.
BUT did you wonder what happened with Cole? Did you think Raven and Gideon could make things last?
And what about all the magic they "destroyed"? We all know the magic had to go somewhere.
And that's what this book is about. It starts with Cole in France. We get to hear the story from three separate points of view, which definitely enhanced my enjoyment of the events. Reece did an awesome job of making each character's chapters sound unique to their personal style. Of course, Cole was easy with all his British euphemisms. (Yes, I'm enamored with Cole after reading this book).
If you love fantasy, you want to read this book. Mythology is more your thing? You'll get that here too. I suppose you adore paranormal? No ghosts in this book, but that doesn't mean creepy, unexplainable things aren't happening every other page.
The romance here feels a little thin, but that is often the case in a sequel. You might find yourself throwing up your hands and yelling at Gideon. I know I did.
April 25, 2016
Liked it much more than The Artisans.
Full review to come for the blog tour.
Full review to come for the blog tour.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews