Unraveled

The Gatekeeper #2

by Dina Given

Emma Hayes, a mercenary turned monster hunter, finds herself the secret savior of Earth as she attempts to battle creatures and keep unsuspecting humans safe.

Emma already has blood on her hands, and the tide of creatures keeps coming. She quickly learns that not all battles can be won with a gun. She must decide whether to take up Sharur, the magical battle axe, which may trigger a latent and terrifying magical ability with her.

Emma’s monster hunting skills also catch the attention of a government operative who enlists her to help discover the identity of another creature-killer. This investigation leads Emma deep into the heart of a supernatural organized crime Syndicate. All of Emma’s notions about the evil nature of these creatures are called into question when she meets Duncan, The Syndicate’s leader.

Emma’s world continues to unravel as she is pulled deeper into the realm of magic and monsters.

Genres: Paranormal, Magic, Urban Fantasy

First published August 27, 2015

About the author

Dina Given lives in rural New Jersey – home of farms, horses and the largest hot air balloon festival in North America – with her husband, two crazy kids, and two rescue dogs. She is an exercise enthusiast and avid lover of food and wine (hence the need to exercise). She is also a Girls on the Run coach and fundraising chair for a private school. She attributes her ability to juggle family, work and writing to her obsessive, hyper-focused, Type A personality.

Reviews

[Lo Bookfrantic · Rating 4 out of 5]

4***Mysterious Female Monster Hunter Stars

Genre: Paranormal
Type: Book 2 of The Gatekeeper series
POV: First Person - Multiple

“Hope could change the tides of war and save the souls of men, but for me, it was a poison.” Emma

Unraveled continues the madness of Emma Hayes aka Ash. After finding out she is not from Earth but from another world. Ash was able to escape with “Sharur” which we learned why everyone wanted it. It was the AXE that held the power to open up any worlds, it was powerful and it could destroy so much if it landed in the wrong hands. So much happens on this book that had me on the edge of my seat. The suspense, the thrilled was driving me mad. I had so many questions and I felt I couldn’t read this book fast enough.



After Emma’s memory has been given back to her she still couldn’t remember her previews life. She started having nightmares but she knew well that they were memories and it scared her. Finding out she has powers but don’t know how to use them yet made her unease she worried her dark side will hurt others. Even thought we don’t get to see all her power on this book we do see some and I am so thrilled to see her in action using them. All the new energy she gets from the Axe scared her so much she hides it but then she realized she is not strong enough to fight on her own and she depends on this Axe to help her on this new journey that is her new life.

“The weapon didn’t just destroy; it erased. It left behind nothingness, removing its target from the world completely.” Emma

Emma starts killing monsters, she starts sensing evil and gets on to killing them she doesn’t know why but she only destroys the ones she feels are evil and deserves it but leaves the good ones alive. She finds herself on earth fighting all kinds of creatures some good and some bad. One minute she is resting the next she is fighting for her life, this book is so addicting I just couldn’t put it down I had to know what will happen next. How was Emma going to find her step brother Daniel? Would Zane ever turn back to being himself and not the beast he was forced to be? Would Alex want more than just friendship?

I fell in love with Zane from book one and his wildness, coldness, madness drove me insane. He was HOT and scary at the same time but I just couldn’t help falling head over heels and madly in love with this badass beast. Zane was still wild trying to fight the beast inside of him while he try to forget about his love Emma aka Ash, but he was still there trying to fight for her even thought the beast inside of him kept telling him to kill her; he just couldn’t do it. He had hope for them but at the same time he didn’t I was so frustrated.

“I could think of nothing except how much I wanted to rewind time to when we were both young and madly in love, when my mind had been my own.” Zane

“Her presence also sparked a new drive within me to keep fighting against the snarling beast inside that wanted nothing more than to break free and tear everyone’s throats out.” Zane

Alex, wow I loved him so much but the love triangle was making me so anxious it had me on the edge I just couldn’t handle it. I loved him but just not like that, for me Zane was it from the beginning and having Alex’s showing his feelings on this book just made me feel sad because he deserves his better half and in my heart Emma and Zane are it even thought they were still fighting against each other to survive all their demons. Alex was always there to help Emma and protect her thought and I loved him for that. He betrays her and she was devastated but he had his reasons and even thought I understand them it was hard to swallow. He was trying so hard as well to help his best friend Zane and I admired him so much for it for putting his friendship first over the feelings he had for Emma.

“She could destroy me with a simple rejection, yet I was drawn to her like an insignificant gnat to a black widow’s web” Alex

Emma is trying to find answer to her new identity and in the midst of the madness she meets so many new characters, she tries to survive so many times I never knew what was coming next. There was dragons, monsters, shifters, Elves, and all kinds of creatures, powerful gods and not so powerful ones but she finds herself in a complete different situation trying to figure out how to survive this madness and why that was the question why does everyone want her?. After a book full of action and suspense we get some answers at the end. However, I don’t get the closure I need about her love story with Zane there’s still so much more I want to know and now I have to wait lord know how long for the next book to find out what’s going to happen next. They still have a war to fight and another world to save and it’s just madness that I can’t wait to get my hands on and see how this is going to end. I feel like I just finished watching an episode of Game of Thrones where you are left full of anxiously dying and waiting and craving for more.

“I would avenge the woman who’d had her child stolen from her, who hadn’t been able to see that little girl grow up. I will also avenge myself for my lost childhood and never knowing the love of a mother.” Emma

***BR with my girl LIZ***

"ARC kindly provided by author via blog tour, in exchange for an honest review."


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[✰ Liz ✰ · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Hope could change the tides of war and save the souls of men."-Emma



Unraveled is the second book in The Gatekeeper Series. Dina Given offers up another supernatural mix of mysterious creatures, heart stopping action, and a constant undercurrent of romance to keep your blood pumping the entire read.



As Unraveled begins, Emma (Ashnan) is still recovering from the mighty battle that took place in the conclusion of Unhidden. She has the Sharur (the magical ax) and Eddie by her side. Alex is recovering from his injuries from the battle and Jason has gone into hiding with Lilly. Zane is still out there and still wants her but yet is driven to kill her by the evil magic seeping through his soul. Emma is experiencing self doubt over her past choices and she is striving to overcome her fears for the future.



No one can be trusted. The Sharur calls to Emma and longs to find that spiritual connection with her. She is resisting. Alone in New York and unsure of her allies, Emma longs for her love for Zane to heal him. She longs for her friendship with Alex to be healed, she wants protection for her friend Jason, and for the evil forces to be sent back to their world forever. Through it all, Emma maintains a witty spirit and a she carries a spark that leaves a smile on your face the entire read.

"I should have been dragging the woman out of the restaurant by that point. She screamed bloody murder at the scene. I couldn't blame her, but God help me, I wanted to slap her and tell her to shut the hell up. Some savior of the human race I was."-Emma



Told in multiple POV Unraveled offers up another fresh blend of "comic con" type creatures, fierce action, some sexy heroes, and one bad ass heroine! The characters are well developed and their connections are clearly established throughout the series. There are several secondary characters in this series. I feel that you must be 100 percent invested in order to follow all of the twists and turns in this plot. As the action in the story intensifies, the love story continues to deepen. Emma is obviously meant to be with her first love Zane and yet Alex is able to offer her the comfort and care in her darkest hours. (Not to mention the loyalty and deep friendship she feels for Jason.) My heart broke for these characters as they grappled with finding solace in their situation.



"The fruitless hope that we might be together again was the only thing keeping me connected to the last thread of humanity I had left. I clung to it like a drowning man thrown a life preserver."-Zane



Overall, I would not hesitate to recommend this series to all Paranormal/Sci-Fi fans. This series has vampires, demons, dragons, spirits, elves, and much more. However sexy Emma and Zane are together (or could be together), the romance element is definitely secondary in this series. Although it enhanced the tension in the read, I was sadly disappointed that there wasn't more physical connection between Emma and Zane. I guess we will have to find out what happens in the next installment of the series! The tempo of the writing is steady as the sounds and sites of New York City come to life and battle the mystical creatures of other worlds. You are truly transported to the battle field and immersed into this fantastical mystical world. No doubt the ending left me on pins and needles. My kindle is ready and waiting for more!

~BR with my girl LOYDA!
"ARC kindly provided by Author via Blog Tour, in exchange for an honest review."

For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:

[Claudia · Rating 4 out of 5]

wow - the second book was even better than the first one. I loved this and can't wait for the next one.

there was also a lot of action in this book but we also got to see a bit more of story development. there is always a time for the former or the latter and Dina Given balances both (and a bit of romance) very well.

we learn a lot about the background to all characters and I loved that we got to see nearly all the characters from the first book as well as some new ones.

Emma develops great, except her attitude towards the Monere - but even here she learns and I like it that she is not too proud to change her opinion.
I am a bit confused why some characters have points in the book where they are nearly always there and than nearly disappear.

what I am not very fond of, is the development of a love triangle. I have to say, I dón't like them and in this case I can't see, how this can end in a positive way. and I love Zane and Alex, I want to see them happy.
speaking of Zane, I was not very happy at the end with his decision - although I can understand it. but I am afraid this will mean, he loses his chance with Emma - and I could understand it.

all in all, this was a great second book and I can't wait for the next one. I hope it comes out soon

[Toni FGMAMTC · Rating 4 out of 5]

FGMAMTC Blog Review + Excerpt

I love the action vibes that come from this book. Reading it got me totally pumped. The first novel established how formidable Emma's adversaries are and how she's totally up to that challenge. Just as in Unhidden, Unraveled is full of monsters and aliens. Some are the traditional fantasy like dragons and vampires. Others are more sci-fi such as brain-sucking parasites and creatures wearing humans.

To me this book gives a little more of the emotional side of Emma. The most important people in her life are being used against her because they're one of her few weaknesses. In my opinion, she seems to worry more about her actions this go around.

Several new characters and lots of background knowledge are introduced into an already explosive atmosphere. Questions of who's really bad or good and what's the actual source behind certain outcomes arise. Although, it's more action than romance, there's a bit of a love triangle going on also.

Fans of urban fantasy should definitely try this series. If you enjoyed the first installment, this one is just as volatile and fun. I'm looking forward to book three.

***Copy given in exchange for an honest review***

Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents

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[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the first book in this series, Unhidden, a couple of years ago.
I remembered the overall story and how much I really liked it, but I had forgotten many of the characters.

That wasn't a problem reading Unraveled.
The author reminded us of who each character was and related the character to the story in Unhidden, which is really smart and kept me involved in this story.
I hate reading a 2nd or 3rd book, and the author assumes you just finished the previous book, and all of the characters are fresh in your mind.
So I appreciate the reminders about who the character is.

I really enjoyed this story, and I'm looking forward to the next one.

[Emily Maynard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many thanks to Between the Sheets PR and Dina Given, who provided a copy of Unraveled in exchange for an honest review. We were also lucky enough to have been granted a copy of Unhidden for review at its release, and have been waiting (not so) patiently for Unraveled, which is book two of the Gatekeeper Series. With that being said, this book is not a standalone; you will need to have read Unhidden to follow what is going on in Unraveled. You won’t be disappointed: both books are packed with action that will keep you on the edge of your Kindle.


Unraveled picks up a few months after Unhidden left off. In the end of Unhidden a portal was opened between the earth and another world, called Urusilim. Many Monere, creatures from that world, came forward into this one. Many of the creatures that emerged prey upon humans, prompting Emma to hunt the Monere. I was surprised by the vast variety of different critters that the author managed to illustrate in just this one book.


Emma is reluctant to use Sharur, the magical battle axe that is bound to her with her blood, and is her greatest weapon. The axe worries her, because the weapon speaks to her, and is borderline sentient. She fears that it will take over her own will, rendering her nothing more than a mindless killing machine. Her own magical abilities, which were awakened in Unhidden, are helping her identify and track the Monere, but as the creatures she encounters become bigger and badder, it becomes obvious to her that human weapons are simply not powerful enough to do the job. This lack of strength is demonstrated quickly, in an epic fight between Emma and a creature that practically laughs at bullets. I couldn’t not mention this fight in this review: in my opinion this one fight was one of the best action scenes in the book.


Emma is right to be paranoid about Sharur - everyone who is anyone is out to get their hands on the axe, to wield it’s power to open a rift between worlds. She is keeping it hidden from the Mage Council, who say they only want to “protect” the people, but Emma thinks otherwise. She has managed to get on the bad side of a body snatching immortal mage who looks like a blonde seven year old girl, but has the magical power of a nuclear reactor.


The ruthless Urusilim leader Marduk is at least honest-- he wants the axe for his own gain. He’s not terribly picky about how he gets it, and employs any dirty tactic he can to get an advantage over Emma. She is very alone in this book, and not sure who to trust. Her one ally is Alex, a mage who went against his own superiors to save her life. It’s not long before she is approached by Sam, who claims to be from the human government. Sam wants her help to discover who is killing random Monere (besides her) and why. She doesn’t trust him at all, but the mystery of who is behind the shady organization known as the Syndicate is enough for her to suspend her doubts. (Well, not really...Emma is paranoid with a capital P, and I can’t really blame her.)


Emma and Sam work to delve into the secrets of the Syndicate, but every answer they uncover only yields more questions. Marduk has a powerful hold on someone important to Emma, and she is willing to go to the ragged edge to break that hold. Her past is the key to this story, but what she doesn’t know about her own life is endangering her and those she wishes to protect. There’s only one thing for sure about this series: things are never what they seem. This story is just getting cranked up, and will leave you only wanting more.

[Franjessca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full Review posted at a Book Lovin' Mamas

Unraveled picks up a few weeks after Unhidden, and Dina Given definitely brought a lot of action and emotions in the second book. I had a hard time putting it down because I needed to know what was going to happen next to the characters.

All in all this book was an amazing book to read, and I'm so glad I was introduced to Dina Given and her books from LBtS (for the Blog Tour) and Coastal Magic Convention (since she's one of the Featured Authors).

I highly recommend this book, as well as the first book to Urban Fantasy readers out there. It's an edge of your seat action-packed book full of surprises.

[Maryam Dinzly · Rating 3 out of 5]

You know what? I take back what I said previously. This book MIGHT have a love triangle, but I still want Zane. *stares at author with pleading puppy dog eyes*

HAHAHA. But hey, Unravel is when everything shatters and bombs, and smashes and people die and all. HAHAH. That's the only way I know how to explain it. This book finally lets us in on what is REALLY going on with Emma and her world. Emma was as usual very kickass and all, but this time we get three different perspectives, which I am definitely SO HAPPY ABOUT HAHA. We also learn about different species, other than the elves and Morenes. OH OH, and yesh, we do get to know more about Morenes, and who the villains really are.

So where's the next book? 

[Kristin Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the nonstop action! You seriously cannot put this book down when you start. I'm like: more, more, MORE! It is intense, there is so much going on, and you just want answers. But, like a good author, while some answers are given, more questions arise that grips you into the series and has you pulling out your hair waiting for the next one.

[Alizon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed the first book and eagerly waited for the second, and I was not disappointed. You get more answers and more questions and a whole heck of a lot more action. I didn't want to put the book down.

[Rosemary Desris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great addition

These are great , well worded , and Turkey a great imagination all put together in a book I could not put down . Wait , let me rephrase that . A series I can not put down .

[Meagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even better than the first one!

[Sheila Ryals]

[Laura *Little Read Riding Hood* · Rating 3 out of 5]

As good as this story is, I felt my mind wander from time to time. Not sure why, but will certainly continue when the next one comes out.