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Dominion #0
The Deepest Well
"Love can stand the test of time. Can it rise above the taint of Hell?"
Lady Katherine Blakely is married to a monster. On the same night she witnesses how low her husband can sink, she meets a charming stranger, a gentleman from top to toe. Yet even her gallant rescuer is possessed of a dark side.
Lord George Draconis Thornton, commander of the Dominus Daemonum, is on a mission to expel the demon prince Damas back to the underworld. But a golden-haired beauty derails his plans and stirs an attraction he s never felt before, not even for his centuries-dead wife.
Discovering Lord Blakely is in league with Damas, George sweeps Katherine away from the chaos and devilry threatening her life. With every touch, their love grows by joyful leaps and bounds.
Sensing his enemy s vulnerability, Damas kidnaps Katherine to his hellish lair, where he wages a sensual assault on her defenses. As George tears at heaven and earth to find her, he is painfully aware of only one way to save her soul. The cost will break her heart and destroy his own.
Lady Katherine Blakely is married to a monster. On the same night she witnesses how low her husband can sink, she meets a charming stranger, a gentleman from top to toe. Yet even her gallant rescuer is possessed of a dark side.
Lord George Draconis Thornton, commander of the Dominus Daemonum, is on a mission to expel the demon prince Damas back to the underworld. But a golden-haired beauty derails his plans and stirs an attraction he s never felt before, not even for his centuries-dead wife.
Discovering Lord Blakely is in league with Damas, George sweeps Katherine away from the chaos and devilry threatening her life. With every touch, their love grows by joyful leaps and bounds.
Sensing his enemy s vulnerability, Damas kidnaps Katherine to his hellish lair, where he wages a sensual assault on her defenses. As George tears at heaven and earth to find her, he is painfully aware of only one way to save her soul. The cost will break her heart and destroy his own.
327 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 16, 2016
33 people are currently reading
998 people want to read
About the author
Juliette Cross
47 books4,857 followersFor upcoming news and releases, sign-up here: http://eepurl.com/XeKIn
JULIETTE is a multi-published author of paranormal and contemporary romance, including the best-selling STAY A SPELL series. As a native of Louisiana, she lives in the heart of Cajun country with her husband, four kids, and sundry animals. When she isn’t working on her next project, she enjoys binge-watching her favorite shows with her husband and a glass (or two) of red wine or whiskey.
Follow JULIETTE on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliettecro...
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JULIETTE is a multi-published author of paranormal and contemporary romance, including the best-selling STAY A SPELL series. As a native of Louisiana, she lives in the heart of Cajun country with her husband, four kids, and sundry animals. When she isn’t working on her next project, she enjoys binge-watching her favorite shows with her husband and a glass (or two) of red wine or whiskey.
Follow JULIETTE on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliettecro...
Follow JULIETTE on FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/juliettecros...
Follow JULIETTE on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Juliette__Cross
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January 30, 2019
This fantastic book is being re-released today. A brand new publisher and a brand new beautiful cover.
The Deepest Well is book #0.5 in the Dominion series by Juliette Cross. This book was generously provided to me in exchange for an honest review by the author.
I have read all of Juliette’s books to date, including The Vessel Trilogy of which this is a spin off series. So, I thought I knew what to expect more or less when I started this book. I couldn’t have been more wrong.
In The Vessel Trilogy, we got to know Kat and George. We know there is a past history between them with some of the vague details, so now we get to know what really happened. This is the story of Lady Katherine Blakely and Lord George Draconis Thornton.
Katherine has led a somewhat privileged life, being raised by her widowed father in London, early 1800’s. She has met and is being courted by Clyde Blakely when her father falls ill. Wanting him to die knowing she was well taken care of, she marries Clyde, believing him to be the gentleman he portrayed himself to be. She couldn’t have been more wrong. Now two years into the marriage, she has grown accustomed to his cruelty and learned how to mask her pain. On this particular night, she is shocked when she is confronted with the depth of her husband’s cruelty. That evening, while attending the biggest ball of the season, she will meet both the light and love of her future, and the darkness that will take it all away. It is one waltz, with a man that stirs something in her she thought would never awaken that changes her life forever.
George is the leader of the Dominus Daemonum. Their job is to kill the demons that roam the earth unbeknownst to humans. He and Jude are after the high prince, Damas. While at the ball, he sees Damas, posing as a Lord, but he sees him talking to the most beautiful blonde angel he has ever seen. A woman that stirs something inside him long dead. His first reaction is to get her away from Damas so he swirls her off to the dance floor, a dance that would change everything.
“Her outer beauty was nothing compared to what he saw within, what he wanted to hold and cherish as his own.”
George will do whatever is necessary to keep Katherine safe. As they become acquainted, their fondness for one another grows to love. George knows, though, that he must admit all to Katherine before he can make her his. He has to tell her who and what he really is.
“Her world had turned into a fairy tale where dragons were real. Yet her knight in shining armor was the greatest slayer of them all. She would always be safe with him.”
What better way for a demon to conquer his enemy than to take what he loves. And that is exactly what he did, stealing Katherine and taking her deep into the underworld where no one will ever find her. Katherine is completely isolated except for her contact with Damas. With slow, persistent patience he steals her will and her dignity, leaving her with nothing but her dependence on him.
Katherine held out hope for a long time that George would find a way to save her. Time passes differently in the underworld. She doesn’t know how long she’s been there, only that it has been a long time, decades. Her hope has long since faded and gone.
George has suffered his own kind of insanity in his quest to find a way to save Katherine. He has failed her in the worst of ways. He was supposed to keep her safe. He can only imagine what she has endured during her captivity.
This book was so different than the previous Vessel Trilogy. This was truly a love story. My heart broke for Kat and George and yes, my eyes did water. The question is, if the love they had such a short time to enjoy will survive? Or will the blackness of Damas break them to a point where they can never mend? I also want to mention Jude Delacroix. I was in love with Jude and Gen in The Vessel Trilogy. Now we see Jude a century before he will ever meet Genevieve. And the prophecy the archangel, Uriel, made to Jude regarding George’s quest to save Katherine literally gave me goosebumps.
“Because, my friend, one day you will willingly fall into darkness for a woman. Without a thought, without a care, you will leap into death’s arms and give up your very soul. Because you deem her life worth more than yours, you will not allow her to become lost. You will never simply ‘let her go’.”
This book moved me. Especially one particular part of which I don’t want to mention. I know it is going to stay with me for a long time. I have loved every single one of Juliette Cross’s books, each one special in it’s own way. If you haven’t read anything of hers, I hope I have convinced you to give them a try. I don’t think you will regret it.
The Deepest Well is book #0.5 in the Dominion series by Juliette Cross. This book was generously provided to me in exchange for an honest review by the author.
I have read all of Juliette’s books to date, including The Vessel Trilogy of which this is a spin off series. So, I thought I knew what to expect more or less when I started this book. I couldn’t have been more wrong.
In The Vessel Trilogy, we got to know Kat and George. We know there is a past history between them with some of the vague details, so now we get to know what really happened. This is the story of Lady Katherine Blakely and Lord George Draconis Thornton.
Katherine has led a somewhat privileged life, being raised by her widowed father in London, early 1800’s. She has met and is being courted by Clyde Blakely when her father falls ill. Wanting him to die knowing she was well taken care of, she marries Clyde, believing him to be the gentleman he portrayed himself to be. She couldn’t have been more wrong. Now two years into the marriage, she has grown accustomed to his cruelty and learned how to mask her pain. On this particular night, she is shocked when she is confronted with the depth of her husband’s cruelty. That evening, while attending the biggest ball of the season, she will meet both the light and love of her future, and the darkness that will take it all away. It is one waltz, with a man that stirs something in her she thought would never awaken that changes her life forever.
George is the leader of the Dominus Daemonum. Their job is to kill the demons that roam the earth unbeknownst to humans. He and Jude are after the high prince, Damas. While at the ball, he sees Damas, posing as a Lord, but he sees him talking to the most beautiful blonde angel he has ever seen. A woman that stirs something inside him long dead. His first reaction is to get her away from Damas so he swirls her off to the dance floor, a dance that would change everything.
“Her outer beauty was nothing compared to what he saw within, what he wanted to hold and cherish as his own.”
George will do whatever is necessary to keep Katherine safe. As they become acquainted, their fondness for one another grows to love. George knows, though, that he must admit all to Katherine before he can make her his. He has to tell her who and what he really is.
“Her world had turned into a fairy tale where dragons were real. Yet her knight in shining armor was the greatest slayer of them all. She would always be safe with him.”
What better way for a demon to conquer his enemy than to take what he loves. And that is exactly what he did, stealing Katherine and taking her deep into the underworld where no one will ever find her. Katherine is completely isolated except for her contact with Damas. With slow, persistent patience he steals her will and her dignity, leaving her with nothing but her dependence on him.
Katherine held out hope for a long time that George would find a way to save her. Time passes differently in the underworld. She doesn’t know how long she’s been there, only that it has been a long time, decades. Her hope has long since faded and gone.
George has suffered his own kind of insanity in his quest to find a way to save Katherine. He has failed her in the worst of ways. He was supposed to keep her safe. He can only imagine what she has endured during her captivity.
This book was so different than the previous Vessel Trilogy. This was truly a love story. My heart broke for Kat and George and yes, my eyes did water. The question is, if the love they had such a short time to enjoy will survive? Or will the blackness of Damas break them to a point where they can never mend? I also want to mention Jude Delacroix. I was in love with Jude and Gen in The Vessel Trilogy. Now we see Jude a century before he will ever meet Genevieve. And the prophecy the archangel, Uriel, made to Jude regarding George’s quest to save Katherine literally gave me goosebumps.
“Because, my friend, one day you will willingly fall into darkness for a woman. Without a thought, without a care, you will leap into death’s arms and give up your very soul. Because you deem her life worth more than yours, you will not allow her to become lost. You will never simply ‘let her go’.”
This book moved me. Especially one particular part of which I don’t want to mention. I know it is going to stay with me for a long time. I have loved every single one of Juliette Cross’s books, each one special in it’s own way. If you haven’t read anything of hers, I hope I have convinced you to give them a try. I don’t think you will regret it.
February 10, 2016
2/2/16 - Now available!
Reviewed by: Rabid Reads
When I started reading THE DEEPEST WELL by Juliette Cross, I didn't know what to expect. I'd been interested in reading her books for awhile, b/c tons o' Goodreads friends love her (including book bff), so I jumped when I was offered an opportunity to read it for review, and then . . .
The first few paragraphs read like something from a Jane Austen novel.
o.O
Katherine Blakely was coaching herself into her public face while silently despairing her situation--married to and at the complete mercy of a man who was a "monster."
And this is PNR, so I took that literally. I figured he was a werewolf with an insatiable sexual appetite, probably a Scotsman, and this blushing miss was about to have an Awakening.
Then Katherine walked downstairs, ready to attend a party with Monster (who was only a monster behind closed doors *waggles eyebrows*), when she notices the quiet and absence of servants.
Quiet except for vague sounds she hears coming from Monster's office . . .
Through the open door she sees her husband with one of the servants bent over his desk . . . and I realized we were dealing with a different kind of monster.
I shouldn't have liked this book. I'm kind of baffled that I did.
After the Monster Incident, I went back and reread the synopsis--I'd skimmed it months ago, but I didn't remember anything--and what I found left me with MAJOR misgivings.
I hate cheating. The only reason it's not #1 on my list of RULES, is b/c it's so seldom an issue in the books I read.
But if I primarily read contemporary romance, it'd be Rule #1. And not only did the main couple come together through cheating, but Dollface is kidnapped by Cool Guy's enemy who "wages a sensual assault against her defenses."
o.O
What does that mean?
Convincing myself it was some kind of metaphor (or something), I determinedly kept going. Monster was in fact a monster, as far as I was concerned, so I was already open to the possibility that the cheating wasn't really cheating . . .
It totally was.
But I didn't care.
B/c MONSTER. Also b/c of a spiel about the polite world vs. the world Katherine was actually existing in. *tips hat*
BUT. Then the kidnapping.
Black hole of my emotions:
The reason this book works is b/c it takes place over hundreds of years. TIME is the answer. It made everything not only believable, but I understood it.
It broke my heart.
But it broke my heart b/c it was real.
Then TIME put me back together again.
Just like TIME also put Katherine and George back together.
THE DEEPEST WELL was my first book by Juliette Cross, but it will not be the last. While I'm fairly certain it's a spinoff from her other series, I didn't feel lost or left behind, so if you're also a Cross newbie, have no fear of jumping in with both feet, and if you're a longtime reader, I have a feeling you'll be VERY pleased with this story . . . George seems like a pretty important guy to the cause.
As for me, I already have three of her other books downloaded onto my kindle, so I'll see you guys later. MUCH later. Highly recommended.
Reviewed by: Rabid Reads
When I started reading THE DEEPEST WELL by Juliette Cross, I didn't know what to expect. I'd been interested in reading her books for awhile, b/c tons o' Goodreads friends love her (including book bff), so I jumped when I was offered an opportunity to read it for review, and then . . .
The first few paragraphs read like something from a Jane Austen novel.
o.O
Katherine Blakely was coaching herself into her public face while silently despairing her situation--married to and at the complete mercy of a man who was a "monster."
And this is PNR, so I took that literally. I figured he was a werewolf with an insatiable sexual appetite, probably a Scotsman, and this blushing miss was about to have an Awakening.
Then Katherine walked downstairs, ready to attend a party with Monster (who was only a monster behind closed doors *waggles eyebrows*), when she notices the quiet and absence of servants.
Quiet except for vague sounds she hears coming from Monster's office . . .
Through the open door she sees her husband with one of the servants bent over his desk . . . and I realized we were dealing with a different kind of monster.
I shouldn't have liked this book. I'm kind of baffled that I did.
After the Monster Incident, I went back and reread the synopsis--I'd skimmed it months ago, but I didn't remember anything--and what I found left me with MAJOR misgivings.
I hate cheating. The only reason it's not #1 on my list of RULES, is b/c it's so seldom an issue in the books I read.
But if I primarily read contemporary romance, it'd be Rule #1. And not only did the main couple come together through cheating, but Dollface is kidnapped by Cool Guy's enemy who "wages a sensual assault against her defenses."
o.O
What does that mean?
Convincing myself it was some kind of metaphor (or something), I determinedly kept going. Monster was in fact a monster, as far as I was concerned, so I was already open to the possibility that the cheating wasn't really cheating . . .
It totally was.
But I didn't care.
B/c MONSTER. Also b/c of a spiel about the polite world vs. the world Katherine was actually existing in. *tips hat*
BUT. Then the kidnapping.
Black hole of my emotions:
The reason this book works is b/c it takes place over hundreds of years. TIME is the answer. It made everything not only believable, but I understood it.
It broke my heart.
But it broke my heart b/c it was real.
Then TIME put me back together again.
“I’m just like that flower. The cinquefoil.” She reared up on her elbow, cupping his jaw. “I was torn apart. But you, my knight, you found all the pieces and put me back together.”
Just like TIME also put Katherine and George back together.
THE DEEPEST WELL was my first book by Juliette Cross, but it will not be the last. While I'm fairly certain it's a spinoff from her other series, I didn't feel lost or left behind, so if you're also a Cross newbie, have no fear of jumping in with both feet, and if you're a longtime reader, I have a feeling you'll be VERY pleased with this story . . . George seems like a pretty important guy to the cause.
As for me, I already have three of her other books downloaded onto my kindle, so I'll see you guys later. MUCH later. Highly recommended.
July 25, 2018
This has been on my radar for a few months and what better time could there be to dive in, as whilst the first in the Age of Grey series, it also links into the Dominion series: the first of which,
Darkest Heart
is imminent.
You would start a war over a woman?
“Yes. In a heartbeat.”
If there’s one thing you can expect from Juliette Cross it’s the unexpected. And this book has it. First of all there’s George. I’ve fallen in love with the men she’s created before, but George...
Lord George Draconis Thornton. What a guy. Demon slayer and a sweetheart all rolled into one. He knows how to woo a lady and, like Lady Katherine Blakely, I was smitten.
In every possible way a man wants a woman, I want you. In my arms, in my bed, in my heart, in my soul.”
Lady Katherine, I have mixed feelings on. I loved her heart, her confidence and her independent streak, and she plays a pivotal role in the story, yet at the same time she never really did a great deal. That said, I have no doubt if we see her again that will have changed.
I have never felt the way I feel when I’m with you.”
And then there’s the story, which had it not been for adult responsibilities, I’d have polished off in one sitting. Light meets dark with well known legends and historical events woven in and Juliette Cross is mean. Deliciously so as she lulls you into a false sense of security, captivating you with the romance and the character development and then taking you down a path you may well have predicted...but actually only scratched the surface on.
I’m not going to lie, I was all but ready to book myself in for that anger management counselling I keep threatening, because I was indeed channelling my inner Mrs. Bennet, but there’s no denying I actually appreciated the direction this story took and the feelings it brought, whilst at the same time hating it a little bit for the very same reasons.
...you found all the pieces and put me back together.”
£2.99 well spent and having discovered The Deepest Well is also linked to the Vessel Trilogy, I have another series to binge on.
You would start a war over a woman?“Yes. In a heartbeat.”
If there’s one thing you can expect from Juliette Cross it’s the unexpected. And this book has it. First of all there’s George. I’ve fallen in love with the men she’s created before, but George...
Lord George Draconis Thornton. What a guy. Demon slayer and a sweetheart all rolled into one. He knows how to woo a lady and, like Lady Katherine Blakely, I was smitten.
In every possible way a man wants a woman, I want you. In my arms, in my bed, in my heart, in my soul.”
Lady Katherine, I have mixed feelings on. I loved her heart, her confidence and her independent streak, and she plays a pivotal role in the story, yet at the same time she never really did a great deal. That said, I have no doubt if we see her again that will have changed.
I have never felt the way I feel when I’m with you.”
And then there’s the story, which had it not been for adult responsibilities, I’d have polished off in one sitting. Light meets dark with well known legends and historical events woven in and Juliette Cross is mean. Deliciously so as she lulls you into a false sense of security, captivating you with the romance and the character development and then taking you down a path you may well have predicted...but actually only scratched the surface on.
I’m not going to lie, I was all but ready to book myself in for that anger management counselling I keep threatening, because I was indeed channelling my inner Mrs. Bennet, but there’s no denying I actually appreciated the direction this story took and the feelings it brought, whilst at the same time hating it a little bit for the very same reasons.
...you found all the pieces and put me back together.”
£2.99 well spent and having discovered The Deepest Well is also linked to the Vessel Trilogy, I have another series to binge on.
March 7, 2018
It wasn’t a marriage of love, but when Lady Katherine Blakely was shown proof positive that there wasn’t even any respect, Fate stepped in and introduced her to a charming stranger, a true gentleman. Even gentlemen have secrets, but were they as unbelievable as Lord George Draconis Thornton’s?
THE DEEPEST WELL by Juliette Cross is filled with the atmosphere of Gothic romance with a supernatural twist as one strong heroine will face the horrors of monsters because she fell in love with the right man for her. Little did she know his enemies would be dark, powerful and immortal.
George has secrets that go back thousands of years and enemies that will stop at nothing to destroy him, one way or the other. As the commander of the Dominus Daemonum, he has led his warriors against the powers of evil, of demons bent on destroying the goodness that is left in the world. Now one has found his revenge and it involves stealing Katherine, body, soul and mind. Will George be able to save her or will she be lost to him forever?
Once again, Juliette Cross proves her talent as an author able to cross genres and create a masterpiece of romance and emotional turmoil. Wonderful characters, a sweet romance in its first bloom and the dark stench of evil that has found a way to break hearts and crush spirits. Ms. Cross had me from page one! Intense, brilliantly executed: simply magnetic as I was glued to each page and each event that led to an incredible finish I never expected.
Series: Dominion - Prequel
Publisher: Entangled: Select Otherworld (July 31, 2017)
Publication Date: July 31, 2017
Genre: Historical Fantasy
Print Length: 304 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
THE DEEPEST WELL by Juliette Cross is filled with the atmosphere of Gothic romance with a supernatural twist as one strong heroine will face the horrors of monsters because she fell in love with the right man for her. Little did she know his enemies would be dark, powerful and immortal.
George has secrets that go back thousands of years and enemies that will stop at nothing to destroy him, one way or the other. As the commander of the Dominus Daemonum, he has led his warriors against the powers of evil, of demons bent on destroying the goodness that is left in the world. Now one has found his revenge and it involves stealing Katherine, body, soul and mind. Will George be able to save her or will she be lost to him forever?
Once again, Juliette Cross proves her talent as an author able to cross genres and create a masterpiece of romance and emotional turmoil. Wonderful characters, a sweet romance in its first bloom and the dark stench of evil that has found a way to break hearts and crush spirits. Ms. Cross had me from page one! Intense, brilliantly executed: simply magnetic as I was glued to each page and each event that led to an incredible finish I never expected.
Series: Dominion - Prequel
Publisher: Entangled: Select Otherworld (July 31, 2017)
Publication Date: July 31, 2017
Genre: Historical Fantasy
Print Length: 304 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
November 19, 2025
George is Flamma of Light. His main purpose is to protect mortals from demons and the evil they raught with Damas being his arch enemy.
When George meets Katherine, he is surprised by their instant attraction but after realizing she is married, George puts all thoughts of romance aside…until George sees that her husband, Lord Blakely, is in the service of the Demon Damas and his association puts Katherine’s very soul on the line.
While George tries to save Katherine, the mutual attraction grows stronger, evil is waiting and decides to use Kat to destroy them both.
George is steadfast and true, which is something I adored about this story.
It all comes down to what sacrifices that are made for love.
The Deepest Well was another amazing dark fantasy from Juliette Cross. Moving, heartfelt and at times dark and desperate, you couldn’t help but find yourself caught up in these character’s lives. I, flat out, loved this story.
I received this ARC copy of The Deepest Well from Juliette Cross in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication Feb. 2, 2016.
When George meets Katherine, he is surprised by their instant attraction but after realizing she is married, George puts all thoughts of romance aside…until George sees that her husband, Lord Blakely, is in the service of the Demon Damas and his association puts Katherine’s very soul on the line.
While George tries to save Katherine, the mutual attraction grows stronger, evil is waiting and decides to use Kat to destroy them both.
George is steadfast and true, which is something I adored about this story.
It all comes down to what sacrifices that are made for love.
The Deepest Well was another amazing dark fantasy from Juliette Cross. Moving, heartfelt and at times dark and desperate, you couldn’t help but find yourself caught up in these character’s lives. I, flat out, loved this story.
I received this ARC copy of The Deepest Well from Juliette Cross in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication Feb. 2, 2016.
July 3, 2018
Wow, this story ended up being one wild ride and a complete surprise! I absolutely loved Katherine and George. Both of these characters are fighting against all odds but never against each other. Outside forces keep things stirred up and the story line moving. Secondary characters are vital to the plot even as some of them endeared themselves to me. This has a bit of an element some readers will not appreciate and I must admit I stumbled with it a time or two but it didn’t take me long to get way over that issue! When I hit the huge turning point in this story and continued to follow Katherine’s trials my chest was tight from experiencing her emotions with her during that time. Actually, my heart hurt for both of these characters as they have to overcome their past, deal with present and prepare for the future.
Dual POV
Safe
Trigger
Dual POV
Safe
Trigger
February 7, 2016
Mesmerising
Amorous
Passionate
Forbidden
Devotion
Love
Just a few soft spoken words, whisperings along time, that are present throughout the telling of Lady Katherine and Lord George's love story. Their story spans centuries and stirs up a plethora of emotions, from their first fleeting encounter with a simple dance at a ball, through the depths of the darkest hell and into the apocalyptic Age of Gray. It definitely is utterly alluring and devastating all at once.
The Deepest Well is a spin off of The Vessel Trilogy where we are first introduced to the fierce and sexy Kat, a Dominus Daemonum, and to her formidable and stoic Commander, George. A hint of their history had me wanting more, and Juliette Cross has delivered it, not wrapped up in a pretty bow. Knowing what had happened to Kat from her omission to Genevieve in The Vessel Trilogy, I never thought I would still be somewhat surprised at my reaction, and heartbroken from all that Kat had endured. I cried out in pain at the shame surrounding Kat's account of her past and the things she had to do, yet was not taken aback by George's unwavering devotion to save her. I knew he would never give up on Kat, no matter how long it took to find her, or wait for her to finally heal. Beautiful.
I'm excited that I have the chance to continue reading about these amazing characters that I fell in love with through the wonderful imaginings of Juliette Cross and I seriously cannot wait for he next instalment of the Age of Gray series, anticipating it to be another brilliant piece of story telling.
Amorous
Passionate
Forbidden
Devotion
Love
Just a few soft spoken words, whisperings along time, that are present throughout the telling of Lady Katherine and Lord George's love story. Their story spans centuries and stirs up a plethora of emotions, from their first fleeting encounter with a simple dance at a ball, through the depths of the darkest hell and into the apocalyptic Age of Gray. It definitely is utterly alluring and devastating all at once.
The Deepest Well is a spin off of The Vessel Trilogy where we are first introduced to the fierce and sexy Kat, a Dominus Daemonum, and to her formidable and stoic Commander, George. A hint of their history had me wanting more, and Juliette Cross has delivered it, not wrapped up in a pretty bow. Knowing what had happened to Kat from her omission to Genevieve in The Vessel Trilogy, I never thought I would still be somewhat surprised at my reaction, and heartbroken from all that Kat had endured. I cried out in pain at the shame surrounding Kat's account of her past and the things she had to do, yet was not taken aback by George's unwavering devotion to save her. I knew he would never give up on Kat, no matter how long it took to find her, or wait for her to finally heal. Beautiful.
I'm excited that I have the chance to continue reading about these amazing characters that I fell in love with through the wonderful imaginings of Juliette Cross and I seriously cannot wait for he next instalment of the Age of Gray series, anticipating it to be another brilliant piece of story telling.
May 26, 2016
4 Stars - 3 Flames
After finishing the Vessel Trilogy, there was only one thing on my mind. I NEEDED Kat and George's story! Surprise, surprise...look what we've got here. Just the story I was looking for. But there was a catch for me. You see, I'm not usually a historical reader. But I needed their story so desperately that I KNEW I had to at least give this a go. Boy of boy, I'm so happy I did.
Having the ability to experience how these two met and fell in love was something special. We knew a little bit about their history, but we got to dive deep in this one. So deep we went to hell...for ever.
Katherine married a man that she didn't love. Typical for that time period, but still not ideal. Especially when you're being cheated on and disrespected within the community. But what do you do when you meet someone who captures your heart while you're married? Good question. After the last few years she's had to live, she's more than ready to throw caution to the wind and go for what she wants. Too bad the high demon Damas has other plans for her future.
George has fought and destroyed many creatures of the night. But the moment he sees and dances with Katherine, it is she who starts to slowly destroy him. All he wants is her, but knowing he can't have her is like a slow death. Even for an immortal. Don't worry though. He's got a plan. A plan that actually works. But keeping her safe becomes more important and his priority...for decades. Yep, you heard me right, decades.
Katherine's story is a very sad and tragic one. But it makes complete and total sense, knowing the person she becomes, and the one we read about in the Vessel Trilogy. And as if I didn't already have a soft spot in my heart for George. I think I've fallen in love with him as much as I did Jude in the Vessel.
If you loved the Vessel Trilogy, give this a try, especially if you want to know that background to Kat a George's story. Oh...and you might get a little "closure", with a little "tease" in the end.
*I was given this book by the author for my honest opinion.
After finishing the Vessel Trilogy, there was only one thing on my mind. I NEEDED Kat and George's story! Surprise, surprise...look what we've got here. Just the story I was looking for. But there was a catch for me. You see, I'm not usually a historical reader. But I needed their story so desperately that I KNEW I had to at least give this a go. Boy of boy, I'm so happy I did.
Having the ability to experience how these two met and fell in love was something special. We knew a little bit about their history, but we got to dive deep in this one. So deep we went to hell...for ever.
Katherine married a man that she didn't love. Typical for that time period, but still not ideal. Especially when you're being cheated on and disrespected within the community. But what do you do when you meet someone who captures your heart while you're married? Good question. After the last few years she's had to live, she's more than ready to throw caution to the wind and go for what she wants. Too bad the high demon Damas has other plans for her future.
George has fought and destroyed many creatures of the night. But the moment he sees and dances with Katherine, it is she who starts to slowly destroy him. All he wants is her, but knowing he can't have her is like a slow death. Even for an immortal. Don't worry though. He's got a plan. A plan that actually works. But keeping her safe becomes more important and his priority...for decades. Yep, you heard me right, decades.
Katherine's story is a very sad and tragic one. But it makes complete and total sense, knowing the person she becomes, and the one we read about in the Vessel Trilogy. And as if I didn't already have a soft spot in my heart for George. I think I've fallen in love with him as much as I did Jude in the Vessel.
If you loved the Vessel Trilogy, give this a try, especially if you want to know that background to Kat a George's story. Oh...and you might get a little "closure", with a little "tease" in the end.
*I was given this book by the author for my honest opinion.
February 16, 2016
Wow. Just holy cow and wow. I went into this story having read all of the Vessel series, so I was totally stymied at how Juliette would make George and Kat's story work. I mean, come on...it's romance. It HAS to have a HEA.
She did it. And not only did she do it, but she wove in beautiful history and rich details for an absolutely stunning result. I loved the romance, I loved the imagery, and I loved the characters--all the same details I appreciated in her previous works. But this story has to be her most impressive to date. It's deep with heart-wrenching emotion and sometimes difficult situations. And as traitorous as it might make me, she even managed to make me feel some sympathy for Damas.
Yeah, it was that good. I can't wait for the next one!!
She did it. And not only did she do it, but she wove in beautiful history and rich details for an absolutely stunning result. I loved the romance, I loved the imagery, and I loved the characters--all the same details I appreciated in her previous works. But this story has to be her most impressive to date. It's deep with heart-wrenching emotion and sometimes difficult situations. And as traitorous as it might make me, she even managed to make me feel some sympathy for Damas.
Yeah, it was that good. I can't wait for the next one!!
November 15, 2022
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Well, I was not expecting this book to be so engaging. At first The Deepest Well seemed like it is going to be a historical romance that just happened to have a little paranormal in it with some specialized characters on the side of good, made by an Angel fighting the demons on earth. But it turned into a story that spans ages and shows how far into a well of despair our heroine fell after being captured and taken to a hell realm. This is listed as 0.5 of the Dominion series, a spin off of The Vessel , which I haven't read but will probably need to add to my tbr list.
Katherine Blakely was the toast of the ton and married a man who was one thing before they got married and then showed his true colors afterward. Stuck in a loveless and abusive marriage, she has been resigned to her fate, that was until she spent one dance in the arms of another man who she showed all her pain and felt safe with him.
Lord George Draconis Thornton knew Katherine was special the first moment he saw her. He has been in the service of an angel for that last fifteen hundred years and in that time no woman has ever called to him. He has enemies and they have noticed his interest in this woman, which can not be good for her. He must protect her, not only from the enemy she knows in her own home but those Katherine has no idea even exist. Because a demon has just picked up on Katherine and will use her anyway he can to hurt George.
Well let's just say this takes us for a ride to be sure. Demons are tricky creatures and Katherine ends up in a hell realm with Damas, who will use all his tricks to corrupt her and bring pain to George's life. He is a demon and has all the time in the world to shift her to his will. This was intense as the reader longs for Katherine to stay strong and true to George, but she is with Damas for so many years, with only him as company and the Stockholm syndrome really starts to shine through. George spends decades looking for the woman he loves, knowing what he might find when he finally gets to her. How can you save someone who feels like she has sold her soul and is corrupted to the core. The short answer is time but George's love for Katherine will have to endure centuries if he is to get to be with the only woman he has loved.
This was an intense and fantastic ride. I will say that part of the book seemed rushed toward the end but I believe that is because if you had read the other series, the reader had already read some of the events between these two characters in their later years. Still we get to a great place at the end and it made be both want to read the original trilogy and more books in this series.
Narration:
Allie Rose was fun to listen to and she really brought through the torment and torture that Katherine was feeling later in the book when in hell and her slow slide into being Dumas's servant so to speak. She did well with the sensual nature of the book and all of the character voices bringing them to life. I was able to listen at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Well, I was not expecting this book to be so engaging. At first The Deepest Well seemed like it is going to be a historical romance that just happened to have a little paranormal in it with some specialized characters on the side of good, made by an Angel fighting the demons on earth. But it turned into a story that spans ages and shows how far into a well of despair our heroine fell after being captured and taken to a hell realm. This is listed as 0.5 of the Dominion series, a spin off of The Vessel , which I haven't read but will probably need to add to my tbr list.
Katherine Blakely was the toast of the ton and married a man who was one thing before they got married and then showed his true colors afterward. Stuck in a loveless and abusive marriage, she has been resigned to her fate, that was until she spent one dance in the arms of another man who she showed all her pain and felt safe with him.
Lord George Draconis Thornton knew Katherine was special the first moment he saw her. He has been in the service of an angel for that last fifteen hundred years and in that time no woman has ever called to him. He has enemies and they have noticed his interest in this woman, which can not be good for her. He must protect her, not only from the enemy she knows in her own home but those Katherine has no idea even exist. Because a demon has just picked up on Katherine and will use her anyway he can to hurt George.
Well let's just say this takes us for a ride to be sure. Demons are tricky creatures and Katherine ends up in a hell realm with Damas, who will use all his tricks to corrupt her and bring pain to George's life. He is a demon and has all the time in the world to shift her to his will. This was intense as the reader longs for Katherine to stay strong and true to George, but she is with Damas for so many years, with only him as company and the Stockholm syndrome really starts to shine through. George spends decades looking for the woman he loves, knowing what he might find when he finally gets to her. How can you save someone who feels like she has sold her soul and is corrupted to the core. The short answer is time but George's love for Katherine will have to endure centuries if he is to get to be with the only woman he has loved.
This was an intense and fantastic ride. I will say that part of the book seemed rushed toward the end but I believe that is because if you had read the other series, the reader had already read some of the events between these two characters in their later years. Still we get to a great place at the end and it made be both want to read the original trilogy and more books in this series.
“Humans were made for love and beauty; their vulnerability was what made them feel on the deepest level and what could also crush their will to live.”
Narration:
Allie Rose was fun to listen to and she really brought through the torment and torture that Katherine was feeling later in the book when in hell and her slow slide into being Dumas's servant so to speak. She did well with the sensual nature of the book and all of the character voices bringing them to life. I was able to listen at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
January 6, 2016
***4.5 stars***
I’ve had this ARC sitting for awhile, not because I didn’t want to dive into it ~ far from it actually because Ms. Cross has become one of those authors that I truly enjoy reading and find myself chomping at the bit for news of her next release (mmmm Morgonkind anyone??) but more because I have a slight OCD when it comes to reading my ARC’s in order and because I wasn’t quite in the mood for historical fiction at the time. But the planets aligned to where it was one of the ARCs up next on the list and I just so happen to be in a historical fiction with a paranormal feel mood and The Deepest Well fit the bill perfectly!
Now I have to admit that I only read Forged in Fire, the first book in The Vessel Trilogy (Yes, I know bad fangirl *slaps own hand* but such is life) but Kat and George’s strained relationship was one of the aspects of the book that stuck with me so getting my greedy hands on The Deepest Well wasn’t a surprise in anyway and I loved finding out how they met and just what transpired to make two people, or beings as it were, who so obviously loved and cared for each other walk on eggshells when in each other’s presence.
I liked Kat as soon as she was introduced in FiF, she was sassy and confident, so seeing her as a lady in British society versus the kickass Dominus Daemonum that she is was actually quite fun. Though she was in an unhappy marriage she didn’t wilt because of it. She may not have been able to get out of her predicament, but she didn’t allow herself to break because of it and showed a lot of strength and self worth as she made the best of her situation. George is definitely a charmer, quite intense and sneaky as well, though that is probably part of the job requirement when you are the commander of the Dominus Daemonum.
Their courtship is a perfect blend of staying within the social norms of the time, impetuousness and heartbreaking angst. I really liked how their attraction grows and that they both followed their guts, and hearts, without apology. Could there have been a little more hemming and hawing? Probably, but considering what was going on in their lives I can definitely see why they made the choices they did and they were, IMHO, the right ones for both of them.
A part of their courtship is Kat finding out what George is and gaining a very quick education about the war that is raging right under her nose. I loved the fact that George was extremely honest about it all, not that he really had a choice, but he didn’t mince words or hedge on the truth. Katherine’s reaction to it all was a pleasant surprise, part of it though really does stem from the fact that she wasn’t given too much time to ponder over the crazy that has entered her life and the other is that she really isn’t prone to hysterics. (Thank God for that) And then there is what happens with Damas. It was heartbreaking to bear witness to what it did to both Kat and George and yet, in a weird way I couldn’t fully hate Damas (well played Ms. Cross) and found that though he was a bastard, he is a high demon prince after all, there was a slight sliver of compassion in him.
As with all of Ms. Cross’s books I’ve read, I found the writing to be engaging and clean and the pacing well done. Though I knew how some things would end up, the journey to get there was fun. I loved seeing Jude in this era and enjoyed his bantering and silent conversations with George. If you have read all, or part, of The Vessel Trilogy you are in for a treat and won’t be disappointed. If you haven’t you won’t feel lost since this book mostly takes place long before Forged in Fire and even at it’s conclusion all you’ll be doing is looking to jump into FiF. My one issue, which I think is a total “it’s not you, it’s me situation” has to do with George and Damas at the end. I wanted more. I have no issue with how things came to pass, but I wish there had been a little more time spent between them before it’s conclusion, especially since I know that Ms. Cross can write some kickass action sequences. But other than that I really enjoyed the book and can’t wait to find out who the next one is about. Xander? Dommiel? Anya?
The Bottom Line: A great read and I can’t wait to get my hands on the next one!
~ ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review ~
I’ve had this ARC sitting for awhile, not because I didn’t want to dive into it ~ far from it actually because Ms. Cross has become one of those authors that I truly enjoy reading and find myself chomping at the bit for news of her next release (mmmm Morgonkind anyone??) but more because I have a slight OCD when it comes to reading my ARC’s in order and because I wasn’t quite in the mood for historical fiction at the time. But the planets aligned to where it was one of the ARCs up next on the list and I just so happen to be in a historical fiction with a paranormal feel mood and The Deepest Well fit the bill perfectly!
Now I have to admit that I only read Forged in Fire, the first book in The Vessel Trilogy (Yes, I know bad fangirl *slaps own hand* but such is life) but Kat and George’s strained relationship was one of the aspects of the book that stuck with me so getting my greedy hands on The Deepest Well wasn’t a surprise in anyway and I loved finding out how they met and just what transpired to make two people, or beings as it were, who so obviously loved and cared for each other walk on eggshells when in each other’s presence.
I liked Kat as soon as she was introduced in FiF, she was sassy and confident, so seeing her as a lady in British society versus the kickass Dominus Daemonum that she is was actually quite fun. Though she was in an unhappy marriage she didn’t wilt because of it. She may not have been able to get out of her predicament, but she didn’t allow herself to break because of it and showed a lot of strength and self worth as she made the best of her situation. George is definitely a charmer, quite intense and sneaky as well, though that is probably part of the job requirement when you are the commander of the Dominus Daemonum.
Their courtship is a perfect blend of staying within the social norms of the time, impetuousness and heartbreaking angst. I really liked how their attraction grows and that they both followed their guts, and hearts, without apology. Could there have been a little more hemming and hawing? Probably, but considering what was going on in their lives I can definitely see why they made the choices they did and they were, IMHO, the right ones for both of them.
A part of their courtship is Kat finding out what George is and gaining a very quick education about the war that is raging right under her nose. I loved the fact that George was extremely honest about it all, not that he really had a choice, but he didn’t mince words or hedge on the truth. Katherine’s reaction to it all was a pleasant surprise, part of it though really does stem from the fact that she wasn’t given too much time to ponder over the crazy that has entered her life and the other is that she really isn’t prone to hysterics. (Thank God for that) And then there is what happens with Damas. It was heartbreaking to bear witness to what it did to both Kat and George and yet, in a weird way I couldn’t fully hate Damas (well played Ms. Cross) and found that though he was a bastard, he is a high demon prince after all, there was a slight sliver of compassion in him.
As with all of Ms. Cross’s books I’ve read, I found the writing to be engaging and clean and the pacing well done. Though I knew how some things would end up, the journey to get there was fun. I loved seeing Jude in this era and enjoyed his bantering and silent conversations with George. If you have read all, or part, of The Vessel Trilogy you are in for a treat and won’t be disappointed. If you haven’t you won’t feel lost since this book mostly takes place long before Forged in Fire and even at it’s conclusion all you’ll be doing is looking to jump into FiF. My one issue, which I think is a total “it’s not you, it’s me situation” has to do with George and Damas at the end. I wanted more. I have no issue with how things came to pass, but I wish there had been a little more time spent between them before it’s conclusion, especially since I know that Ms. Cross can write some kickass action sequences. But other than that I really enjoyed the book and can’t wait to find out who the next one is about. Xander? Dommiel? Anya?
The Bottom Line: A great read and I can’t wait to get my hands on the next one!
~ ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review ~
January 21, 2016
I don't know why I didn't put it together before, but I was pleasantly surprised when I realized THE DEEPEST WELL tells the story of how Kat and George from The Vessel Trilogy met and fell in love and the hardships that they faced.
Kat and George's relationship has always been a mystery to me and THE DEEPEST WELL really cleared up all the questions I had about them as individuals and as a couple. I'm not usually a fan of historical fiction, but I had no problem enjoying this book one bit. I knew Kat was a strong woman, but meeting her as Katherine really cemented how strong of a woman she really was. It would be impossible to not like George, his character just jumps off the pages. He's loyal, strong and ready to right Katherine's world. Unfortunately nothing is easy for this couple and there is a lot of heartache between the pages. I absolutely loved that Cross fast forwards us to what happened after the events of BOUND IN BLACK at the end of this book so that we see how Katherine and George end up.
I really enjoyed THE DEEPEST WELL and consider it a must read if you are a Juliette Cross fan and have already read her Vessel Trilogy. New to Juliette Cross? You will love it too and I don't feel you need to read her other books to fall in love with Katherine and George's story.
* This book was provided free of charge from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Kat and George's relationship has always been a mystery to me and THE DEEPEST WELL really cleared up all the questions I had about them as individuals and as a couple. I'm not usually a fan of historical fiction, but I had no problem enjoying this book one bit. I knew Kat was a strong woman, but meeting her as Katherine really cemented how strong of a woman she really was. It would be impossible to not like George, his character just jumps off the pages. He's loyal, strong and ready to right Katherine's world. Unfortunately nothing is easy for this couple and there is a lot of heartache between the pages. I absolutely loved that Cross fast forwards us to what happened after the events of BOUND IN BLACK at the end of this book so that we see how Katherine and George end up.
I really enjoyed THE DEEPEST WELL and consider it a must read if you are a Juliette Cross fan and have already read her Vessel Trilogy. New to Juliette Cross? You will love it too and I don't feel you need to read her other books to fall in love with Katherine and George's story.
* This book was provided free of charge from the author in exchange for an honest review.
May 9, 2016
Loved it. I have read the Vessel trilogy and loved it, so I was rapt when I discovered that this book was about George and Kat's. I loved getting to know their past and how it impacted on the present day relationship. It is a beautifully told, emotional recount of their past. There are some dark moments and I truly felt for both George and Katherine during those times.
There were just a few things that kept me from giving it 5 stars. Firstly, I found it hard to believe that Katherine was so trusting of George in the beginning especially considering how she had been deceived in the past. Secondly, I would have loved for more courtship and development in the early stages of their relationship rather than insta-love.
In summary, loved it and look forward to reading more of this series.
There were just a few things that kept me from giving it 5 stars. Firstly, I found it hard to believe that Katherine was so trusting of George in the beginning especially considering how she had been deceived in the past. Secondly, I would have loved for more courtship and development in the early stages of their relationship rather than insta-love.
In summary, loved it and look forward to reading more of this series.
February 23, 2017
Amazing!
I'm amazed again on another amazing read by juliette! I fell in love with kat and George's story! I cried alot sometimes sad tears but alot of happy ones too:) A must read♡♡♡
I'm amazed again on another amazing read by juliette! I fell in love with kat and George's story! I cried alot sometimes sad tears but alot of happy ones too:) A must read♡♡♡
August 1, 2017
This book is the prequel to the the Vessel Trilogy spinoff, Dominion. Although all the characters are in this book, don't think it's simply a filler backstory. What it is is a look at the events prior to the main events of the Vessel Trilogy and it changes everything! There are many comprehensive reviews of this book, so in all honestly there is not much I can add except to say...
Juliette Cross is an author I trust to always write a book with a unique storyline, enthralling characters, in-depth world building, and in short, be thoroughly addictive. She is on my, very short, instant buy list. She is just that good.
I can't recommend reading The Deepest Well after the Vessel Trilogy highly enough. But be warned, once you start you may not be able to put it down!
Juliette Cross is an author I trust to always write a book with a unique storyline, enthralling characters, in-depth world building, and in short, be thoroughly addictive. She is on my, very short, instant buy list. She is just that good.
I can't recommend reading The Deepest Well after the Vessel Trilogy highly enough. But be warned, once you start you may not be able to put it down!
February 8, 2016
So it's my understanding that The Deepest Well is a prequel spinoff to The Vessel Trilogy, which I have not yet read. For once my procrastination is paying off, because I usually like to start with the prequel if given the chance. So now that I have read this one, I am all geared up to start Forged in Fire soon.
I heard lots of chatter about this book from blogger and Goodreads friends before I started reading, so I kinda knew what to expect going in. My friend Deanna told me not to read it until I had the tissues ready. So I knew this one had to be a weekend read instead of my usual lunchtime office reading. She was right in that regard - this was not a happy read. George and Katherine's story is heartwrenching and sad. There was so much DOOM! I despaired a lot as I read this book.
Let me start with the hero, because he stood out to me a little more than the heroine. But what do you expect of St. George the Dragon Slayer?!? Seriously - freaking George Draconis, slayer of dragons, is actually a demon slayer. And that dragon he slayed? It was a demon's pet. How fun is that? So Georgie boy is sort of a solider for the Flamma of Light (angels) fighting against the Flamma of Dark (fallen angels and demons). George is actually the commander of the army, the soldiers who are called Dominus Daemonum (Master of Demons). In the early 19th Century, George meets the beautiful Katherine at a ball, and its pretty much love at first sight. Only Kate is already married to a horrible man. When George steals Katherine for a waltz, it sets a heart-rending chain of events into motion. George was a great hero, a big auburn-haired warrior with a huge sword, he brought visions of Sam Heughan to mind. His love and devotion for Katherine leapt off the page.
Lady Katherine Blakely was charmed into marriage as her father lay dying, only to learn her husband's true nature soon after. Having endured her brutish husband for two years, Katherine seems somewhat despondent until she meets George and that spark starts to come back. I loved Katherine and George together... but I already told you this was not a happy story. So you know there are some major trials and tribulations for this couple to face. I have no complaints about Katherine - other than she did not listen to me when I told her not to run off because there was DOOM impending. They never listen, do they? Given what Katherine went through, I understood most of her actions so I found her to be a relatable heroine.
I enjoyed the story and the world building, but I have come to expect that from Juliette. She builds unique paranormal worlds that you can easily envision as you are reading. I also liked that we got both the hero's and heroine's points of view. This always helps me establish a stronger emotional connection to the character. I think I had a stronger emotional connection to George in this book - I just really felt his love, hope and despair for Katherine. I wish we could have had more happy together time for our couple, but perhaps we will get to peek into their HEA in future books in the series.
I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 4 stars / 2 flames.
I heard lots of chatter about this book from blogger and Goodreads friends before I started reading, so I kinda knew what to expect going in. My friend Deanna told me not to read it until I had the tissues ready. So I knew this one had to be a weekend read instead of my usual lunchtime office reading. She was right in that regard - this was not a happy read. George and Katherine's story is heartwrenching and sad. There was so much DOOM! I despaired a lot as I read this book.
Let me start with the hero, because he stood out to me a little more than the heroine. But what do you expect of St. George the Dragon Slayer?!? Seriously - freaking George Draconis, slayer of dragons, is actually a demon slayer. And that dragon he slayed? It was a demon's pet. How fun is that? So Georgie boy is sort of a solider for the Flamma of Light (angels) fighting against the Flamma of Dark (fallen angels and demons). George is actually the commander of the army, the soldiers who are called Dominus Daemonum (Master of Demons). In the early 19th Century, George meets the beautiful Katherine at a ball, and its pretty much love at first sight. Only Kate is already married to a horrible man. When George steals Katherine for a waltz, it sets a heart-rending chain of events into motion. George was a great hero, a big auburn-haired warrior with a huge sword, he brought visions of Sam Heughan to mind. His love and devotion for Katherine leapt off the page.
Lady Katherine Blakely was charmed into marriage as her father lay dying, only to learn her husband's true nature soon after. Having endured her brutish husband for two years, Katherine seems somewhat despondent until she meets George and that spark starts to come back. I loved Katherine and George together... but I already told you this was not a happy story. So you know there are some major trials and tribulations for this couple to face. I have no complaints about Katherine - other than she did not listen to me when I told her not to run off because there was DOOM impending. They never listen, do they? Given what Katherine went through, I understood most of her actions so I found her to be a relatable heroine.
I enjoyed the story and the world building, but I have come to expect that from Juliette. She builds unique paranormal worlds that you can easily envision as you are reading. I also liked that we got both the hero's and heroine's points of view. This always helps me establish a stronger emotional connection to the character. I think I had a stronger emotional connection to George in this book - I just really felt his love, hope and despair for Katherine. I wish we could have had more happy together time for our couple, but perhaps we will get to peek into their HEA in future books in the series.
I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 4 stars / 2 flames.
February 10, 2016
Oh my gosh... I loved this book so much! This is the story of Katherine aka "Kat" and George. Kat and George were major characters in the Vessel Trilogy. Kat is also one of my favorite female characters ever. She was the tough, beautiful, don't mess with me demon hunter and I loved her from the very beginning of that series all the way to the end. There was a story to be told about how she became a demon hunter and the tense relationship she had with George. We always knew there was a love story between them but never knew the specific details of what drew them apart. I'm so happy the author wrote this book and finally gave the story many of us have been anxiously waiting to hear. And, she did not disappoint!
This is partly historical romance and in the beginning it was a bit hard for me to get into the flow of the story because I really don't read much from that genre. But, when the paranormal switch took place as I got further into the book I was hooked and quickly turning the pages!
Even though you could read this as a stand alone, I would recommend reading the Vessel Trilogy first. It really helps if you know the future before delving into the past. Backwards I know, but part of what kept me turning the pages was the anticipation of knowing the outcome but not knowing how it happened. Maybe that doesn't make sense to you, but it makes perfect sense in my crazy little head! :)
This book did a number on my emotions because I was already invested in these characters. I knew what was coming was going to be a little hard on the heart but at the same time I just needed to know why they weren't together and IF there was any hope of them regaining what they lost almost 2 centuries ago.
I fell in love with George, a love like his is something all of us want... a man that would stop at nothing to save his woman. And, he never ever gave up on her. One of the best "Knight in shining armor" characters I've met in a while. My heart broke for him and Katherine. I got a little teary eyed in a couple of scenes.
This story was so well written, engaging and had me turning the pages... and, has shown me once again why Juliette Cross is still one of my favorite PR authors. I love her writing style, her creative storytelling and the way she has you completely invested in her characters. I highly recommend her books if you are a PR fan.
ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review
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This is partly historical romance and in the beginning it was a bit hard for me to get into the flow of the story because I really don't read much from that genre. But, when the paranormal switch took place as I got further into the book I was hooked and quickly turning the pages!
Even though you could read this as a stand alone, I would recommend reading the Vessel Trilogy first. It really helps if you know the future before delving into the past. Backwards I know, but part of what kept me turning the pages was the anticipation of knowing the outcome but not knowing how it happened. Maybe that doesn't make sense to you, but it makes perfect sense in my crazy little head! :)
This book did a number on my emotions because I was already invested in these characters. I knew what was coming was going to be a little hard on the heart but at the same time I just needed to know why they weren't together and IF there was any hope of them regaining what they lost almost 2 centuries ago.
I fell in love with George, a love like his is something all of us want... a man that would stop at nothing to save his woman. And, he never ever gave up on her. One of the best "Knight in shining armor" characters I've met in a while. My heart broke for him and Katherine. I got a little teary eyed in a couple of scenes.
This story was so well written, engaging and had me turning the pages... and, has shown me once again why Juliette Cross is still one of my favorite PR authors. I love her writing style, her creative storytelling and the way she has you completely invested in her characters. I highly recommend her books if you are a PR fan.
ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review
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KT Book Reviews
February 8, 2016
I'm a huge fan of Juliette Cross' Nightwing series, but haven't yet read her Vessel trilogy. I didn't realize until after finishing The Deepest Well that it is a spinoff of that trilogy, telling the story of two of the characters from it. For a very large portion of The Deepest Well, that didn't really matter though and this story can stand on its own.
I really liked George (Lord Thornton). He is a complex character who is strong, protective, loyal and dedicated. Katherine is a woman trapped largely by circumstance, especially due to the time period in which this story is set. It is blatantly obvious though to anyone who reads this that-regardless of her situation at the start of the story-she and George are not meant to be kept apart.
There is a big twist of drama when one of George's enemies takes Katherine for his own, and the events that happen during that time are heartbreaking and distressing, particularly at the end of that portion of the tale.
The story is set in a normal world of the past, but where demons and angels play a part. The story did go a bit slowly at times for me, and I think this is mostly due to the historical era in which it is primarily set (I tend to get impatient with customs and society settings). But then toward the end there is a pretty large time jump, and it is during that jump that apparently the events in The Vessel trilogy occur, so once we get to that point I did feel a bit lost with the introduction of other characters (like Genevieve). The time jump also made me feel suddenly rushed in the story, after things going so much slowly earlier.
Even given these things, the tale itself is quite interesting and did keep my attention. I wish though that I had read The Vessel trilogy first for some backstory-especially once I got toward the end of the book. Still, this was a 3.5-star read for me and has got me wondering what else we'll be seeing from this series.
I really liked George (Lord Thornton). He is a complex character who is strong, protective, loyal and dedicated. Katherine is a woman trapped largely by circumstance, especially due to the time period in which this story is set. It is blatantly obvious though to anyone who reads this that-regardless of her situation at the start of the story-she and George are not meant to be kept apart.
There is a big twist of drama when one of George's enemies takes Katherine for his own, and the events that happen during that time are heartbreaking and distressing, particularly at the end of that portion of the tale.
The story is set in a normal world of the past, but where demons and angels play a part. The story did go a bit slowly at times for me, and I think this is mostly due to the historical era in which it is primarily set (I tend to get impatient with customs and society settings). But then toward the end there is a pretty large time jump, and it is during that jump that apparently the events in The Vessel trilogy occur, so once we get to that point I did feel a bit lost with the introduction of other characters (like Genevieve). The time jump also made me feel suddenly rushed in the story, after things going so much slowly earlier.
Even given these things, the tale itself is quite interesting and did keep my attention. I wish though that I had read The Vessel trilogy first for some backstory-especially once I got toward the end of the book. Still, this was a 3.5-star read for me and has got me wondering what else we'll be seeing from this series.
February 22, 2016
Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy.
A sweeping romance that spans centuries, THE DEEPEST WELL is a spin-off of the dark and sexy Vessel Trilogy. THE DEEPEST WELL bookends the Vessel Trilogy, with the action taking place both before and after that series, and I think the people who will most enjoy this book are those who have already read it.
There is a lot I would warn you about in this book - infidelity, dubious sexual consent, and a suicide attempt top the list, and this is not really a book for the feint of heart. Dark and dangerous, THE DEEPEST WELL gives us the back-story of Kat and George that was only hinted at in the Vessel Trilogy.
The story starts out in historical England, and feels like any paranormal romance, except the villains are around every corner, and they're even more sinister than you could imagine. We get to see a younger Jude, who exudes sexiness, and in the epilogue, Cross does an excellent job of setting up the next book in the series. The world-building is a bit lighter than the Vessel Trilogy, with some background coming from George as a bit of an info-dump in his conversations with Lady Katherine.
I would definitely recommend THE DEEPEST WELL for those who have read Cross's previous trilogy, and even for those who haven't. The romance doesn't necessarily need a ton of world-building to enchant, and the book would inspire emotions even if you aren't familiar with the characters from previous books. If you like your romance a little darker, more intense, and with angels and demons, look no further than THE DEEPEST WELL.
Sexual content: Semi-explicit sex scenes, attempted sexual assault
A sweeping romance that spans centuries, THE DEEPEST WELL is a spin-off of the dark and sexy Vessel Trilogy. THE DEEPEST WELL bookends the Vessel Trilogy, with the action taking place both before and after that series, and I think the people who will most enjoy this book are those who have already read it.
There is a lot I would warn you about in this book - infidelity, dubious sexual consent, and a suicide attempt top the list, and this is not really a book for the feint of heart. Dark and dangerous, THE DEEPEST WELL gives us the back-story of Kat and George that was only hinted at in the Vessel Trilogy.
The story starts out in historical England, and feels like any paranormal romance, except the villains are around every corner, and they're even more sinister than you could imagine. We get to see a younger Jude, who exudes sexiness, and in the epilogue, Cross does an excellent job of setting up the next book in the series. The world-building is a bit lighter than the Vessel Trilogy, with some background coming from George as a bit of an info-dump in his conversations with Lady Katherine.
I would definitely recommend THE DEEPEST WELL for those who have read Cross's previous trilogy, and even for those who haven't. The romance doesn't necessarily need a ton of world-building to enchant, and the book would inspire emotions even if you aren't familiar with the characters from previous books. If you like your romance a little darker, more intense, and with angels and demons, look no further than THE DEEPEST WELL.
Sexual content: Semi-explicit sex scenes, attempted sexual assault
December 4, 2021
First off, content warning for sexual assault/rape and self-harm/suicide.
Charles Perrault's classic fairy tale, Bluebeard, tells the story of a woman who marries a very rich man. But because she disobeys him and discovers that he has married many times before and murdered each of his previous wives, he then tries to murder her, too. While the setup for the story very much sets Bluebeard out to be the wrongdoer, most iterations of the tale frame the nameless heroine as the one who did wrong. It's indicative of the patriarchal society we live in that we would prefer to consider a woman guilty for disobeying than a man for literally murdering his wives. Because in the end, she could have lived happily and peacefully had she simply obeyed her husband.
This book felt very Bluebeard-y to me. I understand the author's intent wasn't to come across like the cardinal sin in this book was Katherine somehow disobeying George by leaving his estate without him with her. But it still very much felt that way, like everything that happened was somehow Katherine's fault. Later, when she's in hell with Damas, it truly does take a turn into framing Katherine as somehow the bad guy. Let me explain.
The big event in this book, after the main characters' undying love for one another is established, is Katherine being captured and taken to hell, where she is tortured for about a century, I gathered, until George finds a way back down to save her. If you're not into the whole damsel in distress thing, firstly, I'd give this one a pass. Katherine has one moment of "oh I'm going to run away" before she decides it's no use and spends the rest of her time in hell chained to the floor, or a wall, or a bed. This actually wasn't a dealbreaker for me, I don't mind the drama and the angst involved in having a useless heroine. And I believed enough in the setup that it made sense to assume Katherine wouldn't be making it out of hell.
But while she's there, Damas (demon prince) rapes her. Many, many times. Katherine feels guilty but also cannot stop it--she has lost the willpower to refuse him because psychological torture. Again, fair, I'll take it. This is another big turn off for a lot of readers, so another thing for readers to hop off the book for. Again, not a trope I mind as much, as long as it's handled well and isn't gratuitous.
All this buildup, I thought, had to be leading to a big, emotional conclusion. Katherine isn't herself when she's transported back to England. The world has changed and she feels guilty and out of place. She attempts suicide, and George brings her back with magical demon-fighting powers. She leaves him, because she can't forgive him for bringing her back to life unconsentually (fair) and for taking a century to save her from hell (also fair). They have a lot of things to talk through and work on together.
And that's where this book lost me. I don't know when the last time I was this disappointed in a book was. By not discussing what happened, the blame is never removed from Katherine's shoulders for her 'infidelity,' even though George didn't think of it as such. She still felt that guilt, and any healing she did, she did offscreen. Therefore, as the reader, it felt to me like she was never absolved and their conflicts were never resolved.
Instead, they have this interaction where Katherine asserts that she cannot be with George because Damas lived still. So George was like "cool but tonight we're gonna kill Damas so we're gonna see if you're not with me because you're afraid or if you're not with me because of Damas." They kill Damas and... I guess he was the problem because then they get together and (I guess) live happily ever after through the apocalypse.
Um....what? There was no communication between them about what happened. I saw no healing, no maturing, no working things out to find a way to be together. Just kill a dude and boom, everything's fixed. I'm not reading an action/adventure, I'm reading a romance! Give me some godd*mn communication and emotional moments! The closest we get are in the beginning of the book where George repeatedly declares his undying love. That's great and all, but I want to see them heal together. I want to see them address the things that happened previously because if they don't, that means it was all just gratuitous.
Maybe you see more of Katherine's story between her leaving George and them getting back together in future books. But the thing is, I don't care enough to read them. I need to read, from Katherine's perspective, how she manages to heal from what happened, and most importantly, how she managed to forgive herself and George. I need to see from George's perspective how he managed to heal and move forward as well! The conclusion felt rushed, and I felt like I'd gone from a romance novel to the very last scene of some kind of fantasy epic, and that's not what I wanted to read, and that's not a satisfying ending for a book that was set up as a romance. There was so much angst here to work with, but it was squandered for an easy and unimpactful ending, and I thought that was really disappointing. I think I'll be sticking more to Cross's Stay a Spell books and keeping away from some of her older work from now on.
Charles Perrault's classic fairy tale, Bluebeard, tells the story of a woman who marries a very rich man. But because she disobeys him and discovers that he has married many times before and murdered each of his previous wives, he then tries to murder her, too. While the setup for the story very much sets Bluebeard out to be the wrongdoer, most iterations of the tale frame the nameless heroine as the one who did wrong. It's indicative of the patriarchal society we live in that we would prefer to consider a woman guilty for disobeying than a man for literally murdering his wives. Because in the end, she could have lived happily and peacefully had she simply obeyed her husband.
This book felt very Bluebeard-y to me. I understand the author's intent wasn't to come across like the cardinal sin in this book was Katherine somehow disobeying George by leaving his estate without him with her. But it still very much felt that way, like everything that happened was somehow Katherine's fault. Later, when she's in hell with Damas, it truly does take a turn into framing Katherine as somehow the bad guy. Let me explain.
The big event in this book, after the main characters' undying love for one another is established, is Katherine being captured and taken to hell, where she is tortured for about a century, I gathered, until George finds a way back down to save her. If you're not into the whole damsel in distress thing, firstly, I'd give this one a pass. Katherine has one moment of "oh I'm going to run away" before she decides it's no use and spends the rest of her time in hell chained to the floor, or a wall, or a bed. This actually wasn't a dealbreaker for me, I don't mind the drama and the angst involved in having a useless heroine. And I believed enough in the setup that it made sense to assume Katherine wouldn't be making it out of hell.
But while she's there, Damas (demon prince) rapes her. Many, many times. Katherine feels guilty but also cannot stop it--she has lost the willpower to refuse him because psychological torture. Again, fair, I'll take it. This is another big turn off for a lot of readers, so another thing for readers to hop off the book for. Again, not a trope I mind as much, as long as it's handled well and isn't gratuitous.
All this buildup, I thought, had to be leading to a big, emotional conclusion. Katherine isn't herself when she's transported back to England. The world has changed and she feels guilty and out of place. She attempts suicide, and George brings her back with magical demon-fighting powers. She leaves him, because she can't forgive him for bringing her back to life unconsentually (fair) and for taking a century to save her from hell (also fair). They have a lot of things to talk through and work on together.
And that's where this book lost me. I don't know when the last time I was this disappointed in a book was. By not discussing what happened, the blame is never removed from Katherine's shoulders for her 'infidelity,' even though George didn't think of it as such. She still felt that guilt, and any healing she did, she did offscreen. Therefore, as the reader, it felt to me like she was never absolved and their conflicts were never resolved.
Instead, they have this interaction where Katherine asserts that she cannot be with George because Damas lived still. So George was like "cool but tonight we're gonna kill Damas so we're gonna see if you're not with me because you're afraid or if you're not with me because of Damas." They kill Damas and... I guess he was the problem because then they get together and (I guess) live happily ever after through the apocalypse.
Um....what? There was no communication between them about what happened. I saw no healing, no maturing, no working things out to find a way to be together. Just kill a dude and boom, everything's fixed. I'm not reading an action/adventure, I'm reading a romance! Give me some godd*mn communication and emotional moments! The closest we get are in the beginning of the book where George repeatedly declares his undying love. That's great and all, but I want to see them heal together. I want to see them address the things that happened previously because if they don't, that means it was all just gratuitous.
Maybe you see more of Katherine's story between her leaving George and them getting back together in future books. But the thing is, I don't care enough to read them. I need to read, from Katherine's perspective, how she manages to heal from what happened, and most importantly, how she managed to forgive herself and George. I need to see from George's perspective how he managed to heal and move forward as well! The conclusion felt rushed, and I felt like I'd gone from a romance novel to the very last scene of some kind of fantasy epic, and that's not what I wanted to read, and that's not a satisfying ending for a book that was set up as a romance. There was so much angst here to work with, but it was squandered for an easy and unimpactful ending, and I thought that was really disappointing. I think I'll be sticking more to Cross's Stay a Spell books and keeping away from some of her older work from now on.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 10, 2016
Juliette Cross writes a tense emotional story of the age old battle between good and evil woven into a wrenching love story which is certain to make your heart ache.
The short version of my thoughts: this story made me cry, many times, so it gets 5 stars. The long version? Read on ...
This story asks a very interesting question. Is it okay to fall in love with another man, an honorable, upstanding man, because your husband is a lying, cheating brute who abuses you? That's never an easy question to answer and it's filled with moral and ethical pitfalls, let alone the desires of the heart. This touches briefly on domestic violence and whether it's socially acceptable in that particular time period to leave in search of her own happiness or if she should endure as it is a wife's due and since she is considered property of her husband. What would a modern day woman think when she reads this? Will she cheer the heroine on and reserve moral judgment? or will she condemn her for her faithlessness? For me personally, I'm cheering Katherine on because I think she deserves happiness and of course, because George is delicious and the perfect knight in shining armor to rescue this damsel in distress.
The other thing which make me think in this story was the inherent weakness and evil in men. The demons corrupt and often seek out to corrupt either intentionally through their powers or through seduction. If a man can be corrupted by seduction without being forced into it via the demon's power, what does that say about him? Is he a weak man, or is he an evil man at heart, conforming to society's norms with a veneer of respectability and charm, only to have it stripped about to let their true face show when faced with their ultimate temptation? As I read about Alexander and Blakely, these were the thoughts that came to mind.
And how seductive is evil? How no matter how strong one it, it creeps up at you and disguises itself so you no longer recognize it. Then when you are at your lowest, where you are too lonely, too desperate, too depressed and filled with despair, it pounces on you, betrays you and there is no turning back. Deep within you, the conscious part of you will loathe yourself, while the weakness in you will succumb. How do you forgive that? How do you forgive yourself? How do you forgive the one who did not protect you well enough or save you fast enough from the evil that had seeped into your soul when you are filled with shame, loathing and humiliation?
After all that, let's face it, I am utterly and completely shattered. What an incredible tale of love and loss, betrayal and forgiveness, restoration and hope, and ultimately, unending devotion and love.
I want to tell you what an incredible man George is, how heroic and noble. He is a man of myth and legend, and his love for Katherine is as enduring as time, steadfast and true over centuries.
I want to tell you how wonderful Katherine is, how dignified she is in her suffering and how completely broken she becomes when she is led through the depths of hell to suffer even more through the evil of a demon prince.
Instead all I can really tell you is my heart is utterly and completely broken through all the suffering both George and Katherine endured. How bleak everything became and how low they fell before the pieces of their lives were put back together. How long it took. How very, very long it took ... because Juliette ripped my heart out of my chest and stomped on it, and even when she put it back together, I didn't quite feel whole again.
I think Juliette did an incredible job writing this story and at the same time, she took some incredible chances with some of the things she put Katherine through and what Katherine did. I am wrung out with emotion and feeling too deeply. I also think she made me hate her just a little bit for putting George and Katherine through so much and taking so long to give them their happy ending. Most of all, I think I am a little at loss for words because if I say one thing, I say too much and I can give it all away.
So many things in this story broke me. Too short a time to love. Too brief a moment of happiness. A decision which costs many lifetimes of sorrow and despair. A decision which changes a life and brings hope for the future.
Juliette's stories are not for the faint of heart. They will make you think and look beyond yourself, if you dare and they will make you feel. They will also break you and make your heart bleed. At the end of it, you won't know if you are satisfied or if you want to bludgeon Juliette for what she has done to you, or go on and read the next book. I recommend reading the next book. :-)
The short version of my thoughts: this story made me cry, many times, so it gets 5 stars. The long version? Read on ...
This story asks a very interesting question. Is it okay to fall in love with another man, an honorable, upstanding man, because your husband is a lying, cheating brute who abuses you? That's never an easy question to answer and it's filled with moral and ethical pitfalls, let alone the desires of the heart. This touches briefly on domestic violence and whether it's socially acceptable in that particular time period to leave in search of her own happiness or if she should endure as it is a wife's due and since she is considered property of her husband. What would a modern day woman think when she reads this? Will she cheer the heroine on and reserve moral judgment? or will she condemn her for her faithlessness? For me personally, I'm cheering Katherine on because I think she deserves happiness and of course, because George is delicious and the perfect knight in shining armor to rescue this damsel in distress.
The other thing which make me think in this story was the inherent weakness and evil in men. The demons corrupt and often seek out to corrupt either intentionally through their powers or through seduction. If a man can be corrupted by seduction without being forced into it via the demon's power, what does that say about him? Is he a weak man, or is he an evil man at heart, conforming to society's norms with a veneer of respectability and charm, only to have it stripped about to let their true face show when faced with their ultimate temptation? As I read about Alexander and Blakely, these were the thoughts that came to mind.
And how seductive is evil? How no matter how strong one it, it creeps up at you and disguises itself so you no longer recognize it. Then when you are at your lowest, where you are too lonely, too desperate, too depressed and filled with despair, it pounces on you, betrays you and there is no turning back. Deep within you, the conscious part of you will loathe yourself, while the weakness in you will succumb. How do you forgive that? How do you forgive yourself? How do you forgive the one who did not protect you well enough or save you fast enough from the evil that had seeped into your soul when you are filled with shame, loathing and humiliation?
After all that, let's face it, I am utterly and completely shattered. What an incredible tale of love and loss, betrayal and forgiveness, restoration and hope, and ultimately, unending devotion and love.
I want to tell you what an incredible man George is, how heroic and noble. He is a man of myth and legend, and his love for Katherine is as enduring as time, steadfast and true over centuries.
I want to tell you how wonderful Katherine is, how dignified she is in her suffering and how completely broken she becomes when she is led through the depths of hell to suffer even more through the evil of a demon prince.
Instead all I can really tell you is my heart is utterly and completely broken through all the suffering both George and Katherine endured. How bleak everything became and how low they fell before the pieces of their lives were put back together. How long it took. How very, very long it took ... because Juliette ripped my heart out of my chest and stomped on it, and even when she put it back together, I didn't quite feel whole again.
I think Juliette did an incredible job writing this story and at the same time, she took some incredible chances with some of the things she put Katherine through and what Katherine did. I am wrung out with emotion and feeling too deeply. I also think she made me hate her just a little bit for putting George and Katherine through so much and taking so long to give them their happy ending. Most of all, I think I am a little at loss for words because if I say one thing, I say too much and I can give it all away.
So many things in this story broke me. Too short a time to love. Too brief a moment of happiness. A decision which costs many lifetimes of sorrow and despair. A decision which changes a life and brings hope for the future.
Juliette's stories are not for the faint of heart. They will make you think and look beyond yourself, if you dare and they will make you feel. They will also break you and make your heart bleed. At the end of it, you won't know if you are satisfied or if you want to bludgeon Juliette for what she has done to you, or go on and read the next book. I recommend reading the next book. :-)
February 10, 2017
Eine Mischung aus historischem Roman und Urban Fantasy habe ich bisher noch nie gelesen - und genau das liefert Juliette Cross mit dem ersten Band ihrer Age of Gray-Reihe. Die beiden Hauptcharaktere George und Katherine kennt man bereits aus der Vessel Trilogy. Daher würde ich empfehlen, diese auch vor The Deepest Well zu lesen, obwohl es nicht zwingend notwendig ist. Man erhält alle wichtigen Informationen auch so, aber einige kleine Spoiler muss man in Kauf nehmen.
Worldbuilding & Handlung
Man kehrt zwar in die Welt der Flamma zurück, die man bereits aus der Vessel Trilogy kennt, betrachtet sie aber jetzt aus einer ganz anderen Perspektive, da wir in die Zeit des viktorianischen Londons zurückreisen, statt im ursprünglichen Setting New Orleans zu bleiben. Dadurch werden einige Zusammenhänge noch klarer. Zum Beispiel wird der Hass sehr viel nachvollziehbarer, den George und Jude für den Dämonenprinzen Damas hegen.
Die Entwicklung zwischen George und Katherine schreitet relativ schnell voran, da die Autorin in diesem Band einiges mit ihren Figuren vorhat. Wer Gens und Judes Geschichte gelesen hat, der kennt von Anfang an einige entscheidende Details und weiß, welches Schicksal Kat im Laufe dieses Buches ereilen wird. Zugleich hatte die Handlung wegen genau dieser Geschehnisse, die in Bound in Black bereits vorweggenommen bzw. angedeutet wurden, eine sehr bittersüße Stimmung an sich, die mich gefesselt hat. Deshalb ist es an keiner Stelle langweilig und die Art und Weise, wie Kat und George zusammen kommen, hat mich im Rahmen dieses zeitlichen Settings doch überrascht.
Zum Ende nimmt die Geschichte ein sehr rasantes Tempo an: hier hätte ich mir gewünscht, dass die Autorin den Fokus ein wenig mehr auf die Liebe des Paares legt, statt ihr Happy End fast schon zu überstürzen. Trotzdem habe ich einige Tränen geweint, als Kat nach der langen Tortur, die sie durchlitten hat, endlich glücklich wurde.
Charaktere
Ein großer Vorteil dieser Geschichte war es, dass mir beide Charaktere bereits sehr ans Herz gewachsen waren, noch bevor ich The Deepest Well begonnen habe. Dadurch kam es mir vor, als würde ich zu alten Freunden zurückkehren.
Beide Charaktere sind solch gute Seelen und trotzdem lastet so viel Leid auf ihren Schultern. Es hat mich sehr ergriffen, wie viel Mut Katherine von Anfang an beweist und wie viel sie verliert, gerade als sie der Illusion erliegt, sich von all ihren Fesseln befreien zu können. Und trotzdem zerbricht sie nie gänzlich daran. Georges duldsame und geduldige Art hat ihn zu einem besonderen Helden gemacht: er ist weniger der dunkle Bad Boy als ein echter Gentleman der alten Schule.
Gefreut hat es mich natürlich auch, Jude wiederzusehen und von einer ganz neuen Seite zu sehen, noch bevor er Gen kennen- und lieben gelernt hat. Auch mit Uriel gibt es ein Wiedersehen und der Plot für den zweiten Band der Age of Gray-Reihe wird angestoßen, denn Kats und Georges Geschichte ist in diesem einen Band zu Ende erzählt.
Fazit
The Deepest Well vermittelte mir ein Gefühl, zu alten Freunden nach Hause zu kommen. Die Charaktere liegen mir beide spätestens seit Bound in Black so sehr am Herzen, dass ich die Emotionen der Geschichte mit jeder Faser gespürt habe; immer in Erwartung dessen, was das Schicksal für die beiden bereithält. Die Autorin zeigt meisterhaft, dass Einsamkeit manchmal eine größere Folter sein kann als reiner körperlicher Schmerz und wie angreifbar sie den Menschen macht. Und trotzdem lässt sie die Liebe ihrer Figuren wie den Phönix aus der Asche auferstehen - wenn auch im Schnelldurchlauf.
The Deepest Well gave me a feeling of coming home and meeting old friends. Since Bound in Black I love George and Katherine so much. I felt all these emotions with my whole heart, always waiting for the fateful things to come. Cross tells a story, that conveys a simple truth: that loneliness can be a torture so much more cruel than physical pain and how assailable it makes a person.
And in spite of everything George's and Kat's love is rising from the ashes like a Phoenix in the end - even if it was a little bit too fast for my liking.
Worldbuilding & Handlung
Man kehrt zwar in die Welt der Flamma zurück, die man bereits aus der Vessel Trilogy kennt, betrachtet sie aber jetzt aus einer ganz anderen Perspektive, da wir in die Zeit des viktorianischen Londons zurückreisen, statt im ursprünglichen Setting New Orleans zu bleiben. Dadurch werden einige Zusammenhänge noch klarer. Zum Beispiel wird der Hass sehr viel nachvollziehbarer, den George und Jude für den Dämonenprinzen Damas hegen.
Die Entwicklung zwischen George und Katherine schreitet relativ schnell voran, da die Autorin in diesem Band einiges mit ihren Figuren vorhat. Wer Gens und Judes Geschichte gelesen hat, der kennt von Anfang an einige entscheidende Details und weiß, welches Schicksal Kat im Laufe dieses Buches ereilen wird. Zugleich hatte die Handlung wegen genau dieser Geschehnisse, die in Bound in Black bereits vorweggenommen bzw. angedeutet wurden, eine sehr bittersüße Stimmung an sich, die mich gefesselt hat. Deshalb ist es an keiner Stelle langweilig und die Art und Weise, wie Kat und George zusammen kommen, hat mich im Rahmen dieses zeitlichen Settings doch überrascht.
Zum Ende nimmt die Geschichte ein sehr rasantes Tempo an: hier hätte ich mir gewünscht, dass die Autorin den Fokus ein wenig mehr auf die Liebe des Paares legt, statt ihr Happy End fast schon zu überstürzen. Trotzdem habe ich einige Tränen geweint, als Kat nach der langen Tortur, die sie durchlitten hat, endlich glücklich wurde.
Charaktere
Ein großer Vorteil dieser Geschichte war es, dass mir beide Charaktere bereits sehr ans Herz gewachsen waren, noch bevor ich The Deepest Well begonnen habe. Dadurch kam es mir vor, als würde ich zu alten Freunden zurückkehren.
Beide Charaktere sind solch gute Seelen und trotzdem lastet so viel Leid auf ihren Schultern. Es hat mich sehr ergriffen, wie viel Mut Katherine von Anfang an beweist und wie viel sie verliert, gerade als sie der Illusion erliegt, sich von all ihren Fesseln befreien zu können. Und trotzdem zerbricht sie nie gänzlich daran. Georges duldsame und geduldige Art hat ihn zu einem besonderen Helden gemacht: er ist weniger der dunkle Bad Boy als ein echter Gentleman der alten Schule.
Gefreut hat es mich natürlich auch, Jude wiederzusehen und von einer ganz neuen Seite zu sehen, noch bevor er Gen kennen- und lieben gelernt hat. Auch mit Uriel gibt es ein Wiedersehen und der Plot für den zweiten Band der Age of Gray-Reihe wird angestoßen, denn Kats und Georges Geschichte ist in diesem einen Band zu Ende erzählt.
Fazit
The Deepest Well vermittelte mir ein Gefühl, zu alten Freunden nach Hause zu kommen. Die Charaktere liegen mir beide spätestens seit Bound in Black so sehr am Herzen, dass ich die Emotionen der Geschichte mit jeder Faser gespürt habe; immer in Erwartung dessen, was das Schicksal für die beiden bereithält. Die Autorin zeigt meisterhaft, dass Einsamkeit manchmal eine größere Folter sein kann als reiner körperlicher Schmerz und wie angreifbar sie den Menschen macht. Und trotzdem lässt sie die Liebe ihrer Figuren wie den Phönix aus der Asche auferstehen - wenn auch im Schnelldurchlauf.
The Deepest Well gave me a feeling of coming home and meeting old friends. Since Bound in Black I love George and Katherine so much. I felt all these emotions with my whole heart, always waiting for the fateful things to come. Cross tells a story, that conveys a simple truth: that loneliness can be a torture so much more cruel than physical pain and how assailable it makes a person.
And in spite of everything George's and Kat's love is rising from the ashes like a Phoenix in the end - even if it was a little bit too fast for my liking.
February 24, 2016
Ugh. This book. I don’t even know how to express the gut wrenching awesomeness that it is. The Vessel Trilogy was one of my favorite urban fantasy series ever and the characters of George and Kat have intrigued me over the span of those three books. Their background was shrouded in guilt and secrets that neither of them seemed inclined to share. Over the span of those three books I became invested in their struggle to engage with each other. It was obvious they had feelings for each other but Kat seemed to be determined to fight the attraction she felt. As readers we just didn’t know why…
The Deepest Well gives readers the story we’ve been craving. The story of Katherine and George, their origins and the reasons behind the doom they faced as a couple. Their story begins decades before The Vessel Trilogy in a time where the ton was the most important aspect in regal English life.
Katherine hides the painful secret of her horrible marriage to a man who had once fooled her and her ailing father, She longs for the love she once dreamed her life was capable of having. When she meets George at a lavish ball, she’s intrigued by him from the start. His gaze seems to zero in on the part of her no one else sees. The loneliness, the loss and the longing. Trying to be the proper lady she was brought up to be, she denies her growing feelings for him even as her husband turns colder than ever.
When she accidentally becomes a pawn in a demon war between George and the high lord Damas, George is determined to keep her safe even as his feelings continue to grow for her. Just when happiness seems to be within their grasp she’s abducted and subjected to all kinds of sensual torture. Torture that leave her and George grasping for any of the passion they had once shared for so briefly a time.
Juliette Cross never ceases to amaze me with the depth of her craft. The Deepest Well is both horrifying and achingly sweet. George and Katherine was definitely meant for each other and that much is very clear. Now we know why Kat has been spurning his advances. Her guilt over the past and her inability to forgive George for not being able to save her.
I loved how this gave me the full breadth of Katherine and George’s story and the juxtaposition of the book at the end of The Vessel Trilogy and the beginning of this new series. It was weird in the beginning to see Katherine because up until that point I only knew her as the hard nosed, ass kicking, Kat. Katherine was softer, more sensual and would never think of wearing pants, let alone leather pants covered in weapons. Katherine was a proper lady of the ton, who against all her upbringing, was falling in love with a man who was not her husband. It was interesting to see the many ways in which she changed, mostly due to George and his influence.
I loved everything about this book and I simply can’t wait for the next installment which once again will be set in present day. The demon Dommiel who has wavered between good and evil for quite some time over the course of both series will be the newest "hero". The Deepest Well is a book you won’t soon forget, beautifully written and expertly executed, I want to start reading it all over again tomorrow!
I give The Deepest Well by Juliette Cross 5 stars!
The Deepest Well gives readers the story we’ve been craving. The story of Katherine and George, their origins and the reasons behind the doom they faced as a couple. Their story begins decades before The Vessel Trilogy in a time where the ton was the most important aspect in regal English life.
Katherine hides the painful secret of her horrible marriage to a man who had once fooled her and her ailing father, She longs for the love she once dreamed her life was capable of having. When she meets George at a lavish ball, she’s intrigued by him from the start. His gaze seems to zero in on the part of her no one else sees. The loneliness, the loss and the longing. Trying to be the proper lady she was brought up to be, she denies her growing feelings for him even as her husband turns colder than ever.
When she accidentally becomes a pawn in a demon war between George and the high lord Damas, George is determined to keep her safe even as his feelings continue to grow for her. Just when happiness seems to be within their grasp she’s abducted and subjected to all kinds of sensual torture. Torture that leave her and George grasping for any of the passion they had once shared for so briefly a time.
Juliette Cross never ceases to amaze me with the depth of her craft. The Deepest Well is both horrifying and achingly sweet. George and Katherine was definitely meant for each other and that much is very clear. Now we know why Kat has been spurning his advances. Her guilt over the past and her inability to forgive George for not being able to save her.
I loved how this gave me the full breadth of Katherine and George’s story and the juxtaposition of the book at the end of The Vessel Trilogy and the beginning of this new series. It was weird in the beginning to see Katherine because up until that point I only knew her as the hard nosed, ass kicking, Kat. Katherine was softer, more sensual and would never think of wearing pants, let alone leather pants covered in weapons. Katherine was a proper lady of the ton, who against all her upbringing, was falling in love with a man who was not her husband. It was interesting to see the many ways in which she changed, mostly due to George and his influence.
I loved everything about this book and I simply can’t wait for the next installment which once again will be set in present day. The demon Dommiel who has wavered between good and evil for quite some time over the course of both series will be the newest "hero". The Deepest Well is a book you won’t soon forget, beautifully written and expertly executed, I want to start reading it all over again tomorrow!
I give The Deepest Well by Juliette Cross 5 stars!
February 10, 2016
The Deepest Well is supernatural tale that starts in historical London about 200 years ago. The action travels to several places, including an alternate plane of existence, possibly hell, skips forward in time, and even includes a stop in New Orleans. I was expecting a paranormal/historical novel, but I got a bit more.
Lady Katherine Blakely and Lord George Draconis meet at a party. It was one of those intense attraction-at-first-sight meetings. There are two problems. Katherine is married and George is a demon slayer. Katherine's husband is a monster, figuratively only, so George can't slay him. In a time when husbands control everything, women have no rights and divorce is practically unheard of, there is little Katherine can do. But George plans to do everything he can to get Katherine into his arms.
When everything George can do entails going up against some of the most powerful demons to save Katherine, desperation and hope are constantly battling each other. Both Katherine and George experience these extremes. One will succumb to desperation and the other will force hope to win out.
Katherine is not a well developed character. She is beautiful and rich. So what. I could not empathize with her despite the fact that her husband was less than ideal. So when she got into real trouble, I had a hard time feeling her pain. I think my main issue with Katherine is that she seems to have no real purpose in life. Other than to be George's love interest.
On the other hand, George is the great dragon slayer (really). His life has purpose. To protect the world from demons is a noble cause. Saving Katherine is just another task in his daily routine. Okay, maybe she is a bit more than just another task. What I am getting at is, George is a nicely developed character that I could root for. So when his love was in trouble I ached for him.
The first two thirds of this book seemed to drag for me. I blame that on my lack of interest in Katherine. But the last part of the book was just the opposite. It felt extremely rushed. In that time, Katherine goes through some key psychological changes and she gets some purpose in her life. In short, she becomes a more interesting character. However, the path to those changes is very short. You don't get much detail. It felt like a few chapters got left out. This could have been the best part of the book, but it fell short.
Despite my complaints, The Deepest Well is a good story. I see The Age of Gray series as having a good deal of potential, what with all the fighting of demons leading up to an apocalyptic battle at the end of The Deepest Well. With any luck, subsequent books in the series will have many characters with depth and purpose.
ARC provided by NetGalley.
Review originally published at Ramblings From This Chic.
Lady Katherine Blakely and Lord George Draconis meet at a party. It was one of those intense attraction-at-first-sight meetings. There are two problems. Katherine is married and George is a demon slayer. Katherine's husband is a monster, figuratively only, so George can't slay him. In a time when husbands control everything, women have no rights and divorce is practically unheard of, there is little Katherine can do. But George plans to do everything he can to get Katherine into his arms.
When everything George can do entails going up against some of the most powerful demons to save Katherine, desperation and hope are constantly battling each other. Both Katherine and George experience these extremes. One will succumb to desperation and the other will force hope to win out.
Katherine is not a well developed character. She is beautiful and rich. So what. I could not empathize with her despite the fact that her husband was less than ideal. So when she got into real trouble, I had a hard time feeling her pain. I think my main issue with Katherine is that she seems to have no real purpose in life. Other than to be George's love interest.
On the other hand, George is the great dragon slayer (really). His life has purpose. To protect the world from demons is a noble cause. Saving Katherine is just another task in his daily routine. Okay, maybe she is a bit more than just another task. What I am getting at is, George is a nicely developed character that I could root for. So when his love was in trouble I ached for him.
The first two thirds of this book seemed to drag for me. I blame that on my lack of interest in Katherine. But the last part of the book was just the opposite. It felt extremely rushed. In that time, Katherine goes through some key psychological changes and she gets some purpose in her life. In short, she becomes a more interesting character. However, the path to those changes is very short. You don't get much detail. It felt like a few chapters got left out. This could have been the best part of the book, but it fell short.
Despite my complaints, The Deepest Well is a good story. I see The Age of Gray series as having a good deal of potential, what with all the fighting of demons leading up to an apocalyptic battle at the end of The Deepest Well. With any luck, subsequent books in the series will have many characters with depth and purpose.
ARC provided by NetGalley.
Review originally published at Ramblings From This Chic.
August 29, 2021
While reading the Vessel trilogy, hints of George and Kat’s past came up, leaving me in state of frustrated curiosity. I didn’t even realize this was the prequel when I picked it up; I was just happily binging on Cross’s books!
All I can say is George and Kat’s tragically doomed love tugged my heartstrings like nobody’s business!! This book was like a fantastic Gothic romance-but with a peppier heroine and a truly amazing hero. Granted, it wasn’t all doom and gloom. There were some highly entertaining moments...like Lord Blakely for instance...
Oh, and that ending! Thank you Juliette, because my iPad wouldn’t have survived otherwise;)
Woohoo! It’s not listed on Goodreads, so thanks to Juliette for the link to her blog for more George and Kat time! That little jewel was the PERFECT wrap up to their love story!
While reading the Vessel trilogy, hints of George and Kat’s past came up, leaving me in state of frustrated curiosity. I didn’t even realize this was the prequel when I picked it up; I was just happily binging on Cross’s books!
All I can say is George and Kat’s tragically doomed love tugged my heartstrings like nobody’s business!! This book was like a fantastic Gothic romance-but with a peppier heroine and a truly amazing hero. Granted, it wasn’t all doom and gloom. There were some highly entertaining moments...like Lord Blakely for instance...
Oh, and that ending! Thank you Juliette, because my iPad wouldn’t have survived otherwise;)
Woohoo! It’s not listed on Goodreads, unfortunately, but there’s a short piece on the author’s blog that gives more time with George and Kat! A couple of pages at least. Even better, it was the PERFECT wrap up for George and Katherine’s love story!! Thanks again, Juliette for the blog link. You’ve made my day with that little beauty!
All I can say is George and Kat’s tragically doomed love tugged my heartstrings like nobody’s business!! This book was like a fantastic Gothic romance-but with a peppier heroine and a truly amazing hero. Granted, it wasn’t all doom and gloom. There were some highly entertaining moments...like Lord Blakely for instance...
Oh, and that ending! Thank you Juliette, because my iPad wouldn’t have survived otherwise;)
Woohoo! It’s not listed on Goodreads, so thanks to Juliette for the link to her blog for more George and Kat time! That little jewel was the PERFECT wrap up to their love story!
While reading the Vessel trilogy, hints of George and Kat’s past came up, leaving me in state of frustrated curiosity. I didn’t even realize this was the prequel when I picked it up; I was just happily binging on Cross’s books!
All I can say is George and Kat’s tragically doomed love tugged my heartstrings like nobody’s business!! This book was like a fantastic Gothic romance-but with a peppier heroine and a truly amazing hero. Granted, it wasn’t all doom and gloom. There were some highly entertaining moments...like Lord Blakely for instance...
Oh, and that ending! Thank you Juliette, because my iPad wouldn’t have survived otherwise;)
Woohoo! It’s not listed on Goodreads, unfortunately, but there’s a short piece on the author’s blog that gives more time with George and Kat! A couple of pages at least. Even better, it was the PERFECT wrap up for George and Katherine’s love story!! Thanks again, Juliette for the blog link. You’ve made my day with that little beauty!
December 6, 2015
I loved this amazing prequel story to Cross's Vessel Trilogy. George and Kat, characters I loved in the first books, have a chance to tell their story. A ill-fated affair is hinted at in the Vessel Trilogy and in The Deepest Well we discover the rest of the story.
George is Flamma of Light - meaning he is all that's should be good and right in the world. He protects mortals from demons. It's a job he's done for a millennia and he is really good at it. But he has a wicked rivalry going with Damas, Flamma of Darkness. George meets and is instantly drawn to Katherine, a married society lady. But her awful husband is in service to the dark. George's attraction (and believe me, Kat has strong feelings for George as well) draws Damas's attention and puts Kat in dire jeopardy. You can't help but despair for the couple (George and Kat) as the story unfolds.
What I love best about this book is George's unwavering devotion to Kat. Cross did an amazing job of portraying Kat's human frailty and her slide toward an eternity as Damas's servant, a position she abhors, but also desires. Cross also managed to build a bit of sympathy for Damas, as well. Something I didn't want to have happen, but he's the kind of character you love to hate and hate to love.
This story is well written and unfolds so naturally. I think it must be hard to go backward in time to tell a story that began in the present day. But Cross succeeds in giving us a book to sink out teeth into and staying true to the original details. It was a joy to see Jude and Gen and Uriel in this book as well. I would highly recommend this book and the entire world Cross has created to everyone.
I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
George is Flamma of Light - meaning he is all that's should be good and right in the world. He protects mortals from demons. It's a job he's done for a millennia and he is really good at it. But he has a wicked rivalry going with Damas, Flamma of Darkness. George meets and is instantly drawn to Katherine, a married society lady. But her awful husband is in service to the dark. George's attraction (and believe me, Kat has strong feelings for George as well) draws Damas's attention and puts Kat in dire jeopardy. You can't help but despair for the couple (George and Kat) as the story unfolds.
What I love best about this book is George's unwavering devotion to Kat. Cross did an amazing job of portraying Kat's human frailty and her slide toward an eternity as Damas's servant, a position she abhors, but also desires. Cross also managed to build a bit of sympathy for Damas, as well. Something I didn't want to have happen, but he's the kind of character you love to hate and hate to love.
This story is well written and unfolds so naturally. I think it must be hard to go backward in time to tell a story that began in the present day. But Cross succeeds in giving us a book to sink out teeth into and staying true to the original details. It was a joy to see Jude and Gen and Uriel in this book as well. I would highly recommend this book and the entire world Cross has created to everyone.
I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 30, 2016
"A woman's dress should be a like a barbed-wire fence: serving its purpose without obstructing the view." —Sophia Loren
Lady Katherine Blakely is married to a monster. On the same night she witnesses how low her husband can sink, she meets a charming stranger, a gentleman from top to toe. Yet even her gallant rescuer is possessed of a dark side.
Lady Katherine Blakly
Lord George Draconis Thornton, commander of the Dominus Daemonum, is on a mission to expel the demon prince Damas back to the underworld.
Lord George Draconis Thornton
Sensing his enemy’s vulnerability, Damas kidnaps Katherine to his hellish lair, where he wages a sensual assault on her defenses. As George tears at heaven and earth to find her, he is painfully aware of only one way to save her soul. The cost will break her heart…and destroy his own.
Damas
I was really looking forward to this book but it did not live up to the expectations. I had to force myself to finish the book mainly because it lacked the emotion and passion, the story failed to convey a strong romantic connection between the H and the h. The only JC book I've dislked, and I've read many.
April 24, 2016
Independent reviewer for Paranormal Romance and Authors That Rock, I was gifted my copy of this book.
Lady Katherine is married to a monster of the human kind. Lord George dances with Katherine and seals her fate with a monster of the demonkind. George must save Katherine before it's too late.
This is, I believe, a spin off from The Vessel trilogy, and I have not read those. I did not feel I was missing anything by not doing. There is some overlap, after reading the blurbs of those books, of those and this one.
I liked this, I really did but I have some reservations.
I found it slow going to start. I wanted to wind it up and get on with it. I didn't like Katherine, at all, not once through the book. When George came to explain what he was to Katherine, it sort of assumed you knew what was what, and Katherine did, suddenly, fully understand all the implications of being with George and what that would mean to her and her life. Their enforced separation? I didn't feel it, not really. And their reunion? Didn't work for me.
Will I read the next book? Possibly. I liked Cross' style of writing, I loved the historical part of the book. I loved the way she portrayed Katherine and George's love for each other, even if I didn't like Katherine.
A good book, with a solid story and writing, but it didn't quite work for me.
3 stars
**same worded review will appear on Goodreads, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com upon release**
Lady Katherine is married to a monster of the human kind. Lord George dances with Katherine and seals her fate with a monster of the demonkind. George must save Katherine before it's too late.
This is, I believe, a spin off from The Vessel trilogy, and I have not read those. I did not feel I was missing anything by not doing. There is some overlap, after reading the blurbs of those books, of those and this one.
I liked this, I really did but I have some reservations.
I found it slow going to start. I wanted to wind it up and get on with it. I didn't like Katherine, at all, not once through the book. When George came to explain what he was to Katherine, it sort of assumed you knew what was what, and Katherine did, suddenly, fully understand all the implications of being with George and what that would mean to her and her life. Their enforced separation? I didn't feel it, not really. And their reunion? Didn't work for me.
Will I read the next book? Possibly. I liked Cross' style of writing, I loved the historical part of the book. I loved the way she portrayed Katherine and George's love for each other, even if I didn't like Katherine.
A good book, with a solid story and writing, but it didn't quite work for me.
3 stars
**same worded review will appear on Goodreads, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com upon release**
March 19, 2016
This review was originally posted on [www.125pages.com]
Angels, demons, supernatural fighters, what's not to like? Starting in the early 1800's in England, George meets Lady Katherine, an average woman married to an asshat. What Katherine doesn't know is that her husband is in league with demons and George is destined to fight them. A deep attraction begins that endangers them both. George will stop at nothing to save the woman he loves, even if he puts the future of the world in danger.
The Deepest Well is a prequel to Juliette Cross' The Vessel Trilogy. Having not read it, this was a new world to me. And what a world it is. Nuanced and multi-leveled, the author was able to create a realistic world filled with heavenly creatures and their counterparts from the netherworld. The characters shone. Each had a very developed place in the world. The pacing was spot on and even when it spanned centuries, it flowed well. The writing was detailed and packed an emotional punch.
I became so invested in Juliette Crosses' world that I went and bought The Vessel Trilogy for my Kindle as soon as I finished The Deepest Well. Cross has a unique voice in the paranormal genre that I want to experience again. I hope the next instalment of the Age of Gray series comes quickly, as I can't wait to immerse myself in that world again.
Favorite lines - Some hurts dig too deep, finding their way into your heart and soul, opening a chasm until there is no possible way to escape unscathed.
Biggest cliché - Demons can't be all bad right?
Have you read The Deepest Well, or added it to your TBR?
About the Author:
Juliette is a multi-published author of paranormal and urban fantasy romance. She calls lush, moss-laden Louisiana home, where the landscape curls into her imagination, creating mystical settings for her stories. From the moment she read JANE EYRE as a teenager, she fell in love with the Gothic romance--brooding characters, mysterious settings, persevering heroines, and dark, sexy heroes. Even then, she not only longed to read more books set in Gothic worlds, she wanted to create her own.
Website: https://www.juliettecross.com/
Amazon Barnes and Noble Kobo iBooks
Excerpt:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Angels, demons, supernatural fighters, what's not to like? Starting in the early 1800's in England, George meets Lady Katherine, an average woman married to an asshat. What Katherine doesn't know is that her husband is in league with demons and George is destined to fight them. A deep attraction begins that endangers them both. George will stop at nothing to save the woman he loves, even if he puts the future of the world in danger.The Deepest Well is a prequel to Juliette Cross' The Vessel Trilogy. Having not read it, this was a new world to me. And what a world it is. Nuanced and multi-leveled, the author was able to create a realistic world filled with heavenly creatures and their counterparts from the netherworld. The characters shone. Each had a very developed place in the world. The pacing was spot on and even when it spanned centuries, it flowed well. The writing was detailed and packed an emotional punch.
I became so invested in Juliette Crosses' world that I went and bought The Vessel Trilogy for my Kindle as soon as I finished The Deepest Well. Cross has a unique voice in the paranormal genre that I want to experience again. I hope the next instalment of the Age of Gray series comes quickly, as I can't wait to immerse myself in that world again.
Favorite lines - Some hurts dig too deep, finding their way into your heart and soul, opening a chasm until there is no possible way to escape unscathed.
Biggest cliché - Demons can't be all bad right?
Have you read The Deepest Well, or added it to your TBR?
About the Author:
Juliette is a multi-published author of paranormal and urban fantasy romance. She calls lush, moss-laden Louisiana home, where the landscape curls into her imagination, creating mystical settings for her stories. From the moment she read JANE EYRE as a teenager, she fell in love with the Gothic romance--brooding characters, mysterious settings, persevering heroines, and dark, sexy heroes. Even then, she not only longed to read more books set in Gothic worlds, she wanted to create her own.
Website: https://www.juliettecross.com/
Amazon Barnes and Noble Kobo iBooks
Excerpt:
“How do you know about the world of demons, George? How did you move as they did? I thought I had fainted by the pond and awakened beside the barn, but I didn’t, did I?”
Had she imagined being transported from the horses to the barn in a long blink?
“No, you didn’t faint. It’s called sifting. A power of the angels, to move from place to place at will.”
“But they weren’t angels.”
“They were once.”
Fallen angels. Could this be possible? What did that make the man standing before her? He inhaled a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Perhaps I should define the two realms for you.”
“That would be lovely.”
His mouth quirked at her sarcasm, though he chose not to comment. “There is the Flamma of Light and the Flamma of Dark.”
“Flamma?”
“Fire, in Latin, which is the common tongue between the heavenly and demonic hosts.”
She pulled her hand from his and stood, staring into the flames. “Why fire?”
He joined her and removed his wet coat. “I asked the same question once.” He winced as he peeled the coat off his right arm. A pool of red had soaked through his undershirt.
“Oh God, your arm, George. You’re bleeding.”
“It’s nothing.”
“It’s not nothing.”
Just as he had unbuttoned her jacket, she swiftly unfastened his waistcoat, then his shirt and peeled them off him. Steering her gaze away from his finely sculpted chest and broad shoulders, she examined the cut more closely. She bent over and, with a quick rip, tore a long strip from her shift.
“You needn’t do that, Katherine.”
“Be still and let me mend you as best I can.”
He held his arm straight so that she could wrap the fabric around his arm.
“Why fire?” she asked again, busying herself with the makeshift bandage.
“Flamma are all touched by fire, an otherworldly power given to each of us.”
She remembered the way he moved, the way the demons moved, with supernatural speed and agility. A drop of rain dripped from his tousled hair, landing on his shoulder before rolling forward. She followed its path as it slid down and over his pectoral. Trying to regain her composure, she inhaled a deep breath, which was a mistake. She breathed in the heady scent of rain and beautiful man, her agitation amplified by his proximity and the undeniable power surging through his body. She longed to touch him, to know what all that strength would feel like under her fingertips, but she was paralyzed by her own desire and wavered on a dangerous precipice. When she’d cinched the bandage into a neat knot and finally chanced a glance at him, his smile nearly buckled her knees.
“There,” she whispered. “That will stop the bleeding.”
“I’m not so sure.”
“What do you mean?”
His shoulders went rigid as if he were holding himself in tight control. Katherine knew his thoughts had wandered away from the wound in his arm. She asked again, “What do you mean, George?”
His eyes slid closed. “I love to hear my name on your lips.” He opened his eyes again, his jaw set in grave lines. “What I mean, my lady, is that I am bleeding inwardly, and I know of only one way to stop it.”
Katherine was well aware of the tension filling the room, of the rise of her heart rate, of the longing in his gaze, which surely matched her own. She realized she was tumbling over that cliff. And she didn’t care, quite content to drown in his aquamarine gaze.
“How can I stop it, George? Tell me.”
“I’d rather show you.”
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July 31, 2017
Juliette Cross has finally given us the story of George and Kat - - and it is perfect.
If you read my reviews, you know that Juliette Cross is an insta-buy for me, with everything she writes. This book is the first in the off-shoot series from The Vessel Trilogy - one of my favorite series from Cross. This one tells the story of two major characters from TVT, George and Kat. We have been teased with bits and pieces of their history from the very beginning, but we FINALLY got the whole enchilada - and it was worth the wait!
Once again, Juliette made me laugh, cry tears of joy, cry tears of sadness, filled me with rage, and made everything all right in the end. She puts her characters through the emotional wringer, then stomps on all their hopes and dreams for a bit....and makes them earn their happy ever after.
If you like books with angels vs. demons, the power and strength and endurance of love, and believe in happy ever afters, THIS is the book for you. I cannot give it enough stars, or recommend it highly enough. And if you have not yet read The Vessel Trilogy - read it. :)
If you read my reviews, you know that Juliette Cross is an insta-buy for me, with everything she writes. This book is the first in the off-shoot series from The Vessel Trilogy - one of my favorite series from Cross. This one tells the story of two major characters from TVT, George and Kat. We have been teased with bits and pieces of their history from the very beginning, but we FINALLY got the whole enchilada - and it was worth the wait!
Once again, Juliette made me laugh, cry tears of joy, cry tears of sadness, filled me with rage, and made everything all right in the end. She puts her characters through the emotional wringer, then stomps on all their hopes and dreams for a bit....and makes them earn their happy ever after.
If you like books with angels vs. demons, the power and strength and endurance of love, and believe in happy ever afters, THIS is the book for you. I cannot give it enough stars, or recommend it highly enough. And if you have not yet read The Vessel Trilogy - read it. :)
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