Seduced by Crimson

Crimson City #5

by Jade Lee

The fifth book in the critically acclaimed Crimson City series!

Genres: Paranormal, Romance, Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Fiction, Vampires

339 pages, Paperback

First published February 28, 2006

About the author

Librarian Note: Also writes under the pen name Kathy Lyons.

A USA Today Bestseller, JADE LEE has been scripting love stories since she first picked up a set of paper dolls. Ball gowns and rakish lords caught her attention early (thank you Georgette Heyer), and her fascination with the Regency began. An author of more than 40 romance novels and winner of dozens of industry awards, her latest series is RAKES AND ROGUES. The first one, 50 WAYS TO RUIN A RAKE, is an awesome tale of love and laughter.
And don’t forget Kathy Lyons.. She’s Jade’s paranormal half. Check out her new shifter series GRIZZLIES GONE WILD.
To find all the latest news on Jade or Kathy, visit them at www.jadeleeauthor.com or www.kathylyons.com! And find out where you can meet her at: http://jadeleeauthor.com/appearances

Reviews

[Emily Kestrel · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF on page 197.

The plot and world-building in this book seems like standard generic UF/PNR: in a vaguely alternate Los Angeles, now named the Crimson City, vampires and werewolves coexist with humans and demons are flooding into the world through an interdimensional gate. The hero and heroine seemed a bit different--Patrick's a druid who likes to surf and Xiao Fei's a Cambodian refugee with magical blood; they've never met prior to the story, but the druid figures out they can shut down the demon gate through some sexytimes. As long as she's bleeding her magical blood while they do it. So already...yuck.

I was not getting into the story at all--the first half of the book is the two running around doing very little while Patrick keeps trying to convince Xiao Fei that his sexytimes plan will work (up to and including a cringe-worthy attempted rape scene). In addition to finding the story dull and unoriginal, I also rolled my eyes at the sex scenes. Let's just say they are not well written. At one point, Xiao Fei's relevant ladybits are referred to as her "happy spot" and in a later scene, Patrick compares her boobs to Play-Doh. Again...yuck. I can see how this book ended up on the library discard table; luckily I didn't have to pay for it.

Recommended for no one. Even fans of the genre can find something better than this.

[Obscured Vixen · Rating 4 out of 5]

To view this on my blog along with an interview with Jade Lee, click here.

This book has everything: passion, action, engaging characters, a loveable story.

Xaio Fei is the last female Phoenix Tear with special elements to her blood. There is a demon gate that has been opened in Crimson City and her blood is the key for the ritual to close it.

Patrick, the druid Draig-Uisge, has been tasked with closing the demon gate before more evil can cross through. He must find Xaio Fei to complete the ritual… but isn’t sure he is able to go through with it. For closing the gate means Xaio Fei may not survive from loss of blood.

Patrick and Xaio Fei end up falling for each other on this crazy journey, complicating the ritual even more. But I didn’t mind that part since there were some hot and heavy sex scenes! The pent up energy that Jade Lee causes between these two is electric and jumps off the page. My kind of story ; )

Along the way, Patrick runs into complications with the other druids that question his ability as the Draig-Uisge. He must go against his own kind to do what is right to close the demon gate and follow his love for Xaio Fei.

If you enjoy paranormal books, I definitely recommend this story! Jade Lee’s constant action without too much detail is definitely worth the read (love authors who write like that!). The story kept going and I could barely put it down.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I reached out to Jade Lee and she was an absolute sweetheart! She was nice enough to do an interview to go along with this post about Seduced by Crimson. Being able to interview authors is a definite highlight of my blogging career. Especially authors that I will be meeting at AAD NOLA!

Jade Lee has also been kind enough to include a link to a FREE download of her novella Engaged in Wickedness. Hope you enjoy this interview with Jade Lee!

To view this on my blog along with an interview with Jade Lee, click here.

[Thisgurl · Rating 2 out of 5]

there was a time i would have forced myself to finish this book, but i have since learned that life is just too dang short for that nonsense.

I got Seduced by Crimson from the library as an mp3 download and i'm about to return it and pick something else off my to read list.

she is annoying, he is annoying, i am rooting for the effing demons for criminy's sake! what is up with the journaled ramblings of a spoiled sounding teenage boy? we get it she escaped cambodia. demon gate, lots of death blah blah blah....lord i wanted a marauding band of rabid werewolves to devour these two just so they'd shut up. for a minute i thought i was listening to a juvenile YA title. cuz they both came across like middle schoolers

And the not quite but damn near was rape scene....can you say AWKWARD? i was embarrassed for the author and truly it wouldn't have surprised me if Rise by Herb Albert had started playing in the background (who remembers general hospital's Luke & Laura was it or wasn't it rape scene) What The What????

the series had such promise too. talk about big disappointment....ugh

maybe this story will get better. maybe the demons, fangs, and dogs will inherit the city. maybe i will change my review and my rating but i really really doubt it.

[Gina Briganti · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed my introduction to Jade Lee’s writing. I’ve been reading the Crimson City series in order and enjoying its different authors and story lines. This book is the fifth in the series. The demons are ready to reclaim Earth and it’s up to Xiao Fei (because of her special blood) and Patrick (a neo-druid with ability to sense and shape energy) to close it. I can appreciate that the group of neo-druids in the story chose a city park in L.A. for their grove. I appreciate that the author gave us the pronunciation for his rank as Draig Uisage (dray-ig oosey), which means water dragon.

All of this was interesting, but the book earns the four stars I gave it because of a transcendent experience she created in the park. The lore that Jade Lee created for the book is interesting and based on a trip that Jade Lee took to China.

I have a question for those who have read the book. Did you want to see an illustration of Xiao Fei’s tattoo? I would love to see it. If anyone out there knows of a place to view it, please share

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read in the Crimson City series and I really like it, this is book 5. All the books are by different authors so I don't know if this is better or worse than the other books. Good story, lots of action, NOT a vampire book, the romance was typical for a paranormal romance, nice little plot twists, and fairly hot sex. The end left me a little flat which is why I only gave it 4.5 stars.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite of this series but a fun read nonetheless. I like the druid approach mixed with the Eastern philosophy. Interestingly, there were times when I was sick of the romance/relationship parts and wanted to further the plot instead. I think it was fun how we met a couple characters from previous installments of the Crimson City world. All in all, a fun ride and a quick read.

[Bradley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of action and lots of demons. Not too bad of a story. I am going to let my wifie the horror nut have this one.

[Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent addition to the series. This one has two humans with special abilities attempting to close the demon portal.

[HQ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I tried and liked Book 2 of this series and was curious to see what another author would do with it. Conclusion: interesting concept, wobbly execution. Lee was trying to do too much at once, between the magic, romance, pacing, and subplots, and the result was everything ended up off-balance. Meh.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

another chapter in the Crimson City saga and I so enjoyed the read

[Lauren Stoolfire · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF'd @ p. 46

Wow. I didn't only made it to the beginning of chapter 3. I tried but Seduced by Crimson (Crimson City #5) by Jade Lee just wasn't for me at all. Plus, from other reviews I've read I'm glad I stopped where I did!

[Paranormal Romance · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tasked with the closing of the demonic portal after his parents death, the hero hunts down a woman with the power to help him accomplish that goal. The heroine's blood heals as well as helps channel a druids power into any spell. Coming from a war torn Cambodia to America as the last of her race, the heroine is a complex mixture of brave and cowardly. On one hand she's out every night killing vampires, and on the other she runs from her responsibilities in closing the gate. Both her and hero are odd protagonists. The hero is a bookish, surfer guy who's awkward and gentle hearted. But on the other side thanks to his alter ego who goes by his druid name, he's cold and merciless; willing to do absolutely anything to save the world-including raping the heroine. That was an awkward scene when he goes from this skittish, uncoordinated boy on her acupuncture table to the druid who's chained her to the bed and willing to rape her. Okay, so they don't have sex but her goes down on her. Does it count as rape when she's enjoying it? Anyway, the whole book sees the hero trying desperately to get into the girls pants. I found myself laughing at times imagining if some guy came up to me on the street proclaiming that if we slept together it will save the world. I didn't really like the characters because they were so flip flopping in personality but I did truly enjoy how much further in depth the discussion of racism got in this installment. Previously it was always hinted that werewolf, vampires and human were at war because of race but this book really got deep into it. The heroine is totally racist for the first half of the book, thinking of vampires and werewolves as lesser beings. Until she saves the life a werewolf child, she doesn't think of them as people and therefor it makes it easier for her to kill them. The hero seems genuinely disgusted by her prejudice and strives to change her thinking. I felt a little bit of spark but honestly I couldn't look past the screwing to save the world-how could there be any love behind that cold reality?

[Erik Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

My only criticism of this book is that I wanted to read more after I finished the book. This book was actually the first book I read written by Jade Lee and I didn't realize that it was part 4 of a series. Like me, even if you haven't read the first three books of the series, "Seduced By Crimson" is a well written book filled with great and sexy characters and creative subplots. The story is set in Crimson City which is actually Los Angeles. The city is populated with not only humans but many different types of monsters. Because of this, the humans and monsters are at war with each other. The protagonist; Patrick, the Druid's Draig-Uisge seems to be the one who can prevail the war for the good. His mission is to overpower Xiao Fei, the Phoenix Tear. Patrick must gain Xiao's trust to prevail but the only way to do it (or the way he desires to) is to seduce her. Filled with adventure, suspense and sexuality, "Seduced By Crimson" isn't just another romantic tale turned dark, it's unique and full of twists and turns. I recommend this book to anyone. Even if you're not a fan of romantic tales, you'll love this one. Just like how the movie Titanic was able to bring in audiences who weren't into chick flicks.

[Gina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better than A Darker Crimson…

But not by much.

I liked the story line and the plot, but it could have used a little more work. There was definitely more background on Xiao Fei, but you still don’t get the entire story. How did she become a Phoenix Tear? You get more details of what she did as a Tear as a child, and the huge battle that she had faced, but you still don’t get the how or why before it. And that was the way of it for all the characters in this series. I certainly hope the next book touches base more on the characters pasts.

The same with Patrick. His family are druids. Okay, got that, but where did they come from? How did they get to be in San Bernardino? All questions that you never get answers for. While the story does touch base on Patrick’s past - as a kid, a teen, a young adult, you still don’t get all of it.

Meanwhile, I liked both Xiao Fei and Patrick. I thought both strong characters, they act well together and learn about themselves and each other along the way.

The action was great, descriptions terrific. Very hard to put down, contantly wanting to know what’s next.

[Deanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I almost put this book down when the "hero" abducted and attempted to rape the "heroine". There were reasons he gave like saving the earth and all its inhabitants, but I found it repulsive. I kept with the book. He explained the solution to the earth problem. She went along. They connected both physically and spiritually. I liked the Druid influence. I found mixing that with eastern philosphy very intriquing. Otherwise I felt elements of this story had been done before and better by other authors. The first of this series I have read. Do not know if I will read more of this series. I will probably read more of Jade Lee's other books. She is not a favorite author but one I will at least try a couple of more books before making a decision to eliminate her books from my wish lists.

[Laurie (barksbooks) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am reading this series completely out of order but after reading A Darker Crimson last month I decided to see if Jade Lee could salvage the series with this book.

Well so far this book, though better than "A Darker Crimson", just isn't thrilling me. The characters are better drawn but again we have the archaic forced seduction scenes and there's just too much action for me. The hero is druid surfer, 30ish, who often speaks like a tween. It's a little disconcerting at times for me. Or maybe I'm just getting old!

At any rate, I gave up. It just wasn't working for me.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay so the plot here in summary is that these two characters for various mystical reasons have to have sex while she is bleeding in order to close the demon gate and save the world from a complete demon invasion. Kind of freaking awesome in a funny way at least when I was trying to explain it to the Bean. Yeah it was kind of a weird pairing with a california surfer dude and a orphaned hemophiliac Cambodian girl. But it was entertaining especially when he has to explain how they have to save the world. There were great battle scenes a good book if you like a bit of sex with your violence...literally!!

[TINNGG · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two issues - heroine came across as a narrow minded bigot whose entire view of the world was based on something that happened when she was 8 (she's 28). H's age was never given but supposedly is a professor. He behaves somewhat like he's a cloistered adolescent.

Other minor issues are more related to the series being written by a plethora of authors who apparently didn't share notes much.

I would like to check this author out in something not part of a series - some glimpses of humor seemed promising. Had a great deal of difficulty with the heroine in this one though.

[Cameron · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm slightly ashamed that I read this. The heroine is a mystical hemophiliac from demon-ravaged Cambodia, the hero is a surfing druid.
And, um, there's vampires and werewolves and demons and, um, acupuncture.
It will suck you in though, and 4 hours later you'll be mad because the ending is so blah, or at least a little put out.

[BookAddict ✒ La Crimson Femme · Rating 1 out of 5]

How... what happened here? I have read Jade Lee before and I enjoy her books. This one, I tried because, well, it's Jade Lee. The first book in this mult-author series was just okay. This one was not good for me at all. I nearly DNF. I forced myself to the end because ... I paid for it and I am going to gosh darn finish reading it. It is a definite pass for me.

[Meg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short review: B for a somewhat convincing romance with a heroine more interesting than the hero, for at least doing justice by the mythologies used in the book (somewhat) and for an enjoyable if not particularly deep story. Trigger warnings for rape scene in book!

Full review: http://megwrites.dreamwidth.org/20139...

[Carolyn F. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a okay to me. I hate when a hero or heroine keeps denying what someone thinks might help a situation even while surrounded by dead bodies and this book's first half was a lot like that. I have this series in audiobook so I'm not wasting actual reading time with it because I wouldn't put it in front of other books that I actually like.

[Kathrynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book #5 in this series and they should be read in order and this is Phoenix Tear (Xiao) and Patrick's story. This is a series book, but the rest of the series are written by different authors.

Great read from This Reader.

[Haylie · Rating 3 out of 5]

i was o.k...wasn't good or bad in my opinion

[Erotic Horizon]

Seduced by Crimson (Crimson City) by Jade Lee (2006)

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 5..