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Druid's Curse #1
The End of Darkness
Ryley Duggan resented his family for forcing him home on his twenty-first birthday to perform another stupid fire ritual, instead of letting him go out and get shit-faced like normal people his age. He’d never believed in the stories his grandmother told him about the reason behind what they were doing. That was, until he walked outside to the bonfire to see bloodcurdling creatures that no Hollywood studio had ever come close to replicating, killing his family.
Since an early age, Eirik had one job, to protect the descendants of the one who’d cursed him and his friends. It hadn’t been what he’d ever imagined for his life, but after nearly a millennia Eirik had learned one thing, life never went as planned. Never had that been truer than when he’d rescued Ryley from certain death.
Now the two must learn to work together to save humanity. Will all be lost? Or will they discover a way to heal their hearts by opening themselves up to love?
WARNING: Unseelie monsters run amok in this story!
Since an early age, Eirik had one job, to protect the descendants of the one who’d cursed him and his friends. It hadn’t been what he’d ever imagined for his life, but after nearly a millennia Eirik had learned one thing, life never went as planned. Never had that been truer than when he’d rescued Ryley from certain death.
Now the two must learn to work together to save humanity. Will all be lost? Or will they discover a way to heal their hearts by opening themselves up to love?
WARNING: Unseelie monsters run amok in this story!
153 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 15, 2019
104 people are currently reading
282 people want to read
About the author
Shea Balik
155 books264 followersBestselling author of the Cedar Falls Series, Hart Medical Center Series, Miracle Series, and Paranormal Wars Series, Shea Balik has always had a vivid imagination with stories running around in her head. Often her stories are taken from observations of other people with her own spin.
Traveling is one of her favorite ways of fulfilling her passion of people watching. You never know, one day you may spark her imagination for her next book.
Whether at home or traveling she is usually in front of her computer writing or curled up with a good book.
Traveling is one of her favorite ways of fulfilling her passion of people watching. You never know, one day you may spark her imagination for her next book.
Whether at home or traveling she is usually in front of her computer writing or curled up with a good book.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
April 16, 2019
What an amazing start to a wonderful series, definitely love the way this first book is going. Can’t wait to read more, loved getting to know the characters Ryley Duggan & Eirik, will be back to read more, *****5 Stars*****
Here is my blog post
https://freespiritreads.home.blog/201...
Here is my blog post
https://freespiritreads.home.blog/201...
May 17, 2021
A honestly good premise for what promises to be an interesting series. I like Ryley and Eirik. They're the kind of couple you wouldn't think would work, but does. I'm interested and expectant on what world saving will bring the group next!
June 1, 2022
Immortal Vikings and Fae, Celtic Druids and Norse Gods – a strange mixture but not unattractive, not at all. If I understood it correctly the background story and therefore the setup started as a love story between a Seelie Fae and a Druid during the time of the Viking raids. The veil between both realms were opened, dismissing the danger of an Unseelie intervention. Of course the worse happened and the Druids had to close the veil again but when it rains, it pours and so at the time of the ritual a big raid entered the Scottish shore and Fae monster fought to keep the veil open. It happened what always happens in such cases: a barely tenable closure, so the ritual had to be repeated on every Celtic Holiday until there a Druids strong enough to close it finally. Until then the Fae are trying to fight their way back. If you now ask about the immortal Vikings in this setup then that's because there was also a curse binding the 8 surviving men to protect the remaining Druids until the veil is closed completely. They also gained the ability to shift into animals to help with their duty.
Now after centuries have gone by there are still Druid families doing their duty but the numbers are dwindling, the veil frays and there are better ways to spent Halloween if you're young and it's your birthday and obviously the willingness to listen to tales of your ancestral history leaves something to be desired. So Ryley comes minutes to late to the bonfire. Unfortunately that also applies to the Viking hunk Eirik who's only able to save Ryley and flees with him and his sister.
Looks like a promising, does it? On the one hand yes but on the other I still don't know why a Norse God answered to a curse of a Druid, or got enough detail of said ancient love story – if it was a love story at all because the author also mentioned somewhere that the Druid got their magic from the Fae, so it also could easily be a power-move. There are a lot of little pieces of information which probably make a lot of sense for the author but I was unable to piece them together into a picture that made sense for me and the unnatural flow of the story information made it hard to enjoy it.
Then there is also the romance part. I'm quite used to insta-lust/love in paranormal romances but seeing your family slaughtered by horrible monsters and the author feels the need to mention latent erections because a big brute keeps you in his arms? And what about the later mating bite (yeah, had to be, shifters, you know) was terrible anticlimactic even so it happened during a orgasm. So, nothing feels real and while some of Eirik's brothers might make a nice half of a couple in later books I don't believe the series will get better.
Now after centuries have gone by there are still Druid families doing their duty but the numbers are dwindling, the veil frays and there are better ways to spent Halloween if you're young and it's your birthday and obviously the willingness to listen to tales of your ancestral history leaves something to be desired. So Ryley comes minutes to late to the bonfire. Unfortunately that also applies to the Viking hunk Eirik who's only able to save Ryley and flees with him and his sister.
Looks like a promising, does it? On the one hand yes but on the other I still don't know why a Norse God answered to a curse of a Druid, or got enough detail of said ancient love story – if it was a love story at all because the author also mentioned somewhere that the Druid got their magic from the Fae, so it also could easily be a power-move. There are a lot of little pieces of information which probably make a lot of sense for the author but I was unable to piece them together into a picture that made sense for me and the unnatural flow of the story information made it hard to enjoy it.
Then there is also the romance part. I'm quite used to insta-lust/love in paranormal romances but seeing your family slaughtered by horrible monsters and the author feels the need to mention latent erections because a big brute keeps you in his arms? And what about the later mating bite (yeah, had to be, shifters, you know) was terrible anticlimactic even so it happened during a orgasm. So, nothing feels real and while some of Eirik's brothers might make a nice half of a couple in later books I don't believe the series will get better.
September 13, 2019
A great new series about druids, fae, curses and magic. I loved the concept and really enjoyed all the characters. I can’t wait to uncover more and dive deeper into the various characters.
April 17, 2019
More accurately, 2.5 stars.
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This review has been originally posted at Gay Book Reviews - check it out!
Family traditions that a twenty-one-year-old doesn’t really care for—Shea Balik, I hear you! Been there myself. My family’s traditions, however, were never as essential to human survival as those of Ryley Duggan’s turn out—and he’s one of the main characters, see? In fact, his family is of Scottish druid stock, and their origins go waaaay back (first known ancestor somewhere in the 8th century). Back then, they were hanging out with the fickle Faeries, and at one moment found out fickleness, when exhibited by magic-users, only amused them for so long. That’s why they performed a spell-casting ritual around a bonfire to ban their former friends forever. Alas, a party of fierce, blood-and-gold-thirsty Vikings interrupted the ceremony, killed most of the druids, and got killed in turn by Faerie monsters. All except eight of them, whom Nordic Super-God Odin then cursed: made immortal, they would have to make sure that the remaining druids survive and thus be able to do their banning ritual, lest the veil between Faerie world and our world be torn and humanity destroyed by the vengeful magic beings and their monster minions.
Ryley never listened to his grand-mother telling those tales, so he learns the hard way what it means to be a Duggan. In fact, when the family gathers around their Samhain bonfire, the Faerie monsters appear and kill all the family members. Only Ryley and his sixteen-year-old sister Meghan are saved by… immortal Viking hunk Eirik. The latter kills the monsters, then picks up the two siblings and brings them to the Viking safe haven somewhere in Colorado. There, Ryley is trained to face the mortal threats from the Faerie world so that he can perform the next ritual at winter solstice. At the same time, he realizes he’s falling for the Nordic warrior who saved his life. As Eirik can’t fight his own attraction for young Ryley either, we get our romance going…
I don’t know if American authors are aware of how funny, almost ludicrous it feels for Europeans to start reading a book and realize that yet another part of our continent’s history is transplanted in the US. Even while re-reading my line “Viking safe haven somewhere in Colorado”, I chuckle despite myself. But be it; that’s how fiction works. In the past, for the sake of a highly entertaining YA book series, I willingly accepted the idea of Greek gods dwelling in the skies above New York. Alas, as “The End of Darkness” wasn’t nearly as much fun to read, the druid-and-Vikings-in-America part felt a bit off to me. Don’t get me wrong, the book isn’t unpleasant. Yet I freely admit I was biased as I had just finished another M/M fantasy romance, which earned a highly deserved 5-star-review (to be found here). And when you read two books of the same genre in a row, you can’t help it—you compare. That doesn’t turn out positive for this book, I’m sorry to say.
It’s hard to put the finger on what bothers me. Is it the writing style, which is sometimes a bit awkward? Maybe the pace? You see, you get a first peak right at the beginning, but told from a certain distance (which takes off some of the suspense). Then there’s a longish part of low and slow goings-on with loads of explaining. The whole back-story of the druids, Vikings, Faeries is unravelled in impromptu dialogues instead of being worked in more unobtrusively and naturally. When an author realizes she/he needs to explain too many things in that fashion, their plot-line alarm bells should be ringing and urge them to change the whole story-line. Beware of the scene-saving deus ex machina, too (in this case, a renegade Faerie, who can pop up and vanish as he pleases—almost annoyingly convenient when the author needs someone to explain a certain issue but doesn’t want any of the other characters to do the “dirty job”). Then the romance between Ryley and Eirik—the author tries to explain away why it is such a Wham!-Bang!-Ne’er-saw-it-coming-thing, but that didn’t make me buy it. I mean, the young druid’s whole family (bar his sister) has just been decimated, and he already starts fantasizing about how to bed the Viking warrior? Seriously? Anyway, I would have preferred some nice, slowly building chemistry rather than an odd insta-love story. Another point that could have been avoided: you read about monsters too hideous to look at, but you never really get a good look at them; it’s okay to leave things to the reader’s imagination, but at least give us some more hints as to what we’re supposed to imagine! Last but not least, the book should have been proofread and edited once more. Commas missing, hyphens missing, sometimes even words; the odd “may” where “might” would have been needed; and again, I stumbled upon “loathed to do something” and even “loathe to do something”, when it should be “loath”. All in all, the book’s not bad, but I wasn’t carried away.
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This review has been originally posted at Gay Book Reviews - check it out!
Family traditions that a twenty-one-year-old doesn’t really care for—Shea Balik, I hear you! Been there myself. My family’s traditions, however, were never as essential to human survival as those of Ryley Duggan’s turn out—and he’s one of the main characters, see? In fact, his family is of Scottish druid stock, and their origins go waaaay back (first known ancestor somewhere in the 8th century). Back then, they were hanging out with the fickle Faeries, and at one moment found out fickleness, when exhibited by magic-users, only amused them for so long. That’s why they performed a spell-casting ritual around a bonfire to ban their former friends forever. Alas, a party of fierce, blood-and-gold-thirsty Vikings interrupted the ceremony, killed most of the druids, and got killed in turn by Faerie monsters. All except eight of them, whom Nordic Super-God Odin then cursed: made immortal, they would have to make sure that the remaining druids survive and thus be able to do their banning ritual, lest the veil between Faerie world and our world be torn and humanity destroyed by the vengeful magic beings and their monster minions.
Ryley never listened to his grand-mother telling those tales, so he learns the hard way what it means to be a Duggan. In fact, when the family gathers around their Samhain bonfire, the Faerie monsters appear and kill all the family members. Only Ryley and his sixteen-year-old sister Meghan are saved by… immortal Viking hunk Eirik. The latter kills the monsters, then picks up the two siblings and brings them to the Viking safe haven somewhere in Colorado. There, Ryley is trained to face the mortal threats from the Faerie world so that he can perform the next ritual at winter solstice. At the same time, he realizes he’s falling for the Nordic warrior who saved his life. As Eirik can’t fight his own attraction for young Ryley either, we get our romance going…
I don’t know if American authors are aware of how funny, almost ludicrous it feels for Europeans to start reading a book and realize that yet another part of our continent’s history is transplanted in the US. Even while re-reading my line “Viking safe haven somewhere in Colorado”, I chuckle despite myself. But be it; that’s how fiction works. In the past, for the sake of a highly entertaining YA book series, I willingly accepted the idea of Greek gods dwelling in the skies above New York. Alas, as “The End of Darkness” wasn’t nearly as much fun to read, the druid-and-Vikings-in-America part felt a bit off to me. Don’t get me wrong, the book isn’t unpleasant. Yet I freely admit I was biased as I had just finished another M/M fantasy romance, which earned a highly deserved 5-star-review (to be found here). And when you read two books of the same genre in a row, you can’t help it—you compare. That doesn’t turn out positive for this book, I’m sorry to say.
It’s hard to put the finger on what bothers me. Is it the writing style, which is sometimes a bit awkward? Maybe the pace? You see, you get a first peak right at the beginning, but told from a certain distance (which takes off some of the suspense). Then there’s a longish part of low and slow goings-on with loads of explaining. The whole back-story of the druids, Vikings, Faeries is unravelled in impromptu dialogues instead of being worked in more unobtrusively and naturally. When an author realizes she/he needs to explain too many things in that fashion, their plot-line alarm bells should be ringing and urge them to change the whole story-line. Beware of the scene-saving deus ex machina, too (in this case, a renegade Faerie, who can pop up and vanish as he pleases—almost annoyingly convenient when the author needs someone to explain a certain issue but doesn’t want any of the other characters to do the “dirty job”). Then the romance between Ryley and Eirik—the author tries to explain away why it is such a Wham!-Bang!-Ne’er-saw-it-coming-thing, but that didn’t make me buy it. I mean, the young druid’s whole family (bar his sister) has just been decimated, and he already starts fantasizing about how to bed the Viking warrior? Seriously? Anyway, I would have preferred some nice, slowly building chemistry rather than an odd insta-love story. Another point that could have been avoided: you read about monsters too hideous to look at, but you never really get a good look at them; it’s okay to leave things to the reader’s imagination, but at least give us some more hints as to what we’re supposed to imagine! Last but not least, the book should have been proofread and edited once more. Commas missing, hyphens missing, sometimes even words; the odd “may” where “might” would have been needed; and again, I stumbled upon “loathed to do something” and even “loathe to do something”, when it should be “loath”. All in all, the book’s not bad, but I wasn’t carried away.
April 19, 2019
I am going to love this series. I can kind of see the direction it's going. Well maybe lol. I'm not the author, after all. I love these characters. I read a lot of paranormals. It's a genre I adore. In all that I've read, I've only come across a handful that have been so descriptive of the seelie and unseelie court. Now that's in what I’ve read. Not saying there's not more out there. Anyway, I love that. Everyone kind of has their own description of a lot of paranormal but I love seeing how the Fae courts and such are described. With the way this book is and where it seems to be heading, I'm going to love it. I already do. It's off to a great start.
Anyway.
Ryley, more or less, ignored most of what he was taught growing up about his background. He thought it was more or less make believe. He knew his birthday fell on a druid holiday and that rituals were performed, but he could never really get the dances down, so he dreaded it. He dreaded not having a celebration for his birthday. He knew when he turned 21, it was the mark of something, but he never realized how much it was going to be. That night, he world was shattered and changed. Unseelie came across the veil and destroyed all he loved, except his sister, whom he saved. He was introduced to his own rescuer, Eirik, while running, and brought to a world he never thought possible. Now to save the world from more of these Fae, he has to train and learn quickly, and before they all die.
What a story. Man, if I was Ryley, I would probably run screaming from everyone. Especially, if I lost my family the way he did. Holy crap. It doesn't help he's attracted to his own savior, Eirik. He wants to hate him and all his friends, who were supposed to save them from dying. And with them acting haughty and arrogant and like know-it-alls, he just wants to punch them all on the way out the door. Can't say I blame him. He gets his own digs in, though, and I love it lol. Still, having to learn and train is harrowing for anyone going through what he is.
Eirik isn't helping. I like him, but he can be an ass. Being part of a curse for as long as he has and trying to save everyone can be a bit much, but he doesn't have to be a dick. With he and Ryley both a part of solving the curse, he needs to focus and help. Which he does, but he's definitely cocky about it. I have to say, humble is a good look on him, but not at the cost of someone's life.
It's a difficult journey these guys are on. So much is being thrown at them. Secrets revealed. It can be a bit much, but it makes for one hell of a book.
http://lovebytesreviews.com/
Anyway.
Ryley, more or less, ignored most of what he was taught growing up about his background. He thought it was more or less make believe. He knew his birthday fell on a druid holiday and that rituals were performed, but he could never really get the dances down, so he dreaded it. He dreaded not having a celebration for his birthday. He knew when he turned 21, it was the mark of something, but he never realized how much it was going to be. That night, he world was shattered and changed. Unseelie came across the veil and destroyed all he loved, except his sister, whom he saved. He was introduced to his own rescuer, Eirik, while running, and brought to a world he never thought possible. Now to save the world from more of these Fae, he has to train and learn quickly, and before they all die.
What a story. Man, if I was Ryley, I would probably run screaming from everyone. Especially, if I lost my family the way he did. Holy crap. It doesn't help he's attracted to his own savior, Eirik. He wants to hate him and all his friends, who were supposed to save them from dying. And with them acting haughty and arrogant and like know-it-alls, he just wants to punch them all on the way out the door. Can't say I blame him. He gets his own digs in, though, and I love it lol. Still, having to learn and train is harrowing for anyone going through what he is.
Eirik isn't helping. I like him, but he can be an ass. Being part of a curse for as long as he has and trying to save everyone can be a bit much, but he doesn't have to be a dick. With he and Ryley both a part of solving the curse, he needs to focus and help. Which he does, but he's definitely cocky about it. I have to say, humble is a good look on him, but not at the cost of someone's life.
It's a difficult journey these guys are on. So much is being thrown at them. Secrets revealed. It can be a bit much, but it makes for one hell of a book.
http://lovebytesreviews.com/
April 16, 2019
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
When I read the first book in a series I am either going to get lost in the world created or get attached to the characters while learning about their world. I don’t expect both until the second or even third book. From the first chapter I was intrigued and that only got stronger as I read. To be honest Riley seemed a bit bratty at first but I figured he had a right to be. As I continued to read I knew it was going to be shocking for him as he realized what was real but then Shea Balik’s true skill really started to show. From that point on it was a roller coaster of excitement and danger balanced with passion and love. Not only was I vested in Ryley and Eirik’s relationship, I became concerned for the others as well. By the end I even was worried about Fen. Trust me that was a shocker! Not only that, this world was so easy to get lost in. I literally growled when the book ended. Guess I was channeling Eirik lol. Now I’m on pins and needles worried about Bjorn. The next book can’t come soon enough. An amazing world with characters I can’t wait to learn more about. If this is just the start, we are going to be blown away. Looks like I found a series I’m going to want to read again and again once it’s done.
www.reviewsforthosewholoveagoodbook.w...
When I read the first book in a series I am either going to get lost in the world created or get attached to the characters while learning about their world. I don’t expect both until the second or even third book. From the first chapter I was intrigued and that only got stronger as I read. To be honest Riley seemed a bit bratty at first but I figured he had a right to be. As I continued to read I knew it was going to be shocking for him as he realized what was real but then Shea Balik’s true skill really started to show. From that point on it was a roller coaster of excitement and danger balanced with passion and love. Not only was I vested in Ryley and Eirik’s relationship, I became concerned for the others as well. By the end I even was worried about Fen. Trust me that was a shocker! Not only that, this world was so easy to get lost in. I literally growled when the book ended. Guess I was channeling Eirik lol. Now I’m on pins and needles worried about Bjorn. The next book can’t come soon enough. An amazing world with characters I can’t wait to learn more about. If this is just the start, we are going to be blown away. Looks like I found a series I’m going to want to read again and again once it’s done.
www.reviewsforthosewholoveagoodbook.w...
May 27, 2024
An interesting mix of lore that I would love to get into more. The history of the curse has been laid out well. However, the rest of the plot seemed rushed. It was a good foundation for the rest of the series though, since most of the questions on whys and hows were tackled in this book. I just wished there was more depth into how their relationship develops and their interaction with each other. I feel like Ryley was too bratty and Eirik just went with the flow and the redeeming qualities were too little to ignore those first impressions. There also weren't much exposure to their abilities which I would've loved but maybe on the next installments? The premise, though, is promising and would love to read more if it gets better throughout the series. I'll try the second book and if it's better then the first, I might finish the series. *cross-fingers*
(Btw, I got this book for $0 on Amazon!)
(Btw, I got this book for $0 on Amazon!)
April 16, 2019
Was a really good book I enjoyed it. Ryley is turning 21 and is dreading going home. Hes lived his life resenting what his family does. He sees his family all killed except his baby sister. Eirik is a Viking who is curse to protect the druids. He saves Ryley from death but a pull so strong he doesnt understand what's happening.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 1, 2020
Rating: 3 stars
I liked the story and the premise. I liked all the secondary characters. I liked Eirik as one of the MCs. The biggest problem with the book for me was Ryley. Hated him. He was such an immature/bratty character that I never warmed up to him. Hopefully, the MC in the next installment is more likable.
I liked the story and the premise. I liked all the secondary characters. I liked Eirik as one of the MCs. The biggest problem with the book for me was Ryley. Hated him. He was such an immature/bratty character that I never warmed up to him. Hopefully, the MC in the next installment is more likable.
Want to read
August 8, 2023🎁 FREE on Amazon today (10/15/2020)! 🎁
October 25, 2019
DNF 75% (I will rate since I almost finished the book)
Honestly I was really excited for this book.. Druids, Fae, and immortal Viking shifters.?.?.? I could practically hear the book screaming my name, and I’m thankful that I was able to control myself on buying until there was a price drop...
Now... Unfortunately things just didn’t really work out for me...
While the writing was wordy, there was still very little depth to the actual plot.
While the romance was one of the “fates” it was just kind of “blah” in the back ground. I mean we all like to be “shown” how the romance kindles but in this book were not even “told”, it’s like there’s an attraction, they finally have sex, and then nothing....
There are also a lot of weird time jumps that didn’t go as smoothly and weren’t as understandable as I think they were meant to be.
In reality by 75% I just didn’t care what happened so I figured that was as good a time as ever to stop and find something else.
Honestly I was really excited for this book.. Druids, Fae, and immortal Viking shifters.?.?.? I could practically hear the book screaming my name, and I’m thankful that I was able to control myself on buying until there was a price drop...
Now... Unfortunately things just didn’t really work out for me...
While the writing was wordy, there was still very little depth to the actual plot.
While the romance was one of the “fates” it was just kind of “blah” in the back ground. I mean we all like to be “shown” how the romance kindles but in this book were not even “told”, it’s like there’s an attraction, they finally have sex, and then nothing....
There are also a lot of weird time jumps that didn’t go as smoothly and weren’t as understandable as I think they were meant to be.
In reality by 75% I just didn’t care what happened so I figured that was as good a time as ever to stop and find something else.
April 15, 2019
This was a great series starter. Eirik and Ryley were great characters and really enjoyed this introduction into their world. I'm looking forward to reading more of this series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 3, 2019
this was holy wow sexy haha.. it was fun.. and interesting. fast paced and kept me going.. i needed to know what was next.. i loved the complex emotions and the personalities.. it made me smile and laugh. but also made me tear up and sad.. haha.. i will admit to a couple spots making me upset as well... but overall very enjoyable. cant wait to read the next book :)
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March 14, 2025March 2025
Kindle edition
DNF @ 28%. Couldn't get into this one. Rituals to keep out the unwanted, a new druid on his 21st birthday and a protection detail. Not for me at this time.
Kindle edition
DNF @ 28%. Couldn't get into this one. Rituals to keep out the unwanted, a new druid on his 21st birthday and a protection detail. Not for me at this time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 14, 2022
This a wonderful, great, captivating start to a great series of books and characters. Great mix of 1000 year old vikings out to save witches. And of course fall in love on the way. In book 1 Ryley who has never believed to stories his family have told him witnesses their slaughter. And then there is Erik who came too late and boy is ryley mad at him. Slowly their destiny unfolds and its as you would expected, together. Hot scenes together and the storyline us good with occasional backfill into how it has all come to be
May 5, 2019
This book blew me away! Wow! I love it! Ryley is the typical guy who rolls his eyes at the old family stories but when he finds out monsters are real, he’s running for his life. He runs right into Eirik.
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full review - http://thetbrpile.weebly.com/reviews/...
April 10, 2019
*I voluntarily read this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else's*
4 stars
This book definitely got my heart pounding.
Poor Ryley was already anxious about the rituals and receiving his new powers: yet nothing prepared him for the horror of seeing everything he loved being ripped away from him. This was the moment his path changed but will he be ready for the challenges that lie ahead?
I liked Ryley: he had this no none sense attitude and he wasn’t afraid to speak up or challenge those around him.
Eirik and Ryley had a strong connection from the moment they laid their eyes on each other. Their beautiful bond flourished and shined despite, the dangers ahead. These two sexy guys had incredible chemistry - it was intense, hot and all consuming.
Eirik and his family were an intriguing bunch and I enjoyed learning all about their hidden talents.
4 stars
This book definitely got my heart pounding.
Poor Ryley was already anxious about the rituals and receiving his new powers: yet nothing prepared him for the horror of seeing everything he loved being ripped away from him. This was the moment his path changed but will he be ready for the challenges that lie ahead?
I liked Ryley: he had this no none sense attitude and he wasn’t afraid to speak up or challenge those around him.
Eirik and Ryley had a strong connection from the moment they laid their eyes on each other. Their beautiful bond flourished and shined despite, the dangers ahead. These two sexy guys had incredible chemistry - it was intense, hot and all consuming.
Eirik and his family were an intriguing bunch and I enjoyed learning all about their hidden talents.
April 17, 2019
Let me start be saying that I think I have read every book by Ms. Balik and have enjoyed them all but I think this is my new favorite. I love paranormal books as it is so this automatically started out on a good note but the fact that it went down a different path than what most authors in this genre write about was a big plus. Druids and Vikings are not something you usually see in one book so that was a nice change of pace. But what stuck out the most to me was there seemed to be a maturity to the authors writing in this book that was leaps and bounds ahead of even her last book that I really enjoyed. And while I love a good insta-love that was not what this book was about, even though the when the MCs did admit their feelings it did gel pretty quickly. I can't wait to read the rest of the books in this series.
April 24, 2019
Ryley is on the cusp of gaining his powers a druid when tragedy strikes and Eirik comes in to rescue him. The story continues as they come together and seek to save humanity from destruction.
I was familiar with Shea Balik as an author I had not read anything by her up until now. I have to be honest it took me a while to get into the story and to tract what was happening with each of the characters. Yet, I soon become holed and came to appreciate the different characters and their back story. I mean who can’t enjoy the idea of cursed Vikings and druids.
I found myself enjoying the story and the development of the characters and the story and I am actually looking forward to what happens with the rest of the group as they seek out to protect the remaining druids and seek to have the curse broken.
I was familiar with Shea Balik as an author I had not read anything by her up until now. I have to be honest it took me a while to get into the story and to tract what was happening with each of the characters. Yet, I soon become holed and came to appreciate the different characters and their back story. I mean who can’t enjoy the idea of cursed Vikings and druids.
I found myself enjoying the story and the development of the characters and the story and I am actually looking forward to what happens with the rest of the group as they seek out to protect the remaining druids and seek to have the curse broken.
August 20, 2019
So much fun, I will definitely be reading everything in this series
I loved this beginning to a new series. It was interesting that the curse on the Vikings allowed them to change into the animals they were named after, where possible - i.e. Arne = eagle, Ulf = wolf, Bjorn = bear. Through I was hoping that Brandt would be something like a phoenix since his name means fire.
I can understand Ryley's desire to not have the responsibility that his family held, but I found his doubt about the necessity of the rituals to be a bit confusing. It seems to me that he would either disbelieve all magic, or fully believe; accepting that the family had a responsibility, and yet denying that the responsibility was necessary was odd to me.
I loved this beginning to a new series. It was interesting that the curse on the Vikings allowed them to change into the animals they were named after, where possible - i.e. Arne = eagle, Ulf = wolf, Bjorn = bear. Through I was hoping that Brandt would be something like a phoenix since his name means fire.
I can understand Ryley's desire to not have the responsibility that his family held, but I found his doubt about the necessity of the rituals to be a bit confusing. It seems to me that he would either disbelieve all magic, or fully believe; accepting that the family had a responsibility, and yet denying that the responsibility was necessary was odd to me.
January 28, 2023
Shallow and rushed
Ryleys grief response was strange and oddly unemotional. At first that made sense, but as the story went on it stopped making sense. The whole insta-lust thing was jarring and kept yanking me out of the story because it appeared at the oddest times and felt forced. And I really disliked the way everyone treated Ryley, like he was 15, not 21, and also like he had no right to grieve or be upset about his family's death. The narrative in general didn't pull me into the story and closer to characters, but kept yanking me out of the story instead. Perhaps, if the author had dug more deeply into the story, it would have worked better. As it is now, it reads more like a long summary of a much larger story.
Ryleys grief response was strange and oddly unemotional. At first that made sense, but as the story went on it stopped making sense. The whole insta-lust thing was jarring and kept yanking me out of the story because it appeared at the oddest times and felt forced. And I really disliked the way everyone treated Ryley, like he was 15, not 21, and also like he had no right to grieve or be upset about his family's death. The narrative in general didn't pull me into the story and closer to characters, but kept yanking me out of the story instead. Perhaps, if the author had dug more deeply into the story, it would have worked better. As it is now, it reads more like a long summary of a much larger story.
October 19, 2020
After watching his family be massacred by fae minions Ryley and his sister Meghan travel with Eirik, the man who saved them, to his home. What he learns will change his life. Eirik is cursed to protect druid families for centuries. He is a warrior through and through. When he meets Ryley he has no idea what is in store for them. But soon learns they are meant to be together.
I loved the entire book. The battles were fierce. I also loved meeting all the brothers and hope that each get their own stories. Fen was an enigma to me as his part is glossed over. I also wanted to know whose mate cursed the brothers because at one point in the story it says a druid did yet in another part it says Fen’s mate did so I was confused, unless I read it wrong.
Aside from that it was a wonderful beginning to a series that I hope continues. Fantastic read.
Fantastic read.
Reviewed for mmgoodbookreviews.com
I loved the entire book. The battles were fierce. I also loved meeting all the brothers and hope that each get their own stories. Fen was an enigma to me as his part is glossed over. I also wanted to know whose mate cursed the brothers because at one point in the story it says a druid did yet in another part it says Fen’s mate did so I was confused, unless I read it wrong.
Aside from that it was a wonderful beginning to a series that I hope continues. Fantastic read.
Fantastic read.
Reviewed for mmgoodbookreviews.com
May 29, 2019
Trying to slog through
I normally love this author very much but the first chapter was so tedious and wordy that I found it difficult to get excited by the story. Then in chapter 2 the story jumps back in time shattering what little momentum had been built. I am going to put this book aside and try again later as this author is usually an excellent story teller and I don't want to miss out.
I normally love this author very much but the first chapter was so tedious and wordy that I found it difficult to get excited by the story. Then in chapter 2 the story jumps back in time shattering what little momentum had been built. I am going to put this book aside and try again later as this author is usually an excellent story teller and I don't want to miss out.
September 18, 2019
Great start to the series. Ryley and Eirik's are amazing. This is a unique and crazy Universe that grabbed me right from the start. So much happens for these two with Ryley not knowing everything and with surprises along the way; struggling to deal with what happened to his family. Eirik and his family are so interesting and I can't wait to see more of them. I voluntarily reviewed an 'Advance Author’s Copy' of this book.
April 27, 2021
Wow! This book was good. It is about druids, Vikings, and Fae . Riley is getting ready to turn 21 and wants to go celebrate with his friends. But is family wants him to come celebrate with them. He does not believe the stories that his grandmothers tell him. But on his birthday, the stories become reality. Erick saves him and his sister from certain death that night. Now Riley must train to stop the creatures that killed his family.
June 21, 2021
He is 21 and he wants to go out like a normal man to celebrate turning 21. Instead he needs to go home and perform a ritual, he did not believe in. Things are not going to go when he finds his family being killed. They have been tasked to keep the peace. Now all is in danger and now they need to keep him safe. What will happen? How will it all go? See what will happen
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 16, 2019
The first book in the Druid's Curse series by an Author I have not read before. This is a M/M story of two men who find love. Ryley and Eirik as evil comes for Ryley's family the two of them must work together to save humanity. A story that flows smoothly from page to page. I enjoyed reading this book.I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 28, 2019
The End of Darkness by Shea Balik is an awesome story to read. This is book number one in this awesome start to a brand new series that I fell in love with. I highly recommend this story to everyone who loves reading about LGBT and paranormal romances.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 1, 2019
Story line is great and I loved the characters. I really enjoyed reading this book and I would recommend it! Unexpected twists and turns had me reading this book in one sitting. Great storyline and character development made this book a hot and enjoyable read!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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