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Secrets of Fae Duet #1
A Touch of Death
After being abducted and held prisoner for five years, Novia Bourne's world is torn apart by her captors as they thwart her first and only chance to escape. Forced into making the decision of life or death lands her in the arms of four devastatingly handsome Naturals; a vampire, a shifter, a mage, and an incubus. These strangers offer her the freedom she never thought she'd see again. All of that is threatened and hope dwindles when buried secrets reveal themselves.
The entire world of Naturals is at risk when a forgotten prophecy is brought to light. Novia's secret is one that could bring about their salvation...or their destruction. Gifted with abilities no Fae should possess, Novia becomes a coveted weapon the humans will do anything to recapture.
With her freedom and the lives of her four Naturals hanging in the balance, will Novia's life fall into the hands of those who wish to use her? Or will she find the strength to fight for the future she longs for? Soon she'll learn, a chance at life will always require... A Touch of Death.
* This is a Reverse Harem novel. #whychoose
* Recommended 18+ due to mature language and situations.
The entire world of Naturals is at risk when a forgotten prophecy is brought to light. Novia's secret is one that could bring about their salvation...or their destruction. Gifted with abilities no Fae should possess, Novia becomes a coveted weapon the humans will do anything to recapture.
With her freedom and the lives of her four Naturals hanging in the balance, will Novia's life fall into the hands of those who wish to use her? Or will she find the strength to fight for the future she longs for? Soon she'll learn, a chance at life will always require... A Touch of Death.
* This is a Reverse Harem novel. #whychoose
* Recommended 18+ due to mature language and situations.
324 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 11, 2019
163 people are currently reading
480 people want to read
About the author
J.J. Dean
21 books171 followersJJ resides in her very own land of fantasy created by many a daydream, reality often nothing more than an ancient myth. When she isn't lost inside her own head, she's buying one way tickets to procrastination station, where she stays watching Disney movies, reading amazing books by incredible authors, eating all the food she can get her hands on, and falling down the rabbit hole that is Pinterest, seeking inspiration for her next book. She occasionally adults when the need calls for it, where she looks after her babies, both with and without fur.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 49 reviews
October 5, 2019
Wow. J.J.’s books just keep getting better and better.
Novia is a survivor who’s lost so much that it would be easy to give up, but she pushed through pain and trauma to find her strength and figure out how to eke out some joy in the midst of uncertainty.
Her guys are awesome, and I love the relationships unfolding between them. I can’t wait to see where they go as the series continues. Gotta say that I’m a little partial to Zayn, but they’re all sweet in perfect ways.
This book is sweet and heartbreaking and funny, and if you don’t tear up at a few parts you may want to check your pulse. ;) If you like stories where the heroine overcomes enormous obstacles to find her power and strength, love stories, some good old fashion sexy scenes, and the supernatural then A Touch of Death is going to be a must-read.
Now the hard part will be waiting for the next book in the series!
Novia is a survivor who’s lost so much that it would be easy to give up, but she pushed through pain and trauma to find her strength and figure out how to eke out some joy in the midst of uncertainty.
Her guys are awesome, and I love the relationships unfolding between them. I can’t wait to see where they go as the series continues. Gotta say that I’m a little partial to Zayn, but they’re all sweet in perfect ways.
This book is sweet and heartbreaking and funny, and if you don’t tear up at a few parts you may want to check your pulse. ;) If you like stories where the heroine overcomes enormous obstacles to find her power and strength, love stories, some good old fashion sexy scenes, and the supernatural then A Touch of Death is going to be a must-read.
Now the hard part will be waiting for the next book in the series!
September 28, 2020
Wow. Must read.
I loved this book. I absolutely love this book. Honestly I’m now going to be impatiently waiting for the other half to this amazing duet. This was my first book by this author, and I’ll now be reading her other works. Her writing style is amazing and I was sucked into the story almost immediately.
One of my favourite RH tropes is an abused FMC who has been sheltered due to whatever reason. I adore how their men rally around and support them, but one thing they all seem to have in common is that the FMC is naive, and inexperienced. Not this one. Novia is amazing. She’s strong, confident and has a witty sense of humour. I honestly adore her so much. She’s resilient.
I love that she has her own brain, and thinks for herself. She’s confident but not arrogant, smart but not a genius. She’s incredible. Another thing I love about her is that she’s transparent. She’s open and honest with her men, and that’s a really important thing. I really like insta love stories, but this one makes the love even more real. Her mates and her have a good relationship, and I love that in a RH.
The book is multi POV, allowing you to see scenes from the guys’ side which is always a plus. I love multi POV books, and I think this is why there was so much character development. Despite it only being book one, I felt completely connected to the characters. I love that despite the world building and plot advancements, there was still plenty of time to flesh out the main characters.
Her harem is insane. Like actually insane. Ezra, Phoenix, Spencer and Zayn. I adore these men, and I find their relationship with each other hilarious. I loved the idea of a mage, vampire, shifter and incubus together and I think their little harem works well together. They have a strong bond with each other as well as the bond they share with Novia.
The plot of this story is amazing too. I adore fae and this story was intense. I loved the authors take on it, and I’m so excited to see where she takes it in book two.
I had so much more I wanted to say but I won’t make this an essay that spoils the book. Honestly, I really recommend this book. Just read it. You won’t regret it, I promise.
I loved this book. I absolutely love this book. Honestly I’m now going to be impatiently waiting for the other half to this amazing duet. This was my first book by this author, and I’ll now be reading her other works. Her writing style is amazing and I was sucked into the story almost immediately.
One of my favourite RH tropes is an abused FMC who has been sheltered due to whatever reason. I adore how their men rally around and support them, but one thing they all seem to have in common is that the FMC is naive, and inexperienced. Not this one. Novia is amazing. She’s strong, confident and has a witty sense of humour. I honestly adore her so much. She’s resilient.
I love that she has her own brain, and thinks for herself. She’s confident but not arrogant, smart but not a genius. She’s incredible. Another thing I love about her is that she’s transparent. She’s open and honest with her men, and that’s a really important thing. I really like insta love stories, but this one makes the love even more real. Her mates and her have a good relationship, and I love that in a RH.
The book is multi POV, allowing you to see scenes from the guys’ side which is always a plus. I love multi POV books, and I think this is why there was so much character development. Despite it only being book one, I felt completely connected to the characters. I love that despite the world building and plot advancements, there was still plenty of time to flesh out the main characters.
Her harem is insane. Like actually insane. Ezra, Phoenix, Spencer and Zayn. I adore these men, and I find their relationship with each other hilarious. I loved the idea of a mage, vampire, shifter and incubus together and I think their little harem works well together. They have a strong bond with each other as well as the bond they share with Novia.
The plot of this story is amazing too. I adore fae and this story was intense. I loved the authors take on it, and I’m so excited to see where she takes it in book two.
I had so much more I wanted to say but I won’t make this an essay that spoils the book. Honestly, I really recommend this book. Just read it. You won’t regret it, I promise.
December 23, 2019
Very good
I really enjoyed this, though parts of it felt a bit contrived.... and yes, I realize that sounds odd when talking about shifters, vampires, mages and the fae. Lol! Regardless, it was still a great story that seemed longer than it really is, in a good way!!! Details were actually shared here, not piece-mealed over the course of several books.
First person, multiple POV, slow-burn RH, PNR
Cliffhanger
Rating = R (adult)
Character age range = 23+
Pros:
- Good Plot line.
- I enjoyed the dynamics between the characters.
- Flows well.
- The danger is apparent.
Cons:
- Bit “on the nose”
- Some revelations feel just a tad too convenient
- Minor editing issues.
I really enjoyed this, though parts of it felt a bit contrived.... and yes, I realize that sounds odd when talking about shifters, vampires, mages and the fae. Lol! Regardless, it was still a great story that seemed longer than it really is, in a good way!!! Details were actually shared here, not piece-mealed over the course of several books.
First person, multiple POV, slow-burn RH, PNR
Cliffhanger
Rating = R (adult)
Character age range = 23+
Pros:
- Good Plot line.
- I enjoyed the dynamics between the characters.
- Flows well.
- The danger is apparent.
Cons:
- Bit “on the nose”
- Some revelations feel just a tad too convenient
- Minor editing issues.
October 1, 2023
4.5 Stars
July 3, 2020
Let me start by saying this: JJ’s books just keep getting better and better.
I have read all of JJ Dean’s books, and she has quickly become one of my top 10 authors after her The Fall and Witches Grimoire series. I’m at the point where I just One Click her books now. However, this is my absolute favorite book of hers so far.
Now let’s get to the part you actually care about: the review of the actual book.
If i’m being honest, this particular trope/ storyline is not really unique/ anything you haven’t seen before. I’ve probably read 3 other books similar to it. (particularly Hunted by Erica Woods) THIS BEING SAID: the author still does a fantastic job of putting her own twist on it, individualizing it, and making the characters and their interactions with each other completely unique— even if the plot line is similar to others i’ve read.
Novia is a sweetheart and I absolutely adore her. She is such a strong woman to go through what she has been through and not become either a) a complete wreck or b) a heartless bitch. She even puts up with AND IS NICE TO Ezra’s cranky ass lol. Another thing I really enjoy about this book is the world building and character development of the guys. Each MMC is flushed out and individualized. At no point did i get any of them confused or did any of them blend together- which let’s be honest, is kinda rare when reading PNRH.
Overall I really enjoyed this book and I apologize if this review is really vague lol it’s been a while since i’ve read it and i just realized i never reviewed it and I’m trying not to spoil anything. Anyways enough of my rambling, if it wasn’t clear I would absolutely recommend this book!
I have read all of JJ Dean’s books, and she has quickly become one of my top 10 authors after her The Fall and Witches Grimoire series. I’m at the point where I just One Click her books now. However, this is my absolute favorite book of hers so far.
Now let’s get to the part you actually care about: the review of the actual book.
If i’m being honest, this particular trope/ storyline is not really unique/ anything you haven’t seen before. I’ve probably read 3 other books similar to it. (particularly Hunted by Erica Woods) THIS BEING SAID: the author still does a fantastic job of putting her own twist on it, individualizing it, and making the characters and their interactions with each other completely unique— even if the plot line is similar to others i’ve read.
Novia is a sweetheart and I absolutely adore her. She is such a strong woman to go through what she has been through and not become either a) a complete wreck or b) a heartless bitch. She even puts up with AND IS NICE TO Ezra’s cranky ass lol. Another thing I really enjoy about this book is the world building and character development of the guys. Each MMC is flushed out and individualized. At no point did i get any of them confused or did any of them blend together- which let’s be honest, is kinda rare when reading PNRH.
Overall I really enjoyed this book and I apologize if this review is really vague lol it’s been a while since i’ve read it and i just realized i never reviewed it and I’m trying not to spoil anything. Anyways enough of my rambling, if it wasn’t clear I would absolutely recommend this book!
October 10, 2019
A Touch Of Death takes us into a world where humans and Naturals (supernaturals) are aware of each other. Most Naturals, while humans do know about them, live hidden. The Fae were more open with where they lived and it cost them dearly. Novia is the last of her kind. She finally broke free from being held captive and found a new reason to want to live. Four actually. Those reasons may end up costing her too when she has to reveal her secrets to keep them safe.
I really enjoyed diving into this world. Novia's story will really break your heart. She's been through so much and has so much left to conquer. Luckily she has four amazing men that have come into her life to help her out. Of course we have one stubborn guy who can't seem to get his stuff together. You will love him anyway. They are drawn to Novia in a way they don't fully understand. With secrets being revealed things start to become more clear and then...BAM. Our whole world gets flipped upside down. Lol it wasn't really that bad. It definitely has me ready to read the next book though and find out what's going to happen with our little group of Naturals.
I really enjoyed diving into this world. Novia's story will really break your heart. She's been through so much and has so much left to conquer. Luckily she has four amazing men that have come into her life to help her out. Of course we have one stubborn guy who can't seem to get his stuff together. You will love him anyway. They are drawn to Novia in a way they don't fully understand. With secrets being revealed things start to become more clear and then...BAM. Our whole world gets flipped upside down. Lol it wasn't really that bad. It definitely has me ready to read the next book though and find out what's going to happen with our little group of Naturals.
December 22, 2019
👌🏻
Good book! Looking forward to the next one and learn more about this world. Recommend if you are looking for an easy read.
Good book! Looking forward to the next one and learn more about this world. Recommend if you are looking for an easy read.
May 11, 2020
Super-Natural
The supernaturals in this book are called Naturals. I believe it is just the entire thing shortened, rather than a whole different terminology. Anyways, this book is very entertaining. I didn’t put it down (literally, its 4:30am). I had a inkling about when things were about to happen and when certain conversations were going to take place, but it was interesting reading about how it all played out. And it surprised me.
The Harem: 5 guys, 4 guys are a group already. Novia (I nicknamed her Nova for short). This book was focused on relationships and getting used to the idea of “mates”.
Summary:
Novia escapes from a government institution of horrors and runs for hours. She finds herself being taken care of by 4 guys. As she settles and learns more about herself and her surroundings, as well as recovering from traumatic events, she experiences character development. Character development is a big part in the book. For instance, the changing relationships and inner dialogue that helped some characters understand their feelings. The government institution wants her back, and are gunning for her. She and the guys have a few run-ins with them.. And a big cliffhanger that is slightly eased with details and a promise for answers at the start of the next book.
Now I just have to wait for the next book. I highly recommend this book.
*Trigger warning: brief description and background story of torture (guns, knives, starvation) genocide and murder. Also a background story of a parent forcibly stealing a child’s magic (could be hard to read). Panic attacks are present in the book.
The supernaturals in this book are called Naturals. I believe it is just the entire thing shortened, rather than a whole different terminology. Anyways, this book is very entertaining. I didn’t put it down (literally, its 4:30am). I had a inkling about when things were about to happen and when certain conversations were going to take place, but it was interesting reading about how it all played out. And it surprised me.
The Harem: 5 guys, 4 guys are a group already. Novia (I nicknamed her Nova for short). This book was focused on relationships and getting used to the idea of “mates”.
Summary:
Novia escapes from a government institution of horrors and runs for hours. She finds herself being taken care of by 4 guys. As she settles and learns more about herself and her surroundings, as well as recovering from traumatic events, she experiences character development. Character development is a big part in the book. For instance, the changing relationships and inner dialogue that helped some characters understand their feelings. The government institution wants her back, and are gunning for her. She and the guys have a few run-ins with them.. And a big cliffhanger that is slightly eased with details and a promise for answers at the start of the next book.
Now I just have to wait for the next book. I highly recommend this book.
*Trigger warning: brief description and background story of torture (guns, knives, starvation) genocide and murder. Also a background story of a parent forcibly stealing a child’s magic (could be hard to read). Panic attacks are present in the book.
April 28, 2020
Amazing
The story, the characters, the emotions are all amazing! I've loved every good character I've come across. The author creates a world and characters that all flow very well.
Spoiler
.
.
.
I am a little worried that only 1 mate bond mas made though since we still have 4 left to go.
However, I cannot wait for Book 2!
The story, the characters, the emotions are all amazing! I've loved every good character I've come across. The author creates a world and characters that all flow very well.
Spoiler
.
.
.
I am a little worried that only 1 mate bond mas made though since we still have 4 left to go.
However, I cannot wait for Book 2!
September 10, 2020
This was a genuinely sweet book! It shows the last of her kind a fae after losing absolutely everything and everyone to the point she would rather sacrifice herself than go back into captivity, there is always hope and good things will come! I honestly really enjoyed it and unlike some other reverse harems the sex wasn’t shoved down your throat ( no pun intended). I would recommend
July 17, 2022
Not bad but for me too long-winded and not original enough. There are so many of these types of books. Abused girl, caring guys and an overly evil and cruel opponent.
Some things didn’t make sense e.g: When she finds out that she has a tracker in her arm, she doesn't take it out right away (which would make sense). No, she's going to do other things for several chapters first and then acts surprised they find her. Huh…
Some things didn’t make sense e.g: When she finds out that she has a tracker in her arm, she doesn't take it out right away (which would make sense). No, she's going to do other things for several chapters first and then acts surprised they find her. Huh…
April 3, 2020
Love it
W.O.W. I love this book. I’m looking forward to reading more. Novia is looking to being very badassery. J.J. You have out done yourself on this one, but you do that with all your books that I’ve read and I love them all. Thank you for your amazing work.
W.O.W. I love this book. I’m looking forward to reading more. Novia is looking to being very badassery. J.J. You have out done yourself on this one, but you do that with all your books that I’ve read and I love them all. Thank you for your amazing work.
June 24, 2020
This book is right up my alley and I’m so ready for the next one. More of a medium/fast burn except with the one guy who resists a bit. Heroine seems to cry a lot but I also think that is understandable.
October 9, 2020
Dnf 65%. I was enjoying this until the MC said she had been actively protecting a secret her entire life. Except we made it more than halfway through the book without her thinking about it once. That really bothered me since it seemed like that secret was going to be a huge part of the plot.
Also, the action scenes felt pretty rough to me. It was hard to picture who was doing what at times, and some of the actions just didn't make sense.
There also seemed to be an unfortunate issue with Find & Replace that changed the capitalization of "Fae" to "fae" throughout the first part of the book, even when "fae" started a sentence and should have been capitalized. This issue didn't affect my overall opinion of the book, but it did make me cringe.
Also, the action scenes felt pretty rough to me. It was hard to picture who was doing what at times, and some of the actions just didn't make sense.
There also seemed to be an unfortunate issue with Find & Replace that changed the capitalization of "Fae" to "fae" throughout the first part of the book, even when "fae" started a sentence and should have been capitalized. This issue didn't affect my overall opinion of the book, but it did make me cringe.
August 25, 2022
Amazing read! I really loved the story and how it was told!
A lot of mysteries and I still don’t know what to expect! So for that I’m thankful!
After reading many books, being presented with a original plot is beyond amazing!
I’m looking forward to the next one!
A lot of mysteries and I still don’t know what to expect! So for that I’m thankful!
After reading many books, being presented with a original plot is beyond amazing!
I’m looking forward to the next one!
February 4, 2021
After that cliffhanger I cannot wait for book 2! Excited to read more about the world and get to know the harem members better.
March 23, 2021
I really enjoyed this book, Fantastic story telling with rich exciting characters.
A strong fiesty FMC, some honest to goodness Bad Bad guys and some supernatural hotties. Fast paced with some intresting twists, i can't wait for the conclusion of this series.
A strong fiesty FMC, some honest to goodness Bad Bad guys and some supernatural hotties. Fast paced with some intresting twists, i can't wait for the conclusion of this series.
Did not finish
May 3, 2021DNF'd at 26%.
Really didn't catch my interest. Tried, but no, I regret reading this far.
I'll pass on other books by this author.
Borrowed from Kindle Unlimited.
Really didn't catch my interest. Tried, but no, I regret reading this far.
I'll pass on other books by this author.
Borrowed from Kindle Unlimited.
Read
May 25, 2022DNF at 30%
Insta love and a damsel in distress
Insta love and a damsel in distress
February 16, 2020
Another win for this author
So far I've lived everything thisbauthorbhas written. Cannot wait for more of her works. I never mind cliff hangers when I have expected follow up dates, but I'll just continue to stalk her on Amazon, crossing my fingers for a quick follow up release.
So far I've lived everything thisbauthorbhas written. Cannot wait for more of her works. I never mind cliff hangers when I have expected follow up dates, but I'll just continue to stalk her on Amazon, crossing my fingers for a quick follow up release.
November 15, 2019
I really liked it until she got to the whole “chosen one” prophecy. The story itself was decent, but there were some issues I had.
1. For a girl who just spent 5 years being brutalized and tortured, she seems to recover remarkably quick, aside from one PTSD episode. I suppose the author was trying to portray a strong female character overcoming her abuse, but the lack of detail and insight to her psyche made the abuse rather unreal. Like, yeah the author and the MC are telling us all this stuff happened, but there’s not much evidence in the smaller details of the story to support the emotional toll this would take, and overall not a lot to really let you imagine the scene and empathize with the character.
2. This woman is supposed to be living with the 4 best mercenaries in the entire world. Yet when they’re attacked, this young girl, who has told us she is inexperienced and had never left the compound or met other Naturals before being kidnapped, comes up with a plan and saves all the guys while they passively watch. Furthermore, we see no evidence of the men’s occupation other than their conversation about it and a brief mention of runes. Where is the training to keep in shape? The sparring? The weapons?
3. These characters are supposed to all be Naturals, yet she portrays them more as humans with powers. She vaguely mentions the vampire smelling her blood and visiting his blood bank, but otherwise portrays him as a normal guy who can read minds. She mentions the shifter becoming a fox, but then he’s really just a muscular, cuddly guy the rest of the book. We see the mages magic when he is doing domestic things, but again he acts like a normal human otherwise. The fae uses her powers more as an afterthought, other than taking in sunlight and healing quickly. And there’s really no mention of the incubus except when he accidentally melts a countertop.
4. There are a lot of inconsistencies. We have a woman who has no experience with men and spent 5 years in captivity. She has what we can assume is her first kiss, yet there’s no mention of it afterwards. Really? She spends no time thinking of that kiss? With all the time she spends touching and cuddling with him? Then in the scene where The mace and shifter are touching her ears, getting her worked up, and the vampire and incubus walk in. Nothing. The incubus, WHO FEEDS ON SEXUAL ENERGY, has absolutely no reaction to that? Just doesn’t make sense. The whole book seems to be filled with little inconsistencies like this. Such as when she sees Davis and all the men immediately know who he is from the name, even though she only referred to him as “Top Psychos lapdog” before. Or when the shifter presses his head to her chest to hear her heartbeat, when it would’ve made more sense for, idk, the freakin’ vampire to hear her heart?
5. I could’ve overlooked the rest and tried to continue with the series, but then we had a super stereotypical, done a million times, “prophecy of the chosen one.” The MC is this super special fae with extra special powers who is going to save the world. Cuz we’ve never read that before. And there’s not even a fun twist to it, it’s literally this idea that she’ll save Naturals by helping them come out to humans and live in peace and harmony.
Overall, this was just too much to get past, and I DNF at about 80%
1. For a girl who just spent 5 years being brutalized and tortured, she seems to recover remarkably quick, aside from one PTSD episode. I suppose the author was trying to portray a strong female character overcoming her abuse, but the lack of detail and insight to her psyche made the abuse rather unreal. Like, yeah the author and the MC are telling us all this stuff happened, but there’s not much evidence in the smaller details of the story to support the emotional toll this would take, and overall not a lot to really let you imagine the scene and empathize with the character.
2. This woman is supposed to be living with the 4 best mercenaries in the entire world. Yet when they’re attacked, this young girl, who has told us she is inexperienced and had never left the compound or met other Naturals before being kidnapped, comes up with a plan and saves all the guys while they passively watch. Furthermore, we see no evidence of the men’s occupation other than their conversation about it and a brief mention of runes. Where is the training to keep in shape? The sparring? The weapons?
3. These characters are supposed to all be Naturals, yet she portrays them more as humans with powers. She vaguely mentions the vampire smelling her blood and visiting his blood bank, but otherwise portrays him as a normal guy who can read minds. She mentions the shifter becoming a fox, but then he’s really just a muscular, cuddly guy the rest of the book. We see the mages magic when he is doing domestic things, but again he acts like a normal human otherwise. The fae uses her powers more as an afterthought, other than taking in sunlight and healing quickly. And there’s really no mention of the incubus except when he accidentally melts a countertop.
4. There are a lot of inconsistencies. We have a woman who has no experience with men and spent 5 years in captivity. She has what we can assume is her first kiss, yet there’s no mention of it afterwards. Really? She spends no time thinking of that kiss? With all the time she spends touching and cuddling with him? Then in the scene where The mace and shifter are touching her ears, getting her worked up, and the vampire and incubus walk in. Nothing. The incubus, WHO FEEDS ON SEXUAL ENERGY, has absolutely no reaction to that? Just doesn’t make sense. The whole book seems to be filled with little inconsistencies like this. Such as when she sees Davis and all the men immediately know who he is from the name, even though she only referred to him as “Top Psychos lapdog” before. Or when the shifter presses his head to her chest to hear her heartbeat, when it would’ve made more sense for, idk, the freakin’ vampire to hear her heart?
5. I could’ve overlooked the rest and tried to continue with the series, but then we had a super stereotypical, done a million times, “prophecy of the chosen one.” The MC is this super special fae with extra special powers who is going to save the world. Cuz we’ve never read that before. And there’s not even a fun twist to it, it’s literally this idea that she’ll save Naturals by helping them come out to humans and live in peace and harmony.
Overall, this was just too much to get past, and I DNF at about 80%
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 24, 2019
Good but......
I really liked the premise of the book. The MC was engaging and her guys were well thought out. But for mercenaries they sure had a lot to be desired, especially since they were supposed to be the best in the world. Come on I mean they have observed a facility for 3 years and still can't figure out a way in. Don't assign a job to someone if you can't back it up with details that enhance the character. They have no defensive capabilities except for runes around their house. She has to rescue them from the bad mercenaries at one point because not a single one of her guys can do anything. Even though one can turn into a Siberian tiger! The overall story was good and you could almost feel where the author wanted to go with it but details count so much and those were really missing in some areas.
In addition, I hope the author invests in a proofreader and editor before another book is published. In one part the same exact scene is printed back to back, the use of the word "floor" instead of ground or grass over and over, and finally word switches such as using missionaries instead of mercenaries do detract from the book. Most of these issues would have been identified by a proofreader. I know that some self published authors tend to have friends proofreading their works but a professional would have caught the simple mistakes that littered this book. An editor would have been able to point out continuity issues and repetitive scenes.
Overall a great read that deserves a higher rating but without due diligence to the basics I just can't give it at this time. Will I get the 2nd book of the deulogy? Yes, because I am interested to see if the writing matures and where the story winds up.
Finally, I really hope the author reads these reviews and has this book updated after having it proofread and edited. There is so much promise here and I really feel the author could do a much better job overall with a little professional help.
I really liked the premise of the book. The MC was engaging and her guys were well thought out. But for mercenaries they sure had a lot to be desired, especially since they were supposed to be the best in the world. Come on I mean they have observed a facility for 3 years and still can't figure out a way in. Don't assign a job to someone if you can't back it up with details that enhance the character. They have no defensive capabilities except for runes around their house. She has to rescue them from the bad mercenaries at one point because not a single one of her guys can do anything. Even though one can turn into a Siberian tiger! The overall story was good and you could almost feel where the author wanted to go with it but details count so much and those were really missing in some areas.
In addition, I hope the author invests in a proofreader and editor before another book is published. In one part the same exact scene is printed back to back, the use of the word "floor" instead of ground or grass over and over, and finally word switches such as using missionaries instead of mercenaries do detract from the book. Most of these issues would have been identified by a proofreader. I know that some self published authors tend to have friends proofreading their works but a professional would have caught the simple mistakes that littered this book. An editor would have been able to point out continuity issues and repetitive scenes.
Overall a great read that deserves a higher rating but without due diligence to the basics I just can't give it at this time. Will I get the 2nd book of the deulogy? Yes, because I am interested to see if the writing matures and where the story winds up.
Finally, I really hope the author reads these reviews and has this book updated after having it proofread and edited. There is so much promise here and I really feel the author could do a much better job overall with a little professional help.
January 28, 2020
Good start to a series
Well written, great characters. I'm excited to see what the next book brings. I loved the little spin with that extra character at the end and I'm excited to see how he adds to the already existing dynamic!
Well written, great characters. I'm excited to see what the next book brings. I loved the little spin with that extra character at the end and I'm excited to see how he adds to the already existing dynamic!
November 2, 2019
An Interesting Idea
Novia is a fae. All the fae were kidnapped 5 years ago by humans and kept in cages to be experimented on. Novia is the last one left after they killed her entire community except her. She has just managed to escape and instead of being retaken decides to jump off a cliff into a river, preferring death to the continuing torture.
Whilst she is running through the woods, four supernaturals are feeling a pull. They are being drawn towards something important until they find Novia laying on the bank of a river, unconscious. They recognise her race and take her home, safe behind magical barriers.
This is the start of their journey together, learning about each other and forming bonds. This isn’t a fast moving book, until towards the end, when things speed up. However, it is interesting learning about Novia’s history and abilities. We also get to know something about the men who rescue her.
What we don’t get to know much about is why the humans are taking supernaturals hostage and experimenting on them. I think that must come in the next book. There are some holes in the world building and the plot, and to give the benefit of the doubt, I’ll say that those answers will come in the next book, but it did leave me questioning a few things that were annoying. But overall, it was an interesting read.
Novia is a fae. All the fae were kidnapped 5 years ago by humans and kept in cages to be experimented on. Novia is the last one left after they killed her entire community except her. She has just managed to escape and instead of being retaken decides to jump off a cliff into a river, preferring death to the continuing torture.
Whilst she is running through the woods, four supernaturals are feeling a pull. They are being drawn towards something important until they find Novia laying on the bank of a river, unconscious. They recognise her race and take her home, safe behind magical barriers.
This is the start of their journey together, learning about each other and forming bonds. This isn’t a fast moving book, until towards the end, when things speed up. However, it is interesting learning about Novia’s history and abilities. We also get to know something about the men who rescue her.
What we don’t get to know much about is why the humans are taking supernaturals hostage and experimenting on them. I think that must come in the next book. There are some holes in the world building and the plot, and to give the benefit of the doubt, I’ll say that those answers will come in the next book, but it did leave me questioning a few things that were annoying. But overall, it was an interesting read.
December 26, 2019
Great!
I really enjoyed this book. It did end on a cliffhanger however since it is a part of a duology it was expected. My favorite aspect was Novia's time with the guys. It was satisfying to read about her being cared for after 5 years of torture. I also loved that she had special abilities. The plot was engaging and has me eager to read the next book for answers and resolution. I only noticed a couple of typos and they did not hinder the reading experience. The characters were distinctive and the dialogue felt genuine. I also thought the pacing was good and I stayed interested for the entire read. The only thing I didn't love was subjective and that was that the FMC made some really bad decisions, in my opinion. It drove me crazy for a bit until she explained the reasoning which made it a little easier to understand. All in all, this was a really good book. I do wish I would have waited for book 2 though because I am yearning to know what happens to Novia and her guys.
I really enjoyed this book. It did end on a cliffhanger however since it is a part of a duology it was expected. My favorite aspect was Novia's time with the guys. It was satisfying to read about her being cared for after 5 years of torture. I also loved that she had special abilities. The plot was engaging and has me eager to read the next book for answers and resolution. I only noticed a couple of typos and they did not hinder the reading experience. The characters were distinctive and the dialogue felt genuine. I also thought the pacing was good and I stayed interested for the entire read. The only thing I didn't love was subjective and that was that the FMC made some really bad decisions, in my opinion. It drove me crazy for a bit until she explained the reasoning which made it a little easier to understand. All in all, this was a really good book. I do wish I would have waited for book 2 though because I am yearning to know what happens to Novia and her guys.
Read
August 24, 2021DNF at around 45%
Alright guys.... I tried to like this, I really did....but I COULD not make it through this book. The story was just way to dry and slow for my liking. Which is a shame by the way, because the description and reviews made it seem promising! I honestly found myself doing more skimming than actual reading. I also had a hard time telling the guys apart, but I guess that could've been due to lack of interest. OH and don't even get me started on the whole 'we've been watching that place for 3 whole years and couldn't figure out how to get in' thing. You mean to tell me they're supposed to be the best assassins in the world and they couldn't figure out how to break in......come on!
As always,
Happy Reading❤️
🌟Book reviews courtesy of thegirlandthewardrobe.tumblr.com🌟
Alright guys.... I tried to like this, I really did....but I COULD not make it through this book. The story was just way to dry and slow for my liking. Which is a shame by the way, because the description and reviews made it seem promising! I honestly found myself doing more skimming than actual reading. I also had a hard time telling the guys apart, but I guess that could've been due to lack of interest. OH and don't even get me started on the whole 'we've been watching that place for 3 whole years and couldn't figure out how to get in' thing. You mean to tell me they're supposed to be the best assassins in the world and they couldn't figure out how to break in......come on!
As always,
Happy Reading❤️
🌟Book reviews courtesy of thegirlandthewardrobe.tumblr.com🌟
November 16, 2019
I’d love to have this hunky harem of men!
I really enjoyed this book. Only once or twice did I start to feel the pacing was beginning to get a bit slow - only to have something else happen on the next page to stir things up more and prove me wrong. And the more I read, the more I couldn’t put it down.
This book has some hunky guys, cool supernaturals with even more interesting powers, evil geniuses, prophecy, and a woman who is getting her spunky attitude back and won’t let her past keep her from moving forward. I’m excited to see what will happen in the next book!
I really enjoyed this book. Only once or twice did I start to feel the pacing was beginning to get a bit slow - only to have something else happen on the next page to stir things up more and prove me wrong. And the more I read, the more I couldn’t put it down.
This book has some hunky guys, cool supernaturals with even more interesting powers, evil geniuses, prophecy, and a woman who is getting her spunky attitude back and won’t let her past keep her from moving forward. I’m excited to see what will happen in the next book!
October 26, 2019
This is a heartbreaking and emotional read...Novia has been through so much and had to deal with so much, you just wish for her to find happiness! Then sling comes the guys....they are all great characters and I love reading their connection to Novia. I enjoyed that all the MCs has their own personalities and all developed their relationships at there own speed and in their own way! At the end of the book I was left excited for more and cannot wait to see what happens next!
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