Evolving Ecstasy

Almost Human,The First Trilogy #3

by Melanie Nowak

ALMOST HUMAN ~ The First Trilogy ~ Volume 3: Evolving Ecstasy The relationship between Cain and Felicity has crested to a peak that leaves them unsure whether to step back from each other for safety, or jump into a future united in death. Felicity is unlike any human Cain has known before. She treats him as an equal; a man worthy of friendship, respect and even… love. She embodies qualities of gentleness and loving trust that he has never found among his own kind. This makes her far more desirable to him than any creature of darkness could ever be. The venom of Cain’s bite could protect Felicity from hostile vampires, but it would give him a measure of psychic control over her as well. Would Felicity only accept becoming a vampire, due to his addictive venom, coupled with the foolishness of a young girl in love? Perhaps there is a brighter future for her in the human world. Is Cain’s desire for Felicity’s love worth the loss of her life?
*ALMOST HUMAN is a series of successive trilogies, not stand-alone books. Each trilogy is self-contained enough to be read alone as a 3 book set, but the story unfolds chronologically, and the characters do continue from one trilogy to the next. Main storyline closure is in each 3rd book, but there are also story-ties leading from one trilogy to the next in the series. *For series updates and previews, MelanieNowak dot com

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

Kindle Edition

First published July 3, 2008

About the author

Melanie Nowak is author of the venomous vampire series ALMOST HUMAN, and a happily married mom of two boys. She holds a Master's Degree in Library and Information Science, and lives with her family on a peaceful mountaintop in the forest of upstate New York. She has always had a vivid imagination and a fascination for the paranormal. Acting and singing are loves of hers as well. However, upon conceiving the idea for her ALMOST HUMAN series in 2003, she discovered a previously unknown passion for writing! Now she puts her over-active imagination to good use, creating characters she loves, and she gets to play all of the parts!


Visit the author's website at: http://www.MelanieNowak.com

Reviews

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

!WARNING! This has major spoilers in it- it has a summary of the book including detailed events at the END of the book. I do NOT recommend reading this review unless you have already read this book.

This felt almost like two different books. Parts of this book were very good and had some action/excitement, and parts of this book were pretty slow and boring. It took me about 115 pages to get into it. After that there was no problem... except for the ending! Cain LEAVES Felicity! I couldn't believe it! After all they went through and how they were SOOOO in love and Cain was her first partner and all that! I'm REALLY upset! And then AFTER Cain leaves Felicity falls in love with BEN (who of course, has been in love with Felicity the whole time). AND Felicity realizes that even though she loved Cain she loved Ben too!!! AHHHHH!! Made me want to scream! And then at the VERY end of the book Felicity finds out that Ben's dad is not a dead beat- he is actually a Vampire Hunter! Mattie turned Allie into a vampire and after Ben is upset at that turn of events he tells her to leave. Cain is just wondering around until it's time to meet up with Mattie. Arif and his minions have moved onto Albany. Cain tells Sindy he is leaving and she might meet up with Cain and Mattie later. Looks like there is another book coming out after this one. Not sure how I feel about that as I'm sure Felicity will stay with Ben. I hope that means that Cain will get HIS HEA. 2 stars for the beginning and the very end of this book, 3 stars for the middle.

*On September 9, 2009 I was private messaged here on GoodReads by the author, Melanie Nowak, asking me to edit my review. I have since added the warning at the beginning of my review stating that it has major detailed spoilers and should not be read unless the reader has already read this book. (My review had always already been "hidden for spoilers.")*

[Grammy 1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

wonderful new series from new author.fourth book hopefully out at the end of year..characters are well roounded, you see them as some one you want to know.

[Sharon ∞❥ is an emotional book junkie ❥∞ · Rating 3 out of 5]

well......that SUCKED!!!

[Clarice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 3 is the culmination of this particular trilogy and it starts, and stays for a while, in some serious uncertainty as to what exactly Cain and Felicity are going to do. Not only is there still an angry vampire running around wanting to get Felicity, but the truth about Sindy is now another issue on the table. The biggest thing for Cain is that he wants Felicity to have a chance at a real life. Not one like him, hiding in the shadows and the darkness of night, moving often, and never having a real family. Vampire covens are not exactly families and the rules for their kind are vastly different. Felicity's friend, Alyson, seems to have no trouble accepting these different rules, but then again she has someone out there she's waiting for. Sindy begins to show a new side of her; the side that is ready to start being a little nicer to humans and other vampires. Over the three books, her character growth has been quite a bit and it is interesting to watch that change. Felicity goes from the naive young girl she was into a stronger and capable woman. Not necessarily when it comes to kicking vampire butt, but her character in general changes some. Cain, however, has the most difficult time it seems to me. Why? After surviving so long on animal blood, the vampire within is starting to rebel against him because of his recent sampling of other blood besides animal. This causes a serious problem that he needs to address before he ends up hurting Felicity accidentally. Talk about a tortured soul, Cain is definitely that. His way of thinking is vastly different than many vampires and he is constantly trying to make up for his past. And the end of this book, I hate to say it but for me personally was a cliff hanger. One of those moments where things kind of click into place as you are also thinking "What the..." Yep. It is. But guess what? There is a whole other follow-up trilogy after it! And I confess that I am really looking forward to see what happens.

[Carolyn G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book! I was so enthralled with the entire series. It had such an unexpected ending, and I think it was so great how it ended. This third volume was the best of the series. She built the characters so well and so in-depth that I feel I really know them. Some other reviewers mentioned that it has a 'Twilight' feel and I do agree a little bit, but Melanie really has her own style. I absolutely loved how the story unfolded. I am so impressed with this series and I can't wait for her next trilogy!

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book left me feeling so anxious to read the next one...I am really starting to feel that I know the characters so well, and can't wait to see what they chose next. Whilst the story is a little predictable, it's the emotion that Melanie conveys that really keeps you glued to the story and her character development is phenominal. I can't wait to get my hands on the next one!

[Michelle Gilmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this volume as much as the first two. I was so happy to see that a fourth volume, Born to Blood will be coming out in the future. I can't wait, This series is EXCELLENT!

[Ctanner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much better than the first two. I loved the twists and the ending was a bit of a shock.

[Heena Rathore Rathore-Pardeshi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Evolving Ecstasy is the third book in Almost Human: The First Trilogy by Melanie Nowak (the first book is Fatal Infatuation and the second one is Lost Reflections ). Evolving Ecstasy is an exhilarating and emotional ride, especially for fans of character-driven paranormal romance like me. I found myself completely drawn into the complex relationships and the heart-pounding tension between Felicity and Cain.

The book does a fantastic job balancing action with deep emotional moments, especially as Felicity grapples with her feelings for Cain and the dangers that come with loving a vampire. What I loved most was the evolution of their relationship, particularly how Cain’s internal struggles as a vampire play a central role in their dynamic. The scenes between them are both tender and thrilling, making you root for them even as you fear for their survival.

Nowak’s writing shines in this installment, especially when describing the complexity of Cain’s character. As one of the more memorable lines goes: “To drink from a host, for a vampire, is the ultimate experience. Just as sex may be for a human being. Blood, that is true ecstasy.” This quote perfectly encapsulates the intense emotions that run throughout the novel.

While the book is packed with action, particularly as Felicity faces off against zombies and vampire enemies, it’s the quieter moments of vulnerability that stand out. One of my favorite quotes is when Cain reassures Felicity: “For you, I’d fight Satan himself.” The devotion and passion between these characters elevate the stakes and make the story even more compelling.

Overall, Evolving Ecstasy delivers all the suspense, romance, and supernatural intrigue you’d want from a paranormal series. I give it 5 stars for its gripping narrative and emotional depth. The Almost Human: The First Trilogy by Melanie Nowak is an addictive blend of romance, danger, and the supernatural. With captivating characters like Felicity and the enigmatic vampire Cain, the trilogy takes readers on an emotional journey through love, loss, and survival in a world filled with vampires, zombies, and moral dilemmas. It is perfect for fans of paranormal romance who crave deep character development and heart-racing action!

[C.C. Campaign · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, Cain bites Felicity in order to protect her from other vampires. It kind of reminded me of Bill Compton from True Blood claiming Sookie. Except instead of verbally saying it, he bites her and therefore seals the deal. According to this series vampire lore, the venom secreted from a vampire's fangs can become addicting. In other vampire books, we see this issue come up time and time again. Add in that Felicity is still an immature, barely legal teen puts a damper on the whole situation as well, but I digress. Love is love, even in a paranormal romance novel.

Ben, Felicity's friend from the very beginning, become more to the forefront in this book and weird things begin happening involving those two. I'm not talking platonic things either....

This final book in this volume is one where I couldn't comprehend what I was reading half the time because it did not go how I expected it too. It just didn't. See, Ben's father comes to town and turns things upside down. Others may be surprised with the secret he reveals, but I actually wasn't. Maybe it's because it was apparent due to Ben's draw for killing vampires...maybe. 


We also get the future trilogy established through Alyson, Ben's friend from the first book who continues to be there in the background of the second and third book. She's dating a vampire as well and he returns to give her the gift of immortality and thus, we will be siding along with Allie more so in the second trilogy and placing Felicity and Cain on the back burner, well, sort of.

[Amy Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intense vampiric journey

First, I love Nowak's work, and I read the story of Evolving Ecstacy through her release of the novellas, Ecstasy Unleashed, Stakes and Sunshine, and Evolution of Love. I've looked at the three different reviews for each novella, and am including portions of those thoughts in this review, and some of my new thoughts on the story. The story continues to grow as do the characters. There is more depth and intensity between characters. There is a connection, a deep one, between Felicity and Cain, and where they come together, there is always this fear that something will break them apart. Cain and Felicity are unique characters who have a great chemistry between them, however, one of them is human. It makes for a different kind of romance, and she has a lot to think about, especially where her future may lie. There's action and battles, and not just internal battles. Knowing that there is more to come, makes me anxious for the next chapter in the lives of all the characters. The story progressed very well, and I am addicted to the writing style and characters of Nowak. I'm sure there will be plenty more stories to come!

[La Kata E.K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes, what you truly want is not exactly what you’re meant to have.

“Evolving Ecstasy” picks up where “Lost Reflections” leaves off. The third and final book in the “Almost Human” first trilogy, “Evolving Ecstasy” wraps up the following of a sheltered college student as she navigates college classes, friendships, work, and her blossoming relationship with a vampire. There were two main characters and three supporting characters; each written with a depth that helped bring their personalities to life. My favorite character was Allie, a supporting character, because she stayed true to her word and loyal to her promise. She was a trusted friend to the end; always putting Ben’s feelings before her own. The character I found to be relatable was Ben, a supporting character. He stuck to his beliefs, even when they drove away those closest to him.

There wasn’t anything that I would change about this book.

Overall, I found this book to be emotionally heavy; yet, still giving the feel of a suspense filled drama.

[Natasha Banton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was better than book 1 and book 2.

The further I read into the book, I wanted to know more.

Within the book, I thought that Cain was making a brave decision to keep the one he loved safe.

There was one thing I didn't get in the book and that was when Allie said, "You want I should Leave."

Other than that, I thought this book is the best so far and I would love to read the next one to see what happens next.

[Loves To Dive · Rating 5 out of 5]

Evolving Ecstasy is the third installment in the Almost Human series and it just keeps getting better. We meet up with all the familiar characters again and get to know each of them a little more.

This is a continuation of the first two books so you are advised to read them first. In this book, Felicity grows more mature and finds herself faced with decisions to make that will not only impact herself but others as well. We see more of the supporting cast here and learn what has influenced them to make the choices they have. Ben, Ally, Cain and Sindy are all back in all their dysfunctional glory.

In this installment of the series, the gang are pitted against another faction of nasty vampires and must learn to function as a cohesive group. Cain finds himself struggling with maintaining a balance between his vampire side and his human values. I enjoyed seeing more of Ally and Mattie and Sindy shows up a different side here as well. Unlike most, I find I like Sindy more and more. I'm torn how I feel about Ben and Cain. One minute I like Cain, the next I want to tell him to grow a set. One minute I think Ben has matured and the next he becomes a teenage boy. All in all, another great story in the journey.

This book has a little more mature feeling than first two. There is sex in this book and more mature themes. I can't wait for the next trilogy to see where the journey takes us.

[Once · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book by far was the best of the three. I enjoyed reading this book as it began with drama and ended with a sweet surprise. This story made me laugh, cry and anxiously read to find out what happened next. I loved the fact that the Melanie got straight to the point with slight detail in between. I can't wait until the 2nd trilogy to see what happens next.

In this volume you finally meet Mattie, Allie's vampire boyfriend. He has returned to town after a long journey. Allie is excited and determined to take things to the next level. Felicity continues to date Cain, when a decision is made there is no turning back. Ben and Felicity get closer then ever, after someone leaves and she finally gets to meet Ben's father. Who reveals his secret to her.

review link: http://www.onceuponatwilight.com/2010...

[Jennifer Monzon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book by far was the best of the three. I enjoyed reading this book as it began with drama and ended with a sweet suprise. This story made me laugh, cry, and anxiously read to find out what happened next. I loved the fact that the author got straight to the point but with slight detail in between. I cant wait until the 2nd trilogy to see what happens next. 

In evolving esctacy you finally meet mattie, allies vampire boyfriend. He has returned to town after a long journey. Allie is excited and determined to take things to the next level. Felicity continues to date cain. But when a decision is made, theres no turning back. Ben and felicity get closer then ever, after someone leaves and she finally gets to meet bens father, who revels his secret to her. 

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the thrilling conclusion to the Almost Human Trilogy. As Cain and Felicity hit some issues with their relationship, Ally awaits Mattie's return. Sindy continues to grow as a person and is not as abrasive in this volume.

I loved this series. Reading the third volume was like visiting with old friends. I loved the way the way the characters developed. I have to say I didn't see the ending coming, but I did love the way it ended. I would recommend this to anyone who likes the paranormal. I would suggest you buy all three volumes at once, because the story continues with each one and believe me, you are going to want to have the next one handy. Can't wait to read the next trilogy.