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Marked Souls #1
Seduced By Shadows
Read Jessa Slade's posts on the Penguin Blog.
When Sera Littlejohn meets a violet-eyed stranger, he reveals a supernatural battle veiled in the shadows, and Sera is tempted to the edge of madness by a dangerous desire. Ferris Archer takes Sera under his wing, now that she is a talyan—possessed by a repentant demon with hellish powers. Archer’s league of warriors have never fought beside a female before, and never in all his centuries has Archer found a woman who captivates him like Sera.
With the balance shifting between good and evil, passion and possession, Sera and Archer must defy the darkness and dare to embrace a love that will mark them forever.
When Sera Littlejohn meets a violet-eyed stranger, he reveals a supernatural battle veiled in the shadows, and Sera is tempted to the edge of madness by a dangerous desire. Ferris Archer takes Sera under his wing, now that she is a talyan—possessed by a repentant demon with hellish powers. Archer’s league of warriors have never fought beside a female before, and never in all his centuries has Archer found a woman who captivates him like Sera.
With the balance shifting between good and evil, passion and possession, Sera and Archer must defy the darkness and dare to embrace a love that will mark them forever.
378 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 3, 2009
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Jessa Slade
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"Wonderfully addictive!"
~New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter
“Dark and sexy and intense."
~New York Times Bestselling Author Nalini Singh
“[F]or readers who love J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood, the Marked Souls series will hit the spot."
~RT BOOK Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
September 15, 2018
Actual Rating: I didn't like it.
DNF
It bored me, so I stop reading.
DNF
It bored me, so I stop reading.
October 11, 2009
Sera Littlejohn is a thanatologist - she sits with dying hospital patients and helps them in their last hours - but ever since she was hit by a drunk-driver her world has become one of pain medication, physiotherapy and struggle. But it's not her physical scars that draw a demon to her from beyond the veil but guilt over her mother. Either way, she's the first female in countless centuries to be possessed by a demon.
Ferris Archer knows all about being possessed. He's one of many men who, at a time of temptation, have accepted a teshuva, a repenting demon, from beyond the veil. Leaving a reven - an intricate tattoo - to mark the place where the teshuva came to them, the talyan - the possessed - aren't the only people playing host to demons: some are host to angels, becoming seraphim, who fight the djinn-possessed who are too strong for they talyan, while the talyan spend their days and nights endlessly draining lesser demons.
It is into this world of endless violence, death and evil that Sera finds a place at last. With the help of Archer, her possession went smoothly, but her demon seems to be a little different. Instead of simply draining a malice or a feralis, a lesser demon, she somehow sends it back through the veil. There's also the troubling issue of the strong attraction between Sera and Archer, when he's always been a loner - and he's determined not to give in to these new feelings.
Soon it becomes clear that a djinn-man is targeting Sera, trying to capture her for some unknown purpose, and if Archer won't help her be bait for a trap, she'll do it alone.
I'm not a big fan of good vs. evil stories, or even those that utilise Christian beliefs to create a dark urban fantasy - not unless there's a lot of originality involved. While a good dark tale about evil can be entertaining, even chilling, to read, it needs a lot of atmosphere and tension, you need to really invest in the main characters and you really need to be cheering them on. Even then, I find it hard to get into a black-and-white scenario like this, which at its worst can be just plain boring.
There's a lot of promise here, but sadly it just doesn't quite deliver. The immortal, possessed warrior men bring to mind the Black Dagger Brotherhood and their fight against the lessers - but the characters lacked the fleshing-out necessary for me to really care about them. The set-up is clear-cut, with angels battling djinni and the "weaker" repenting demons off to the side, dispatching the lesser demons who pray on human emotions. The emphasis on the idea that the real battle between good and evil is played out in the human heart saves it from being too simplistic, but not nearly enough. "Good and Evil" is a simplistic concept, and you can't just "get rid of" or banish evil - if you could, then "good" is equally as flimsy a concept. (Maybe it is, but that's beside the point.)
The talyan do talk a bit about blame, about whether an individual is blameless because a demon is enflaming violent etc. tendencies, or whether they are just as responsible for their actions because they let themselves be tempted. It's along the same lines of: is someone born bad or are they made bad by their environment, by society? Seduced by Shadows hints at this issue but doesn't really delve into it. Archer's idea that evil could be cured like smallpox really made me lose my good opinion of him.
And there is part of its problem: it takes on too much. I found the premise and the details, especially when it got onto the veil and hell, very confusing. At times it was a comment a character would say, or something Sera or Archer would think, that produced a total "huh?" moment. The narration skips along too lightly to really cement anything, ground anything, make it feel real or plausible. Sub-plots are dropped as if they never happened, leaving me feeling like there are chapters missing. It's dialogue-heavy, and when someone isn't talking, Sera or Archer get introspective and reflective. A little bit of this can go a long way, but unfortunately it's like a constant twitch.
This kind of prose just exhausts me. Characters who constantly internalise everything, ponder everything, worry over everything, second-guess everything ... it just goes on and on and I'm left knowing them no more intimately than I did at the beginning. Besides which, Archer and Sera's chemistry was lacklustre and unconvincing. I enjoyed Sera's humour and sarcasm, but it may have worked better, atmosphere-wise, if the story had kept to a darker tone. Maybe not. Either way, it didn't seem like Slade was very interested in the romance side of what is being marketed as a paranormal romance.
There is a bad guy too, a djinn-man called Corvus, and I confess I never understood what his plan was or why. I mean, he wanted to use Sera to rip open the veil and free all the demons, but I don't really get why. He was old, and tired, and wanted to end it, wanted perhaps to turn earth into a battleground between God's horde and Hell's demons - but it was unclear what his personal motivations were, and I found the entire climactic ending very confusing. I couldn't follow it at all.
Overall, I wanted to enjoy this, it had elements that definitely appeal to me, but the execution made it hard for me to get into it. I would normally read a paranormal romance book in a day, but this one took me a week. It's more an urban fantasy novel really; the romance is secondary, but I'm not entirely sure what is primary here. Better chemistry, sexual tension and romance would have saved it, or going the opposite way it could have delved deeper into urban fantasy and given us something really rich. A few authors, like the before-mentioned J.R. Ward, have managed to combine both genres with excellent results. Seduced by Shadows is a confused book that left me confused.
Ferris Archer knows all about being possessed. He's one of many men who, at a time of temptation, have accepted a teshuva, a repenting demon, from beyond the veil. Leaving a reven - an intricate tattoo - to mark the place where the teshuva came to them, the talyan - the possessed - aren't the only people playing host to demons: some are host to angels, becoming seraphim, who fight the djinn-possessed who are too strong for they talyan, while the talyan spend their days and nights endlessly draining lesser demons.
It is into this world of endless violence, death and evil that Sera finds a place at last. With the help of Archer, her possession went smoothly, but her demon seems to be a little different. Instead of simply draining a malice or a feralis, a lesser demon, she somehow sends it back through the veil. There's also the troubling issue of the strong attraction between Sera and Archer, when he's always been a loner - and he's determined not to give in to these new feelings.
Soon it becomes clear that a djinn-man is targeting Sera, trying to capture her for some unknown purpose, and if Archer won't help her be bait for a trap, she'll do it alone.
I'm not a big fan of good vs. evil stories, or even those that utilise Christian beliefs to create a dark urban fantasy - not unless there's a lot of originality involved. While a good dark tale about evil can be entertaining, even chilling, to read, it needs a lot of atmosphere and tension, you need to really invest in the main characters and you really need to be cheering them on. Even then, I find it hard to get into a black-and-white scenario like this, which at its worst can be just plain boring.
There's a lot of promise here, but sadly it just doesn't quite deliver. The immortal, possessed warrior men bring to mind the Black Dagger Brotherhood and their fight against the lessers - but the characters lacked the fleshing-out necessary for me to really care about them. The set-up is clear-cut, with angels battling djinni and the "weaker" repenting demons off to the side, dispatching the lesser demons who pray on human emotions. The emphasis on the idea that the real battle between good and evil is played out in the human heart saves it from being too simplistic, but not nearly enough. "Good and Evil" is a simplistic concept, and you can't just "get rid of" or banish evil - if you could, then "good" is equally as flimsy a concept. (Maybe it is, but that's beside the point.)
The talyan do talk a bit about blame, about whether an individual is blameless because a demon is enflaming violent etc. tendencies, or whether they are just as responsible for their actions because they let themselves be tempted. It's along the same lines of: is someone born bad or are they made bad by their environment, by society? Seduced by Shadows hints at this issue but doesn't really delve into it. Archer's idea that evil could be cured like smallpox really made me lose my good opinion of him.
And there is part of its problem: it takes on too much. I found the premise and the details, especially when it got onto the veil and hell, very confusing. At times it was a comment a character would say, or something Sera or Archer would think, that produced a total "huh?" moment. The narration skips along too lightly to really cement anything, ground anything, make it feel real or plausible. Sub-plots are dropped as if they never happened, leaving me feeling like there are chapters missing. It's dialogue-heavy, and when someone isn't talking, Sera or Archer get introspective and reflective. A little bit of this can go a long way, but unfortunately it's like a constant twitch.
How long had it been since he'd done anything besides destroy? And long for his own destruction? When had he last had an inkling of possibility for an end to his pain?
Sera was his hope.
Her devotion to the last moments, when even loved ones gave up, had given her a clear-eyed resilience of spirit, the opposite of everything he feared he'd become. The realization shifted something inside him, something he didn't want to examine too closely.
Hope could be crippling in ways beyond mere feralis claws and malice slime. The wounds left by shattered hope plunged deeper than the healing power of the strongest teshuva.
This kind of prose just exhausts me. Characters who constantly internalise everything, ponder everything, worry over everything, second-guess everything ... it just goes on and on and I'm left knowing them no more intimately than I did at the beginning. Besides which, Archer and Sera's chemistry was lacklustre and unconvincing. I enjoyed Sera's humour and sarcasm, but it may have worked better, atmosphere-wise, if the story had kept to a darker tone. Maybe not. Either way, it didn't seem like Slade was very interested in the romance side of what is being marketed as a paranormal romance.
There is a bad guy too, a djinn-man called Corvus, and I confess I never understood what his plan was or why. I mean, he wanted to use Sera to rip open the veil and free all the demons, but I don't really get why. He was old, and tired, and wanted to end it, wanted perhaps to turn earth into a battleground between God's horde and Hell's demons - but it was unclear what his personal motivations were, and I found the entire climactic ending very confusing. I couldn't follow it at all.
Overall, I wanted to enjoy this, it had elements that definitely appeal to me, but the execution made it hard for me to get into it. I would normally read a paranormal romance book in a day, but this one took me a week. It's more an urban fantasy novel really; the romance is secondary, but I'm not entirely sure what is primary here. Better chemistry, sexual tension and romance would have saved it, or going the opposite way it could have delved deeper into urban fantasy and given us something really rich. A few authors, like the before-mentioned J.R. Ward, have managed to combine both genres with excellent results. Seduced by Shadows is a confused book that left me confused.
January 16, 2019
Basic plot: Sera gets possessed by a demon who wants to atone for being naughty, joins up with a network of similarly infected humans, and ends up saving the world from Hell on earth.
*sigh* This book mostly just reminded me of why I don't typically read books labeled as romances without another significant label attached.
Complaint #1- formulaic plot. Normal chick inducted into weird brotherhood and is different from anything they've ever seen, never seen that one before... Look, they're having lifesaving sex; look, they're having affirming life sex; BLARGH.
Complaint #2- boring formulaic writing. It took me over a week to read a book I picked up as a "light" read to break my normal pattern, largely because I kept getting bored and easily distracted. And why do characters in these books never have names normal people would have???
Complaint #3- unlikable love interest. I'm not even going to describe him. He annoyed me that much.
This is supposed to be the first book in a series. I will NOT be reading any more. Blech.
*sigh* This book mostly just reminded me of why I don't typically read books labeled as romances without another significant label attached.
Complaint #1- formulaic plot. Normal chick inducted into weird brotherhood and is different from anything they've ever seen, never seen that one before... Look, they're having lifesaving sex; look, they're having affirming life sex; BLARGH.
Complaint #2- boring formulaic writing. It took me over a week to read a book I picked up as a "light" read to break my normal pattern, largely because I kept getting bored and easily distracted. And why do characters in these books never have names normal people would have???
Complaint #3- unlikable love interest. I'm not even going to describe him. He annoyed me that much.
This is supposed to be the first book in a series. I will NOT be reading any more. Blech.
October 6, 2009
“Possessed warriors fight evil and their own pasts but "...Against the Dark, Hope and Love Grow Brighter"…Against the Dark, Hope and Love Grow Brighter”
Enter the fight against evil, but the battle against demons from hell is fought not by angels but by talyan - warriors possessed by the repentant ‘teshuva’ demons- in Seduced by Shadows, the first book in Jessa Slade's Marked Souls series.
Talya Ferris Archer is a loner even among his fellow demon fighters, but his dreams warn him of the rare arrival of another demon from hell. Archer searches to find the demon before it clothes itself in flesh, and is surprised to discover the demon’s target is a woman, Sara Littlejohn – Archer and his crew have never heard of a female talya before. Archer tries to warn Sara to refuse the demon, but she flees thinking him a sexy lunatic and dismisses his talk of possession. But when Sara inadvertently accepts the demon’s offer, to make her body whole from pain and debilitating injuries and to answer her deepest questions, it is Archer who will help Sara through her transition from human to talya – and should Sara’s demon be evil instead of repentant, Archer will be the one to destroy her. But little do Sara and Archer realize that Sara’s demon has been drawn from hell for a purpose, and now Sara is the key which their enemy intends to use to release hell on earth.
I really liked Sara as a heroine. Sara's curiosity, her humor - once she is freed from her pain - and Sara's unusual take on life and death as a former hospice-end-of-life counselor, all combine to make her a very unique and intriguing character. And I liked that Sara is not destined to be a lesser member of the male dominated demon fighters - her demon is a powerful force as is her determination to make her possesion count for something. Pairing her with the bleak Archer, a weary immortal warrior in a war which can not be won, but only fought repeatedly until the day his demon looses, is not without hitches - the relationship between the Sara and Archer is hindered by baggage from both of their pasts: Sara fears rejection but courts it from Archer who isolates his self out of fear of loss. But the differences in their views on life make for some very interesting conversations between the pair - I thought Slade's dialog was really good.
I did like Seduced by Shadows, but the first few chapters were very difficult for me. Slade introduces her characters, her mythos and their enemy, pretty much all at once. As a series starter, it has to be done, but with the male warriors being alternately referred to by their first or last names and the terms talya and teshuva not sticking in my mind initially, I had to keep flipping back to keep from being confused. Once I got into the swing, though it was all good.
Overall Seduced by Shadows had a nice balance between romance, action and story – with some moments which were sad, but touching. I thought that it was interesting that each of Slade’s warriors had a hole in his soul which the demon filled but each still struggled with the psychic wound which was reason that they were susceptible to possession and I look forward to returning to Slade’s world and her league of demon-ridden demon hunters as the story continues in Forged of Shadows coming May 2010.
Enter the fight against evil, but the battle against demons from hell is fought not by angels but by talyan - warriors possessed by the repentant ‘teshuva’ demons- in Seduced by Shadows, the first book in Jessa Slade's Marked Souls series.
Talya Ferris Archer is a loner even among his fellow demon fighters, but his dreams warn him of the rare arrival of another demon from hell. Archer searches to find the demon before it clothes itself in flesh, and is surprised to discover the demon’s target is a woman, Sara Littlejohn – Archer and his crew have never heard of a female talya before. Archer tries to warn Sara to refuse the demon, but she flees thinking him a sexy lunatic and dismisses his talk of possession. But when Sara inadvertently accepts the demon’s offer, to make her body whole from pain and debilitating injuries and to answer her deepest questions, it is Archer who will help Sara through her transition from human to talya – and should Sara’s demon be evil instead of repentant, Archer will be the one to destroy her. But little do Sara and Archer realize that Sara’s demon has been drawn from hell for a purpose, and now Sara is the key which their enemy intends to use to release hell on earth.
I really liked Sara as a heroine. Sara's curiosity, her humor - once she is freed from her pain - and Sara's unusual take on life and death as a former hospice-end-of-life counselor, all combine to make her a very unique and intriguing character. And I liked that Sara is not destined to be a lesser member of the male dominated demon fighters - her demon is a powerful force as is her determination to make her possesion count for something. Pairing her with the bleak Archer, a weary immortal warrior in a war which can not be won, but only fought repeatedly until the day his demon looses, is not without hitches - the relationship between the Sara and Archer is hindered by baggage from both of their pasts: Sara fears rejection but courts it from Archer who isolates his self out of fear of loss. But the differences in their views on life make for some very interesting conversations between the pair - I thought Slade's dialog was really good.
I did like Seduced by Shadows, but the first few chapters were very difficult for me. Slade introduces her characters, her mythos and their enemy, pretty much all at once. As a series starter, it has to be done, but with the male warriors being alternately referred to by their first or last names and the terms talya and teshuva not sticking in my mind initially, I had to keep flipping back to keep from being confused. Once I got into the swing, though it was all good.
Overall Seduced by Shadows had a nice balance between romance, action and story – with some moments which were sad, but touching. I thought that it was interesting that each of Slade’s warriors had a hole in his soul which the demon filled but each still struggled with the psychic wound which was reason that they were susceptible to possession and I look forward to returning to Slade’s world and her league of demon-ridden demon hunters as the story continues in Forged of Shadows coming May 2010.
October 14, 2009
I think this was a great first book! The storyline was interesting and unique. People being possessed by demons, either good or bad, and they are fighting one another to protect the innocent people in the world. That's just to sum up what's going on. The only issue I had with it, it was a little detail oriented and there was a lot of description. It could be that it was the first book and had to set up the world and the premise, but also it's not enough of a problem that I wouldn't want to continue on the in the series. There were times I was a little confused as to what was going on, but I gained ground eventually and was back in it. There was also a great twist to the story, and I really didn't expect some things to happen.
Overall, I'd give it 3.5 stars! I'm curious to read more about Liam, and he's up next :)
Overall, I'd give it 3.5 stars! I'm curious to read more about Liam, and he's up next :)
July 8, 2010
Not going on my favorite shelf, but still a really good read. I meant to only read a few pages, but ended up staying up until 5 a.m. to finish it off! The world created by Jessa Slade is rich, along with her vocabulary. I almost wanted to go searching for my dictionary with some of the terms used, but it only added to the story. Angels and Demons at war, strange creatures from the underworld, and magical powers. I can't wait for the second book, but I'm going to pass the first on to another friend so she too can read it.
January 27, 2022
I love Renee she’s a great narrator.
The story was ok and worth the read/listen whilst on audible plus
Djinn- demon possessed people,
Both wanting redemption and pure evil.
Hea? Yes
Smut? 3/5
Romance/fantasy
The story was ok and worth the read/listen whilst on audible plus
Djinn- demon possessed people,
Both wanting redemption and pure evil.
Hea? Yes
Smut? 3/5
Romance/fantasy
June 18, 2017
This is the first book in the Marked Souls series and a début by author Jessa Slade. It follows a similar pattern to that of many other Paranormal Romance series: A group of immortal men, one of whom is featured in each book, and meets his destined female and they all live happily ever after. For readers of this genre, this set-up will feel nice and familiar, and that's not a criticism. Obviously we like the formula or else why are we here again starting yet another new series? I know I already have about twelve similar series on the go, but do you think that stops me from hunting out new ones all the time? Not on your nelly.
This time we have demon ridden, or possessed, humans as the immortal warriors. Demon hosting gives them immortality, heightened senses, strength and healing. What I really liked about this one is that each demon host has such a great back story because demons can only possess humans who already have an emptiness inside them to begin with. Some terrible, tragic event that has left them wide open and seeking...something. So when the demon comes along to tempt them with what they are missing, they let them in with open arms.
For our lead female that was having been the victim of a terrible car accident that left her scarred and barely mobile without the use of a cane. This, for a woman who was previously full of life and a very vivacious character, is a devastating blow. And that's not the only thing she's had to cope with either, as you'll discover as you get to know her more.
Ferris Archer is the demon-ridden, or Talyan as they are called, that is sent to guide Sera through her demon's ascension. He, too, has his own sad tale to tell, eventually, reluctantly. Theirs is a relationship that builds quite slowly, which is a good thing I think. But to be honest, the romance side never really set my world on fire as it has with other series. This could be down to the amount of world-building required for a first in series book.
One thing that I thought I was going to really enjoy, but that ended up fizzling out, was that Sera is the first female Talyan in living memory (which is saying something for a bunch of immortals). All the others are male and they are also somewhat short staffed in their battle against the "bad" demons, the Djinn. So I was really hoping this would mean they would use Sera in the fight. Instead of her just being the token female, a breed mate, a bungalow bunny, I thought she would get to kick butt with them, shoulder to shoulder. And Slade sort made an attempt at that but not to the extent I would have liked. Hopefully in future books she will explore this possibility more, because it would really make a nice change.
Another aspect that could have been fleshed out a little more was the Big Bad. We got little snippets from his point of view throughout, and for a long time we didn't know who he was- he was just "he", which was slightly irritating. If we could have figured out his identity a little sooner we could have built up a bit more fear towards him. As it was, he was just your stereotypical wants-to-end-the-world bad guy.
Overall, a promising start despite these niggles. I will continue with the series (eventually) along with all the others!
This time we have demon ridden, or possessed, humans as the immortal warriors. Demon hosting gives them immortality, heightened senses, strength and healing. What I really liked about this one is that each demon host has such a great back story because demons can only possess humans who already have an emptiness inside them to begin with. Some terrible, tragic event that has left them wide open and seeking...something. So when the demon comes along to tempt them with what they are missing, they let them in with open arms.
For our lead female that was having been the victim of a terrible car accident that left her scarred and barely mobile without the use of a cane. This, for a woman who was previously full of life and a very vivacious character, is a devastating blow. And that's not the only thing she's had to cope with either, as you'll discover as you get to know her more.
Ferris Archer is the demon-ridden, or Talyan as they are called, that is sent to guide Sera through her demon's ascension. He, too, has his own sad tale to tell, eventually, reluctantly. Theirs is a relationship that builds quite slowly, which is a good thing I think. But to be honest, the romance side never really set my world on fire as it has with other series. This could be down to the amount of world-building required for a first in series book.
One thing that I thought I was going to really enjoy, but that ended up fizzling out, was that Sera is the first female Talyan in living memory (which is saying something for a bunch of immortals). All the others are male and they are also somewhat short staffed in their battle against the "bad" demons, the Djinn. So I was really hoping this would mean they would use Sera in the fight. Instead of her just being the token female, a breed mate, a bungalow bunny, I thought she would get to kick butt with them, shoulder to shoulder. And Slade sort made an attempt at that but not to the extent I would have liked. Hopefully in future books she will explore this possibility more, because it would really make a nice change.
Another aspect that could have been fleshed out a little more was the Big Bad. We got little snippets from his point of view throughout, and for a long time we didn't know who he was- he was just "he", which was slightly irritating. If we could have figured out his identity a little sooner we could have built up a bit more fear towards him. As it was, he was just your stereotypical wants-to-end-the-world bad guy.
Overall, a promising start despite these niggles. I will continue with the series (eventually) along with all the others!
July 23, 2025
The heroine lives is a shadow of her old life. Crippled in a car accident when her mother kidnapped her and tried to drown them both in the lake she now lives with constant pain-both psychically and psychologically. So it's really no surprise when her lack of joy with the world attracts the attention of a demon.
What is a surprise however is the beautiful and equally tortured man who comes to her in her darkest time of need. Demon possessed himself the hero stays with her-looking after her as she goes through the possession. Though he says his motivations are to kill her if the wrong demon comes through, he secretly grows attached to the tortured woman who manages to make him feel more alive in the few days he's known her than in the 200 years since his own possession. He's her guardian, her teacher and the one constant thing in her life of chaos and confusion. But he's own somber and depressed SOB. He's always quick to note the dark side to every positive she minds. But it actually helps her in a lot of ways.
Firstly he's brutally honest-nothing sugar coated or frosted over with pleasantries. He tells it like it is-lays it out in the open. But his habit of spurting out melodramatic metaphors and overall being a Debbie downer allows the heroine to become a more positive person. No way can both of them be super depressed and emo. She's now become the first demon possessed female in recent memory and with that title comes the ability to not just drain the demons that they hunt but to actually banish them back across the void.
Something that changes everything. Suddenly they feel a small sense of hope for a future where once they was none.
I really really liked this story. I thought It to be super imaginative and dark and moody but charming and real. I loved the hero with his dark cloud and overall lack of positivity. I found it actually quite funny at times-as the heroine did. He was tortured but charming and extremely quick witted. In fact both of them were and their conversations were at times heavy and other times teasing with banter. I loved the heroine who could be stupid at times but smart enough to learn from her mistakes. I loved the fact that her becoming possessed and damned was just the thing she needed to feel alive again.
As I said, it was a clever story with engaging story telling and character development. Highly recommend this author for anyone with a dark sense of humor.
What is a surprise however is the beautiful and equally tortured man who comes to her in her darkest time of need. Demon possessed himself the hero stays with her-looking after her as she goes through the possession. Though he says his motivations are to kill her if the wrong demon comes through, he secretly grows attached to the tortured woman who manages to make him feel more alive in the few days he's known her than in the 200 years since his own possession. He's her guardian, her teacher and the one constant thing in her life of chaos and confusion. But he's own somber and depressed SOB. He's always quick to note the dark side to every positive she minds. But it actually helps her in a lot of ways.
Firstly he's brutally honest-nothing sugar coated or frosted over with pleasantries. He tells it like it is-lays it out in the open. But his habit of spurting out melodramatic metaphors and overall being a Debbie downer allows the heroine to become a more positive person. No way can both of them be super depressed and emo. She's now become the first demon possessed female in recent memory and with that title comes the ability to not just drain the demons that they hunt but to actually banish them back across the void.
Something that changes everything. Suddenly they feel a small sense of hope for a future where once they was none.
I really really liked this story. I thought It to be super imaginative and dark and moody but charming and real. I loved the hero with his dark cloud and overall lack of positivity. I found it actually quite funny at times-as the heroine did. He was tortured but charming and extremely quick witted. In fact both of them were and their conversations were at times heavy and other times teasing with banter. I loved the heroine who could be stupid at times but smart enough to learn from her mistakes. I loved the fact that her becoming possessed and damned was just the thing she needed to feel alive again.
As I said, it was a clever story with engaging story telling and character development. Highly recommend this author for anyone with a dark sense of humor.
August 12, 2010
All in all, this was a lot more enjoyable than I expected - don't get me wrong, there's minimal humor and lots of angst - but as a fast-moving romantic adventure story, it really hit the spot.
After losing her mother to suicide as a child, her father to dementia, and now her job after a car accident that left her emotionally and physically broken, Sera Littlejohn unwittingly succumbs to temptation in the form of a demon - damning herself to a semi-immortal life waging an unending war against evil. Ferris Archer, who himself was damned at the time of the (American) Civil War, is charged with watching and guiding her through her transition to her new life - or killing her, if necessary.
The world building is complex and the language walks the edge of purple prose through much of the book, with the word-play resulting in occasional missteps. I'm actually okay with the author's willingness to experiment and play with prose, though. It makes reading this more fun and distinguishes it from the slew of of nearly-identical plot-lines in the paranormal romance genre at the moment. I also like Sera's constant questioning of everything and how she and Ferris try so hard to do the right thing.
There are maybe a handful of love scenes, none of which are overly graphic. There are some references to torture, mostly off-scene. Most of the violence is of the cartoon, battling demons variety. There are some references to (Christian) religion in general terms, but it's more in a questioning way than a preaching way.
After losing her mother to suicide as a child, her father to dementia, and now her job after a car accident that left her emotionally and physically broken, Sera Littlejohn unwittingly succumbs to temptation in the form of a demon - damning herself to a semi-immortal life waging an unending war against evil. Ferris Archer, who himself was damned at the time of the (American) Civil War, is charged with watching and guiding her through her transition to her new life - or killing her, if necessary.
The world building is complex and the language walks the edge of purple prose through much of the book, with the word-play resulting in occasional missteps. I'm actually okay with the author's willingness to experiment and play with prose, though. It makes reading this more fun and distinguishes it from the slew of of nearly-identical plot-lines in the paranormal romance genre at the moment. I also like Sera's constant questioning of everything and how she and Ferris try so hard to do the right thing.
There are maybe a handful of love scenes, none of which are overly graphic. There are some references to torture, mostly off-scene. Most of the violence is of the cartoon, battling demons variety. There are some references to (Christian) religion in general terms, but it's more in a questioning way than a preaching way.
November 10, 2012
Narrated by Renee Raudman - Narration 5*s
Reviewed for AAR's Speaking of Audiobooks 10/31/11 http://www.likesbooks.com/blog/?p=7209
Jessa Slade builds a world with a new and interesting twist in Seduced by Shadows. Repentant demons cross the veil and possess humans that have a weakness, whether physical, mental or both. It’s considered a symbiotic relationship. The human gains in strength and abilities and that is a good thing for Sera Littlejohn. A car accident has left her with serious health issues, but with the new vitality is the obligation to fight against the dark spirits.
Ferris Archer is taylan, one who has been possessed and has fought this battle for centuries. In all that time he has not known of a female taylan, until Sera. She brings unique views and skills into this men’s club as well as the beginning of needed changes if good is to prevail. There are attempts at levity but overall this is a dark mix of Urban Fantasy with some romance.
Narrator Renee Raudman has the tone down perfectly as she portrays these characters; each with a distinct voice making it easy to follow along with who is who. I’ve appreciated Raudman’s skill at pulling the humor/drama/action out of a book and with this listen I see she is just as skilled with angst. It pours out of her in dark waves as she brings this story to life. Stories filled with angst may not be my cup of tea but I can attest to the fact Renee Raudman delivers it well, she is just as good with this angle as she is with the others.
Reviewed for AAR's Speaking of Audiobooks 10/31/11 http://www.likesbooks.com/blog/?p=7209
Jessa Slade builds a world with a new and interesting twist in Seduced by Shadows. Repentant demons cross the veil and possess humans that have a weakness, whether physical, mental or both. It’s considered a symbiotic relationship. The human gains in strength and abilities and that is a good thing for Sera Littlejohn. A car accident has left her with serious health issues, but with the new vitality is the obligation to fight against the dark spirits.
Ferris Archer is taylan, one who has been possessed and has fought this battle for centuries. In all that time he has not known of a female taylan, until Sera. She brings unique views and skills into this men’s club as well as the beginning of needed changes if good is to prevail. There are attempts at levity but overall this is a dark mix of Urban Fantasy with some romance.
Narrator Renee Raudman has the tone down perfectly as she portrays these characters; each with a distinct voice making it easy to follow along with who is who. I’ve appreciated Raudman’s skill at pulling the humor/drama/action out of a book and with this listen I see she is just as skilled with angst. It pours out of her in dark waves as she brings this story to life. Stories filled with angst may not be my cup of tea but I can attest to the fact Renee Raudman delivers it well, she is just as good with this angle as she is with the others.
August 6, 2010
I presume you know what the book is about. I'm letting you know what I liked or disliked about it.
The author is equal amounts of wicked smart and funny. I really enjoyed reading her work, learning about the characters and what eventually unfolded as a story BUT I didn't like the writing.
Maybe 2/3's of the way through the book I realized I wasn't really ever going to get comfortable in the read. I'm not sure if this will come across clearly or not but I'm going to try anyway. It's as though the reader is intentionally kept off balance, made to "keep up" with the author. Kind of like a new aerobics class the first night.
I must have ADHD too because it took me three times as long to read this book than it should have. I think it's because I kept starting to wonder what was happening in the news, and then wondering about my email, and oh - perhaps going shopping (and I'm NO shopper!).
So that's my problem with the writing - did I tell you how awesome I think the author is? Wicked smart and funny? Oh, yeah I did. And, I do. I hope she keeps writing. I think this series isn't going to be her best work - that is yet to come and Holy S%$#! will it be fantastic!
Nah, I won't read the next book in the series.
The author is equal amounts of wicked smart and funny. I really enjoyed reading her work, learning about the characters and what eventually unfolded as a story BUT I didn't like the writing.
Maybe 2/3's of the way through the book I realized I wasn't really ever going to get comfortable in the read. I'm not sure if this will come across clearly or not but I'm going to try anyway. It's as though the reader is intentionally kept off balance, made to "keep up" with the author. Kind of like a new aerobics class the first night.
I must have ADHD too because it took me three times as long to read this book than it should have. I think it's because I kept starting to wonder what was happening in the news, and then wondering about my email, and oh - perhaps going shopping (and I'm NO shopper!).
So that's my problem with the writing - did I tell you how awesome I think the author is? Wicked smart and funny? Oh, yeah I did. And, I do. I hope she keeps writing. I think this series isn't going to be her best work - that is yet to come and Holy S%$#! will it be fantastic!
Nah, I won't read the next book in the series.
February 10, 2010
Ferris Archer knows Sera Littlejohn is about to get possessed by a demon. Unfortunately, the woman doesn't believe him, also because she would be the first female to be possessed in a very, very, very long time.
Well, since this is Romancelandia we're talking about and the heroes always stick around even after being rebuffed, when Sera finally sees the light, Archer takes her under his wing. And since this is Romancelandia there has to be a spark between them...Some heavy battling between good and evil ensues, and all the rest is history.
Loads of promise here, but unfortunately both the hero and heroine bugged the heck out of me, leaving me without a care to their wellbeing, there were just too many characters to begin with and keep tabs on, the story itself was a bit wobbly, the pacing extremely slow...And the fact the ePub file didn't have any spacing between scene-changes closed the deal for me.
And since this one was part of my Serial Reader Challenge in the "like-it-or-read-one-more-book-until-you-find-the-right-series" category, now I have to go hunting for more "newbies". I guess the stars aren't smiling down on me today.
Well, since this is Romancelandia we're talking about and the heroes always stick around even after being rebuffed, when Sera finally sees the light, Archer takes her under his wing. And since this is Romancelandia there has to be a spark between them...Some heavy battling between good and evil ensues, and all the rest is history.
Loads of promise here, but unfortunately both the hero and heroine bugged the heck out of me, leaving me without a care to their wellbeing, there were just too many characters to begin with and keep tabs on, the story itself was a bit wobbly, the pacing extremely slow...And the fact the ePub file didn't have any spacing between scene-changes closed the deal for me.
And since this one was part of my Serial Reader Challenge in the "like-it-or-read-one-more-book-until-you-find-the-right-series" category, now I have to go hunting for more "newbies". I guess the stars aren't smiling down on me today.
November 27, 2009
Seduced by Shadows suprised me in how much I enjoyed the style of writing and characters despite some of the scene to scene action not quite making sense for me.
A counselor to the dying gets posessed by a demon (reformed demon called a teshuva), joins a group of demon-possessed guys fighting bad demons (called djinn), and finds new ways to destroy the bad guys through her bond with one of the hunky demon hunters.
The writing style was much more stream-of-consciousness then I'm used to in this genre of urban fantasy/paranormal romance. I quite enjoyed it, although sometimes it made the flow of the story slightly unclear.
I also enjoyed the emphasis on philosophical questions regarding death and dying and souls. The main character comes into the story with a lot of questions about death and evil and while those questions aren't exactly answered, the consideration of the questions, and how the main character ends up changing things by making friends with an "angel" posessed human, does bring interesting considerations into play.
I hadn't heard much about Jessa Slade, the author, before this, but she's now on my automatically request from Library list.
A counselor to the dying gets posessed by a demon (reformed demon called a teshuva), joins a group of demon-possessed guys fighting bad demons (called djinn), and finds new ways to destroy the bad guys through her bond with one of the hunky demon hunters.
The writing style was much more stream-of-consciousness then I'm used to in this genre of urban fantasy/paranormal romance. I quite enjoyed it, although sometimes it made the flow of the story slightly unclear.
I also enjoyed the emphasis on philosophical questions regarding death and dying and souls. The main character comes into the story with a lot of questions about death and evil and while those questions aren't exactly answered, the consideration of the questions, and how the main character ends up changing things by making friends with an "angel" posessed human, does bring interesting considerations into play.
I hadn't heard much about Jessa Slade, the author, before this, but she's now on my automatically request from Library list.
October 9, 2013
Seduced by Shadows, book one of Marked Souls series by Jessa Slade is a book is a humans vs. demons some good some bad and some you couldn’t figure out until the story unfolds. Sera’s story and traumatic and heartbreaking history because of her mother, left her crippled both physically and emotionally. She is a thanatologist spending time with the patients nearing death.
She is inhabited with a demon and during the possession Ferris Archer, a man also possessed, helped Sera during the transition. Wars between good and evil demons are occurring around them. I liked the world building but the characters, especially all the demon types were difficult for me to figure out.
The on and off again romantic engagement with Sera and Archer was somewhat distracting. The action and fights were interesting to weave through.
Overall, I thought the book was good, and for those who like hell on earth with angels and demons it would be worth the read.
She is inhabited with a demon and during the possession Ferris Archer, a man also possessed, helped Sera during the transition. Wars between good and evil demons are occurring around them. I liked the world building but the characters, especially all the demon types were difficult for me to figure out.
The on and off again romantic engagement with Sera and Archer was somewhat distracting. The action and fights were interesting to weave through.
Overall, I thought the book was good, and for those who like hell on earth with angels and demons it would be worth the read.
February 28, 2010
This one disappointed me. Awesome premise, great worldbuilding, but the characterization didn't hold up. The lead heroine is a disabled thanatologist who ministers to the dying... which seemed really cool to me, but the character fell flat for me; it's hard to describe, but it lacks that "spark" that brings characters to life. The lead hero, Ferris Archer, only seems to exist to serve as her romantic interest, but the romance has no real spark either. The author makes the mistake of conflating sex with love, and a couple of sex scenes amidst bickering characters does not a romance make.
June 20, 2010
Had everything I look for in a paranormal and the world-building is fabulous. Epic clash between angels and demons, using the souls of mankind as their battleground. It's edgy and hot, plus the writing is lovely. Add in delightful characters and a strong sense of place, and you get a wonderful book.
dnf
July 11, 2015On a mission. Those books I once upon a time started and put to the side. your time has come and I call the dnf
February 28, 2025
DNF pg 90
I can't take this MMC anymore. He's suicidal and is trying to drag everyone down with him. He keeps trying to get the FMC to be suicidal too but also in the same breath tells her she's damned forever and can't kill herself. So what the hell is the point of his rant? The moment the FMC is sad at all, he yells at her to buck up and get over it. She tries to see ANY positives, and he shuts her down. How is he enticing at all? I get that he's dark broody and has had a rough life but damn.
For instance, he says: "Nobody makes it that long." He slipped away from her. "Nobody'd want to."
and she replies, "You mean you don't want to. So why don't you just kill yourself and get it over with?"
He just replies with, "Let's save the chitchat for our drinks." (83)
Even the FMC says she's tired of his crap. She just got infected with a demon, her whole life has changed, she now has to be a warrior, and this guy is the best they could do? Hell, I'm on her demon's side more than his. Even without the attitude problem, he doesn't exactly explain anything to her. He's super cryptic while she goes through the changes. I had to check twice to make sure there wasn't another series before this one, and I just hadn't read it yet. But nope. It's cryptic as hell on purpose. Sigh.
I can't take this MMC anymore. He's suicidal and is trying to drag everyone down with him. He keeps trying to get the FMC to be suicidal too but also in the same breath tells her she's damned forever and can't kill herself. So what the hell is the point of his rant? The moment the FMC is sad at all, he yells at her to buck up and get over it. She tries to see ANY positives, and he shuts her down. How is he enticing at all? I get that he's dark broody and has had a rough life but damn.
For instance, he says: "Nobody makes it that long." He slipped away from her. "Nobody'd want to."
and she replies, "You mean you don't want to. So why don't you just kill yourself and get it over with?"
He just replies with, "Let's save the chitchat for our drinks." (83)
Even the FMC says she's tired of his crap. She just got infected with a demon, her whole life has changed, she now has to be a warrior, and this guy is the best they could do? Hell, I'm on her demon's side more than his. Even without the attitude problem, he doesn't exactly explain anything to her. He's super cryptic while she goes through the changes. I had to check twice to make sure there wasn't another series before this one, and I just hadn't read it yet. But nope. It's cryptic as hell on purpose. Sigh.
July 29, 2022
This was a solid start to the Marked Souls series. The world-building was done very well and I was definitely intrigued by the whole demonic possession good vs. evil premise. I will say that I will probably resonate more with future books in the series as I was more involved with the world than the relationship.
February 19, 2022
Took me a little while to get more focused into this book because I wasn’t familiar with the demonology groups and names. I found it very enjoyable and I’m looking forward to the next in the series. The narrators did a great job also!
July 9, 2018
First off, I won't say that this was a bad story. I'll simply say that this really didn't stimulate me enough, thus the reason it probably took so long to finish it.
Read
September 24, 2020I tried the Audiobook of this one and I just couldn't get into it. I may try the ebook at some point but this just wasn't really for me.
October 5, 2021
3.5 Okay, but I'm hoping it picks up a bit more in the next book
January 26, 2022
I couldn't finish reading it. I made it to Chapter 8 and I just couldn't go on. :( I found it to be boring.
August 5, 2010
3.5 Stars
Sera Littlejohn was in an accident that left her crippled and in constant pain. On the walk home one cold Chicago night, Sera encounters a handsome imposing man who is a bit frighting. Later that evening she dreams of the same man and he promises her a life without pain and answers to her most burning questions. What she doesn't realize is that she has just agreed to let a teshuva (a demon that seeks redemption) posses her. What I really admired about Sera was that she did not just want to hide. All talyan are male and Sera wanted to fight right by their side even though she hasn't been properly trained. She will not settle for being pampered and letting everyone else fight now that she is part of this war against evil. Her humor and the way she takes her new situation in really impressed me. I would be freaking out if I found out I was possessed by a demon but Sera takes it in stride and is prepared to do what she must. Her constant need to ask questions did start to get on my nerves. It was like a child who just kept asking why?
Ferris Archer has been a talyan for over a century. He prefers to hunt demons alone and doesn't expect his side to win the war. He is instantly drawn to Sera and takes it upon himself to see her through her transition and training. His feelings about her are obvious but he fights them every step of the way. He would be affectionate toward her one minute and the next he would come up with another reason why they should not be together. This really started to frustrate me because I think Sera was upfront with him and how she felt but he just kept give excuses. I would have liked his character far more if he would have just admitted what he wanted and went for it instead of playing games. When Sera and Archer were intimately together it was a wonderful read, I just wish there would have been more moments of it.
There is a war going on against the teshuva and djinni (demons who are purely evil). It is up to the talyan to stop the djinni from bring down the veil between worlds and unleashing hell on earth. I found this whole story line very intriguing. There is a lot of information given at once and it was a bit confusing at times. I know that it all needed to be said but it would have been really helpful to have a guide to check so I understood what each demon was and what their abilities are. It was overwhelming at times and I need to go back and reread a few sections to understand it more clearly. Overall, I enjoyed diving into the world that Jessa Scott has created and I look forward to going back and learning more about her characters and the struggles they will face in the war ahead.
~Stephanie G
Sera Littlejohn was in an accident that left her crippled and in constant pain. On the walk home one cold Chicago night, Sera encounters a handsome imposing man who is a bit frighting. Later that evening she dreams of the same man and he promises her a life without pain and answers to her most burning questions. What she doesn't realize is that she has just agreed to let a teshuva (a demon that seeks redemption) posses her. What I really admired about Sera was that she did not just want to hide. All talyan are male and Sera wanted to fight right by their side even though she hasn't been properly trained. She will not settle for being pampered and letting everyone else fight now that she is part of this war against evil. Her humor and the way she takes her new situation in really impressed me. I would be freaking out if I found out I was possessed by a demon but Sera takes it in stride and is prepared to do what she must. Her constant need to ask questions did start to get on my nerves. It was like a child who just kept asking why?
Ferris Archer has been a talyan for over a century. He prefers to hunt demons alone and doesn't expect his side to win the war. He is instantly drawn to Sera and takes it upon himself to see her through her transition and training. His feelings about her are obvious but he fights them every step of the way. He would be affectionate toward her one minute and the next he would come up with another reason why they should not be together. This really started to frustrate me because I think Sera was upfront with him and how she felt but he just kept give excuses. I would have liked his character far more if he would have just admitted what he wanted and went for it instead of playing games. When Sera and Archer were intimately together it was a wonderful read, I just wish there would have been more moments of it.
There is a war going on against the teshuva and djinni (demons who are purely evil). It is up to the talyan to stop the djinni from bring down the veil between worlds and unleashing hell on earth. I found this whole story line very intriguing. There is a lot of information given at once and it was a bit confusing at times. I know that it all needed to be said but it would have been really helpful to have a guide to check so I understood what each demon was and what their abilities are. It was overwhelming at times and I need to go back and reread a few sections to understand it more clearly. Overall, I enjoyed diving into the world that Jessa Scott has created and I look forward to going back and learning more about her characters and the struggles they will face in the war ahead.
~Stephanie G
February 21, 2012
Seduced by Shadows is Jessa Slade’s opening salvo in her Marked Souls Series and a grand salvo it was. Seduce tells the story of Good vs Evil, Black vs White and all the shades of Grey in between. A history of Damnation, a dream of salvation with twists and curves and jaw dropping suspense until the very end. I believe Seduced is aptly name because the entire book is pure seduction.. That’s right is teases and taunts, flirts it’s way into the readers very being all while telling a story of hope lost and faith found.
It’s amazing that a book that is termed PNR Romance could be so much more. It makes one question.. which is an interesting coincidence since the main female is tempted by her desire to KNOW. She is the ultimate toddler with the ever present why! Not that I feel there was anything juvenile or infantile about Sera.
The Talya, people who faced their temptations and lost.. became possessed by demons who want to find their redemption. The thing is, the only way towards redemption is to die trying. Once a demon possesses someone they are given all the perks of immortality except of course they can and do eventually die, several hundred years later.. or of course in battle. These demons want nothing more than to return to heaven, to find their redemption so they fight.. eternally, they fight. The ever growing mass of Demons who escape from behind the veil to wreak havoc upon an unsuspecting world (don’t you just love when you get to use phrases like that?). For Millennium the Talya have all been men, even the history of female Talya is seeped in myth. Needless to say the advent of Sera Littlejohn with her powerful Demon confuses them all, most especially Archer.
*****************************************
Seduced, really is a compelling story, with amazing plot twists. There are times when I cried, in frustration, in grief, in triumph! I was completely sucked into this book. It had a slow start and at first I was a bit confused but once I got into the rhythm of the story, I fell in love. With the characters, with the series, with the very concept. It left me with a need to read.. and read.. and read some more. Of course I have the next two books, Forged in Shadows and Vowed in Shadows already on my kindle and I am ready to go!
I can’t wait to see what is in store for these half damned men! Make sure you get yourself up to date with this fantastic series as we will be posting an interview with Jessa Slade March 13, 2012. Along with a give away and some fun questions for you the reader!!
To read this review in it's entirety go to
Tea and Book
Shauni
It’s amazing that a book that is termed PNR Romance could be so much more. It makes one question.. which is an interesting coincidence since the main female is tempted by her desire to KNOW. She is the ultimate toddler with the ever present why! Not that I feel there was anything juvenile or infantile about Sera.
The Talya, people who faced their temptations and lost.. became possessed by demons who want to find their redemption. The thing is, the only way towards redemption is to die trying. Once a demon possesses someone they are given all the perks of immortality except of course they can and do eventually die, several hundred years later.. or of course in battle. These demons want nothing more than to return to heaven, to find their redemption so they fight.. eternally, they fight. The ever growing mass of Demons who escape from behind the veil to wreak havoc upon an unsuspecting world (don’t you just love when you get to use phrases like that?). For Millennium the Talya have all been men, even the history of female Talya is seeped in myth. Needless to say the advent of Sera Littlejohn with her powerful Demon confuses them all, most especially Archer.
*****************************************
Seduced, really is a compelling story, with amazing plot twists. There are times when I cried, in frustration, in grief, in triumph! I was completely sucked into this book. It had a slow start and at first I was a bit confused but once I got into the rhythm of the story, I fell in love. With the characters, with the series, with the very concept. It left me with a need to read.. and read.. and read some more. Of course I have the next two books, Forged in Shadows and Vowed in Shadows already on my kindle and I am ready to go!
I can’t wait to see what is in store for these half damned men! Make sure you get yourself up to date with this fantastic series as we will be posting an interview with Jessa Slade March 13, 2012. Along with a give away and some fun questions for you the reader!!
To read this review in it's entirety go to
Tea and Book
Shauni
July 29, 2010
Sara Littlejohn life was never good, her mother committed suicide, her father couldn’t deal with that and just felt sorry for him and her brothers fled the family the moment they were of ages. Now Sara is recovering from an accident and maybe be cripple and in pain for the rest of her life. Then one night a stranger tries to warn her to refuse the demon who wants to possess her, but she doesn’t really believe him and flees. But that night this demon approach her and promise her a life without pain and can heal her body, before Sara knows it this demon enter her body.
Ferris Archer is one of the Tayla demon fighters, warriors possessed by the “teshuva” demons. Archer had a dream that warn him of the arrival of a rare demon from hell, he is determined to find it before this demon finds a host. Archer is surprise when he discovers that the demon’s target is a woman, named Sara, because he never heard of a female Tayla fighter before. He tries to warn her, but of course she doesn’t believe him.
Sara needs help to get through her transition from human to this demon fighter and Archer is the one to do that. But he knows he needs to destroy her, when her demon decides to be evil instead of good. During this progress Sara and Archer realize that her demon was drawn to Earth for a purpose and that Sara is the key to open hell on Earth.
Seduced by Shadows by Jessa Slade is the first novel in her marked Souls Series and I have to say she did an awesome job with it. This novel has a nice balance of action, danger, romance and fulfilling your destiny. I found myself intrigued and wanted to finish the book as soon as possible, because I really wanted to know how it all would end.
Sara is a fabulous character, after she is freed from her pain; he is determined to enjoy life as it comes to her. Even if that means embracing her demon and joins the Tayla demon fighters to keep the world save from evil. Archer is the perfect partner to her, he knows what it’s like to live with a demon inside and he is fighting with if for a long time. Together they are stronger than ever.
The souls of the Tayla warriors aren’t whole anymore, those demons have claimed a part of that for themselves, but in return the warriors have access to some of the demon��s power. Some of the warriors are still struggling with the psychic wounds, which was the reason those demons could enter their bodies in the first place.
I truly can say that Jessa Slade surprised me with this first novel and I’m really looking forward to see more of these warriors and their possessed demons.
Ferris Archer is one of the Tayla demon fighters, warriors possessed by the “teshuva” demons. Archer had a dream that warn him of the arrival of a rare demon from hell, he is determined to find it before this demon finds a host. Archer is surprise when he discovers that the demon’s target is a woman, named Sara, because he never heard of a female Tayla fighter before. He tries to warn her, but of course she doesn’t believe him.
Sara needs help to get through her transition from human to this demon fighter and Archer is the one to do that. But he knows he needs to destroy her, when her demon decides to be evil instead of good. During this progress Sara and Archer realize that her demon was drawn to Earth for a purpose and that Sara is the key to open hell on Earth.
Seduced by Shadows by Jessa Slade is the first novel in her marked Souls Series and I have to say she did an awesome job with it. This novel has a nice balance of action, danger, romance and fulfilling your destiny. I found myself intrigued and wanted to finish the book as soon as possible, because I really wanted to know how it all would end.
Sara is a fabulous character, after she is freed from her pain; he is determined to enjoy life as it comes to her. Even if that means embracing her demon and joins the Tayla demon fighters to keep the world save from evil. Archer is the perfect partner to her, he knows what it’s like to live with a demon inside and he is fighting with if for a long time. Together they are stronger than ever.
The souls of the Tayla warriors aren’t whole anymore, those demons have claimed a part of that for themselves, but in return the warriors have access to some of the demon��s power. Some of the warriors are still struggling with the psychic wounds, which was the reason those demons could enter their bodies in the first place.
I truly can say that Jessa Slade surprised me with this first novel and I’m really looking forward to see more of these warriors and their possessed demons.
May 23, 2014
"Seduced by Shadows" by Jessa Slade. Book 1 in the Marked Souls series.
I had high hopes for this book but unfortunately it just didn't have my full attention for some reason.
WHAT I LIKED:
1 - The overall storyline was interesting. People being possessed by demons that are trying to repent for a lifetime of evil. These repentant demon-possessed warriors (known as talyan) are fighting the "real" demons out in the world. All the warriors have been men until now. Sera is the first woman to be possessed by a repentant demon in hundreds of years.
2 - The characters are very strong. The group of talyans is established quickly and all have very different personalities. I found them very likeable.
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
1 - The language used throughout the book. I felt like I was reading a book that was three or four books into the series and I should have known what all the terms the characters were using meant. I didn't think it was well explained what most of the words meant.
2 - The heroine of the story, Sera, gets possessed by a demon and she doesn't even seem to question what is happening to her! And if she did, I must have missed it. When she meets Ferris Archer, she doesn't have any problem at all about going with him and believing what he has to say about demons and "his world".
3 - Name changing. Ferris, Archer, Liam and Niall. All these names sound like first names to me but they are only two people, Ferris Archer and Liam Niall. The author uses the names interchangably so you really had to pay attention who goes with which last name.
4 - I really disliked the villain. He's obsessed with glass?? I think? He has a pet crow that he seems to hate? I just didn't really get the feeling of "Ohhh, he is evil!"
5 - The chemistry between Sera and Archer, the two main characters. Personally, I didn't think there was a lot of sexual tension between the two. At one point I was like "Did they just have sex? Huh?" The "best" line was (paraphrazing) 'so what excuse are we going to use to have sex now?'
Overall, I gave this book 2 stars (it was ok), even though my dislikes outweight my likes. The reason I read this book in the first place is because I really enjoyed Jessa Slade's other e-Novella series The Steel Born. There are only 4 books to this series and 1 e-novella (as I'm righting this, so far) and I bought all 4 books. So I will continue to read the second book. Like I said, the overall storyline was good and I would like to know what happens to the others characters.
I had high hopes for this book but unfortunately it just didn't have my full attention for some reason.
WHAT I LIKED:
1 - The overall storyline was interesting. People being possessed by demons that are trying to repent for a lifetime of evil. These repentant demon-possessed warriors (known as talyan) are fighting the "real" demons out in the world. All the warriors have been men until now. Sera is the first woman to be possessed by a repentant demon in hundreds of years.
2 - The characters are very strong. The group of talyans is established quickly and all have very different personalities. I found them very likeable.
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
1 - The language used throughout the book. I felt like I was reading a book that was three or four books into the series and I should have known what all the terms the characters were using meant. I didn't think it was well explained what most of the words meant.
2 - The heroine of the story, Sera, gets possessed by a demon and she doesn't even seem to question what is happening to her! And if she did, I must have missed it. When she meets Ferris Archer, she doesn't have any problem at all about going with him and believing what he has to say about demons and "his world".
3 - Name changing. Ferris, Archer, Liam and Niall. All these names sound like first names to me but they are only two people, Ferris Archer and Liam Niall. The author uses the names interchangably so you really had to pay attention who goes with which last name.
4 - I really disliked the villain. He's obsessed with glass?? I think? He has a pet crow that he seems to hate? I just didn't really get the feeling of "Ohhh, he is evil!"
5 - The chemistry between Sera and Archer, the two main characters. Personally, I didn't think there was a lot of sexual tension between the two. At one point I was like "Did they just have sex? Huh?" The "best" line was (paraphrazing) 'so what excuse are we going to use to have sex now?'
Overall, I gave this book 2 stars (it was ok), even though my dislikes outweight my likes. The reason I read this book in the first place is because I really enjoyed Jessa Slade's other e-Novella series The Steel Born. There are only 4 books to this series and 1 e-novella (as I'm righting this, so far) and I bought all 4 books. So I will continue to read the second book. Like I said, the overall storyline was good and I would like to know what happens to the others characters.
July 22, 2013
I picked this up purely as I love Renee Raudman's narration: which was, again, excellent. The book; less so.
This book was a bit of a split personality for me. Yes, as a new series I expect a slow build up as the infodump of the word and its rules are introduced. But no, I don't expect a book to really get up and get going after the half way point. Saying that, I quite enjoyed the second half and had a big listening binge to find out what happened next :)
There was plently of good and bad. I liked the premise, I liked the tortured hero, I liked that the secondary characters. I hated Sera's incessant inner monologue of meta-physical questions - all the talk of "what is the meaning of life?" really irrated me. I kept wanting to grab Sera and say 'You've got MORE IMMEDIATE problems! . Nor did I like the random bits from the baddies point of view. I guess it was supposed to up the tension. But as the h/hr didn't feel it until the end, neither did I. I felt really confused about the classes, powers and the hierachy of the demons (all of them: "good", "bad" and redemption-seeking).
Probably won't pick another one up of this series. Looking at the synopsis of book two (Forged Of Shadows) I think that this has set up the pattern of the series: established demon possessed find newly possessed bit o' stuff and stuff happends. I'm certainly not invested in the good guys group to pick up the next one - I can't even remember the organisation's name! And I don't feel the urge to re-listen to this again, with slightly different characters playing the part.
This book was a bit of a split personality for me. Yes, as a new series I expect a slow build up as the infodump of the word and its rules are introduced. But no, I don't expect a book to really get up and get going after the half way point. Saying that, I quite enjoyed the second half and had a big listening binge to find out what happened next :)
There was plently of good and bad. I liked the premise, I liked the tortured hero, I liked that the secondary characters. I hated Sera's incessant inner monologue of meta-physical questions - all the talk of "what is the meaning of life?" really irrated me. I kept wanting to grab Sera and say 'You've got MORE IMMEDIATE problems! . Nor did I like the random bits from the baddies point of view. I guess it was supposed to up the tension. But as the h/hr didn't feel it until the end, neither did I. I felt really confused about the classes, powers and the hierachy of the demons (all of them: "good", "bad" and redemption-seeking).
Probably won't pick another one up of this series. Looking at the synopsis of book two (Forged Of Shadows) I think that this has set up the pattern of the series: established demon possessed find newly possessed bit o' stuff and stuff happends. I'm certainly not invested in the good guys group to pick up the next one - I can't even remember the organisation's name! And I don't feel the urge to re-listen to this again, with slightly different characters playing the part.
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