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StarCrossed #3
Objects in the Mirror
NOTE: This first edition of "StarCrossed 3: Objects in the Mirror" is out of print and no longer available.
StarCrossed 3: Objects in the Mirror takes us back to the town of Salem, Massachusetts, where the populace is busy making up for its witch-burning reputation by letting all manner of unusual folks live there. Jace and Konnor are demon twins grabbing a second chance at life, but trouble starts when local clergy are brutally murdered, and the Salem Special Council is asked to investigate.
Twenty years should be enough to leave their past behind, but it comes charging after the brothers with an unholy vengeance. When one falls under suspicion for the murders, it shatters the heart of the other. Only an unlikely alliance of angels, vampires, were-creatures, and humans can help the brothers and keep the secret of supernatural beings living in Salem safe from the outside world. The clock is ticking.
Authors' Note: This dark urban fantasy contains graphic violence and a consensual sexual relationship between non-human twin brothers.
StarCrossed 3: Objects in the Mirror takes us back to the town of Salem, Massachusetts, where the populace is busy making up for its witch-burning reputation by letting all manner of unusual folks live there. Jace and Konnor are demon twins grabbing a second chance at life, but trouble starts when local clergy are brutally murdered, and the Salem Special Council is asked to investigate.
Twenty years should be enough to leave their past behind, but it comes charging after the brothers with an unholy vengeance. When one falls under suspicion for the murders, it shatters the heart of the other. Only an unlikely alliance of angels, vampires, were-creatures, and humans can help the brothers and keep the secret of supernatural beings living in Salem safe from the outside world. The clock is ticking.
Authors' Note: This dark urban fantasy contains graphic violence and a consensual sexual relationship between non-human twin brothers.
139 pages, ebook
First published March 1, 2009
81 people want to read
About the author
Reno MacLeod
23 books47 followersNot For The Faint Of Heart---That sums up my work with Jaye Valentine. I've always spent a good deal of time with the darker side of my imagination. I was never afraid of the dark. In fact, some of my fondest memories are of Saturday afternoons with my dad watching Creature Double Feature with a big bowl of popcorn. Halloween has always been my favorite holiday. Werewolves, angels, demons and vampires were my childhood passions. I guess I never grew up.
I live in a little town famous for its historical ax-murderess, where the Ghost Hunters TAPS has a home office. Salem—famous for witches, Newport—famous for pirates, and Providence—famous for H.P.Lovecraft are all under an hour's drive. I guess I really didn't have a chance of not turning out the way I did."
Reno has also designed and created cover art for many of Reno and Jaye's books as well as the logo for StarCrossed and their website's banner art.
I live in a little town famous for its historical ax-murderess, where the Ghost Hunters TAPS has a home office. Salem—famous for witches, Newport—famous for pirates, and Providence—famous for H.P.Lovecraft are all under an hour's drive. I guess I really didn't have a chance of not turning out the way I did."
Reno has also designed and created cover art for many of Reno and Jaye's books as well as the logo for StarCrossed and their website's banner art.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 27, 2009
As in the first book, Demon Tailz, this story focuses on Demon twins Jace and Konnor Barton and also introduces a wonderful cast of secondary characters. The twins' adoptive father, the vampire Gennady Zaitzev, his werefox lover Fallon, vampire son Jericho Zaitzev, human Police Detective Samantha Wright, the Angel Sariel and even Incubus Dekan Swain and his Angel lover Kelly from Opposite Ends of the Spectrum will all play a role in this gripping tale.
This story of vengeance is intense and at times very violent but also features some very hot sex scenes as well as tender and loving exchanges between several of the characters.
The core of the story however is the deep love between Jace and Konnor which is a very strong and powerful testament that love knows no boundaries. We know, and are very clearly shown throughout the book, that these men are Demons but it's their "human" feelings for each other and their family and friends that shines through and really makes this story so wonderful.
Reno MacLeod and Jaye Valentine have created a great urban fantasy world populated by complex characters that will grab you from page one and won't let go until you've finished reading their stories. I highly recommend all of the books in the StarCrossed series.
This story of vengeance is intense and at times very violent but also features some very hot sex scenes as well as tender and loving exchanges between several of the characters.
The core of the story however is the deep love between Jace and Konnor which is a very strong and powerful testament that love knows no boundaries. We know, and are very clearly shown throughout the book, that these men are Demons but it's their "human" feelings for each other and their family and friends that shines through and really makes this story so wonderful.
Reno MacLeod and Jaye Valentine have created a great urban fantasy world populated by complex characters that will grab you from page one and won't let go until you've finished reading their stories. I highly recommend all of the books in the StarCrossed series.
September 19, 2012
What really irks me that though this was an open relationship (I don't care if it's incest or not), Jace seems like he'll fuck anything and anyone.
I seriously wanted Konnor to have some sort of passionate love affair or some shit just to piss Jace off and make him jealous or anything.
I seriously wanted Konnor to have some sort of passionate love affair or some shit just to piss Jace off and make him jealous or anything.
August 15, 2009
The authors have a wonderful ability to write gripping urban fantasy, unafraid of delving into uncomfortable and dark subjects. There is a gritty realism to the story where you’re held on the edge of your seat, knowing the authors could choose at any moment to kill off even a beloved character. The unabashed honesty and devotion to the darker side is partly what makes the series so successful and enjoyable. This isn’t a romance but nor is it horror, combining elements of both with fantastic writing to make this an engrossing and satisfying page-turner.
Back we go to the world of Salem where supernaturals live in an uneasy truce with humans, held on a barely tethered leash of morality. I’m not sure an innocent human should trust a demon to “be good” when you give them the keys to free reign but as a repeating theme in this series shows, humans can be just as evil as demons. Although Jace Barton has been trying to play by the rules, mostly, he’s been implicated in a heinous crime as his well known appetites and hatred for religion peg him as the most likely non-human to have committed the crime. It takes an army of supporters and a twisted journey to get him out of trouble this time.
The opening scene is strong, visceral, and riveting setting the theme for a book I was unable to put down. The glimpse into the past of the demon twins was skillfully done with the sounds, smells, and vivid backdrop developed to draw the reader in almost immediately. The undertones of cruelty and depravity on all sides set a tone that is offset by the depth of relationships the characters develop with each other while keeping an interesting plot moving quickly and easily. The unexpected and welcome humor woven throughout helped alleviate an otherwise intense story.
The authors clearly love Jace who is the driving force of this book. Not only is he the best characterized but he is the most compelling and dynamic of the rather large cast presented. Jace is unapologetically evil with his own set of morals and compassion. He revels in his demon side and truly enjoys the dark elements of his nature, embracing his selfishness and promiscuous behavior, willing to have sex with most anything male. Despite the fact that Jace feels emotion, for most of the story it’s doubtful he truly loves anyone including his twin brother Konnor. Although past books in the series had cemented this relationship rather firmly, in SC 3 Jace’s treatment of Konnor takes a reversal with confusing and rather callous actions towards his once beloved lover.
As the twin brothers have an open relationship, it’s clearly one sided with Jace the only one to take advantage of that and furthermore, taking pains to hide the extent of his rampant slut behavior. Although Jace’s man-whore behavior hurts his brother, Konnor’s actions make little sense in that he never grew angry or emotional at Jace, accepting everything carte blanche and simply happy to have Jace’s attention for a brief span of time. This element struck me as contradictory, especially in conjunction to the vapid and empty shell Konnor presents for most of the book. Whereas in 2 ½, he shows a dynamic and forceful personality with a dark side matching his twin’s, in this installment the authors have backtracked and turned Konnor into a ghost, flitting in and out of scenes without weight or importance. His fluttering hands and empty smiles were typical of Konnor’s contribution to the story and resolution and unfortunately his entire character felt like an afterthought rather than a main character essential to both the storyline and Jace. This was frustrating and disappointing as the various secondary characters were given much more depth and thought than Konnor ultimately was.
As this isn’t a romance though, the main relationship of the brothers isn’t the focus, nor should it be with the strength of Jace’s central character. The vast array of secondary cast was well handled with each having a purpose rather than just introducing yet another person to the storyline. From Gennady and his lover to the brothers from the Barton’s painful past, each character felt fully developed even if they only appeared briefly. It’s a testament of the authors’ writing skills to seamlessly and easily weave such a cast in and out of scenes and changing points of views without notice or confusion, instead building layer upon layer of depth and meaning to the characters and story as a whole.
The detective Sam was an especially delightful character as the only female to appear, she thankfully was not turned into a cliché yet given a real personality and honest emotions as she grapples with the daily evil she sees from humans while being ostracized for working with non-humans. She lives partly in each world, not fully in either and her struggle was genuine and well crafted. No doubt Sam and the other supporting characters will all figure in future offerings, especially Gennady and Fallon with the depth and interest for their own story.
From the first scene to the last, the StarCrossed universe offers an intense and edgy fantasy world filled with romance, pain, longing, and above all acceptance. Although the resolution was a little of a “duh” moment, the story was very well-written with dynamic characters and a dark energy that practically sparks off the pages. This book is not for the faint of heart nor anyone wanting a classic happy ever after tale, despite the satisfying ending and reestablishment of the connection between Jace and Konnor. For those wanting a compelling urban fantasy with a story unafraid of plunging into the dark areas of life and humanity, you will be sure to like this latest offering. It can easily be read as a stand-alone book but those familiar with the series will likely enjoy a deeper connection and investment in the characters.
Back we go to the world of Salem where supernaturals live in an uneasy truce with humans, held on a barely tethered leash of morality. I’m not sure an innocent human should trust a demon to “be good” when you give them the keys to free reign but as a repeating theme in this series shows, humans can be just as evil as demons. Although Jace Barton has been trying to play by the rules, mostly, he’s been implicated in a heinous crime as his well known appetites and hatred for religion peg him as the most likely non-human to have committed the crime. It takes an army of supporters and a twisted journey to get him out of trouble this time.
The opening scene is strong, visceral, and riveting setting the theme for a book I was unable to put down. The glimpse into the past of the demon twins was skillfully done with the sounds, smells, and vivid backdrop developed to draw the reader in almost immediately. The undertones of cruelty and depravity on all sides set a tone that is offset by the depth of relationships the characters develop with each other while keeping an interesting plot moving quickly and easily. The unexpected and welcome humor woven throughout helped alleviate an otherwise intense story.
The authors clearly love Jace who is the driving force of this book. Not only is he the best characterized but he is the most compelling and dynamic of the rather large cast presented. Jace is unapologetically evil with his own set of morals and compassion. He revels in his demon side and truly enjoys the dark elements of his nature, embracing his selfishness and promiscuous behavior, willing to have sex with most anything male. Despite the fact that Jace feels emotion, for most of the story it’s doubtful he truly loves anyone including his twin brother Konnor. Although past books in the series had cemented this relationship rather firmly, in SC 3 Jace’s treatment of Konnor takes a reversal with confusing and rather callous actions towards his once beloved lover.
As the twin brothers have an open relationship, it’s clearly one sided with Jace the only one to take advantage of that and furthermore, taking pains to hide the extent of his rampant slut behavior. Although Jace’s man-whore behavior hurts his brother, Konnor’s actions make little sense in that he never grew angry or emotional at Jace, accepting everything carte blanche and simply happy to have Jace’s attention for a brief span of time. This element struck me as contradictory, especially in conjunction to the vapid and empty shell Konnor presents for most of the book. Whereas in 2 ½, he shows a dynamic and forceful personality with a dark side matching his twin’s, in this installment the authors have backtracked and turned Konnor into a ghost, flitting in and out of scenes without weight or importance. His fluttering hands and empty smiles were typical of Konnor’s contribution to the story and resolution and unfortunately his entire character felt like an afterthought rather than a main character essential to both the storyline and Jace. This was frustrating and disappointing as the various secondary characters were given much more depth and thought than Konnor ultimately was.
As this isn’t a romance though, the main relationship of the brothers isn’t the focus, nor should it be with the strength of Jace’s central character. The vast array of secondary cast was well handled with each having a purpose rather than just introducing yet another person to the storyline. From Gennady and his lover to the brothers from the Barton’s painful past, each character felt fully developed even if they only appeared briefly. It’s a testament of the authors’ writing skills to seamlessly and easily weave such a cast in and out of scenes and changing points of views without notice or confusion, instead building layer upon layer of depth and meaning to the characters and story as a whole.
The detective Sam was an especially delightful character as the only female to appear, she thankfully was not turned into a cliché yet given a real personality and honest emotions as she grapples with the daily evil she sees from humans while being ostracized for working with non-humans. She lives partly in each world, not fully in either and her struggle was genuine and well crafted. No doubt Sam and the other supporting characters will all figure in future offerings, especially Gennady and Fallon with the depth and interest for their own story.
From the first scene to the last, the StarCrossed universe offers an intense and edgy fantasy world filled with romance, pain, longing, and above all acceptance. Although the resolution was a little of a “duh” moment, the story was very well-written with dynamic characters and a dark energy that practically sparks off the pages. This book is not for the faint of heart nor anyone wanting a classic happy ever after tale, despite the satisfying ending and reestablishment of the connection between Jace and Konnor. For those wanting a compelling urban fantasy with a story unafraid of plunging into the dark areas of life and humanity, you will be sure to like this latest offering. It can easily be read as a stand-alone book but those familiar with the series will likely enjoy a deeper connection and investment in the characters.
Read
May 29, 2009The StarCrossed series by MacLeod and Valentine is not a simple series to read, since it tests a lot of "romance" boundaries and not only. Above all it questions the main rule that good is white and evil is black and they don't mix, and even if mix, in the end the evil has to go through a purification process to be considered good. Here instead, the evil is evil and remains evil till the end, enjoying its lustful life in plenty.
Jace and Konnor are demon twins who now live in "peace" at Salem, managing a night club. Jace is the same demon that, in Demon Tailz, a previous short story in this series, eat alive a man who was mourning his lost lover... the fact that the man was searching that fate to be reunited with his lover in an alterlife, and that Jace, in a way, helped him, doesn't change the true that the demon enjoyed his "meal". There is then the little fact that this is a twincest story, but well, I believe that this particular kink is now quite surpassed, and almost normal, and then we are talking of demons here, so, well, human laws don't exactly apply to them.
In Objects in the Mirror the reader has the chance to know something more on the past of these two demon brothers and so understand why they are so bound together; but he has also the chance to see that these are not "tamed" demons, they have not conscience: when it's time to hunt, and eat, it doesn't matter if the prey is innocent. Maybe of the two brother, Jace is the more bloody and lethal, but it's not that Konnor is innocent, his unwillingness to hunt is more a question of like or not like than a conscience issue.
Jace and Konnor are the main characters but not the only important in the story; there is also Gennady, their vampire adoptive father, and Fallon, his young werefox lover, and Jericho, almost an adoptive brother. And then a lot of other minor characters, all of them with the same characteristic: they live in a border zone, between right and wrong, between good and evil, and no one of them is perfect. Even the angels in this story have their little dirty secrets.
As I said the two authors test a lot of "no-way" rules of romance: twincest, sex in shifted form, the rule that the good hero, even if behaving as a villain, has to not mingle with the real villain, and if he must, at least he has to not enjoy it. It seems almost that the real good one, the innocent souls in this story are doomed, and only the ones with cracked halo are allowed to survive. And then the authors play also with the main romance rule, the one that says that the good hero has to be beautiful and the villain has to be ugly... in this story instead you can't recognize the evil from the good from the outside exterior, since it seems that all of them are in their way beautiful, the authors manage to make beautiful even the demons in their demon form (with tails, claws and horns).
It's quite a strange book, but just the fact that it doesn't pass and go letting you unaffected is a proof that the main scope it was targeting is reached, it makes wondering and doubting the reader his own belief on what is right and what is wrong.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002VWLLH6/?...
Jace and Konnor are demon twins who now live in "peace" at Salem, managing a night club. Jace is the same demon that, in Demon Tailz, a previous short story in this series, eat alive a man who was mourning his lost lover... the fact that the man was searching that fate to be reunited with his lover in an alterlife, and that Jace, in a way, helped him, doesn't change the true that the demon enjoyed his "meal". There is then the little fact that this is a twincest story, but well, I believe that this particular kink is now quite surpassed, and almost normal, and then we are talking of demons here, so, well, human laws don't exactly apply to them.
In Objects in the Mirror the reader has the chance to know something more on the past of these two demon brothers and so understand why they are so bound together; but he has also the chance to see that these are not "tamed" demons, they have not conscience: when it's time to hunt, and eat, it doesn't matter if the prey is innocent. Maybe of the two brother, Jace is the more bloody and lethal, but it's not that Konnor is innocent, his unwillingness to hunt is more a question of like or not like than a conscience issue.
Jace and Konnor are the main characters but not the only important in the story; there is also Gennady, their vampire adoptive father, and Fallon, his young werefox lover, and Jericho, almost an adoptive brother. And then a lot of other minor characters, all of them with the same characteristic: they live in a border zone, between right and wrong, between good and evil, and no one of them is perfect. Even the angels in this story have their little dirty secrets.
As I said the two authors test a lot of "no-way" rules of romance: twincest, sex in shifted form, the rule that the good hero, even if behaving as a villain, has to not mingle with the real villain, and if he must, at least he has to not enjoy it. It seems almost that the real good one, the innocent souls in this story are doomed, and only the ones with cracked halo are allowed to survive. And then the authors play also with the main romance rule, the one that says that the good hero has to be beautiful and the villain has to be ugly... in this story instead you can't recognize the evil from the good from the outside exterior, since it seems that all of them are in their way beautiful, the authors manage to make beautiful even the demons in their demon form (with tails, claws and horns).
It's quite a strange book, but just the fact that it doesn't pass and go letting you unaffected is a proof that the main scope it was targeting is reached, it makes wondering and doubting the reader his own belief on what is right and what is wrong.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002VWLLH6/?...
February 20, 2011
**4.5**
This was a very intense read and allowed the reader to get to know other characters in the StarCrossed universe. I enjoyed it despite the sometimes brutal descriptions and heartwrenching pain some of the characters endured. It was a very angsty and dramatic story, but at the same time, the support and love so obviously apparent within the tight-knit group of "family" melted me and kept me reading. I love the universe that Jaye and Reno built and wish it didn't have to end.
This was a very intense read and allowed the reader to get to know other characters in the StarCrossed universe. I enjoyed it despite the sometimes brutal descriptions and heartwrenching pain some of the characters endured. It was a very angsty and dramatic story, but at the same time, the support and love so obviously apparent within the tight-knit group of "family" melted me and kept me reading. I love the universe that Jaye and Reno built and wish it didn't have to end.
May 10, 2011
My review of the StarCrossed Series: Demon Tailz (Book 1), Opposite Ends of the Spectrum (Book 2), Sangria and Seraphim (Book 2.5), Objects in The Mirror (Book 3) and Angel Tears (Book 3.5) by Reno MacLeod and Jaye Valentine can be found at Indie Reviews.
November 9, 2011
4.5 stars
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews