Stained (Stained, #1) in UtopYA Reading Challenge

Jan 07, 2013 Sarah Ashley Jones rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-in-2013, utopya-reading-challenge-2013

Originally posted at Give it to Cupcake.
http://giveittocupcake.blogspot.com/2...

Lets talk about the cover first, since I'm a total visual person. I was really drawn to this cover. The girl in the front, who I assumed would be Julia, has a very angelic glow along with the creepy pyramid in the back. I wanted to know more about the girl and the pyramid right away! So much in fact I almost overlooked the star-like mark on the girls shoulder! Definitely loved this cover!

Once I started reading, I'm n Originally posted at Give it to Cupcake.
http://giveittocupcake.blogspot.com/2...

Lets talk about the cover first, since I'm a total visual person. I was really drawn to this cover. The girl in the front, who I assumed would be Julia, has a very angelic glow along with the creepy pyramid in the back. I wanted to know more about the girl and the pyramid right away! So much in fact I almost overlooked the star-like mark on the girls shoulder! Definitely loved this cover!

Once I started reading, I'm not going to lie. The first thing that had me super excited was the fact that this all took place around Memphis. I just kept thinking, I've been there! I live three hours away. I know Beale street! I know the Peabody Hotel! That was so very awesome for me.

Julia won me over almost immediately with her broken past and pink chucks. When she is forced to run away, I could feel how scared and alone she was. Then comes Cayne and her world changes. Julia is instantly drawn to help him, which I think is just a part of who she is. She seems to always try and find the best in people and try to push out an bad feelings she may have. She's too trusting, maybe? A curse and a blessing!

Cayne is stoic and doesn't show any feelings, which drives Julia crazy. She wants to know more about him and he just keeps pushing her away, or so, he pushes her away with his words but when things get tough physically when Samyaza threatens to harm Julia, he shows a different side of him with his actions. This was my favorite part of Julia and Cayne's chemistry. The push and pull of their affection with each other is overwhelming -in a good way. There were times I wanted to yell at both of them and reach through my Kindle and shove them together so they would finally kiss! I loved this about them though, because it made it seem as though you never knew what the future was going to be like for these two.

Ella James writes a great introduction to this new adventure and life for Julia and Cayne. Both seek revenge and they seem to be stronger together. I can't wait to find out more answers about Julia and Cayne's fate! ...more

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Jul 11, 2012 A Book Vacation rated it really liked it · review of another edition

If you like novels about the Nephilim, then this novel is for you. Julia is a very interesting character, but I really think that Cayne takes the cake in this novel. He’s a dreamy, brooding character who, like Julia, is chasing down the half-demon, Sam. I really enjoyed watching the relationship bud between Julia and Cayne as the novel unfolded. Going from extremely standoffish to luke warm, and so on and so forth, the novel slowly brought the characters together. Though there is an instant attr ...more

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Aug 22, 2012 Lisa Morgan rated it really liked it

I really enjoyed this book! It began a little slow, but that didn't last long!

James has me wrapped around her finger... I can't wait to read book 2! ...more

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