Title: Silence

Author: Michelle Sagara

Genre: YA Paranormal

Series: The Queen of the Dead (Book 1)

Publication Date: May 1, 2012

Format: Hardcover, 256 Pages

ISBN-10: 0756407427 (DAW Books)

ISBN-13: 978-0756407421 (DAW Books)

Reviewed by: Emmy

Synopsis:

It began in the graveyard. Ever since her boyfriend Nathan died in a tragic accident Emma had been coming to the graveyard at night. During the day she went through the motions at her prep school, in class, with her friends, but that’s all it was. But tonight was different. Tonight Emma and her dog were not alone in the cemetery. There were two others there—Eric, who had just started at her school, and an ancient woman who looked as though she were made of rags. And when they saw Emma there, the old woman reached out to her with a grip as chilling as death….

Quick & Dirty: The first installment in The Queen of the Dead series lays out all the relationships that will push the plot forward. It’s a fast, engaging read that brings ghosts and Necromancers into colliding with the reality the rest of us live in.

Opening Sentence: Everything happens at night.

Excerpt: Yes

The Review:

Emma’s experienced a lot of loss in her life. Her father, years ago, and then just last summer her boyfriend Nathan died in a car accident. Her first love, his death tore her to pieces. Emma still visits his grave when she walks her dog Petal at night. It’s quite there and she doesn’t have to make excuses to anyone or get questioned about her feelings. In the quite night of the cemetery she can just be. Until one night Petal takes off running and Emma comes face to face with an old crone out of a nightmare. A crone who just so happens to be talking with Eric, the new boy at school. When the old crone lets Emma take the freezing paper lantern from her hands, everything changes.

She can see the dead. At school, on the street, anywhere they are and Eric knows why. Except, Eric won’t say anything — except that she needs to forget it. To try and let everything fade away so it doesn’t exist for her anymore. Because if she keeps interacting with the ghosts, if she keeps transitioning, he’ll have to kill her. But Emma can’t stay out of it. There’s more to Emma than being a budding Necromancer, she’s experienced too much grief to let the dead wander for all eternity. She wants to move them on. Where to, she doesn’t know, but the dead see the light just out of reach and Emma’s determined to get them there.

The stakes are high for Emma as she fights side-by-side with the boys sent to kill her. While Emma might not be like other Necromancers, the others don’t know that. Some of them are coming for her. They’ll train her to suck the power from the dead and use it for magic. But Emma is more powerful, more prepared than they think she is. Even if she doesn’t know what to do, the dead around her have met Necromancers before. And they’re going to fight for Emma’s side this time.

It’s really the characters that carry Silence, while the plot is good it’s still written as the first installment of something bigger. Allison is Emma’s best friend. While not a social outcast, she’s definitely not moving in the same social sphere as Emma. Emma can make conversation and wear cute clothes, Allison doesn’t like shopping and she certainly isn’t interested in the social games the popular kids play. Michael has been Emma and Allison’s friend for over a decade. A high functioning autistic, he’s also their responsibility to some extent. They take care of him and keep to his schedule. But he isn’t a liability. In fact, in a lot of ways he’s more helpful than Allison when it comes to the Necromancers.

I really enjoyed Silence because of the characters and the emotions Sagara evoked. While it has a complete plot arc, it’s definitely the first of a series — hopefully a long one. This novel isn’t a romance in any respects, but the series may evolve to have one later. It made for a nice change of pace from other young adult books. I really love the dichotomy of Eric and Chase, his partner and fellow hunter, and the way they both handle Emma as a “good necromancer.” There was an underlying theme to Silence, whether the dead are still real people; that I hope is further explored in the sequel. I’ll definitely be reading the rest of this series.

Notable Scene:

She heard the screaming again and turned.  Street and cars.  Nothing else. Frowning, she saud, “I don’t think the voice I can hear is a dead person’s voice.”

Eric said nothing, which was starting to get old.

“I think–I think it might be his mother’s voice.”

“Emma, let it go. Please. If it’s strong enough that you can hear her voice, he is too strong for you.”

“He’s four.”

“A living four year old and a dead four year old are not the same. Trust me.”

The Queen of the Dead Series:

1. Silence

2. Touch

FTC Advisory: Penguin/DAW Books provided me with a copy of Silence. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. In addition, I don’t receive affiliate fees for anything purchased via links from my site.

Title: Die For Me

Author: Amy Plum

Genre: YA Paranormal

Series: Revenants (Book 1)

Publication Date: May 10, 2011

Format: Hardcover, 341 Pages

ISBN-10: 0062004018 (Harper Teen)

ISBN-13: 978-0062004017 (Harper Teen)

Reviewed by: Emmy

Synopsis:

In the City of Lights, two star-crossed lovers battle a fate that is destined to tear them apart again and again for eternity.

When Kate Mercier’s parents die in a tragic car accident, she leaves her life–and memories–behind to live with her grandparents in Paris. For Kate, the only way to survive her pain is escaping into the world of books and Parisian art. Until she meets Vincent.

Mysterious, charming, and devastatingly handsome, Vincent threatens to melt the ice around Kate’s guarded heart with just his smile. As she begins to fall in love with Vincent, Kate discovers that he’s a revenant–an undead being whose fate forces him to sacrifice himself over and over again to save the lives of others. Vincent and those like him are bound in a centuries-old war against a group of evil revenants who exist only to murder and betray. Kate soon realizes that if she follows her heart, she may never be safe again.

Quick & Dirty: Revenants are the best kept secret in history and one Plum brings to life in modern day Paris with a strong plot mixed with family, romance and revenge.

Opening Sentence: The first time I had seen the statue in the fountain, I had no idea what Vincent was.

Excerpt: Yes

The Review:  

Her parents’ deaths tear her apart. She leaves her old life in Brooklyn behind and moves to Paris. Her sister Georgia copes by trying to feel more alive, going to parties, clubbing, anything to keep moving. Kate does the opposite, curling into herself, reading, haunting Parisian museums. She becomes a regular at a cafe, sitting for hours in the mornings and reading the required literature for school in the fall. It’s at the cafe she first sees Vincent, the Parisian too gorgeous to be real. Except she doesn’t have time for boys — especially not ones she keeps embarrassing herself in front of.  She’s barely holding her life together as it is. Then one day a beautiful girl waves her across the cafe just moments before a chunk of rock demolishes her table — and the seat she was in.

It’s clear that Vincent isn’t all he seems. Another run-in and half a date open her eyes to the fact he’s much more twisted than she could have imagined. Who watches their best friend die and doesn’t shed a tear? Kate tries to get away from him as fast as she can, until she runs into Vincent’s completely not dead best friend. Like any self-respecting girl, she flips out.  Answers, however, are one thing Vincent’s not in any condition to give her. While he wants to get to know Kate, knows that she’s the first girl he’s been interested in in years, he just wants a normal relationship. Vincent won’t put her in harm’s way. The world he lives in is not only confusing, but very dangerous.

Revenants are the undead. Not zombies or vampires, just the dead that have rose again three days after death. Except, they all died in place of someone else, for someone else, and their immortality compels them to do the same again and again. They live to protect humanity and save lives. Every time they die, their bodies restart to the age they were originally dead at — in Vincent’s case eighteen. Every year they live without dying, their body ages accordingly. Every three weeks they go dormant — basically fall into a coma — for three days before they restart again, good as new. But the compulsion to die saving others is massive and he’s only ever lasted as long as twenty three. How can Kate be in a relationship with someone she’ll have to watch die over and over again?

There’s a war between the revenants and the numa going on across the world. Numa are the opposite of revenants. They betrayed someone before their death, rising with the goal to take as many lives as possible. Prostitution rings, drug lords, they own clubs to give themselves a legal business front and attract the desperate and easily influenced. Then they convince their victims to kill themselves.

All on the backdrop of modern Paris, this story brings some of the greatest aspects of young adult paranormals into play. We have dynamic characters, not just our hero and heroine, but the secondary characters as well like Georgia. While there is a minor stalker-ish aspect that made me kind of uncomfortable, it’s all explained in the end as part of the revenant compulsion. When you save a life, you want to see what they go on to do with it. With a revenge story that traces back its roots to WWII, the plot moves beyond your average paranormal romance. I have Until I Die sitting next to me and I can’t wait to get started!

Notable Scene:

As I checked myself over for injuries, it dawned on me that the terrace had gone completely silent. But instead of focusing on me, the astonished faces of the cafe-goers were looking behind me.

The waiter stopped swabbing my eyebrow to glance ver my shoulder, and his eyes widened in alarm. Following his gaze, I saw that my table had been demolished by a huge piece of carved masonry that had fallen from the building’s facade. My purse was lying to one side, but my copy of House of Mirth stuck out from where it was pinned under the enormous stone, exactly where I had been sitting.

If I hadn’t moved, I would be dead, I thought, and my heart raced so fast that my chest hurt. I turned back to the table where the brother and sister had been sitting. Except for a bottle of Perrier and two full glasses sitting in the middle of a handful of change, it was empty.  MY saviors were gone.

The Revenants Series:

1. Die For Me

2. Until I Die

3. If I Should Die (May 2013)

FTC Advisory: Harper Teen provided me with a copy of Die For Me. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. In addition, I don’t receive affiliate fees for anything purchased via links from my site.

Title: The Thirteen

Author: Susie Moloney

Genre: Dark Urban Fantasy

Series: N/A

Publication Date: March 27, 2012

Format: Paperback, 336 Pages

ISBN-10: 0062117661 (Harper Collins)

ISBN-13: 978-0062117663 (Harper Collins)

Reviewed by: Sheila

Synopsis: 

The Witches of Eastwick meets Desperate Housewives in Susie Moloney’s The Thirteen, her new and long-awaited novel.

Haven Woods is suburban heaven, a great place to raise a family. It’s close to the city, quiet, with great schools and its own hospital right up the road. Property values are climbing. The streets are clean, people keep their yards really nicely. It’s fairly pet friendly, though barking dogs are not welcomed. The crime rate is practically non-existent, unless you count the odd human sacrifice, dismemberment, animal attack, demon rape and blood atonement. When Paula Wittmore goes home to Haven Woods to care for a suddenly ailing mother, she brings her daughter and a pile of emotional baggage. She also brings the last chance for twelve of her mother’s closest frenemies, who like to keep their numbers at thirteen. And her daughter, young, innocent, is a worthy gift to the darkness.

A circle of friends will support you through bad times. A circle of witches can drag you through hell.

Quick & Dirty: A confusing mesh of witchery and deceit.

Opening Sentence: The drunk at table eight was shouting something at the dancer.

Excerpt: Yes

The Review:

When it comes to horror movies or books, I usually decline.  I no longer like being scared to death by creepy serial killers that eat the bodies of their victims or demonic children taking over.  I have seen too many bad things in real life to appreciate them for the entertainment they are meant to be.  That being said, I love me some B-rated horror movies.  The ones that are so beyond corny that they become funny.  The Thirteen is like a horror movie that is too bad for traditional horror status but not “bad” enough to cross over into B-ratings.  It tries to be a new blend of The Witches of Eastwick and Desperate Housewives, but falls tragically short.

Paula Wittmore is a struggling single mother of a teenage daughter.  So when Paula’s mother becomes ill, she and her daughter, Rowan, return home to help out.  The carefree town of Haven Woods is everything that Paula had as a child and wanted for her daughter’s life: clean, friendly, and a safe place to call home.  Little do they know that the power that keeps up this façade is hungry for their blood. The ladies of Haven are witches in need of two things to continue their “good lives”; a thirteenth woman to join their coven, and a sacrifice to the god that gives them their power.  Will Paula and Rowan survive the selfish and greedy women around them, or will they fall victim to their unholy pact with evil?

This is such a good idea for a book.  Women sacrificing, their child or husband, in order to get their material “heart’s desires” and an outsider that can either make them or break them.  Unfortunately, this book doesn’t deliver.  I had no clue what was going on until almost the very end.  Even when I did get it, I felt cheated.  There was all this build up toward a spectacular confrontation that turned out to be very anticlimactic.  Also, Thirteen’s first person narrative jumped from character to character without preamble and it made it difficult to follow the story as a whole.

The characters themselves were opaque.  There wasn’t a lot of depth to any of them, even the two central characters, Paula and Rowan.  And the love interest, Sanderson, felt like an afterthought.  The sexual tension between he and Paula was “meh” at best, which made the whole relationship harder to believe in.  I couldn’t relate to any characters, either as a woman or as a mother.

The only part I liked in this book was the truly creepy evil entity that supplies the ladies their magical abilities.  He did bad bad things to the women to have them prove their loyalty.  And when he came and took their sacrifice, he demanded that they get down on their knees and thank him for doing it.  This thing was like an abusive husband that gave you material things but crushed your spirit and soul in return.  Though I appreciate the vagueness given to him for added tension, I believe that the overall story could have used it more efficiently.

If the overall book were a movie, it would be on Lifetime in the middle of the week.  Something to watch when there is nothing else on.  I am sorry to say, I would not recommend this book to anyone.  It’s too meager in a world full of books that are far more satisfying.

Notable Scene:

She leaned in, giving Paula just enough time to jerk herself up before fear could stop her.  She swung the doll as hard as she could and made sudden, hard contact.  There was a terrible wet, tearing sound and Glory staggered back out of the van, clutching the side of her face.  Her mouth opened and a gasp came out-uuuhh.  Paula jammed her hand against her own mouth to keep from screaming out loud.  The doll’s legs had plunged right into Glory’s eye.

Blood soaked into Glory’s glove, dripping down as her good eye stared, shocked, at Paula.  Then she staggered and fell forward heavily onto Paula’s legs, hovering a moment until gravity pulled her large body to the ground.

Paula scrambled out of the van.  She stared at Glory sprawled on the grass, her mouth open in horror, then looked at the doll in her hand.  It was covered in blood to the knees.  Murder-Weapon Barbie.

FTC Advisory: William Morrow/Harper Collins graciously provided me with a copy of The Thirteen. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. The only payment received came in the form of hugs and kisses from my little boys.

Title: A Hint of Frost

Author: Hailey Edwards

Genre: Fantasy/Paranormal Romance

Series: Araneae Nation (Book 1)

Publication Date: April 17, 2012

Format: ebook, 193 Pages

ISBN-13: 978-1609287566 (Samhain)

Reviewed by: Sheila

Synopsis: 

Hope dangles by a silken thread.

When the head of the Araneidae clan is found poisoned in her nest, her eldest daughter, Lourdes, becomes their clan’s new maven. If her clan is to survive, she has but one choice: she must marry before her nest is seized. All she needs is a warrior fierce enough to protect her city and safeguard her clansmen. Such a male is Rhys the Cold.

Born the youngest son of an impoverished maven, the only things Rhys has to his name are his sword and his mercenary reputation. His clan is starving, but their fondness for the flesh of fellow Araneaeans makes them unwelcome dinner guests. Torn between loyalty to his clan and fascination with his future bride, Rhys’s first taste of Lourdes threatens to melt the cold encasing his heart.

Amid the chaos of battle, Lourdes’s sister disappears and is feared captured. Lourdes and Rhys pursue their enemies into the southlands, where they discover an odd plague ravaging southern clans as it travels north, to Erania. Determined to survive, Lourdes will discover whether she’s worth her silk or if she’s spun the thread by which her clan will hang.

Quick & Dirty: A love story discovered within the binds of duty.

Opening Sentence: Fear kept my steps nimble.

Excerpt: Yes

The Review:

Don’t let the title fool you, A Hint of Frost may start out a little cold, but the characters heat it up fast.  It has a nice balance of sexual tension without dipping into porno territory.  The two main characters, Lourdes and Rhys, are thrust into a marriage based on alliance rather than love.  Though they did not choose one another initially, the choice to remain together is their own.  It is a lovely tale of two people finding love within circumstances out of their control.

When Lourdes discovers the murder of her parents, she finds herself thrust into the role of ruler during a coup.  In order to help secure her people’s lives, she pledges herself to the youngest son of a neighboring clan in exchange for security.  In addition, her partisan, or her betrothed, will seal the alliance by finding the persons responsible for the deaths of her parents.  Mutiny and conspiracy abound within the walls of the Araneidae clan and Lourdes must do what she can to insure survival for herself, her family, and her people; even if that means aligning with a clan better known for their mercenary tactics and barbaric practices.  Can she learn to make lemonade out of lemons?  Or will she falter under the weight of responsibility and doom her clan to subjugation?

Lourdes is an intriguing character.  The burdens thrust upon her would drown any normal person.  Her fortitude and strength of will translate into putting aside things, thoughts, and emotions that cannot help her and concentrating on making the best of her situation.  When she agrees to bind herself to a man she had never met, she does so with the full understanding that it will not necessarily grow into a loving relationship.  As luck would have it, she gets Rhys.

Rhys is more than what he seems.  He is considered a ruthless fighter among a clan that prizes such talents.  When he first meets Lourdes, she can only make assumptions based on his cutthroat reputation.  As time passes, he reveals more of himself to her, allowing her to glimpse a much different man than he presents to the outside world.  Rhys is a very stereo-typical romance hero.  He comes off as an alpha, but is really soft-hearted and misunderstood inside.  Usually, this ideal puts me off, but with Rhys, he never falters in his attentions with Lourdes.  Like a man, he shows a different side with the one he loves than he does with everyone else.  In this book, it seems that it is Lourdes’s character that is the one jumping to conclusions about Rhys while he maintains a more open mind about her.

Lourdes and Rhys have a lot to learn about each other.  I appreciate going through this journey along with them.  I liked “watching” the two of them grow to respect one another.  That leads to them appreciating one another’s qualities, which leads to affection.  And finally, observing their reactions to discovering that love has blossomed between them.  It is this journey that allows me to relate to them on a more emotional level.  I found myself sighing when they finally realize that they love each other.  Love found within political machinations is something that appeals to the romantic within me.

Though the love story is prevalent, there is another overall plot taking place.  Not only are there those that would see the wealthy Araneidae clan fall, but those that would take advantage of the apparent weakness presented.  How can Lourdes maneuver through these shark-infested waters when she is uncertain of former alliances?  Can she even trust in Rhys’s clan to uphold their end of the bargain to keep her people safe while she looking for her lost sister?

A Hint of Frost combines the passion of romance with the power of paranormal in a new and wondrous world.  It is packed full of new political and supernatural flavors that will keep a reader coming back for more.  Though I would have liked a flow chart to refer to each of the clans and their specialties, the story does not become needlessly complicated without it.  I am eagerly awaiting the next installment of this new and exciting series.  Hailey Edwards is definitely someone that I will be watching from here on out.

Notable Scene:

Closing the distance between us, he stalked me with deliberation. “No more gowns.”

I was breathless. “I can’t make you any promises. I must dress to fit my new station.”

“I agree.” His fangs hadn’t receded. “As my wife, you should wear pants or gowns spun from a fabric my sword has some hope of slaying. Your silk is beautiful, but it…frustrates me.”

“I don’t know,” I teased him. “I think a little frustration looks good on a male.”

“I can tell.” Humor laced his tone as his voice lowered. “I like the look of you now.”

“I’m almost naked.” I cast a suggestive glance his way, then let my gaze slide toward the bed. “Perhaps I should find some cover?”

He caught my look and measured the distance from the bed to me. “Is that an invitation?”

“If it is?” My smile turned wicked as I canted my head. “Are you inclined to accept?”

The Araneae Nation Series:

1. A Hint of Frost

2. A Feast of Souls

FTC Advisory: The author provided me with a copy of A Hint of Frost. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. The only payment received came in the form of hugs and kisses from my little boys.

Title: Kiss of the Goblin Prince

Author: Shona Husk

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Series: The Shadowlands (Book 2)

Publication Date: May 1, 2012

Format: Paperback, 352 Pages

ISBN-10: 140226206X (Sourcebooks Casablanca)

ISBN-13: 978-1402262067 (Sourcebooks Casablanca)

Reviewed by: Kristie

Synopsis:

The Man of Her Dreams

He is like a prince in a fairy tale: tall, outrageously handsome, and way too dark for her own good. Amanda has been hurt before, though. And with her daughter’s illness, the last thing she needs right now is a man. But the power of Dai King is hard to resist. And when he threads his hands through her hair and pulls her in for a kiss, there is no denying it feels achingly right.

In a Land of Nightmares

After being trapped in the Shadowlands for centuries with the goblin horde a constant threat, Dai revels in his newfound freedom back in the human realm. But even with the centuries of magic he’s accumulated, he still doesn’t know how to heal Amanda’s daughter—and it breaks his heart. Yet for the woman he loves, he’d risk anything…including a return to the Shadowlands.

Quick & Dirty: The Goblin world expands with excellent world-building and a hot but reticent relationship.

Opening Sentence: There were no decorations in the church, no family or friends filling the pews.

Excerpt: Yes

The Review:

Dai has been released from the goblin curse but he isn’t truly free. Another force has a grip on him and as long as those talons are embedded deep within he can’t live as his brother now does. Dai brought with him strong magical powers that allow him to see the ebb and flow of life. He can also see how people are connected to one another. Dai is immediately attracted to Amanda when he sees her at Roan and Eliza’s wedding but like most damaged heroes, he believes he isn’t worthy of her. He needs to learn how to control his magic, unburden himself from his brother Roan and live in the modern world.

Amanda is also attracted to Dai when she sees him but she feels she is betraying her dead husband by what she feels for Dai. Amanda is devoted to her daughter, Brigit, who is afflicted with a serious form of asthma. Her lungs are failing her at an alarming rate, her prognosis isn’t good. Amanda is forced to move in with Roan and Eliza when a teenager she is counseling breaks into her home and attacks her. This allows her and Dai to have a little more interaction.

The world continues to expand in Kiss of the Goblin Prince. Dai discovers that a few characters are more than they seem in spirit. A brother is found and new supernatural creatures are introduced. The Birch Bank is so much more than it seems. Dai’s magic was at times heartbreaking and exciting. This world opened up in ways that I couldn’t fathom from The Goblin King and I can’t wait to see what is next.

I was engrossed in the relationship between Amanda and Dai. She tries to hide her feelings just like Dai does but they don’t do a good job of it. They have a slow courtship trying to learn about each other and learning to break away from their pasts so they can possibly have a relationship together. They act like nervous teenagers when they are together but once they are apart they can’t stop thinking about each other. The little bits at a time that they give in to each other, the sparks fly.

Dai is nothing like his brother Roan. He has lived in his brother’s shadow and devoted his life to breaking the goblin curse and now that that is done, he wants to make a life of his own. It may not be what his brother wants for him but he is uncomfortable about the relationship between Roan and Eliza and he wants to get away. Dai comes to several realizations about how the past and present have come together and need to be fixed. Dai is damaged in heart, body and soul and he slowly learns to heal himself.

Amanda has kind of been dealt a raw hand at life. Her soul mate was taken from her when she was six months pregnant with their child and years later she still hasn’t gotten over it. She is conflicted because she wants to move on but she also doesn’t want to. Once she realizes that she needs to live for the moment and not worry about how much actions can hurt her, she really opens up.

I think I may have fell in love with Dai, that may be why I enjoyed this book so much and couldn’t put it down. I wanted to know what was going to happen to him next. Amanda was a decent character and I truly wanted things to work out for her, but I wasn’t as invested in her as I was in Dai. My only complaint with this book was that it ended too soon, but it doesn’t matter, Amanda and Dai worked out what they needed to and they are comfortable with their decision. I hope to see more of Dai and Amanda in the next book For the Love of a Goblin Warrior.

Notable Scene:

Dai put his hands flat on the table. The skin on his palms began to heat. He forced cold through his hands as if he could will the wood to cool. “I need my books.”

Vexion tilted his head as if he were appraising dinner. “We let you live. It wasn’t an easy, or unanimousss decision. This world hasn’t seen the likesss of you since Merlin. The booksss you collected are best locked away.”

While his palms grew hot, they didn’t burn. “I’m not doing this for myself. There is information I need.” Important information if he was going to be able to save Brigit’s life and heal the damage he’d done to his sister so long ago.

Vexion dropped his gaze to the wood and then glanced back at Dai. “The fabric of society isss at risk.”

“A child will die.” And Amanda would break apart. He didn’t want to see her hurt.

“People die. You know that.”

“She is dying because of me.”

“Not my problem.” Vexion curled his lips. “You’re chilling my desk.”

Dai let thoughts of a bitter Welsh winter flow through his fingers. “Not my problem.”

The Shadowlands Series:

0.5. The Summons

1. The Goblin King

2. Kiss of the Goblin Prince

3. For the Love of a Goblin Warrior

FTC Advisory: Sourcebooks Casablanca provided me with a copy of The Goblin King. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.

Title: Nightborn

Author: Lynn Viehl

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Series: Lords of the Darkyn (Book 1)

Publication Date: March 6, 2012

Format: Paperback, 312 Pages

ISBN-10: 0451413210 (Penguin/Signet)

ISBN-13: 978-0451413215 (Penguin/Signet)

Reviewed by: Kiwi

Synopsis:

As the high lord’s most trusted warrior, Korvel is resigned to eternal loneliness, because he has sacrificed everything, even love, for his duty. When he is ambushed while retrieving an ancient Templar scroll, he is saved by Simone Derien, an innocent who captivates him.

Only Simone knows the scroll’s terrible power, and her duty is to prevent its curse from being unleashed. Somehow she must recover it while resisting the dangerous passion she feels for the handsome warrior.

As Korvel helps her track the scroll and elude a crazed assassin on their trail, Simone hides another terrifying secret: She has been ordered to kill Korvel as soon as they secure the treasure…

Quick & Dirty: Ms. Viehl’s characters live in a strange, strange world.

Opening Sentence:  A shout outside the barbican tower jerked Brother Frémis from his contemplation of the inside of his eyelids.

Excerpt: Yes

The Review:

A strange, strange world indeed. For who in their right mind would train a tiny little girl to become an assassin by having her attacked by a crap load of males her own age. Oh, and for kicks let’s video tape it for posterity.

Let us concentrate on the hero and heroine of this particular story. Korvel is Darkyn, a certain breed of vampire. These guys are not deathly allergic to sunlight, but it does weaken them quite a bit. They do drink blood, however, and very often mix it with wine, especially when it is older or bagged. Oh, and these guys, they smell good. So good, that often they can use their scent, or l’attrait to turn any human into one who will do their every bidding. Nifty trick, that. We met Korvel in a previous book in this series, and forgive me for not remembering which one. Back then we were meant to hate him, for he did something seemingly horrible to one of the heroines from that series. Nice to see Korvel get some redemption, because I think we all knew that down deep, Korvel really is a nice guy.

Korvel is the Kyn high lord’s right hand warrior, his seneschal, and is currently on a secret mission for the high lord to recover an ancient Kyn artifact, one that contains the secret to immortality. When he arrives at the last known location of the artifact, he is ambushed by assassins trained to defeat his kind, and finds a nun who is also being attacked. After rescuing her, and suffering some battle wounds, he is taken to a nearby convent to heal before continuing his mission, for which he has now also acquired a partner, that very nun whose life he saved.

But, our little Simone is no nun; in fact she has been trained to be rather deadly since she was a young girl. She is also a trisori sentinel, a member of a group of mortals sworn to aid the Kyn, but also sworn to follow the orders of the tresoran council. The tresoran council has not only sworn allegiance to the Darkyn, but has also taken on the job of protecting the mortals of the world from them as well, if necessary. The council has ordered her to kill Korvel after he helps her find the artifact that has been in the care of her family for generations, because they don’t think his master should get a hold of it. Simone may have been trained as an assassin, but killing for the sake of killing has never been much to her liking, and this particular order becomes even harder to follow when she becomes romantically involved with the subject, or when the subject becomes romantically involved with her.

On their mission to find the artifact, they are met by a few blasts from the past, Nick, Gabriel and Alex. Nick and Gabriel were sent to find Korvel and help him; Alex appears off and on to brandish her infinite doctorial skills and sarcasm. We also bear witness to some of their struggles in life and love. But one question…when did her man Michael start letting Alex wander the countryside without him? If I remember correctly, wasn’t he all master of the caveman tendencies where she was concerned?

Needless to say, the hero and heroine accomplish their mission and live happily ever after (in a fashion). But, I want to know: Do we get to see more of Simone’s “brothers”? Sounds like some of them could be interesting, maybe even quite handsome…

I find this book does a decent job at standing alone, though previous knowledge of the Kyn and tresora, Nick, Gabriel, etc. would seemingly make some parts of the book more meaningful. Especially the parts with Alex, and those focusing on the Nicola/Gabriel relationship, and all of its hardships. Also, I do remember the complexity in Ms. Viehl’s writing from before, and the knowledge of having to read them in order. It’s a sound idea, starting from the first book, but that’s just a suggestion from me to you. Thankfully, I am up on the list to reread the whole series, start to finish, for DFT. So maybe in the future I will revisit this one, and at that point my review will seem to make more sense, at least to me anyway.

Nevertheless, I liked it as much as I remember liking her others, and would recommend it to my friends. That is if I had any friends who would actually read something about vampires, and stuff like that.

Notable Scene:

The first charged at her from behind as two flanking her ran a cross pattern. As soldiers, they had been trained to fight upright, falling prone only to take cover or to change position, and expected the enemy to do the same. Simone dropped, seizing the blades and diving between the legs of her first attacker, cutting his hamstrings. She rolled over in time to parry the man on her left as he struck down, grabbing his shoulder and using his momentum to throw him into the third soldier, who collapsed in a tangle with him.

Back on her feet, she moved to the scaffolding, using a running jump to pull herself up to the first level and turning to drive her boot into the face of the guildsman who pursued her; she leaped over the one who followed him and swept her arm back, slamming her elbow into the base of his skull.

She regarded the five who were left, and how they rearranged themselves. These were the watchful ones, the martial artists with their black belts and their clever techniques. They would be strong, practiced, and deceptive, but they had been trained to read the body of the enemy to anticipate his or her actions.

Simone remained still, holding her arms to shield her upper body while she shifted her eyes from one chest to another. Two of the men danced back and forth as they approached, feinting strikes at her head before they lashed out with their feet at her legs. She fell before they could touch her, jerking the legs they stood on out from beneath them.

Both fell back, one striking the back of his head and going still, the other managing to partially break his fall with an arm. The snap of his ulna sounded like a brittle branch as Simone wrapped an arm around his neck and dragged him up, heaving his body toward two more guildsmen.

That left one standing only a few feet from her, and he stepped forward, keeping his eyes on her face as he bobbed in a shallow bow. He raised his arms, his hands cupped, his legs slightly bent at the knees, prepared for any move she intended to make.

Except this one, Simone thought, raising the .22 she had taken from one of the soldiers and shooting the last guildsman in the knee.

The Lords of the Darkyn Series:

1. Nightborn

2. Nightbred

FTC Advisory: Penguin/Signet provided me with a copy of Nightborn. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.

Unfortunately, we have some bad news.  Rachael had to leave us some time ago to focus on her family commitments, and Macie must leave us because her job requires a lot of her time.  I’m so bummed.  I’ve enjoyed reviews from both Rachael and Macie, and they will definitely be missed.  Both ladies worked very hard and I hope you’ve enjoyed their content.  

With that said, it’s time to ask for some more help.  Do you have a love of paranormal books?  Can’t stop talking about it to anyone that stands still long enough to listen to your recap of the newest book you read?  Have you secretly longed to share your opinions online, but have yet to take that final step to blog-hood?  Dark Faerie Tales has been looking for you!

Dark Faerie Tales wishes to share our love of books with others and we need your help.  We are looking to add a new and exciting perspective.  Your job would be to review books and assist in special events, like our reading challenges.  Though you do not get monetary value for your time, you are welcome to keep the books that you review.  While it’s not mandatory, we would like those of you with blogging, reviewing, and WordPress experience; detail-oriented people that can work independently and under a deadline and be articulate in their prose.  We ask that only those that are serious about books apply.  Dark Faerie Tales strives to give our readers quality and comprehensive posts and want to continue this tradition of excellence. Book lovers everywhere, come and join our team!

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• A lover of paranormal fiction: Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy, and Young Adult
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Interested?  Please fill out this Application Form!

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With the help of Random.org the winner is:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

I will contact the winner.  Hope you enjoy the book.

With the help of Random.org the winners are:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

I will contact the winners.  Hope you enjoy the book.