Review: Sin & Surrender - K.F. Breene

The sixth and final book in the #1 internationally bestselling Demigods of San Francisco series!

It's the moment Kieran and Lexi have been preparing for. The Magical Summit.

Ready or not, they will take their assembled team into the belly of the beast. The stakes couldn't be higher. If the powers that be don't approve of Kieran, he will not earn the official title of the Demigod of San Francisco.

The real danger concerns Lexi, however. With Kieran away in meetings, she must brave the treacherous halls of the Summit with just her crew and her wards, fighting for social placement and status, open to attack from all angles.

She could've never expected what comes at her. No one could've.

Prepare yourself for this epic conclusion to the Demigods of San Francisco series!

Demigods of San Francisco Series:
Sin & Chocolate
Sin & Magic
Sin & Salvation
Sin & Spirit
Sin & Lightning
Sin & Surrender

Visit K.F. Breene's website for more information

Review:
The time has come for Alexis and Kieran to face off with the other Demigods at the Magical Summit. Kieran has to prove his worth if he wants to keep his position in San Francisco but with Lexi's magic in high demand the whole team have to prove themselves capable of defending themselves and if they can't they'll be picked off one by one as the other Demigods try to steal them for their own teams. The stakes have never been higher and they only have a limited time to show the world they're not to be messed with.

As sad as I am to reach the end of this series I'm very happy to say it ends on a high note (I still have hopes that we'll get more books in this world though, even if they're about the other members of the crew with Lexi and Kieran no longer the main characters!). It's hard to review a series finale because you want to encourage new readers to start their journey in this world without giving spoilers (don't do that here please, but I'd highly recommend checking out the first book, Sin and Chocolate) but you also want to let series fans know what to expect. To be fair anyone who has read the previous books already knows what they're going to get in this series though and Sin and Surrender won't disappoint. There is action and intrigue, witty banter between the main team, more romance between Leix and Kieran plus we get to see Daisy and Mordecai show the magical elite exactly what they're made of.

It would be too easy to spoil the final story if I go into much more detail than that but trust me, if you enjoyed the rest of the series you're going to love every minute of this book. Although this is a finale of sorts I'm convinced there is more to see in this world and I really, really hope that we're going to get books about the rest of the crew, there are just too many fantastic side characters to let them go to waste!

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Sin & Lightning - K.F. Breene

One thing has become incredibly clear to Alexis and Kieran, if they hope to last in the arena of Demigods, they'll need a more robust defense team.

They must take two incredibly dangerous journeys, seeking the prized talents other Demigods would kill for. Except, there is a reason other Demigods don't have these magical workers--they are as ruthless as they are dangerous, and the last thing they want is to be on a Demigod's team.

If that isn't enough, Alexis has received an invitation from Demigod Lydia, the only Hades Demigod who hasn't openly declared war. She's talking like they could be allies, but those of Hades cannot be trusted. A trap is just as likely as a handshake. Still, it's a chance they must take.

Any one of these trips could be their last, but to back down would be the most dangerous of all.

Demigods of San Francisco Series:
Sin & Chocolate
Sin & Magic
Sin & Salvation
Sin & Spirit
Sin & Lightning
Sin & Surrender

Visit K.F. Breene's website for more information

Review:
This series is honestly just getting better and better with each instalment. With Kieran trying to cement his place as the demigod of San Fransisco he needs to prove that he's powerful enough to hold the territory. He already had a strong team with his six but he still needs other powerful allies and preferably to get at least one of the other demigods on his side if he wants to protect not just the territory but also Lexi and her wards. Lexi has unusual but powerful magic and if Kieran can't prove himself then the other demigods are going to start fighting to steal her from him.

Lexi knows that Kieran needs more powerful magic users on his team and with the help of Bria she is determined to help him recruit some. Of course this involves putting herself in danger but she has a unique way of looking at the magical world that could be key in convincing some people that Kieran is a demigod worth allying themselves with. I actually really enjoyed seeing Lexi tracking down potential team member, she's really good at connecting with people and she will fight to the death for anyone she considers a friend or family member. There are some fab new additions to their team that we get to meet here and I'm really looking forward to learning more about them as the series continues.

However it isn't all plain sailing, and some enemies are very good at hiding their evil intentions. The whole team faces a lot of danger in this instalment and there were some heart stopping moments when it all comes to a head towards the end of the book. Things are definitely ramping up and I think the action is only going to build up even more as the series continues. It's definitely going to be interesting when we get to meet the rest of the demigods and I can't wait to see how much chaos Lexi and Kieran cause at the upcoming meeting. This series has definitely become a favourite and I'm sure fans will love this latest instalment!

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Sin & Spirit - K.F. Breene

The fourth book in the Amazon Charts Bestselling series by Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author, K.F. Breene.

Kieran has stepped up to take his place as the ruler of magical San Francisco. As his girlfriend I'm in the spotlight, and the Hades Demigods have taken notice. They want me on their team, and they don’t plan on asking nicely.

Kieran and I are both under fire. They will kill him to get to me, and they'll take me by force if necessary. It is essential I learn more of my magic.

With no other options, I do what scares me the most - I summon the last Spirit Walker to help train me. Except, he's a loose cannon with looser morals, and learning spirit is treacherous. I might evade the Demigods only to be lost in spirit forever.

Demigods of San Francisco Series:
Sin & Chocolate
Sin & Magic
Sin & Salvation
Sin & Spirit
Sin & Lightning
Sin & Surrender

Visit K.F. Breene's website for more information

Review:
In the fourth book in K.F. Breene's Demigods of San Francisco series we see Lexi and Kieran facing their most dangerous enemies yet. Killing Valens was only the start of their problems and now that Kieran has taken his place as the ruler of San Francisco he's fully caught the attention of the other Demigods around the world. Not only are they watching to see what kind of ruler Kieran will be but they've also heard rumours about Lexi's Spirit Walker abilities. If any of them is able to capture Lexi and train her they'll have a formidable weapon in their hands, but Lexi and Kieran have other ideas and if she can find someone else to be her guide then they'll be a power couple the other Demigods will have to watch out for.

If you thought the battle in the previous book was intense you haven't seen anything yet. Before they were facing off against one Demigod and it nearly cost them everything, now they have multiple enemies who are all plotting against them and they have no idea where the next attack will come from or which of the other Demigods might be working together against them. This is only the start of their battle to prove themselves and it could all end in disaster at the first hurdle.

I've loved this series since the beginning but each book has only got better along the way. Lexi and Kieran make a great couple but I think one of the things I love the most is the family they've built together with Lexi's wards Daisy and Mordecai as well as the members of Kieran's Six, the men who have been at his side for years and who are more like brothers than bodyguards. Daisy is the only human in the bunch but she has been continuing her training and is able to hold her own against the others by using her brain as well as her physical strength and that is something she's going to need to hold on to more than ever in this book. The danger is off the charts and there were some heart stopping moments but we also get to see Lexi learn even more about her abilities and watch the group really come together to fight against their enemies. The battle is only just beginning and I can't wait to see where the series takes us next.

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Review: Sin & Salvation - K.F. Breene

Valens has noticed his two missing employees. It won't be long before he knows who is responsible.

It won't be long before he claims his vengeance.

The race is on. Kieran and Lexi must scrape together an army worthy of taking on the Demigod of San Francisco before he destroys them all.

But Valens isn't Lexi's only problem. Mordecai's rapid recovery has been noticed, and he has once again become a threat to his old pack.

Lexi's little family is in jeopardy of being torn apart, and to save them...she must finally embrace what she is.

Demigods of San Francisco Series:
Sin & Chocolate
Sin & Magic
Sin & Salvation
Sin & Spirit
Sin & Lightning
Sin & Surrender

Visit K.F. Breene's website for more information

Review:
Sin & Salvation is the third (& hopefully not the last!) book in K.F. Breene's Demigod of San Francisco series and it picks up Lexi's story not long after the end of the previous book. Lexi and her wards have been busy training with Kieran and his Six but no matter how much they learn they know they'll never be a match for Kieran's father Valens. They're running out of time though, Valens has noticed he is missing several employees and it won't be long before he realises that Kieran's mother has also been freed. The only question is whether Kieran can pull together enough allies to stand a chance at surviving the final confrontation with Valens.

Obviously this series has been building towards a major battle since the first book but it's a good job Lexi has been training hard because the wait is finally over. Lexi could choose to run but she would never leave Kieran to fight alone and her wards Mordecai and Daisy aren't willing to sit out the fight either. Lexi would prefer to keep her kids out of danger entirely but if Valens wins then nowhere will ever be safe for anyone so their best bet is to win the war.

This book had everything I was hoping for, more romance between Lexi and Kieran, more of the wonderful family dynamics between Lexi and the kids, more of Kieran's Six (including us FINALLY finding out what each of their powers are & boy are there some revelations there!) and even more of Lexi's new ally Bria who adds a lot of humour to the series. We get an epic battle that is going to have far reaching consequences for everyone involved and although this book doesn't end with a cliffhanger I feel like there is still plenty of scope for more stories involving these characters. I'd happily read more books about Lexi and Kieran but I can't help hoping that each of the Six might get a story or two too.

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Sin & Magic - K.F. Breene

I've agreed to work for a Demigod. My job? Find the spirit of his mother and release her before his vengeful father finds out and kills us all.

Have I lost my mind?

Thankfully, I don't have to do it alone. Kieran has brought in help: a Necromancer who loves to flirt with danger. Bria can help me find the clues to free Kieran's mom.

She can also help me learn my potent and extremely terrifying magic.

But as we work deeper into magical San Francisco, we uncover a minefield waiting to explode. I'm learning that there are far worse things than death.

Demigods of San Francisco Series:
Sin & Chocolate
Sin & Magic
Sin & Salvation
Sin & Spirit
Sin & Lightning
Sin & Surrender

Visit K.F. Breene's website for more information

Review:
Having agreed to work with demigod Kieran Alexis knows her life will never be the same. She can't turn her back on the ghosts that his father has trapped but she worries about putting her two adopted children at risk so her decision is weighing heavily on her. Kieran has vowed to keep her safe and he's followed through on his promises to help Alexis' family and to provide protection for them all but deep down he knows that if his father discovers what they're up to then Kieran might not be powerful enough to save them all.

After loving the first book in this series I was really excited to get my hands on a copy of Sin & Magic and I'm happy to say that the series is just getting better and better. Alexis has spent so much time hiding her magical abilities that she has never really bothered to test out her magic and has no idea what she's really capable of so it was really interesting to see her start to push her boundaries. She is obviously far more powerful than she ever realised but it's a fine line between learning to use her powers and using them so much that she draws unwanted attention to herself so she's got to be really careful testing the waters.

I think one of the things I love the most about these books is the bond between Alexis and the two teenagers she basically adopted. There is a lot of love between Alexis, Daisy and Mordecai so while they may rub each other up the wrong way occasionally they always 100% have each other's backs. It's interesting to see how Kieran's Six (the men he trusts the most and has a strong bond with) all interact with Alexis and the kids, they seem to really appreciate the little family and make excuses to spend time with them and I enjoyed the interaction between them all.

Of course I also love the developing romance between Alexis and Kieran too, there has been an intense attraction between them since they first met but Alexis is wary so this side of the story hasn't been rushed at all which I appreciate. Kieran is quite surprised by the way he reacts to Alexis and it scares him that he doesn't think he can keep her safe but he's slowly starting to realise that she is powerful in her own right and perhaps working together they could be unstoppable.

I'm already looking forward to the next book in the series, I can't wait to see how Kieran's father reacts when he finds out what they've been up to but I have a feeling they're going to be in a whole heap of trouble when he does!

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Sin & Chocolate - K.F. Breene

Some people are ordained for greatness…

Those people usually have a lot of drama in their life. Drama I happily do without. I live in a forgotten corner of nowhere for a reason: there is safety in anonymity. I have enough problems just trying to get by.

But when Kieran, a sinfully sexy demigod at the pinnacle of power, crashes into my life, suddenly my whole world is turned upside down.

He’s harboring a deadly secret, one that could destroy all he holds dear. He thinks I’m the key to his salvation, and he wants me to help him claim vengeance.

He also wants me with a passion that burns my body from the inside out.

To ignore him is impossible, but to give in to my desires, even for a night, would thrust me into danger I might not survive.

Can I resist the temptation?

Demigods of San Francisco Series:
Sin & Chocolate
Sin & Magic
Sin & Salvation
Sin & Spirit
Sin & Lightning
Sin & Surrender

Visit K.F. Breene's website for more information

Review:
In a world that's split between people who have magic and those that don't there is a lot of distrust between the two groups and those who fall between the cracks struggle to survive. Alexis has magic but her ability to see and talk to ghosts isn't really a money maker so she works whatever odd job she can find to make ends meet. It doesn't help that she has two teenage wards to take care of, Mordecai, who is a shapeshifter with a serious illness, and Daisy, a young non magical girl who ran away from an abusive foster home. Life is difficult for the three of them, they're constantly struggling to get enough money for food and Mordecai's medication but they have a strong bond with each other and all appreciate their little family.

Alexis is more than happy to live out of the spotlight and she does her best to avoid those with a lot of magic but her world is turned upside down when demigod Kieran crashes into it. Kieran needs Alexis' help to rescue his mother and he's not taking no for an answer, no matter how determined Alexis is to walk away from him.

Sin & Chocolate was a brilliant start to K.F. Breene's new paranormal romance series, I loved the introduction to this world and the different types of magical abilities people have. It's always interesting to see worlds where those with magic are out in the open and the way that affects their interactions with normal humans and this world felt very believable in the way the two different groups were often prejudiced against each other. There was a lot of humour in the story which made it a delight to read and I absolutely loved Alexis' little family group. Alexis, Mordecai and Daisy are all dysfunctional in their own different ways but they have chosen each other as family so no matter how much they bicker amongst themselves they will fight fiercely against the rest of the world.

Kieran was incredibly intriguing and I'm really looking forward to getting to know him and the six members of his guard better, we see some chapters from his point of view which was great to give us the chance to see what he's thinking and feeling but I was glad he's still quite mysterious so we have more secrets to discover as the series continues. Kieran was definitely an alpha male and his behaviour towards Alexis could be quite stalkerish at times but I liked the way she stood up to him and how she never let him take an inch. The banter between them was great and you can already see the chemistry there even though they haven't acted on it yet.

I'm really excited to see where this series goes next. It's going to be fun to see how Alexis copes with the changes in her life since she's started learning more about herself and her own background and I'm definitely looking forward to spending more time with her, Kieran and the others.

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Exiled - Amanda Carlson

Phoebe Meadows is on trial for her life.

After freeing her half-brother, Baldur, Phoebe is set to stand before the Council in Asgard to answer for her actions. The threat of exile if she’s found guilty looms, not to mention the added stress of meeting her real father for the first time.

Upon entering Asgard, Phoebe discovers new allies in a half-brother she’s never met as well as an oracle who is in possession of valuable information. A little added help couldn’t have come at a better time, because when Phoebe is tossed into an unknown realm, she’s armed only with Gundren, a jewel, and her wits.

When Loki shows up, all bets are off. The trickster god throws a wrench in Phoebe’s plans and kidnaps Fen, her only ally. And just when she thinks she sees the light at the end of the tunnel, Phoebe finds she has to defeat one last obstacle: The Norns.

And they aren't planning to go down without a fight...

Phoebe Meadows Series:
Struck
Freed
Exiled

Visit Amanda Carlson's website for more information

Review:
At the end of the previous book we saw Phoebe and her friends travelling to Asgard so she can stand trial for helping Baldur escape. The Goddess Frigg blames her for Baldur's death but Phoebe is hoping she'll be given the chance to prove her innocence and make sure the real culprit is punished. Frigg isn't willing to listen to reason though, her son is dead and all she cares about is getting revenge so it looks like Phoebe will receive the ultimate punishment and find herself exiled to Helheim, the real question is whether Fen will be sent with her or if she'll have to face a new realm full of enemies completely alone.

This series really is going from strength to strength. I love the Norse mythology Amanda Carlson has taken inspiration from and I really enjoyed getting the chance to spend time in both Asgard and Helheim in this book. It's great that we get to explore new places in every instalment of this series and the author does a brilliant job of making each realm feel completely different to the ones we've already visited. The story is action packed as Phoebe is set an almost impossible task by Frigg and she has to face her scariest enemies yet if she wants to be able to return from her exile in Helheim.

Phoebe gets the chance to meet more of her family here too which was a lot of fun, not only do we catch up with her adoptive parents in the human realm but we also learn more about the Valkyrie side of her family and she finally gets to meet her father Odin. The romance between her and Fen is still going strong and I continue to love the friendship between Phoebe and her human friend Sam too. Odin and Frigg aren't the only gods in the mix and Loki is causing mischief just like you'd expect but luckily Phoebe has some powerful allies as well as enemies or she'd be in even more trouble.

I've been having so much fun reading this series and I'm eagerly awaiting the next instalment to see what adventures Phoebe gets up to next.

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Freed - Amanda Carlson

Phoebe Meadows has one thing on her mind: Free her mother.

For the last month, Phoebe has been training in the Valkyrie stronghold readying for battle. But when she stumbles into a secluded valley after a day of grueling practice, she’s given a dire prediction. Phoebe must leave the stronghold immediately with the aid of the giant, Junnal, to rescue her mother from the dark elves. If Phoebe fails, Leela will be transported to a place that can no longer be reached.

Leaving Fen behind threatens to undo her, but Phoebe stays true to the mission. Along the way, she allies with the god Baldur and an old white elf mage. Together, they storm the realm, and with the help of an angry wolf and her Valkyrie sisters, they just might stand a chance to free the valiant shieldmaiden.

But Phoebe soon learns that in order to save her mother, she might lose something too precious to sacrifice...

Phoebe Meadows Series:
Struck
Freed
Exiled

Visit Amanda Carlson's website for more information

Review:
I loved Struck so I couldn't wait to read about more of Phoebe's adventures in Amanda Carlson's newest release Freed. Phoebe has come a long way from the girl we met in the first book, she has really embraced her Valkyrie heritage and has been training incredibly hard to learn how to use her powers. Of course most Valkyries start learning to fight practically from birth so she's still a long way behind most of her contemporaries but she doesn't let that stop her and she's determined to catch up as quickly as possible.

When Phoebe is offered the chance to rescue her mother from the Dark Elves that have been holding her captive she jumps straight in head first even though she knows the risks are high and she's not had time to fully prepare herself. You have to love that about Phoebe, she's always willing to do whatever needs to be done to protect the people she cares about and this is no different. The rescue attempt gives Amanda Carlson a chance to expand on the Norse mythology used in this series and we get to explore another of the Nine Worlds through Phoebe's eyes. I'm absolutely loving the variety of creatures, gods and realms this series has to offer and from events towards the end of this book it's only going to get better in the next book.

You'll get a chance to catch up with all your favourite characters from the previous book. Fen is a great partner to Phoebe but I'm glad she is still her own person and they aren't glued to each other's sides. He's very protective of her but he also trusts her to look after herself which is good to see. Tyr, Sam and Ingrid are all still on the scene although I think they get a little less page time this time around. That was more than made up for by the introduction of Baldur and Callan though, they are both really interesting characters but I'm not going to tell you much about them so you'll just have to read the book and meet them for yourselves.

This series is going from strength to strength, the books are fast paced and incredibly easy to read, the characters are multidimensional and easy to love (or in some cases hate!) and the world building is getting better and better. I can't wait to see where the series goes from here, the build up for the next book is intense and I have a feeling it's going to be epic.

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Struck - Amanda Carlson

When Phoebe Meadows gets struck by a strange light in the stockroom of Macy’s, life as she knows it flies out the window. As if being hit by lightning isn’t bad enough, she’s accosted in the subway by a man with a missing hand, arrives home to find a raven on her kitchen counter, and her neighbor, Ingrid, shows up dressed like a gladiator hell-bent on protecting her.

Before Ingrid can shuttle her to safety, Phoebe is kidnapped and tossed into one of the Nine Worlds where she’s quickly forced to come to terms with what she is: A valkyrie. The only problem is, she has no idea what that means.

After a narrow escape, she finds an unlikely ally in Loki’s son, Fenrir. Together the valkyrie and the wolf must battle their way back to New York City and reach the valkyrie stronghold where Ingrid is waiting for her. But with danger and obstacles at every turn, she might not live long enough to learn the full truth about who and what she really is . . .

Phoebe Meadows Series:
Struck
Freed
Exiled

Visit Amanda Carlson's website for more information

Review:
Phoebe thought she was just a normal girl trying to make ends meet in the big city until the day she gets struck by lightning in the stockroom of the Macy's store she works at. The next thing she knows her neighbour Ingrid is announcing that she's Phoebe's aunt and that Phoebe is the long lost child of a valkyrie and a god. Apparently her parents kept her a secret for a very good reason and now that Phoebe is starting to come into her powers she's become a beacon for the enemies that hunt her. After a botched kidnapping attempt leaves Phoebe trapped in one of the Nine Worlds she has no choice but to ally herself with the demigod Fenrir to try and find her way back to New York so that Ingrid can explain what the hell is happening to her.

I had so much fun reading this novel! Amanda Carlson has created a likeable and very normal heroine who is thrown into a world where creatures from Norse mythology are in fact very, very real. Poor Phoebe is completely out of her depth and she barely has a moment to catch her breath from the beginning to the end of this novel, she really is thrown in at the deep end and has to fight with every last scrap of strength she has just to survive. I loved that she wasn't perfect, she didn't always know how to react or what her best option was and she just had to do the best she could to muddle through but no matter what she went through she didn't give up and she did whatever she had to to hold her own in any fight. She was also fiercely loyal to the people she trusted, if you prove yourself to be her ally then she'll have your back no matter how bad the odds of survival.

Fen was another brilliant character, he's survived things that would have turned a lesser man insane but it's left him strong and with a highly evolved protective streak. He's not sure what to make of Phoebe at first but he admires her will to survive and I think he found her naivety endearing too. The pair have to work closely together if they're going to have any chance of escaping and I enjoyed seeing their relationship start to blossom as they got to know each other. I did find that the declarations of love came a little too quickly, up until that point their relationship had been progressing at a believable rate so it felt that things stepped up a gear just a bit too fast at the end, but I'd rather have things move fast than be stuck with another dreaded love triangle so I'm not going to complain too much. I think they fit really well together so I'm happy to see them as a couple and I think we're going to see things really develop further between them as the series continues.

There are a couple of great side characters in the god of war Tyr and Phoebe's human friend Sam and I'm also looking forward to getting to know more about the valkyries in future books. I don't know a huge amount about Norse mythology but I'm really enjoying what we've seen so far of the Nine Worlds and the various different creatures and gods that inhabit them. I'm sure there is a lot more to explore and I'm excited to find out what Phoebe will encounter next. Struck was a fabulous start to this series, it's very action packed and will suck you in from the first page giving you a wonderful new world to explore. I can't wait to revisit these characters again in the future and I have a feeling it's going to turn into a favourite series before too long.

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Ecstasy Claimed - Setta Jay

Gregoire has spent centuries with his brother Guardians fighting for the safety and security of the Realms. Endless decades of battling mixed with bouts of mindless sex to sate his needs. Needs that haven’t truly been fulfilled since she was born. The one destined to be his bonded mate. For the last twenty five years Gregoire has kept his distance giving her time to grow into a female who is capable of handling his intense dominance.

Alyssa has done everything that was expected of her, until the day she finds out she has a mate who has left her unclaimed. Unheard of when mates are rare and coveted. Even worse is the fact that he is the most powerful of her race and a Guardian of the Realms. Furious at the rejection she decides she is now in charge of her life. No more will she allow others to rule her.

Against the backdrop of evil forces that are conspiring to topple the Realms, can Gregoire find his wayward mate before she is taken by corrupt Immortals? Can Alyssa forgive him and learn to exert her own female power while surrendering to his savage passion? And will the two of them be able to forge a mate bond that cannot be severed... or will they be forever cursed with an Ecstasy Unclaimed?

Warning: Dirty talking, possessive alpha male; scenes of sexual exhibition; an instance of f/f; spankings and more.

Guardians of the Realms:
Hidden Ecstasy (Short Story)
Ecstasy Unbound
Ecstasy Claimed
Denying Ecstasy
Tempting Ecstasy
Piercing Ecstasy
Blinding Ecstasy
Divine Ecstasy

Visit Setta Jay's website for more information

Review:
After really enjoying Hidden Ecstasy and Ecstasy Unbound I was excited to read Gregoire's story and had high hopes for this book. Unfortunately I didn't love it as much as I expected to, this series is all about the sexy alpha heroes which is normally a huge bonus for me but there is a BIG difference between a sexy alpha guy and an alpha asshat and I'm afraid Gregoire swung too far into the second territory for me to ever fall for him. He has known Alyssa is his mate since he first saw her as a baby (he's friends with her father) which is I have to admit is not something that I'm a particular fan of but I can deal with it because he waits until she is 25 years old before making a move on her because he wants to allow her to mature as a woman without his influence in her life. I still felt the age gap between them was just too huge though, we see huge gaps in paranormal romance all the time but Alyssa is just very young, naive and innocent compared to Gregoire and I found it difficult to believe that they would ever be on the same page emotionally.

I was never completely sold on them as a couple and there were moments I really wanted to slap Gregoire. What is it with guys who are happy to sleep around with thousands of women while they wait for their mate to come along but if she has even looked at another guy before they met they'll threaten to murder him? Seriously, that's just asshat behaviour and it's NOT sexy. It's also not sexy when a guy starts badmouthing the women he's slept with in the past, so it's okay for him to sleep around but the women he went to bed with were just trashy? Look in the mirror Gregoire, look in the mirror. I think you'll find there is only one asshat in that equation and let me give you a hint, it isn't a woman!! Want to know something else that isn't sexy? When a guy is so ridiculously possessive that he gets jealous when his girl talks to other women or even pets the dog (or in this case Hellhound!). FFS what is wrong with him? Yes, I get it's the whole "mating bond" turning him crazy but I don't care - I DON'T LIKE IT.

As much as I didn't love the main couple I could have dealt with their "romance" a little better if it hadn't been for the side story going on between Sam and Eric. Both of those characters were introduced in the previous book so I don't consider it a spoiler to mention the way we watched Sam get raped and tortured by multiple guys before the others were able to rescue her. Now I have to admit I mentioned in my review of Ecstasy Unbound that I was incredibly nervous about how their relationship would be handled, especially since Eric's mating bond had been triggered when he met her but Sam is trying to deal with the aftermath of such a horrific experience. I was hoping that Setta Jay would be able to handle things with sensitivity but no, this book actually had some of the most rage inducing scenes I've EVER had the displeasure of reading.

This time it isn't the hero that annoyed me, in fact Eric was incredibly caring and protective towards Sam and he went to great lengths to ensure he didn't frighten her or cause her any more trauma. What made me want to throw my kindle across the room was the way his family and the other guardians spoke to her. Sam was freed less than a week ago and after everything she has been through she would still be recovering physically let alone mentally, those kinds of memories aren't going to be cured overnight for sure. Yet people are constantly putting pressure on her to complete the bond with Eric because the "mating frenzy" is causing him pain and distress. Let's just get facts straight, whatever Eric is going through is NOTHING compared to what Sam has already suffered and he has no interest in completing the bond with her while she's still emotionally fragile. So much so that they have to sneak up on him and chain him to the bed to get him to go through with it! But poor Sam has people nagging at her constantly until she gives in and agrees to sleep with him, then we're inside her head listening to how dirty she feels and watching her cry while she does it and I'm supposed to find that sexy? Honestly those scenes made me want to vomit and I've never suffered a sexual trauma but I dread to think what this would be like for anyone who has been through anything similar to Sam.

I could rant on for hours about how much I hated that scene and the fact the way Sam and Eric's relationship was handled, especially since they're both such nice characters. Their relationship had so much potential to be a wonderful thing and I feel cheated that the author rushed their storyline and tried to brush all of Sam's trauma under the carpet. If their relationship had developed slowly over several books (or even a full book of their own) I could honestly have totally fallen in love with this couple but all that happened is I ended up hating most of the other characters for the way they treated the pair of them. The way this was handled, coupled with Gregoire's asshat behaviour, has just ruined the series for me and I'm not sure I'll ever want to continue reading it. I normally reserve my 1 star ratings for books that are so bad I couldn't even finish reading them but this one made me rage so much that I can't even bring myself to even give it 2 stars. It's such an incredible disappointment for a series that has so much potential to be destroyed so utterly by such careless handling of a rape victim.

Source: Received from publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Ecstasy Unbound - Setta Jay

As one of the twelve Guardians, Urian has spent the last several centuries in a constant battle to keep the inhabitants of Earth’s Realms under control. Humanity has to evolve, hell beasts need to die, and Immortals need mates. But lately, Uri's mind is overrun with thoughts of when his sexy voyeur will find him again, watching him from the shadows, continuing their wicked game. All Guardians are forbidden contact with the little goddess and her brothers, but his need for her escalating, he finds it increasingly difficult to keep from pinning her down on the nearest surface and making her his.

Alexandra has managed to evade the Guardians and being cast out from the human Realm for centuries, ever since the Creators sent the Gods to sleep for their sins against humanity and banished all Immortals. Always sensing that she was needed on Earth, only once has Alex gone against her instincts and the price she paid will forever haunt her. It is for that reason she forces herself to stay away from the only male who has ever truly enticed her. The only one who has ever made her long for what she knows is dangerous.

In a desperate need to help her beloved brother, she will have to go to the enthralling Guardian, her dark obsession, and even though he will surely attempt to exile her, she won't go easily…

Warning: This book contains explicit and sizzling sex scenes with big dominant males. MFM, ménage, and light bondage.

Guardians of the Realms:
Hidden Ecstasy (Short Story)
Ecstasy Unbound
Ecstasy Claimed
Denying Ecstasy
Tempting Ecstasy
Piercing Ecstasy
Blinding Ecstasy
Divine Ecstasy

Visit Setta Jay's website for more information

Review:
When the gods nearly destroyed humanity in their greed and madness the creators banished them from the human realm into Tetartos where they will sleep until they are needed once more as a punishment for their crimes. A band of twelve immortal warriors now guard the realms, they are in charge of keeping the gods out and protecting the humans from the demons that try to possess them. As demigods Alex and her brothers should have been banished with the rest of the gods but they have spent centuries hiding on earth and living peacefully amongst the mortals, they even help the guardians by fighting demons so they have a fragile truce between them. The demigods and guardians don't mix but the guardians won't try to banish them as long as they're helping and not causing trouble. Alex knows she should keep well away from Uriel, as a guardian he would be forced to send her to Tetartos if they ever get too close but she can't resist the attraction she feels for him and she has taken to spying on him in his most intimate moments. Uri knows he should walk away from Alex but she is a temptation unlike any other and one day he's not going to be able to resist.

As the first book in the Guardians of the Realms series Ecstasy Unbound has quite a lot of world building and I have to admit I found it a little confusing to keep track of at times. There are lots of different types of immortal guardians, who all have slightly different abilities and there are a lot of names to remember so I frequently found myself having to backtrack to make sure I had everything straight. This is a common problem with first books in a series though and I think it will get easier as we go on when everything starts to feel more familiar. Setta Jay has put her own spin on the greek mythology used here and I'm curious to see where things go with the sleeping gods in the future. This is an erotic series so there is a lot of sex, right from the very beginning, but you'll get no complaints from me on that score because it's undoubtedly hot!

Alex and Uriel have been fantasising about each other for centuries, they play a game where Alex spies on him when he is with other women but they've never come into close contact or acted on the attraction that they feel. Everything changes when Alex's brother is in trouble, Uri is the only person she can think of who might be able to help her and she will risk anything to help Eric. When they finally come into contact for the first time the chemistry between them roars to life, in fact, it's much more than mere lust between them as they discover they are mates. Not only are they trying to deal with their newly found mating bond but Uri has to try and convince the rest of the Guardians that Alex and her brothers shouldn't be banished to Tetartos and that they should instead work together to help Eric and rescue a woman who has been kidnapped by their enemy.

There is a lot going on in this story and more than enough action to keep me interested. I also really enjoyed seeing Alex and Uri deal with their new bond and an emotional connection that neither of them were expecting, physically they have no problems with their new situation but it's going to take some getting used to their new mental connection and having the freedom to actually be together. I did feel that the mating bond was a little overdone, it just sent them a little too crazy (especially Uri) and I think it could have been dialed back a little. The mating ceremony was undoubtedly hot but it just seemed a little out of character that the two of them had only recently had a conversation about being an exclusive couple and Uri had told her how possessive he was but then he was willing to invite a third party to join in the official ceremony joining them together. I would expect a moment like that to be something more private between the two of them and I'd have rather had the threesome at a different point in the story but that's down to personal taste I guess and it didn't stop my enjoyment of the rest of the book.

There were two other things that did bother me though, one was the rather explicit rape scene and the way we got so much detail of the torture that poor Sam and the other captive women were put through. I think a fade to black at certain points would have been much more appropriate - I'm happy to read sex scenes but I have NO interest in rape ones. The other thing that bothered me is a slight spoiler so I'm not going to go into detail but it was to do with the way everyone was pressuring Sam to help Eric so quickly after she had been rescued. I guess I'll have to see how that plays out in future instalments to see whether it resolves to my satisfaction but I felt extremely uncomfortable about the way things were being handled and felt that the added stress was the last thing Sam needed after everything she had been through.

Ecstasy Unbound wasn't perfect but it was a good start to the series and I am keen to find out where things go from here. I liked the banter between the Guardians and there are already a few characters I think I'm going to really love when we get to their stories.

Source: Received from publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Hidden Ecstasy - Setta Jay

*FREE short story prequel to the Guardians of the Realms Series ~ Erotic Paranormal Romance*

Ever since the Gods were sent to sleep for their sins against humanity, Vane, the son of Athena has been avoiding exile to the Immortal Realm. He, his dark, brooding twin and their sister have spent their lives hidden amongst humanity on Earth. According to their sister’s cryptic powers they needed to stay there for a purpose they’d yet to find. As the centuries ticked by he grew restless, recklessly tangling deeper with a very dangerous female.

As one of the Guardians of the Realms it was Brianne’s duty to ensure that humanity evolved without being subjugated by more powerful beings. For too long she had succumbed to the lure of a powerfully seductive Demi-God that could never truly be hers, one that she should have exiled long ago. It was a secret that could cost her, cost them all, but the danger only added to her need.

Their desire was breaking all the rules…

Warning: This story is intended for a mature audience and contains explicit sex and a dominant male behaving badly. Enjoy!

Guardians of the Realms:
Hidden Ecstasy (Short Story)
Ecstasy Unbound
Ecstasy Claimed
Denying Ecstasy
Tempting Ecstasy
Piercing Ecstasy
Blinding Ecstasy
Divine Ecstasy

Visit Setta Jay's website for more information

Review:
Hidden Ecstasy is a free prequel short story to Setta Jay's Guardians of the Realms series, I liked it the first time I read it but it was the second time around, after I'd read the first full length book Ecstasy Unbound, that I really enjoyed it. Although it works as a prequel I think I just appreciated it more when I was familiar with the main characters.

This is an erotic paranormal romance series so that's something to bear in mind before you start reading. There is a lot of sex and from what I've seen so far I think it's going to push quite a few boundaries so you probably want to check the warnings in the blurbs before you start reading. If you like your men dominant and a little on the dirty side then I think you'll love this series though.

This prequel introduces us to Vane, his twin brother Eric and their older sister Alex. All three are demigods, children of the goddess Athena, and they have various powers and abilities. While most of the gods have been banished from the human realm Vane, Eric and Alex managed to stay behind and they spend their lives trying to protect humanity from the demons that walk among us. We don't get all of the background here, but there was definitely enough to give a taster of what's to come.

The first book focuses on Alex (although we still get to see more of both her brothers) but Vane is the one who really steals the show in the prequel and I hope we get a book about him and Brianna very soon. This couple have mind-blowing chemistry and I want to see them make the most of it! This is a good start to the series that left me keen to know more and I have a feeling I'm going to enjoy these books.

Source: Downloaded for free on Amazon Kindle.

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Review: Pure - Jennifer L Armentrout

Enter the world of Covenant . . .

For Alexandria, being destined to become some kind of supernatural electrical outlet isn't exactly awesome - especially when her 'other half' is everywhere she goes. Seth's in her training room, outside her classes, and keeps showing up in her bedroom - so not cool. Their connection does have some benefits, like staving off her memories of the tragic showdown with her mother, but it has no effect on what Alex feels for the forbidden, pure-blooded Aiden.

When daimons infiltrate the Covenants and attack students, the gods send furies - creatures determined to eradicate any threat to the Covenants and to the gods . . . and that includes Alex. If that and hordes of aether-sucking monsters weren't bad enough, a mysterious threat seems willing to do anything to neutralise Seth, even if that means forcing Alex into servitude . . . or killing her.

When the gods are involved, some decisions can never, ever be undone.

Covenant Series:
Daimon (Novella)
Half-Blood
Pure
Deity
Elixir (Novella)
Apollyon
Sentinel

Visit Jennifer L. Armentrout's website for more information

Review:
I really don't know how to review this book. Do I review it as a fan of Vampire Academy who is annoyed at the HUGE number of similarities between the two series? Or do I review it as an impartial reader who was just bored by the amount of relationship drama in this book? No matter which way I look at it I was incredibly disappointed by Pure which is a shame because I usually love anything by Jennifer L Armentrout. She just has a writing style that I find incredibly easy to read and she usually sucks me into her stories very quickly but that definitely wasn't the case here.

I mentioned the similarities with Vampire Academy in my review of Half-Blood but I picked up this novel really hoping that the story would go in it's own direction, there was definitely enough hope of that to make me excited to read this book. Unfortunately I think if you just edited out Pures, Halves and Daimons for Moroi, Dhampirs and Strigoi you pretty much have the exact same story. From Rose sorry Alexandria's obsession with the forbidden full blood (who happens to be her trainer!) Dimitri *cough* Aiden, to her attraction to Adrian, sorry Seth (who she has a bond with that is very, very similar to Rose's connection to Lissa in VA), right through to the disaster that befalls Mason, oops I meant Caleb, these books are basically the same. How the hell does that happen? It just completely boggles my mind!

As if the blatant copying wasn't bad enough (and trust me it REALLY was!) this book was just damn boring. All that really happens is that Alexandria moping about because she's not allowed to be with Aiden, she becomes attracted to Seth just because he's there, there is a lot of sitting around waiting for the council to decide what to do with her and very little action until the very end. Even the furies promised in the blurb remain stubbornly stone statues for the majority of the book. Yes, the last couple of chapters were dramatic but by that point I'd practically given up caring about anything and had come incredibly close to DNFing the book on multiple occasions.

Now I find myself feeling torn, I've been assured that this series does go in it's own direction in future books and I'm kind of curious to see whether that's true or not but is there any point in reading more of a very watered down and sub-par copy of Vampire Academy (which happens to be one of my favourite series) or should I just quit while I'm behind? If you've read both of these series I'd really appreciate your opinion on whether it's worth continuing or not - I already have the rest of the series so I wouldn't have to spend more money to try but I value my time and my sanity too much to waste it.

Source: Received from Hodder in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Half-Blood - Jennifer L. Armentrout

The Hematoi descend from the unions of gods and mortals, and the children of two Hematoi, pure-bloods, have godlike powers. Children of Hematoi and mortals - well, not so much. Half-bloods only have two options: become trained Sentinels who hunt and kill daimons or become servants in the homes of the pures.

Seventeen-year-old Alexandria would rather risk her life fighting than waste it scrubbing toilets, but she may end up slumming it anyway. There are several rules that students at the Covenant must follow. Alex has problems with them all, especially rule #1:

Relationships between pures and halfs are forbidden.

Unfortunately, she's crushing hard on the totally hot pure-blooded Aiden. But falling for Aiden isn't her biggest problem - staying alive long enough to graduate the Covenant and become a Sentinel is. If she fails in her duty, she faces a future worse than death or slavery: being turned into a daimon, and being hunted by Aiden. And that would kind of suck.

And discover the very beginnings of Covenant in the prequel novella . . . Daimon

Covenant Series:
Daimon (Novella)
Half-Blood
Pure
Deity
Elixir (Novella)
Apollyon
Sentinel

Visit Jennifer L. Armentrout's website for more information

Review:
Half-Blood is the first full length novel in the Covenant series but the UK paperback version also includes the prequel novella Daimon. Although this novella is placed at the back of the book it is set before Half-Blood so I would recommend reading that first. You can read my full review of Daimon HERE but I'll say again that it is a fantastic start to the series and will definitely have you gripped and eager to continue on to Half-Blood!

Like everything else I've read by Jennifer L Armentrout I found Half-Blood incredibly easy to read, she quickly drew me into her story and I found myself enjoying it immensely while I was reading. I have seen a lot of people compare this to Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy series and while I noticed similarities in the prequel novella it was in Half-Blood that it really started to become obvious. I hate to compare series but I do think that anyone who has read Vampire Academy will be able to write a whole list of things that are the same in Half-Blood and I have to admit I was a bit disappointed by that. I'm hoping that this series will really come into it's own in future books but I couldn't stop myself from making comparisons while I was reading this and that did reduce my rating for the story a little.

Having said that I do still think Half-Blood is worth reading and I am looking forward to continuing the series. I like the characters and I think the mythology has a lot of potential to become something that stands out on it's own merit rather than as a duplicate of the other series. Alex can come across as impulsive and she does make a lot of stupid decisions which could be irritating at times but she does improve in the second half of the book and I think she's a character who has a lot of room for growth. If we get to see her continue to grow up and learn to hold her attitude in check then I think I'm going to end up really liking her.

I definitely liked Aiden, Dimitri (from VA) is still one of my favourite YA heroes and Aiden didn't quite manage to knock him off the top spot but he's definitely not a bad alternative to spend some time with! I'm also really curious about Seth, I'm interested in the abilities he has and think he's going to be a fun character to have around. Seth seems to be the main deviation from the VA storyline and if his character continues to have a major role I'm sure that will help this series stand on it's own two feet. That, along with the mythology, is what really makes me want to read Pure and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this series will go from strength to strength. If you've been missing the VA world and looking for a new alternative then this series would be a good one to try but I do think that some people will be put off by the huge number of similarities. This didn't bother me as much as it could have because it's been 4 years since I read VA but considering how many things I noticed I think people who read it more recently will probably be able to spot even more. If you haven't read VA yet then I think I'd probably tell you to read that series first though since it is still hands down my favourite YA series.

Source: Received from Hodder in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Daimon - Jennifer L. Armentrout

For three years, Alexandria has lived among mortals - pretending to be like them and trying to forget the duty she'd been trained to fulfil as a child of a mortal and a demigod. At seventeen, she's pretty much accepted that she's a freak by mortal standards... and that she'll never be prepared for that duty.

According to her mother, that's a good thing.

But as every descendent of the gods knows, Fate has a way of rearing her ugly head. A horrifying attack forces Alex to flee Miami and try to find her way back to the very place her mother had warned her she should never return - the Covenant. Every step that brings her closer to safety is one more step toward death... because she's being hunted by the very creatures she'd once trained to kill.

The daimons have found her.

Covenant Series:
Daimon (Novella)
Half-Blood
Pure
Deity
Elixir (Novella)
Apollyon
Sentinel

Visit Jennifer L. Armentrout's website for more information

Review:
I have been wanting to read Jennifer L Armentrout's Covenant series for ages now but for some reason I never quite got around to it. Then I was sent a copy of the first book Half-Blood for review which gave me the perfect excuse to dive into the series. Daimon is a prequel novella that can be purchased from Amazon or downloaded for free from the US publisher Spencer Hill Press's website here. It is also included at the back of the UK paperback of Half-Blood but I would recommend starting with this before you read the full length novel.

Alex is a half-blood descendent of the gods and has the extra strength and abilities that come with that. She grew up amongst others of her kind but for the last three years she has been hiding amidst the human population with her mother. Alex never really understood why her mother was so adamant that they left their old life behind them but she accepted her decision and has tried to make the most of it. Leaving her home and her friends was hard though and when they are attacked by daimons Alex's instincts send her fleeing for the safety of her old life. Can she return to the community safely or has she made the biggest mistake of her life?

Daimon is a great introduction to the series, it completely sucked me in and left me desperate to pick up my copy of Half-Bad to find out what happens to Alex next. Jennifer L Armentrout's writing style always draws me in and she makes it very easy for you to connect with her characters, you find yourself feeling Alex's emotions right alongside her. You'll experience her confusion, fear and heartbreak over the events that unfold and it is impossible not to root for her. We are given just enough information about the world the author has created to hook you in but not too much to overwhelm the story. I'm definitely looking forward to continuing the series, the best thing about waiting this long to start it is that so many books are already available and waiting for me to devour them!

Source: This is available as a free read on the Spencer Hill Press website here.

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Review: Gilded - Christina Farley (+ International Giveaway)

A Korean god. An ancient curse. Can she escape becoming GILDED?

A girl with a black belt and a deadly proclivity with steel-tipped arrows discovers an ancient Korean god has been kidnapping the first-born daughters of her family for generations. And she’s next.

Sixteen-year-old Jae Hwa Lee is a Korean-American girl with a black belt, a deadly proclivity with steel-tipped arrows, and a chip on her shoulder the size of Korea itself. When her widowed dad uproots her to Seoul from her home in L.A., Jae thinks her biggest challenges will be fitting in to a new school and dealing with her dismissive Korean grandfather. Then she discovers that a Korean demi-god, Haemosu, has been stealing the soul of the oldest daughter of each generation in her family for centuries. And she's next.

But that’s not Jae’s only problem.

There's also Marc. Irresistible and charming, Marc threatens to break the barriers around Jae's heart. As the two grow closer, Jae must decide if she can trust him. But Marc has a secret of his own—one that could help Jae overturn the curse on her family for good. It turns out that Jae's been wrong about a lot of things: her grandfather is her greatest ally, even the tough girl can fall in love, and Korea might just be the home she's always been looking for.

Gilded Series:
Gilded
Silvern (September 2014)

Visit Christina Farley's website for more information.

Review:
Jae Hwa may be from a Korean family but she was raised in America and the last thing she really wants is to move from her home in L.A to Seoul leaving all her friends behind. She had absolutely no idea she is a distant descendant of the princess who refused to marry demi-god Haemosu and that ever since that day he has stolen the oldest female from each generation and forced her to be his bride. Returning to Korea puts Jae firmly on Haemosu's radar but can she find a way to save herself from his clutches?

Gilded is the first book in a new fantasy series that is jam packed with Korean mythology which I found really interesting. I have to admit I know practically nothing about Korean legends so learning about the demi-god Haemosu and his princess bride was great fun and something I really enjoyed. I also loved the setting and the descriptions of Seoul, you can tell the author has done her research on this. If anything I'd have liked a little more detail and could happily have read much more about Korean traditions and the Korean people.

Jae Hwa is a character full of contradictions, she is a Tae Kwan Do black belt and an expert at Korean archery but she could be incredibly clumsy and unaware of her body which seemed a little strange. She is also highly intelligent and in all of the top classes at a well respected international school but could make the most ridiculously stupid decisions that made me want to shake her. I know she is young but I really expected better of her and she is constantly going against the advice she is given and doing the complete opposite. It made it hard for me to have any respect for her character which was a shame because she had a lot of potential. I think she came across as much younger than 16 most of the time so she has a lot of growing up to do.

The other issue I had was with the amount of normal teenage high school angst, I wanted a badass girl who was going to be out fighting demons or monsters but I ended up with a lot of homework problems and swooning over the hot boy. I struggled to see the connection between Jae and Marc, their interest in each other felt forced and was very much a case of instant attraction for no apparent reason. I think there was a little too much focus on the high school and relationship side of the story when the time would have been better spent having Jae find out more about her family history with Haemosu and learning ways to fight him. The second half of the book had a lot more action packed and that's where things really picked up for me, the story flowed better and was much more interesting to read. This is the first book in a new series so hopefully we'll learn more about Jae's heritage and see her mature as a character as the story continues.

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

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Giveaway Details:

As part of the blog tour Christina Farley is holding a fabulous giveaway of 10 traditional Korean goodie bags (available to international winners) and not one but TWO Kindle Paperwhites (US only). You can enter using the Rafflecopter form below, winners will be announced by Christina and she will contact you directly to arrange sending out the prizes.

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