Review: Hearts of Fire - Kira Brady

In the prequel to a stunning new paranormal series, one woman’s desire for a forbidden man will spark a centuries-long supernatural conflict—and a love nothing can destroy.

She’s the heiress to Seattle’s most powerful shifter clan. Her destiny is as controlled and certain as moonrise. However, from the moment Alice Corbette encounters the man known as Brand, she will defy all constraint and break every rule to make this dragon-shifter hers. Brand is determined to repay the clan leader he owes his life to. But one taste of Alice’s exquisite spirit will make him question his loyalty—and plunge them both into the middle of a ruthless power play. Their only chance at freedom is a gamble that could risk the future of humans and shifters alike . . .

Deadglass Series:
Hearts of Fire (Novella)
Hearts of Darkness (August 2012)
Hearts of Shadow (2013)
Hearts of Chaos (2014)

Visit Kira Brady's website for more information

Review:
Hearts of Fire is a prequel novella for Kira Brady's new Deadglass series, the first full length book Hearts of Darkness will be published in August. As a prequel this story definitely did the job of creating excitement for the series, I'm intrigued by the world building and definitely want to learn more about both the Kivati and the Drekar.

The Kivati are a race of shapeshifters who have made their home in Seattle and worked hard to build a life where they can live in secret amongst the human population. There are a lot of different animal tribes amongst them but their leader, Halian, is a raven shifter. When a group of newcomers arrive from Sweden the Kivati can sense that they are not human but the Drekar (dragon shifters) are not forthcoming about what they actually are. The Kivati and Drekar have been natural enemies for years so things aren't going to go well when the Kivati find out more about the new arrivals.

Halian's daughter Alice is immediately drawn to new arrival Brand, she knows in her heart that they are meant to be together and Brand feels the same way. I would have liked their romance to have been drawn out a little longer but I can understand why there wasn't time to do that in a short novella. It would have been nice to see the couple get to know each other better though, as it felt more like they were in lust than actually in love. I'm hoping that we will get to see more of them in future novels though because I did like them both and would like to see what happened to them after the end of this story.

Overall I thought this was an interesting start to the series and it was enough for me to add Hearts of Darkness to my wish list. I have a lot of questions regarding the Deadglass that was created by Brand's father (I'm assuming this will be important considering the series title!) but also about the different kinds of shapeshifters we were introduced to. I've always had a soft spot for dragons so I'm excited about seeing more of them!

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

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Kindle:

Review: Alpha - Rachel Vincent

"The only thing I knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt - I would live and die for my pride"

Everything is about to change for werecat Faythe when her father is ousted from the council that controls their secret world. And a shocking tragedy jeopardises her future as Alpha of the pride.

Now a rebel on the run, Faythe's biggest fight lies ahead. Old allies from the supernatural world are ready to stand by her side. And weretoms Marc and Jace would give their very souls in the duel for Faythe's heart...

Yet as their enemies draw near Faythe knows that she - and she alone - can lead the pride into what may be their final battle.

Shifters Series:
Stray
Rogue
Pride
Prey
Shift
Alpha
Hunt (Novella that links the Shifters and Wildcats Series)

Wildcats Series:
(This series is set in the Shifters world featuring characters we've already met but is paranormal romance rather than urban fantasy)
Hunt (Novella that links the Shifters and Wildcats Series)
Lion's Share
Blind Tiger
Wild Card

Visit Rachel Vincent's website for more information

Review:
This is the 6th and final book in the Shifters series so it is very difficult to review without giving spoilers for previous books. There won't be any spoilers for Alpha included in this review but if you're new to the series I strongly recommend you stop reading now as this series really should be read in order - why not check out my review for Stray instead. This is my favourite Urban Fantasy series though so I'd definitely recommend you check it out!

Anyone who knows me probably knows by now what a massive fan I am of this series, I have been completely hooked since I first read Stray and my addiction has only got worse as I continued reading. I think it's fair to say that I've been anticipating this book for what seems like forever but I've also been dreading it too. It's always sad to reach the end of a series you love and know that you're going to have to say goodbye to characters you've come to know and love and I know I could have happily read many more books set in this world. I have to say that I'm pleased that Rachel Vincent decided to end this series on a high though rather than drag it out until I wanted to stop reading like some authors who I refuse to mention here!

I doubt you'll be surprised to hear that as soon as this book arrived I immediately dropped everything else and settled in for the long haul. I did manage to make it last 2 days but that was more due to lack of reading time than anything else! If you've read the other books in the series then you'll already know how action packed the story lines usually are and Alpha was even more of a roller coaster ride. There were plenty of times I was reading with my heart in my mouth worrying desperately that everyone would survive the final battle. I'll admit that I was worried about Rachel's ability to tear my heart out and I'll confess to shedding more than a few tears during this instalment in the series.

I really did go through every possible emotion reading this book & was glad I was reading in the privacy of my own home as I literally shouted in indignation at the bad guys, sobbed my heart out with both joy & sadness and jumped up and down with glee. This probably isn't a story you'd want to be reading in public!

There are a lot of threads that needed to be tied up in the final instalment but one that was at the top of my list had to be the love triangle between Faythe, Marc and Jace. I'm not going to say if I was happy with the outcome of that as I'm sure I've mentioned in other reviews which guy I was routing for so I'll just say that Rachel managed to ratchet up the tension until I wasn't sure if I could stand any more. I swung wildly back and forth over who Faythe would eventually choose until I almost decided that she would be left without either of them. It was both heartbreaking and uplifting to read.

If you're a fan of the series you need to get hold of Alpha as soon as possible but if you're yet to enter the Shifters world then I'd urge you to do so as soon as possible. As soon as I'd finished the last page I wanted to pick up Stray and start the journey all over again (the only thing that stopped me is that it's already been packed in anticipation of my house move!). I'm pretty sure re-reading the series is one of the first things I'll do when I've unpacked. Faythe has come on such a massive journey since the beginning of the first book and I feel lucky that I got to share that experience with her. I can't recommend this series highly enough and am looking forward to seeing what Rachel Vincent comes up with next. I just hope that one day she will revisit the world of the werecats and that we will get to see how the future pans out for the characters we love.

Source: Purchased

Other Reviews:
Ink and Paper
Portrait of a Woman
I Want To Read That
Tynga's Reviews
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Paperback / Kindle:

Review: Shift - Rachel Vincent

Sometimes you have to make a tough choice, knowing it might get you killed.

When vicious half-human, half-bird creatures kill two of her Pride and kidnap young tabby Kaci, sassy werecat Faythe is ready to wage war.

Yet with an injury preventing her from shifting into cat form, Faythe has to rely on her intelligence - and the help of hot-headed enforcers Marc and Jace, who are both ready to do battle for her heart.

With only forty-eight hours to save Kaci, Faythe faces impossible choices in the biggest test of her Alpha potential yet...

Shifters Series:
Stray
Rogue
Pride
Prey
Shift
Alpha
Hunt (Novella that links the Shifters and Wildcats Series)

Wildcats Series:
(This series is set in the Shifters world featuring characters we've already met but is paranormal romance rather than urban fantasy)
Hunt (Novella that links the Shifters and Wildcats Series)
Lion's Share
Blind Tiger
Wild Card

Visit Rachel Vincent's website for more information

Review:
This is the 5th book in the Shifters series so it is very difficult to review without giving spoilers for previous books. If you're new to the series I strongly recommend you don't read this review as this series really should be read in order - why not check out my review for Stray instead. This is my favourite Urban Fantasy series though so I'd definitely recommend you check it out!

This book continues the story just a couple of weeks after the ending of Prey - Faythe and the rest of her Pride are still devastated by the loss of an important Pride member and are preparing to go to war to get their revenge and stop Calvin Malone's attempt to take over the Pride Council. But attack comes in an unexpected form when they are set upon by the Thunderbirds - a Flight of bird shifters who are determined to destroy the Pride. The Pride have no idea why they are under attack and they are at a major disadvantage when their enemy can fly - they can't afford to lose more members if they are going to have a chance in the upcoming war. When the Thunderbirds manage to kidnap Kaci it falls to Faythe to discover what they want and to figure out a way to rescue her.

I have been a massive fan of the Shifters series ever since I read Stray but with each book I've been amazed that it has managed to be better than the last. Shift didn't disappoint and I was drawn into Faythe's world from the very first page.  I love the way Faythe's character has grown throughout the series - she still has flaws and makes mistakes but she is truly starting to show her full potential.

Shift is action packed from the word go and kept me on the edge of my seat until the last page. I really didn't know how the book was going to end and there were some great twists that I wasn't expecting. I have no idea how the relationship issues between Faythe, Marc & Jace will be resolved after the events of the last book. I feel for each of the characters and just can't see a way to give all three of them a happy ending.

The style of Rachel Vincent's writing has created an absorbing world that hooks you from the moment you pick up the book. I don't think I've ever felt so emotionally invested in the outcome of a series before and for that reason I am both longing for and dreading the final book Alpha. I'm sure Rachel will manage to surpass my expectations but I really don't want my journey with Faythe, Marc & the Pride to come to an end. If you haven't tried this series yet then I really recommend you go out and get a copy of Stray today - I'm sure you'll be as hooked as I am.

Source: Purchased

Other Reviews:
Tynga's Reviews
Ink and Paper
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Paperback / Kindle: