The Prophet by Amanda Stevens

My rating: 4.5 of 5 flames



Spoiler-Free


Amelia is back in Charleston and trying her best to avoid Devlin. But it isn’t so easy to do when she thinks about him constantly. It doesn’t help that ghosts keep leading her to him.

His dead friend, nicknamed the Prophet, who we met in the first book is calling the shots this time. He just wants to rest, but he thinks the fact that he doesn’t remember who his killer is might be why he can’t. He wants Amelia to figure out who killed him. In fact, he even blackmails Amelia a bit, just to ensure she’ll help him out. But despite that, I liked him, and I liked his ending-it seemed appropriate.

This book has a lot more reveals than the other two, and I found so much of it incredibly interesting. This one also has a lot more action, so to speak. I liked seeing Amelia make a friend, and I hope that trend continues as she carves out a spot for herself in Charleston.

I’ve been so sucked into this series, that I really have a hard time distancing myself enough to write more than a glowing fangirl rave-view

I can honestly say that I love the vibe this author has. It’s spooky, and eerily beautiful, haunting you long after you've finished reading it. I can’t wait for the next book, because the ending to this one wasn’t enough for me-I want more.
There are a couple things that bugged me-like what was Devlin’s relationship like with the mysterious woman at the beginning? Was it truly who it was implied to be? And what will happen now that Amelia has embraced her heritage, so to speak? And what will happen to Devlin? Or will the consequences all be on Amelia?

I know this review is tons shorter than most of mine, but truly I’m having a hard time not giving things away, so I’ll have to end with this:

The Graveyard Queen series is an auto-buy for me, and I can NOT wait for the next one, because I really want more.

***Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC


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Revolutionizing the Mermaid-A Guest Post by Nadia Scrieva

When I was offered the chance to showcase Nadia Scrieva's mermaids here on Demon Lover's, I was thrilled! I don't think I've ever read about mermaids. Maybe here and there as a side character, but mermaids don't often take center stage in the Paranormal Romance genre.
If you read through her post, you'll see that this isn't Disney's version. Her mermaids are warriors, and they're intelligent, and they're sexy. 
Ms. Scrieva has generously offered a copy of Drowning Mermaids to a lucky commenter. Comment to be entered, and don't forget to leave your email address!
                                                                                ~Highland Hussy

Revolutionizing the Mermaid

I have never enjoyed a story about mermaids. Every other creature has been given due justice and a moment to shine in its rightful spotlight. Mermaids have been glossed over as irrelevant, and I have chosen to valiantly carry their torch. We live in a world that is replete with rich water mythology. Why? One word: fear. Ranking right up there with our natural fear of heights, the dark, and needles, you will easily find aquaphobia.

It makes evolutionary sense to be afraid of the water; it can easily and happily kill you and a boatload of your closest family, friends, and co-workers. Nature is wise in that it tries to guide us away from the hazardous pitfalls which are most likely to slaughter us. Humans are rebellious in that we constantly seek to rub our faces in these dangers for the sake of the thrill—we want to defy every challenge just to say that we did. We want to climb the Everests and swim the channels. This is how we exert and flaunt our power—it's about conquest. We want to prove that we’re bigger and better than nature, but it still kills people on a daily basis. We are still terrified, and fear and fascination are as closely linked as are pleasure and pain.

Part of the reason I have never enjoyed a mermaid story is because most modern media portray them as happy frolicking creatures. Except for a few instances of sirens depicted dangerously, we are woefully deficient in stories which examine the terror-aspect of the tale. To quote a character from the third book in my series:

“I would be less apprehensive about these people if they were from outer space. The sea—the sea is bizarre and unkind, and I can’t fathom what kind of beasts would breed in a godforsaken place like that.” -Marshal Landou, Boundless Sea

When I began writing Drowning Mermaids and planning out the subsequent novels in the Sacred Breath series, I decided to take on the formidable goal of completely revitalizing and revolutionizing the mermaid myth… perhaps it would be more appropriate to call it ‘resuscitation.’ Here is a list of a few elements I employed in doing so:

1.       Fear. You think sharks are scary? Crocodiles, killer whales? Pfft. Humans are the ultimate apex predator, and they aren’t friendly. We need a little bit of sexy darkness. Not just man versus nature, but ALSO man versus man.

2.       Water is better. Most mermaid stories revolve around a sea-maiden becoming human, or wanting to be more like us. Why? Let’s flip this around, and have mermaids actually be proud of their heritage. In fact, let’s have human characters wishing to live in the sea.

3.       Human beings with a superpower. You easily can relate to vampires, werewolves, and various other demon-types because they are so similar to us. Wizards, witches, and other supernatural or paranormal phenomenon are also relatable. Even ghosts were once people. Fish? Fish aren’t even mammals. I needed to make it clear that what makes someone a mermaid has nothing to do with scales or reptilian qualities—it’s all about the lungs and being able to breathe underwater.

4.       Incorporate allusions to the collective memory. I aimed to expand on previously existing folklore from around the world to pique childhood fears and invoke a sense of the uncanny. For as long as there have been stories, parents have been telling their children cautionary tales about the water—this is universal.

5.       Warriors. My mermaids are warriors who kick ass with all kinds of nifty implements from old-fashioned javelins to futuristic submarines. The scientific explanation for this one is simple: there can never be enough girl power in the world, and I like knives.

These were my main ingredients as I endeavoured to cook up the type of story in which I could enjoy immersing myself. Pun intended. It has been so thrilling to see that others are really loving the concept as much as I do! If you have ever stared out at the ocean and felt a chill of fear and excitement, this is the story for you. If you love water, but especially if you hate water, this is the story for you. Join me in the mermaid revolution! 

Nadia Scrieva can be found on facebookhttp://www.facebook.com/NadiaFans

twitter https://twitter.com/#!/NadiaScrieva

and her website: www.NadiaScrieva.com

 

Hunted by Rebecca Zanetti

Hunted by Rebecca Zanetti

My rating: 4 of 5 flames

A century ago, Moira, and Conn accidentally mated. In this series, the vampires are all males, and have only certain women they can mate with. When Conn and Moira spent a passionate night together, he accidentally marked her (think like a brand or tattoo). This is a problem because Moira is still young, and she is the Seventh. Her future position in her world doesn’t leave room for an overbearing vampire mate.

Conn never meant to mark Moira, but once it happened, he was able to admit to himself that it felt right. He wanted to be with the beautiful fiery witch fate had thrown in his path. But her family is less than thrilled. In fact, they make Conn agree to let Moira train for 100 years without his interference, so she will be prepared and fully trained in her position as the Seventh and one of the ruling members of the Nine. This is something Conn agrees to, he signs the contract, and he leaves Ireland because it’s just too hard to be in the same country as his mate, when he’s not allowed near her.

But their century is up, and Conn is ready to claim his mate.

I had issues with Moira. I felt that she kept protesting that in staying mated to Conn she would lose her identity as an Enforcer, as the Seventh, and as one of the future members of the Nine. BUT, here is my big giant problem: she never earned my respect as a reader. She worked her butt off to be respected, but then acted like a spoiled brat which IMO totally undermined her reputation. She never gave Conn the benefit of the doubt, even though she’d admit he never lied, and he’d especially never lied to her. I felt as if the conflict between them (all one-sided, mind you) was too forced.

Another problem I had was that she never once gave Conn credit for honoring the contract. She’s constantly thinking that he obviously didn’t want her because he never came to get her before their time was up. To which I wanted to shout in her face “YOU MADE HIM LEAVE YOU ALONE FOR 100 YEARS!!” Her family actually made him sign a contract enforcing their separation (all of this Moira was fully aware of).

In contrast, I really liked Conn. He was arrogant but it worked. He was one thing Moira was not-and that's flexible. He was willing to compromise. He was overly-arrogant and very alpha male, but once he realized that his mate could take care of herself, he gave her the respect she had earned. I only wish she’d seen that before the last few pages. In fact while the ending itself was good, what led up to the ending made me just as angry as it did Conn. Moira tricked and lied to him.

I think that the storm brewing with the demons and Kurjans will break loose before anyone expects. And the key players seem to be lining up. The virus affecting the mates is progressing, but so are the vampires’ scientists. Hopefully they can catch up to the Kurjans in scientific advances, because once they realize what they have planned, the vampires are going to be in a world of hurt.

I love seeing all the previous couples working together, not just as a passing nod to the character, but as an active position in the plot. Oh! And the shifter subplot? So so good! I can't wait to see what happens there!

I really liked this story, and I feel I need to emphasize that. I really like where the series arc is leading. I only wish I could differentiate my ratings from each other:
4 stars for the story, but fewer stars given to the bratty heroine.

***Review copy courtesy of Kensington


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RISE OF THE FALLEN

by Donya Lynne

In the streets of Chicago exists an uneasy, centuries-old truce between vampires and their distant cousins, a race of shifters called drecks.  Vampire enforcement agency, All the King’s Men (AKM), is charged with maintaining the truce, but when volatile enforcer Micah Black loses his mate and falls into the biological agony that results from the broken bond, he tests the boundaries of the truce by seeking out Apostle, a leader in the dreck community.  Micah wants Apostle to kill him, a request Apostle is more than happy to fulfill. 

When ex-Army medic Samantha Garrett inadvertently disrupts the plot and saves Micah’s life, a chain reaction sets Micah’s heart on a collision course with Sam’s, but he will have to protect her from Apostle and her obsessive ex-husband, Steve, if they will have a chance at forever.  Can Micah hold his emotions together to keep Sam alive? 

* * * *

Hi, I'm Donya Lynne, and that's the blurb of my debut novel, Rise of the Fallen. I want to thank Demon Lover's Books and More for allowing me to guest on their blog today to share a bit about the book and series.

The premise for the AKM series was to create a paranormal world of vampires and shifters cut from a different cloth. I love a good vampire story as much as the next person, but I wanted to give readers something different, yet familiar. Consequently, my vampires aren't your everyday, common vampires. Each is different from the rest. Some are day walking mixed-bloods (human and vampire…or even a mix of non-human and vampire) who can go out in the sun and were born genetically-altered to possess special powers their mixed blood bestowed upon them. Others are pure-bloods with the standard powers of vampires and who dwell only in the shadows of night. However, whether my vampires are pure or mixed-blood, all are damaged and tragic in some way.

My stories are darker and delve more into pain and suffering than what I've seen in mainstream books. I've noticed a trend where readers seem to be ready for darker, sexier, grittier fantasy, and that fits perfectly with my style of writing. I am a conflict junkie. I love adversity and suffering. The more a character suffers, whether physically or emotionally, the greater their victory when they overcome (if they overcome) it. Case in point, Micah Black from Rise of the Fallen. He is a perfect example of how I like my characters to be tragic in some way.

I do have some books planned for this series that aren't as hardcore as others, but Rise of the Fallen is a bit more on the harder core side. Micah is one ruthless, self-destructive male on a death mission when the book begins. Pain is his only companion, and that's just how he wants it…until he meets Samantha Garrett and realizes he wants her instead. But even she has her trials to overcome. And together, they will be in even more danger. So, yes, lots of adversity and conflict rides along with the storyline in this one.

I also wanted to create a different kind of "enemy" in this paranormal world. That's where the drecks come in. These beings are shifters, but not like werewolves or other animal shifting creatures. In their natural state, drecks appear bluish and gaunt, with long, black hair. In their shifted form, they can take on any human appearance they want. They are like chameleons, altering their appearance to blend in to their surroundings. And some of them, such as Apostle, would like nothing more than to eradicate the "disease" of vampires interfering with their objective to take over the world.

Drecks are distant cousins to the vampires. They have venom. They bite. But drecks have their own quirks and powers. However, they are inferior to vampires, which is the source of their discontent. Well, that and their general and overall lack of moral code. It's the job of the vampires who work for All the King's Men, an enforcement agency, to keep the drecks in check, but as the series develops, we'll see that it won't be easy. Not all books in the series will feature drecks, because that's just how it worked out, but many will in one way or another.

It's been a pleasure to share a bit of the AKM world with you. I hope you've enjoyed hearing about the book, Rise of the Fallen, as well as the series. Book two, Heart of the Warrior, comes out May 25, and it definitely follows the tragic relationship MO that Rise of the Fallen started.

Happy reading!

Where to buy:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Rise-Fallen-All-Kings-ebook/dp/B007OALZAI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1336826826&sr=8-2

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rise-of-the-fallen-donya-lynne/1109719170?ean=2940014279109

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/144817

All Romance ebooks: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-riseofthefallen-769765-139.html

Immortal Danger by Cynthia Eden

Immortal Danger by Cynthia Eden

My rating: 4 of 5 flames

When I see a 0.5 as a prequel, I automatically think it's a novella, but this one isn't. It's a full-length novel and it ties in really well with Cynthia Eden's most recent Night Watch book Never Cry Wolf.

We have the heroine, Maya, who used to be a cop, but it turned into a vampire, sort of accidentally(a vamp ripped her throat open, she shot him, his blood dripped into her blood, yaddah yaddah yaddah-accidental vampire-you know how it is). A few years later the real story begins.

Adam finds Maya in the middle of taking out a level 10 demon (the most powerful of all Others). He's been watching Maya for a while, actually. He needs her help.

Maya doesn't help. She looks out for numero uno and she takes out the bad guys-the cop in her didn't die when her mortal body did.

Adam wants Maya to help her find his niece. She was taken by vampires who are helping the Master vampire to rise. Maya can feel this master's call in the back of her head, just as any other vampire, but she's really good at ignoring it.

But Adam intrigues her. At first she thinks he's human, but he has no scent. Like, at all. It drives her nuts trying to keep him safe, but he seems so fearless. And he keeps putting himself in danger as if it's no big deal.

But their attraction grows, against both their better judgements, Adam's kind hate vampires, and Maya still has no idea what he is.

Meanwhile, Maya is betrayed by someone she used to trust, the local werewolf pack is after her, and let me tell you, they're kind of bad ass.

But Adam is more than any of them guessed.

And so is Maya.

This was an excellent paranormal romance, no doubt. Anyone who wants a Romantic Suspense but with Paranormal aspects should love this book, and this series.

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