Soul Avenged (Sons of Wrath 1) by Keri Lake

Hello to all,

                   i'm sorry to have disappeared a few days but life got really busy and i got a little lost, i will try to do better . Today , while hiding from the sun ( too hot now, really too hot) i decided to share with you  the first book of a recent series written by an attentive and kind author.
When i heard about Soul Avenged last year, i knew i had to read it, i started to follow the author,to read all review, participate in all contests without any luck. Sadly too, for international readers the print book ( think big book) is only available on amazon at the moment. Fortunately, Keri took pity on me and i got this copy i could review for you.( Thanks again!!!!)

I decided to share this with you today because at the moment, Keri has a vote going on on her blog here to choose the model for the cover of the next book so more specificaly we are looking for the best personnification of Logan, the troubled, hurt, strong minded but sill yummy and touching demon... normally if you enter by this link you would grant me an extra entry too because each votant are entering a giveaway for  a t-shirt , gift card or perhaps something else. So don't hesitate to go to see the post about the model and then to vote ( my favourite are teh least three but perhaps you would prefer another one^^)

Now if you haven't read this book yet, here is my opinion on the book.

Enjoy and good luck!

Publisher: Keri Lake

Publication: 2013

ISBN:  0984851720

Genre: urban fantasy, paranormal romance

Violence: strong
Language: mild
sex: strong
Public: 18+

Source: gift
 

Short description from goodreads :

Passion is blind in vengeance and love ...

Ayden’s suburban home was invaded by a pack of Lycans.

The brutal attack is the only memory she carries of her former life.

Now, one motive burns in her soul:

KILL THEM ALL.

The Sons of Wrath—a brood of vengeance-dealing warrior demons—band with Ayden to hunt the Lycans on Detroit’s most deadly feeding grounds.

Kane Walker should’ve been her easiest kill.

Unfortunately, the newly bitten Lycan has something she wants—clues that may finally lay her past to rest. To reach them, she must be willing to submit to the sensual pleasures awakened by his touch.

Time is running out.

In seven days, Kane will become what Ayden despises most. She can halt his transformation but the antidote requires the ultimate sacrifice. As the beast takes hold, Kane becomes more of a threat.

Ayden must choose between her lust for revenge, or surrender to her enemy and discover a horrible truth.

Sons of Wrath

Never gamble with vengeance

My opinion:

          This book initiated different feelings in me.. when I saw the early excerpts before the publication I knew I really wanted to read this one and I tried to get it without success until the author took pity on me ( thanks!!). Now while reading I didn’t know where to stand… at first I was confused because it seemed the heroine, ayden , was alone in her mission then suddenly Zeke acts and i didn’t know what or who he was, where he came from.. I even when back a few pages to see if I missed something, if it was the name of her dagger or something ^^;; it lasted only a little moment though and we get the explanation. Another detail that bothered me a little is the way lycans, mostly werewolves, are described. Here they are mindless beasts, devouring babies, killing without reasons etc , I usually prefer shifters that keep part of their humanity while changing ( like adam Hauptman or tybalt), the fact they were all evil bothered me but it’s something personal and even more it’s not exactly how they are described but how Ayden had them described to her. We see the difference between demons and lycans from her eyes and she is learning that not everything is like she thought that not one camp is the good guy and the other the bad….. the evil are not who she thought during so long. I guessed some part of the plot but I was really in my reading and I didn’t want to take any break when it started to get deeper in the story.

I liked this book a lot as a whole, Ayden is suffering but she is hiding it behind a cold attitude and behaviour.. when she became an Alexi, her memories were ripped from her. Until getting bits of them she never thought she would want them. She was programmed as a soldier but at the same time she left them despites the fact it was going to make her a prey… she still had some independence and while she didn’t question the theory the alexi taught her  ( lycans bad, alexi superiors etc etc) she stil decided to seek her own revenge which was forbidden. I would have loved if she analysed the situation more but learning how she was conditioned I really understand her better. To protect herself, she went to the demons and not a simple one no she made a contract with the Sons of Wrath specialized in vengeance and punishments…. She even had before a relation with their elder Gavin but not wanting something lasting she broke it up for a professional relationship only… finding an Halfling, a lycan to be, she is surprised to feel something and decide to take him prisoner to learn more.

Kane was a doctor and someone simple until that night when he got attacked by beasts…he didn’t believe in werewolves or paranormal until then and he doesn’t understand what is happening to him.  However, when Ayden tells him what he will become, what he will become capable off, Kane is still sane enough to decide that it’s not what he wants and he ask her to kill him then. After when he has to put his new abilities to use he does it but only in hope to help and safe her. Slowly he becomes the proof that lycans are not what she was taught but a lot more complex and more human than some others.

The Wrath’ s sons are quite a gang: excessively handsome, proud and not lacking self esteem,  important lords in their universe they are really adapt at what they do: take revenge, punish those who wronged their clients. However they are also quite picky on who can be one of their clients. Each one has a speciality or a special power for example, the older one Gavin has some power of premonitions but those visions are  not complete nor are they coming on demand.  I really enjoyed to see the relationship they had together and how their personalities differs. They give us some information on the demon’s world and while it can be really barbaric there is some honor and rules that can’t be broken without repercussions. They aren’t evil just terribly violent with their own moral code..

It’s a good urban fantasy and really promising for the first book of a series. If you don’t mind some werewolves mindless and barbaric ( at least for a moment) and love urban fantasy, give this one a try you would be surprised

To recommend

Score:  4/5

Disclaimer: All opinions are my own and no compensation was received in exchange for this review

Challenges: