Ward of the Vampire by Kallysten

Hello to all!

                  The weather is really strange... a few days ago it was 17°C...sunny a perfect day ( though too warm for the season that's true) today only 6/8 grey and rainy  if it stayed like that i wouldn't mind too much that's more normal but tradition oblige... our "carnaval" always has bad weather, always so it starts tomorrow ( long  days and nights without being able to sleep well in persperpective... perhaps more time to read at least at the beginning) .. and guess what..; yes the weather will be colder with perhaps even snow ( they forecast freezing up to minus 4)^^ strange tradition but at least we are not surprised.
Now that being said i'm still in my happy mood , staying positive only one week left before my birthday ( it has been long since i have been waiting impatiently for that day^^ not sure what i expect but we will see).

 Today i will give you my opinion on a novella, first on a new series, called " Ward of the Vampire" by Kallisten. I discovered this author during a blog hop and she was really kind and open, she is also doing a lot for the prevention of Breast cancer so when she asked for some bloggers to review her new title i jumped on the occasion and i don't regret it.

If you want to discover this author, she has a lot of titles on smashwords and several free so you can try her and if you are tempted by this new novella it's a mini price ( but if you can't afford it it will be free on kindle (i think) for a day only...1st April. No joke but a gift^^;;; to make you more impatient for vol2 that will be released soon.

Happy reading!

Publisher: Kallysten

Publication: 2013

Genre: paranormal romance
Violence: none
Language: normal
sex: strong
Public: 18+

Source: received in exchange for an honest review

Short description from goodreads :

It’s THE party of the season. Socialites, artists and A-list stars have been invited to Morgan Ward’s birthday bash, including Angelina’s boss, Delilah.

For months, Angelina has been looking at the preparations from afar, but never did she imagine that, come the day, Miss Delilah would put her in a gorgeous gown and bring her along as her ‘plus one.’

Wandering from crowded room to crowded room in the sumptuous mansion, Angelina grows overwhelmed and escapes onto a balcony, only to find it occupied by her host. That first meeting leaves her struggling for her very life, but she soon gets an unexpected do-over.

Meeting Morgan Ward for the first time all over again, Angelina finds herself falling into his arms… But is it all only a fantasy?

My opinion:

          It takes a little time to get into the story since we see it from Angelina and she is confused about what happened. However the writing style is excellent and I loved it; I mean we really get to understand Angelina’s feeling.   I loved to see the 2 versions of what could have happened and I wonder if it was really only her fantasy. Once we are in the story, then we just want more and we are really interested is what happen with enough mystery we have to guess what is real, what is compulsion etc to keep us on our toes.

Now I must admit it was really too short to my taste, I’ve got so many questions like Ward speak about a replacement but for whom? How Ward could change the compulsion and does it want to change it?

Morgan Ward intrigues me, he can be rude and arrogant but still he saved Angelina’s life without any hesitation. He seems irritated to have her but he is honest enough to try to explain what is happening. As for Angelina, part of me is glad it was fantasy because it seemed too rushed for me especially after the first meeting but she is trying to understand and doesn’t give up and I like that.

Delilah…. Arg I want to strangle her, I can’t understand why Angelina want to stay loyal to her….or even think about it. I hope Morgan Ward will teach her a lesson.

It’s a promising novella but I’m really glad we will get a following story and soon because I don’t like cliffhanger and even better: I want more of it!

Want a short novella with romance, mystery and having to wait for more ^^ then I recommend this^^. It’s also a little funny and you shouldn’t be disappointed ( no, just impatient^^;; for the next instalment)

Score:  3/5

Disclaimer: Source: a copy in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was received.

Challenge:

City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments 2) by Cassandra Clare

Hello to all,

          First sunny  (though freezing) day and that really makes me happy after so many raining , snowing, gray days finally the sun is back even if it's only for today it's good even more when you are trying to recover your health.

March paranormal romance challenge 's topic is fae/fey so i will try to read several books fitting this topic but i won't read only that i've also some sport romance reads planned and YA reads...and some books just because i want to read them and since my birthday is this month i will take at least one day of pleasure reads^^;; after all reading should always stay a pleasure when you read as an obligation you loose your passion too so better to find some balance.

That being said i will start with a YA book fitting the Fey Category..... and looks like fey are not funny, kind and beautiful creatures....quite the opposite at least in this version ( will see if they are variant in the books i will read this month.)

Here is my opinion on City of Ashes, second book of the Mortal Intruments series by Cassandra Clare.

Publisher: Walker Books Ltd

Publication: 2008

ISBN:  1406307637

Genre: YA, fantasy, Paranormal, adventure,urban fantasy, romance
Violence: strong
Language: normal
sex: mild
Public: 16+

Source: bought

Short description from goodreads :

 Clary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what's normal when you're a demon-slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries? If Clary left the world of the Shadowhunters behind, it would mean more time with her best friend, Simon, who's becoming more than a friend. But the Shadowhunting world isn't ready to let her go -- especially her handsome, infuriating, newfound brother, Jace. And Clary's only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil -- and also her father.

To complicate matters, someone in New York City is murdering Downworlder children. Is Valentine behind the killings -- and if he is, what is he trying to do? When the second of the Mortal Instruments, the Soul-Sword, is stolen, the terrifying Inquisitor arrives to investigate and zooms right in on Jace. How can Clary stop Valentine if Jace is willing to betray everything he believes in to help their father?

My opinion:

          This series is really a good surprise so far even if this book captivated me a little less than City of Bones. City of ashes start just where we left Clary and Jace at the end of book 1. Valentine is still on the run, Jocelyn is in the coma and Clary’s thoughts are in turmoil.

I had hoped to have some answers but mostly i got more questions and that bothered me a little. If Cassandra Clare doesn’t make some important revelations soon i guess i will fall out of love with this series because the love triangle won’t have sense anymore. I had hoped the inquisitor was going to said something but unfortunately Jace didn’t listen. In this book, Clary and Jace discover a little more about their powers and we can see the deep relation between Jace and Alex and Isabelle as well as between Clary and Luke.

I was even more disappointed with the shadowhunters than in city of Bones, the way Maryse reacted could only have one consequence as Luke pointed it and still she took her distances and said hurtful things. I don’t like her, yes she had some reasons but still. The inquisitor was worse, true but she was deeply hurting. I don’t forgive her either but i think i can have a little compassion because of what she did after.

In city of Ashes, the murder of different kinds of creatures is creating some tensions, the vampires are accused despite the fact they claim their innocence. Unfortunately, Maryse and the inquisitor are narrow minded and doesn’t want to listen to other possibilities despites the intervention of Magnus Bane and Luke. The children and their allies are then on their own to interfere with Valentine’s plan. We also discover more about the faeries and their Queen seems to know more about everything, unfortunately the price for that knowledge is too high.

Simon takes a bigger role now, however for being a roleplaying gamer too, i don’t think his reaction was logic, when  he intervened  before yes his idea of vampires, werewolves etc wasn’t the same as Jace’s but he still knew the dangers and such. So what happens seems strange to me. ( i understand why the author found that could be interesting for the story yes but the circumstances could have been better.

Clary is even more lost than before between what she wants and what she thinks she should want, the result is that she is acting like a baby, not wanting to speak, ignoring the others etc. Jace is confronted to hard choices, he discover that the Clave isn’t as perfect as he hoped and with whet he is enduring he has some moment of doubts but he still do the right things and i  appreciated more now than before.

I recommend this book if you want some YA fantasy and love paranormal, it won’t be good to read this as a stand alone though but if you liked book one City of Bones this one should please you as well.

Score:  3,5/5

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

Challenges:

March RAK sign up

Hello to all,

                   Welcome to a new month of Random Act of Kindness created by the girls ( Isalys and Vanessa) from Booksoulmates to share the love of books between the blogger from all around the world.

This time it's my special month ( march 16th for the special day) I really hope it will be a fabulous month for me and i'm grateful to every one of you who will make it special and wonderful. ( TBD is offering 10% off until the 15 of march so it's a good news)

Now even if it's my birthday i won't forget to share the love too so don't forget to write if you want handmade gift, if i don't contact you this month i could still mark you on my list for a future time.

Happy RAK!

COMPLETE RULES RE-CAP:
Please read carefully & follow all rules! Thank you!

• Please sign-up each month that you can participate (and by participate, we mean give as well as receive).
• Show off your participation by grabbing our RAK button (code is in the right sidebar).
• Create a wish list (on Amazon, Goodreads, or your blog, etc) and post it in the Google Doc located in each R.A.K post for the month.
• If you choose to do a R.A.K for someone, check out their wish list and contact that blogger directly for their information.
• Once you receive a RAK, send us an our new email to [rakbybooksoulmates @ gmail . com] so that we can update the Google Doc. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU SEND EMAILS TO THIS ADDRESS!
• E-book participation is limited to files being gifted directly to a person from the e-book store. Amazon's Kindle Store is set up to allow this, as well as the Kobo store and we believe Barnes & Noble with Nook as well.
• At the end of the month, SHOW US YOUR R.A.K by making a "RAK Wrap-Up" post. This post should include who you SENT gifts to as well who you RECEIVED gifts from :)

OPEN TO EVERYONE including all our International brethren!

Remember, there's always the Book Depository and they offer FREE shipping!

Easy peezy!!

Links you will need:

Sign up for MARCH 2013 [HERE]
See who else is participating [HERE]
If you have any questions regarding RAK, please contact us via the following:
rakbybooksoulmates @ gmail . com

This month, i'm number 15 on the list. If you want to grant me a RAK, please send me an email at isabelle(dot)frisch(at)gmail(dot)com and i will give you my information.

I have a long wishlist but that way everyone can find something they like and in their budget. I also accept gently used books from no smoking house (allergic), but i'm international so the shipping without bookdepository can be expensive.   ( TBD has 10% off on everything until the 15th of March!)

You can find my complete wishlist here and if i have to choose some favorite ( always difficult) in no particular order ( but really any book from my wishlist is fine):

-Taking a shot ( play by play3) by Jaci Burton

-Alpha instinct by Katie Reus
- Cursed by Jennifer L Armentrout

-In a fix by Linda Grimes

-An heiress at heart by jennifer Delamere

-Playing to win by Jaci Burton
-Demon hunting in the deep south by Lexi george

-Othermoon by nina Berry

ps: i don't accept ebook normally but there is a small exception for the pdf files of the Tales from the archives ( short stories from the ministry of peculiar occurences) by pip ballantine and Tee Morris. It exist only in digital so far and i'm a fan of this series and fortunately they are on smashword in all format ( included pdf) so the list for that is:

Tales from the Archives collection 2
Tales from the Archives collection 3
Tales from the Archives collection 4

Happy RAK to all participants and don't forget to write if you accept/want handmade gifts either in the right case on the form or in the comments!

Thank you once again for your help to make this month a magical one!

February RAK Wrap up

Hello to all,

                   Welcome to my  2013 February RAK wrap up post. February hasn't been an easy month for me since i've been quite sick. i haven't completly recovered yet either so  i took  a little longer to create the RAK but i'm glad i managed to send a few even if they aren't all arrived yet ( if they arrive in a few days i will add them here if not they will appears in next month wrap up).

Just to be cautious, i've already took some contact for March after all that's my special month i hope i will get lucky ( even more now that for half month TBD offer 10%off from everything) but i don't want to think only of myself so i will send several RAK .

Also  i took note of several people that put in the form they were interested in handmade rak so i could try to prepare a kind of schedule for me^^ so even if you did already, if you want one  don't hesitate to write it in the form or in the comment.

In February I received: nothing but it doesn't matter, i was told i was going to get something for my birthday so i'm patient.

and in February,  i've sent :

( note: i don't take picture of the Rak i create before sending them so it's only if the receiver made one i can use that i will add it here so this post will perhaps be edited later to add some)

A handmade personnalised bird keychain to Maija from Books, DIY's and Randomness  ( took quite some time to get the special addition but i'm so happy you love it ^^ it was worth it in the end^^)

A handmade  white tiger bookmark  to Stella from Ex-libris ( Sorry it took me so long to send it, i hope you like it^^ ; i'm not well enough to make such a design for a little time so i can only hope you are not disappointed)

A handmade cute kitten bookmark to Katrina from Kindred Dreamheart  (So happy you love this first kitten ^^ and i'm glad i didn't cause any trouble with any sorority, once again Happy Birthday )

A handmade cute baby polar bear bookmark to Sarah from Escaping through Books  a little in advance for your birthday since we share the same special month ^^. Enjoy and i hope you will get a fabulous special day.

So Did you participate in RAK this month? How was it? You can let your links in teh comment if you want. If you have never participate, are you tempted to?

L’Amant Consacré (Confrérie de la Dague Noire 6) par JR Ward

Bonsoir à tous.

                        Etant souffrante, je me suis faite un peu plus rare sur le net ces derniers jours et la situation évoluera en même temps que ma santé donc croisons les doigts pour que l'amélioration arrive vite.  En attendant je suis quand même parvenue à lire un peu en français pour être moins fatiguant et en prenant un livre qui m'intéressait moyennement pour que je puisse arrêter dès que c'était nécessaire ( et cela l'a été très souvent).

Toutefois j'ai été globalement assez agréablement surprise par ce tome 6 de la Confrérie de la dague noire, en effet le suspense a été bien maintenu et contre toute attente.. des anges/ anges déchus font leur apparition surprenant oui mais aussi très agréable pour moi puisque c'était le thème du challenge " romance paranormale" de ce mois -ci donc une très bonne opération pour moi

 Sur ce, je vous laisse avec mon avis sur L'amant Consacré et je retourne vite au lit pour récupérer plus vite.

 Bonne Lecture

Editeur VF: Milady  2011
Titre original:Lover Enshrined ( edited 2008)
Genre: romance paranormale, érotique, vampires, anges
Violence: élevée
Langage: moyen
sexe: élevé
Public: +18ans
Obtenu par achat

Quatrième de couverture de l'éditeur Milady:

Loyal à la Confrérie, Fhurie s est sacrifié pour le bien de l'espèce. En tant que Primâle des Élues, il est obligé d'engendrer les fils et les filles qui garantiront la survie de leurs traditions. Cormia, sa première compagne, ne veut pas seulement conquérir son corps, mais aussi son coeur. Mais Fhurie ne s' est jamais autorisé à connaître le plaisir ou la joie. 

Alors que la guerre contre la Société des éradiqueurs se fait plus effroyable, et que la tragédie pèse sur la demeure de la Confrérie, Fhurie doit choisir entre le devoir et l'amour.

Avis:

          Pour une fois, Jr Ward est parvenue me maintenir captivée bien que  cette série ne soit pas une de mes favorites. En effet à plusieurs reprises des éléments sont venu ranimé mon intérêt de sorte que j’ai vraiment plus apprécié ce volume en comparaison avec le précédent.

Ce tome se concentre sur Fhurie et il est évident qu’il a bien plus de problèmes psychologiques que certains autres guerriers, bien que tous soient en souffrance comme l’aime la vierge scribe pour une raison que j’ignore encore. Après avoir plus la place de primâle, il se retrouve coincé car une partie de lui est encore effrayée par la responsabilité que cela inclus mais également parce qu’il s’attache à Cormia et ne souhaite pas qu’elle soit obligée de s’unir à lui. Cela va l’amener à bien des  hésitations, dérives et erreurs mais il en plus soutenu qu’il ne pense et finit par agir justement car ce titre lui confère le pouvoir de changer les choses si tel est son désir.

Cependant ce n’est pas là ce qui m’a le plus plut, bien que les description de chute aux enfers, sevrages, etc aient été bien décrites ce que j’ai le plus aimé c’est la manière dont JR Ward a su maintenir et gérer le suspense. Par exemple elle parle d’un mâle dépérissant, décrit ses journées et son état d’esprit mais ce n’est qu’après plusieurs passages lui étant destiné qu’elle confirme nos suppositions quant à son identité et encore de façon détournée. Jusqu’à la fin du récit où il retrouve sa place et son identité.

Mieux encore… dès el début du livre on apprends que l’oméga a fait un enfant et qu’il a caché ce dernier parmi les vampires pour qu’il y soit élevé et lui servent plus tard de taupe en somme.  Or pendant une large partie du roman, on ignore sui est ce fils  et JR Ward parvient à vous faire douter à plusieurs reprises avant de dévoiler exactement ce qui s’est passé et comment, et je dois avouer qu’à ce moment là j’ai été rassurée et aussi que cela m’a parut tellement évident que je ne comprenais pas comment j’avais pu ainsi négliger ma toute première idée lorsque j’avais lu l’existence de ce fils. (Comme quoi les premières idées sont souvent les bonnes.)

On se concentre également sur John et ses amis et j’avoue que je regrette que l’auteur ait éprouvé le besoin de mêler l’homosexualité à tout ça comme si des garçons ne pouvaient pas être amis, loyaux sans que cela ne cache quelque chose, n’implique des sentiments amoureux. Cela m’a parut vraiment dommage. Les jurons sont également beaucoup plus présents que précédemment  sans que cela n’apporte plus au récit loin de là.

En plus des frères, de John et ses ami. On en apprends également énormément sur Vhengeance sa nature, les conséquences de celle-ci ainsi que son passé. Et c’est vraiment surprenant.  Et je suis tentée d’en apprendre d’avantage surtout qu’il a désormais un rôle plus important encore (reste à voir comment ça se gèrera avec son identité réelle) il pourrait être un grand allié de Kohler.

Comme précédemment, je trouve que la glymera est vraiment stupide, superficielle et arrogante… ; maintenant je peux ajouter cruelle et cupide à la liste c’est à se demander pourquoi la confrérie risque la vie de ses membres pour ces ingrats. Enfin le reste de la population vampirique est peut-être meilleure…  mais ça reste à voir

 Enfin j’ai également été très surprise de découvrir des anges, anges déchus se joindre à l’histoire…cela tombe bien puisque c’était le thème du challenge paranormal de ce mois amis cela restait complètement inattendu.

J’avoue que je suis curieuse de lire la suite afin de voir si mon intérêt pour cette série va croître ou non

 Intéressant ajout à la série, beaucoup d’éléments surprenants mais encore et toujours d’autres qui ont tendance à me faire reléguer cette série sur ma liste des lectures non prioritaires.

Score: 3,5 /5

Disclaimer: Toutes les opinions exprimées ici sont les miennes, il s’agit de d’un avis honnête et personnel. Aucune compensation n’a été fournie en échange de ce dernier.

Challenges:

 

Midnight’s Master (Dark Warriors1) by Donna Grant

Hi!
 i won't be long because i'm really unwell but i had this ready and i wanted to give you something before i go back curling under the covers...

enjoy!

Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks

Publication: 2012

ISBN:  0312552483

Genre: paranormal romance, fantasy, time travel
Violence: mild
Language: normal
sex: strong
Public: 18+

Source: bought

Short description from goodreads :

Gwynn Austin has no idea why her father has disappeared on a mysterious trip to Scotland. When she goes on a desperate mission to search for him she finds more than she bargains for in a ruggedly handsome, wickedly exciting Highlander who exudes danger and mystery. And when she discovers her own link to Scotland, she’ll have to trust her heart to help lead her...

Propelled through time by powerful Druid Magic, Logan Hamilton uses his immortality and powers of the god inside him to help prevent the awakening of an ancient evil in the modern world. He never expects to find help in the form of a beautiful, alluring, and all too tempting woman whose passion and strength matches his own. Together, Logan and Gywnn must fight for their love—before a demon from the past destroys them both…

My opinion:

          Highlanders have become something I really enjoy and want more of it so when I discovered this series mixing them with paranormal I was curious and I had to try it. Let say that Donna Grant didn’t disappointed me. I loved how warriors and druids were linked together and the idea of old deities is always fascinating for me, I’m curious about their history and such.

I loved reading this book and I enjoyed the story a lot but I must admit that I didn’t relate to the characters as much as in some others series. I liked them, I want to learn more about them but I wasn’t exactly at their side during my reading. There was a kind of distance, perhaps because of the history between Gwynn and her father, I don’t know why. Still like I said I really enjoyed the story, the plot and the setting so I’m fully planning to read more about those dark Warriors. It was a novelty in my quest to discover new kind of paranormal creatures.

Gwynn is an American and while she always dreamed to visit Scotland it was never in the circumstances and dangers she is confronted to. While looking for her father, with whom she never had a really deep relation to start with, she meet Logan who tells her that she is a druid.  Gwynn remember her grandmother stories and the special abilities she has as a child but because she was considered strange and since her mother didn’t like that she ignored her magic and nearly forgot it until this day.   Now she has a destiny to accomplish and a warrior at her side but also strong enemies who know more than her.

Logan awakens in 2012 after having been sent forward in time from the seventeenth century in hope to fight a strong evil and to save one of his fellow warriors, Ian. However, he is rapidly drawn to a small city where he meets a woman who he instantly identifies as a druid despite her doubts.  As he vowed to protect the druids, he set his mind on protecting Gwynn while she searches for her father. After he told her the truth of his origin, he will have to adjust to our time with her help in the same way he helps her discovering her heritage, her magic. However, the enemy he came to fight is still strong and worse she isn’t alone anymore. And Gwynn magic could not be enough, so he will have to uses the power gives by the god in him despites his guilt and remorse.

I loved how they both had to learn from each other, it wasn’t  one who had a knowledge no each of them has the knowledge the other need so it created a links between them. The others warriors are really interesting to and I was concerned for Ian a lot. I learned of the druids and warrior at the same time as Gwynn but I would like more of the Macleods brothers and of the warriors without forgetting their wife, the druids.

It’s a book really enjoyable and I took pleasure in it even if it could have been even better. If you are looking for a new paranormal series different from vampire and traditional shifters, if you love highlanders it’s a good book to try.

Score:  4/5

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

Challenges:

 

The Athena Effect (The Athena Effect 1) by Derrolyn Anderson

Hello to all,

                 Before i go back to bed since i seem only to get worse at the moment ( nothing to worry about , but a dotor's appointment is scheduled since i can't fight this virus alone), i wanted to share another book with you. ... i try to be really careful and professional with the books i receive for request... it's the reason why i try to be in perfect conditions when i'm reading them ( so that my opinion isn't  influenced because i'm sick, dead tired or depressed etc), i try also not to be too long.

I received this book last year and i was really happy to have been contacted to review it... i put it on top of my pile ready to jump on it...when life got it the way... during december and january all the family got sick and not all together so i was really busy tending to everyone before i caught something too. ..those kind of strong virus that takes weeks ( 7!!!) to be defeated... Finally this month i got a window...a few days when i was feeling well, happy and i jumped on The Athena Effect and some other books i couldn't resist any longer..; i'm happy i did since i 'm back to being sick already and this book really deserved to be read in good conditions

Anyway  i didn't want to make you wait so here is my opinion of the Athena Effect by Derrolyn Anderson.

Happy reading

Publisher: Derrolyn Anderson

Publication: 2012

ISBN:  9781476059273

Genre: YA, Fantasy, paranormal romance
Violence: mild
Language: normal
sex: mild
Public: 16+

Source: ecopy in exchange for an honest review

Short description from goodreads :

 Country girl Cali has been kept a secret her entire life, raised in isolation by two very troubled people. Despite her parent’s disturbing fits, Cal is perfectly content, living at one with the nature that surrounds her, and finding adventure inside the pages of her beloved books. When an awful tragedy tears her away from her remote cabin in the woods, nothing she’s ever read has prepared her for a world that she knows very little about.

Girls and motorcycles are what bad-boy Cal’s life is all about. Brought up in a raucous party house by his biker brother, he’s free to do as he pleases, going through the motions on his final days of high school. Aimless, Cal stopped thinking about his future a long time ago.

Attacked by a gang of thugs while running an errand for his brother, Cal is in serious trouble until a fierce girl appears out of nowhere to intervene. She chases off three grown men, sparing Cal a brutal beating before disappearing into the night like a spirit. He can’t stop thinking about his mysterious rescuer, and when she turns out to be the weird new girl at school who goes out of her way to avoid him, he can’t contain his curiosity.

He’s never met anyone like her before, and the more he learns about the unusual girl who shares his nickname, the more he wants to know. Cal can’t help falling for Cal, but can he keep her from falling victim to a dangerous enemy from her parent’s tragic past?

My opinion:

          I was really happy to receive a copy of this book for review because it caught my eyes on goodreads before so this opportunity to discover this series was fantastic and if I hadn’t be unwell I would have read and reviewed it before now. The great thing is that I wasn’t disappointed at all despites my high expectations of this book!

 The story starts with 2 teenagers on the run, they seems really scared and not healthy but deeply in love. Then we go forward 17 years, nearly 18 in the future and we discover they become the parents of a very special young girl called Cal as a diminutive for Caledonia. Cal is a little savage, she loves being is the wild surrounded by animals and nature however she is also educated, loving to read anything she comes by in a scheduled house. She knows she is special, that not every one has the same power as her being able to see the emotions of living creatures and to influence them. The fact that her parents are hiding didn’t escape her, but the nature of their nightmares eludes her. They protected her, taught her lots of things but also warned her to be cautious, that there were dangers lurking around without telling her which danger or to tell her how to avoid them though.

So when they die in a tragic accident, Cal is left alone without knowing how to act in the big city where she is sent to live with her aunt she never knew.  She has a vast knowledge literally but in practise she didn’t use electricity before so everything seems new.

Cal don’t like living with her aunt who didn’t really want to take her in even only for the few month until she turns eighteen, worse she always sticks to her boyfriend  whose intentions are a little too clear. To avoid troubles, Cal prefers to stay as little as possible at home when her aunt is working but that means spending the night out wandering.  When one night she sees a boy being bitten she jumps at his rescue without hesitation. Calvin thought the girl who saved him wasn’t real, used to having a different girl on his arm each day; he is playing the playboy to hide his pain and suffering. However, when he discovers that the new weir girl at school, avoiding everyone is the girl who came to his rescue he gets curious. Even more, she is the girl how managed to calm his brother‘s pit-bull. He starts to follow her, trying to get to know her but slowly feelings grow for this girl so different so intelligent, stronger that she looks and kind but also so innocent. He is drawn to her.

For Cali, Cal is a boy to avoid. She doesn’t like his attitude with girls however when he ask for her help, she can’t refuse; she even starts to confide in him what even her parents never knew.  In this new world she is facing, Cal becomes a friend and a support for her. He is kind and takes time to show her things, take her to the fair and museum, soon Cali accept her growing feelings.

Unfortunately for them, the past is coming back full force and what Cali’s parents feared has come. Someone discovered her existence and knowing Cali’s power and will do anything to get his hand on her. Cali is confronted to what she wasn’t prepared for; she learnt the reason for her parents’ crisis, the reason for her power but can’t fight alone. She finds allies she didn’t hope for and Cal is determined to protect her even if it means leaving for the unknown.

One thing that bothered me a little is the fact that Rufus didn’t react during the abducting, even if he was in a closed room or anything he should have barked madly when strangers entered and thus Cal would have been awaken, even more knowing how much he cares for her. Another detail bothered me, the fact that Cal and Cali  get involved a little too quickly to my taste, I mean he says he will wait etc and at the same time they jump on it the same night. Yes it’s wasn’t they first day together etc but it seemed to fast for me  with Cali Background., but the story as a whole stay really good of course^^

The plot is sometimes predictable but Derrolyn Anderson’s writing style is clear and fresh so once you start the story you don’t want to put it down even when you guess what could happen you just want to be sure and to read more. I enjoyed the parallelism between the prologue and the epilogue, like the life is a cycle the characters find themselves repeating some schema and I can only hope it will be for the better. It’s really enjoyable, it’s a very good YA fantasy book and I’m curious about the rest of the series because while there isn’t really a cliffhanger , the tension is still there and you want to know what will happen to the different protagonists.

To recommend!

Score:  4/5

Disclaimer: Source: a copy in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was received. All opinions are my own.

 You can buy this book on  amazon or  in other formats on  smashwords

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