Book Review: Finale by Becca Fitzpatrick

Finale is the concluding novel in the Hush, Hush sequence by Becca Fitzpatrick. Not an entirely unexpected ending to this saga between fallen angel and feuding Nephilim. Many lines had been drawn in the sand, making war an unavoidable certainty.
Patch and Nora head up the cast, their love and loyalty for one another unshakable, despite their differences. Patch is one of the fallen, and Nora has been cast under oath to lead the Nephilim army to victory. No longer will the cast-out angels take wanton possession of the archangel's offspring, especially with the aid Devilcraft and the desire for freedom spurring them on.
With too many suspect players, underhanded deals and the threat of death looming ever present, it's no wonder this novel culminates in bloodshed and tears. Friends are lost and old rivals attempt to settle new scores - Nora and Patch on a path to a rocky end.
But just when you think all hope is lost, a blizzard of fighting frisks the final chapters and then suddenly it's all over. With the strike of a sword to the heart of a troublesome individual, all problems are swept under a tidy rug of convenience.
What I loved about Finale was the carefully crafted writing and intense imagery. The strong bonds explored between friends and the uncertainty of patch and Nora's romantic future. 
Predictable though the ending was, I was still captivated by the fast-paced story and curious as to how a happy ending could bloom from such oppressive sadness. The sense of hopelessness offered intrigue, and I'm pleased to say that I did enjoy the novel, rating it three out of five fangs.

Synopsis:

Will love conquer all?
Nora and Patch thought their troubles were behind them. Hank is gone and they should be able to put his ugly vendetta to rest. But in Hank's absence, Nora has become the unwitting head of the Nephilim and must finish what Hank began. Which ultimately means destroying the fallen angels - destroying Patch.
Nora will never let that happen, so she and Patch make a plan: lead everyone to believe they have broken up, and work the system from the inside. Nora will convince the Nephilim that they are making a mistake in fighting the fallen angels, and Patch will find out everything he can from the opposing side. They will end this war before it can even begin.
But the best-laid plans often go awry. Nora is put through the paces in her new role and finds herself drawn to an addictive power she never anticipated.
As the battle lines are drawn, Nora and Patch must confront the differences that have always been between them and either choose to ignore them or let them destroy the love they have always fought for.

Kristy :)

The Damned (volume 2 The Hunted) It's coming ...

Great news peoples. The Damned - the long overdue, much anticipated second installment in The Hunted series is almost here. The books are in print and should be shipped and in my hot little hands within a fortnight.
And have no fear! For those of you super keen on e-books, they're being organised as you read this, including new formats for The Hunted. So in light of this fact, I've decided to post the preface for you to have a read through - whet your appetite so to speak.
Enjoy, my friends. The real deal will be here lickety split. Thanks for your patience.

PREFACE

The stranger lifted the warm mug of AB negative to his lips. He took a few swift gulps, felt the sweetness of the warmed fluid caressing his tongue and setting his tastebuds aflame. Like liquid velvet it slid down his throat, strengthening and replenishing his body from within, and filling him with the rich satisfaction that could only come from the taste of blood.
He could feel his arteries dilate, his senses sharpening as life-force began to satiate his awakened thirst. His pulse throbbed under the influx, eventually slowing to a stop again once the blood had dissipated into his system.
It was good to be a vampire.
Body still burning for more, the stranger gestured to the barman for another. This packaged stuff known as Synth Blood could sustain him but was nowhere near as gratifying as fresh blood from a warm human body. He longed to bury his fangs in the neck of an unsuspecting victim, rend at flesh until the warmth of their essence spilled across his tongue, making him whole again. For now he had to suppress his instincts, though, to prevent his detection from the ones still hunting him.
Only one month had passed since the stranger had last killed but his skin already itched with the need to taste a human’s fear. As he revelled in his memories of the hunt, an image of his wife came to mind, and with it a sadness that was all consuming. His wife had shared in his bloodlust, his uncontrollable desire to feed. She had hunted beside him, night after night, and eventually murdered because she had rightfully lived as the predator she was created to be. The stranger’s blood still boiled thinking about her unrighteous death and the creature that had caused it. But the time for retribution was coming.
He would make sure of it.
The stranger glanced around the bar. It was mostly empty; no real surprise considering it was high noon. The turned vampires would all spend their daylight hours hiding in darkened spaces, waiting for nightfall. Born vampires were able to move around in the daylight but were still forced to avoid direct sunlight. At this point, as the thirst still rode him, the stranger cared little for shelter.
‘You travelled far this evening?’ the barman asked, setting down a fresh mug of heated blood and jogging the stranger from his reverie.
He accepted it gratefully and took a sip. ‘Not especially,’ the stranger said, eyeing the barman from head to toe.
The barman was a turned vampire, probably no more than thirty years of age. He had short, sandy blonde hair and unassuming blue eyes. Despite being slightly rotund in the mid-section he was still as beautiful as the rest of his race.
‘Are you from Spain or Italy?’ the barman asked, an eyebrow rising. ‘I’m trying to pick your accent.’
The stranger took another sip. ‘I’m Italian.’
‘No kidding?’ He wiped at a spill on the counter top. ‘You must be part of Lucius Valerius’s coven.’
The stranger contained his desire to sneer. ‘No. I belong to no coven and I especially do not answer to Lucius Valerius. At least, not anymore.’
‘Here, here. The last sixteen years under Lucius’s rule have been difficult. I really used to enjoy hunting humans before it was outlawed.’ The barman absently wiped at another spill. ‘Granted, I make money from the sale of Synth Blood and the shelter my neutral bar provides, but it’s not the same as the thrill of hunting for fresh blood. The only way I can function now, without being hunted down by Lucius or his thralls, is to stay here where I have all the blood I need. Confrontations with humans are too ... tempting.’
‘That’s pathetic,’ the stranger said.
The barman frowned. ‘We all do what we can to survive. Sometimes that means swallowing your pride and advocating for the Devil.’
The stranger smiled. The barman didn’t realise how on the money he was. Lucius was demon spawn.
Taking the stranger’s smile as an invitation to talk further, the barman leant forward on his elbows, smiling warmly. ‘So what brings you to Paris, anyway?’
The stranger wasn’t in the mood for idle chit-chat, but doubted that the barman would leave him alone. ‘I’m looking for someone.’
‘Perhaps I can help?’
The stranger shook his head, taking a few more gulps of blood. It wasn’t his favourite brew, but the liquid was undeniably starting to satisfy his primal cravings. ‘I don’t think so.’
‘If you’re looking for a vampire in Paris, I know everyone by name.’
The stranger gritted his teeth. ‘I thank you for the drink,’ he said, holding up the mug, ‘but I wish to finish it in peace.’
The barman scowled. ‘I was just making conversation.’
‘Unwanted conversation. Go find another patron to annoy.’
‘There are no other patrons.’
The stranger looked around, noting that the few other patrons had left. He’d always had that effect on people.
He glanced at the barman.
Pity.
The stranger drained the remaining contents of his mug and pushed it back towards the barman.
Frowning, the barman turned his back on him.
‘Barman, I require another drink.’
‘In a minute. I gotta clean,’ he said, busying himself with the relatively unimportant task of filling a small sink behind the bar with hot, soapy water.
The stranger drummed his fingers on the counter impatiently. The barman started to wash and stack glasses, now ignoring him completely.
‘Barman, I bid you pour me another drink before you make me angry. And before I do something that you will regret.’
The barman glanced around and smirked insolently. ‘I’ll pour you another drink when I’m ready.’ He went back to stacking glasses. ‘And do not threaten me. I am Vampire, just as you are.’
The stranger sighed. He could have left the bar. He could have sought nourishment from some other venue or even hunted down his own humans. But, now, that wasn’t enough.
The stranger, moving with inhuman grace, was behind the bartender moments later, his hands gripping the creature’s sides so tightly it could barely move.
His rage could no longer be contained.
‘What the―let go of me!’
‘Are you ready now?’ the stranger whispered, spinning the barman around to face him. In one swift motion, he sank his fangs deep into the barman’s throat, ripping out his jugular in a vicious shower of crimson-slicked gore. As his victim thrashed in his embrace, warm blood poured down the stranger’s chin and sprayed the front of his shirt. As the stranger felt the last of the barman’s life leaving his body, he tossed what remained onto the floor with a resounding thud.
He wiped the excess blood from his lips, spitting onto the floor. 
‘Much better,’ the stranger murmured, stepping over the body and moving towards the front door without so much as a backward glance. ‘Turned vampires―as easy a prey as humans.’ 
He pushed open the front door and cringed. Where the rays from the midday sun struck him, blistering lines burned across his features. Searching quickly for a shady area through which to walk, he soon spied a darkened alleyway and hurried out towards it. 
He considered the next step in his plan carefully. He needed leverage, something that would turn an enemy into a friend, or at the very least, an enemy into an ally. 
The Vânătors, a fierce race of fanatical werewolves, were not exactly known for their negotiating skills. They were hungry predators, born from the blood of the Vampire and completely uncaring of anyone’s needs but their own. They were wild, the very worst variation of a vampire’s genetic nature, and were the perfect tool for his vengeance. 
The Vânătors penchant for vampiric blood would definitely work to the stranger’s advantage. Their mating habits produced large packs, enough to cause any vampire trouble. Also, their ability to shapeshift into the form of any human they had previously fed from meant they could move around mostly undetected—a useful trick. 
He just needed to figure out what it was the Vânătors desired. 
The stranger smiled. He saw the future in his mind, laid out in the front of him. It was a future he hoped to share with other, likeminded vampires, with any other supernaturals tired of suppressing their natural instincts. The stranger’s future would mean no more hiding in the shadows, where vampires reigned supreme and blood was the word on everyone’s lips. 
A future he could really sink his teeth into.

Kristy :)

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Book Review: Rook by Cristyn West

What isn't there to love about this book? With a smart-ass protagonist called, Rook, and a whole host of crazy characters ranging from a transgender arranger named Beauty, to an institutionalized kid named Fanny, this novel takes you on an unexpected journey of epic proportions.
Rook is aptly named for it's leading character - strong, arrogant, mysterious and decidedly sexy despite the obvious lack of romance and intense commitment to action within the story. With a particularly dry sense of humour, the author had me laughing-out-loud with the first few pages of the chapter one.

Rook sat back on his heels. Carefully, he reached a hand out and picked up the rough piece of paper. Grotesque scenes of human suffering bordered the edges.
How delightful ... not.
The inscription was not just in Latin, but an ancient form of the dialect. He translated it rapidly.
"There is nowhere you can hide. We will eat your intestines and feast on your ... yada, yada, yada."
Typical demon smack talk. All it was doing was making Rook hungry.

I found myself continuously amused by the witty dialogue which in effect, captured most of the action in surprising detail. I never felt like I was outside of the unfolding plot but standing within it, embroiled within dire circumstance and seemingly implausible scenarios.
Rook is a play-by-play story unraveling over a twenty-four hour period that follows the motley group likened to CIA operatives tasked with supernatural missions.
Not surprisingly, with this fast paced novel, we jump immediately to the African jungle and uncover an ancient seal masking its brutal secrets of hell-gate potential on the young flesh of the President's nephew. Teamed with slippery demons and cannibalistic natives, Rook soon discovers that the hell gate is merely the beginning. The ever thickening plot also introduces an immaculate conception and a government conspiracy masking the true intent of both good and evil.
Seriously, the action and drama never ends!
With ample descriptive content and enough antagonistic one-liners to keep the pages turning, I will be rating Rook four out five fangs. Absent of romance, but action packed, I didn't feel as if I were missing out on anything.

Synopsis:
"Saving the world twice a week is a crappy job, but hey, somebody's got to do it." And yes, Rook would like to be quoted on that. In a world where the earth is the DMZ between Heaven and Hell, Rook and his team try keep the forces of good and evil at bay. But like we said... try.

The Damned is Coming ...

Hey guys,

Guess what? I finally have my files for The Damned, the second installation in my Hunted Series. And because you've all been waiting so long for this release, it is my gift to you to provide 5 free days of Kindle downloads of The Hunted to get you ready! (Go here for Download)
Yes, you heard me. I am putting the first novel The Hunted for free on Kindle for five days!
This is your chance to grab a copy, tell your friends and family and generally just share the information so when the Damned is released everyone is ready for round two.
The promotion starts on the 23/2/2013 and will run until the 27/2/2013. Remember  these promos run on Pacific Standard time, so keep checking in if it's not registering free when you read this post.
If you've never heard of The Hunted series, check out the two trailers below to whet your whistle, view the upcoming cover for The Damned and read the synopsis's right here!
Cheers guys, thanks as always for your support and don't forget to share, share share!

The Hunted Book Trailer (Book one)

The Damned Book Trailer (Book two)

The Hunted Synopsis:

Elena Manory is by no means an ordinary teenage girl. Being born with the ability to heal herself from any injury, and with the knowledge that on her eighteenth birthday she will become a Vampire, Elena is aware that she is more than a little different from other girls her age. 

It isn’t until she meets William Granville, an alluring and impossibly handsome vampire, that she begins to question her destiny and what secrets the Institute of Magical Intervention and her adopted family have withheld—secrets that could change the fates of not only her own life, but of the lives of all the immortals.

As events spiral out of control, William may be the only person Elena can place her trust in. He, and Elena’s magical family, must fight to save her, joining forces to defeat a common, deadly foe. For William, it is his chance to save the girl that he has searched eternity to find.

The Damned Synopsis:

Life for Elena Manory skipped past ordinary just over a month ago. Discovering she was born a practically invulnerable vampire-werewolf hybrid was shocking enough, but she’s also become a target. Elena is being hunted by the Alpha werewolf Roshan, who’s fixated on the properties of her unique blood and the pleasurable possibilities of her flesh.

Moving to the Institute of Magical Intervention in Romania was supposed to provide her with protection and anonymity, but Elena soon realises her enemies are legion. None are as they seem, with no agenda truly without nefarious intentions. 

A strange twist of fate and the actions of a vampire previously pressing for her affections lead Elena into the arms of another—one whose middle name spells trouble. Himself a vampire, Sebastian is perplexingly familiar, handsome, and arrogant. He introduces Elena to a world she never thought possible, uncovers a past believed long buried, and unearths a future she may not survive.

Kristy :)

Book Review: Become (Desolation #1) by Ali Cross

Do you want to know why I picked up this novel? Yes, the front cover is pretty enticing and yes it appears to have the makings of a great YA supernatural fiction based on the synopsis but what really pulled me in, believe it or not, was the author's short biography:

Ali Cross is the sensei of the Writer's Dojo where she holds a black belt in awesome. She lives in Utah with her kickin' husband, two sparring sons, one ninja cat, two sumo dogs and four zen turtles.

I decided to read Become because I thought to myself if the author is witty enough to bring a smile to my face before I even turn the first page, then I might as well take a peak beneath the cover and I'm glad that I did.

Become is a refreshing YA paranormal novel, holding all the makings of a great little series. Exploring the dark side through the cynical and emotionally crippled Desolation Black, we come to understand that being the daughter of the prince of darkness is no easy task. Couple her black blood with that of a great angelic warrior, and Desolation - Desi for short - isn't sure where she belongs.

Haunted by the destruction that her own touch brings, Desi refuses to see the light within her. She pushes aside friendships and endeavours to ever harden her heart, terrified that the roiling darkness within may one day break free, causing irreparable damage. The goal is to find balance, to accept both the good and evil within and choose a path befitting the burning ache of love that burns brightly at depths of her forgotten soul.

Become is a swift moving novel packed with plenty of action scenes and enough angst and desperation to leave the reader feeling rather solemn and somehow sympathetic. Desolation is riddled with turmoil and unexplored emotion, taking the reader on a journey through the darkness that leaves you clawing at the pages in an effort to rediscover the light.

Characters are consistent in their portrayal and often engage in dialogue that is purposeful in explaining the back story in further detail. Small highlights include the modern day referencing of angels and demons versus the Gods of mythology - Odin, Loki and of course the Valkyries. I was surprised to see how well the two were combined and enjoyed this fresh retelling with an aside story that left the ending quite the cliffhanger.

Well written and surprisingly poignant, I am happy to rate this book three and a half fangs out of five and will probably read the next installment.

Synopsis:

Sixteen-year old Desolation Black wants nothing more than to stay in Hell where it’s cold and lonely and totally predictable. Instead, she’s sent back to Earth where she must face the evil she despises and the good she always feared.
When Desi is forced to embrace her inner demon, she assumes her choice has been made—that she has no hope of being anything other than what her father, Lucifer, has created her to be. What she doesn’t count on, is finding a reason to change—something she’s never had before—a friend.

Followers

Okay, so this is an extremely short post today. Mostly because I've just been given the most awesome news about the release of my second novel in The Hunted Series, The Damned (yes people it is finally coming!) so I've got a lot to do to get it out and printed ASAP.

I basically wanted to acknowledge all the people that love and support what I do - especially your recent patience in regards to the release date of this novel. 

Anyway, it came to my attention the other day that I've reached over 300 followers on my blog, 580 on my Facebook page and 480 on my Twitter account. This is fabulous!

I mean I used to think it was creepy before someone explained to me that you weren't all going to camp out in my front yard seeing Kumbaya through the open windows. A follower is a friend, a supporter, or someone just plain interested in what you have to say. And, the reason I wanted to say thank you to all of my followers worldwide is that I still can't believe you regularly tune into to read my musings.

You know I talk a lot of sh#%t right?

Anyway, thanks again my faithful followers, my successes are via your inspiration and support.

Bless!

Kristy :)

Book Review: Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick

‘Silence’ by Becca Fitzpatrick is the third book in the ‘hush, hush’ series. It’s the steadily beating pulse of intrigue within the set that finally sees you keeping pace with the urgent tension the writer so obviously wishes you to engage.
The novel once again follows Nora Grey, a seemingly ordinary girl endlessly captured in the web of mystery that the world of angels and nephilim cast around her. Interestingly enough, ‘Silence’ begins mostly where the last novel left off, though it appears all the hard won battles of knowledge in the second book have evaded Nora in the third—her mind stolen by an extraordinarily powerful nephilim and the sinister edge of Devilcraft.
Through the first quarter of the story we see Nora regaining a lot of her former self, tossing aside previous doubts that had slowed the plot in earlier novels and actually trusting her instincts. She embraces some of the more interesting, introduced characters such as a nephilim called Scott—an old friend who appears to press for her affections but really just strives for freedom from the oppressive weight of the nephilim army that had recruited him in the past.
With Nora’s help and the slow progress of returning memories, Scott and Nora work to uncover the plot of the nephilim army. They are not alone in this task—Patch a fallen angel turned guardian angel returns to Nora’s side, plagued by ideals to let Nora forget their past, and yet haunted by the possibilities of what a future built together could bring.
Becca Fitzpatrick’s characters were as always consistent in their behaviour and dialogue. Patch, her male protagonist is naturally a show stealer in this series with his dark good looks and mysterious nature. His constant evasion of the truth, or breadcrumb version of it, leaves you feeling unsatisfied yet strangely intrigued. Although Nora does finally begin to show some gumption, particularly towards the last half of the novel, I still think that fleeting appearances from the fallen angel are what really keep you turning the pages on this evenly paced novel.
Action sequences were sparse but there was more than enough injection of plot thickeners to keep the story moving forward. My only criticism in these novels is that there really isn’t enough grit. We are reading stories of fallen angels and their deceitful enmeshing with humanity and yet we are left feeling as if we are reading about superheros rather than sinister outcasts of heaven.
All in all, I am enjoying this series, but again, I will only rate it three out of five fangs as there aren’t many moments that particularly make your pulse race on the action or romantic front.

Snopsis:
Nora Grey can't remember the past five months of her life. After the initial shock of waking up in a cemetery and being told that she has been missing for weeks - with no one knowing where she was or who she was with - she tried to get her life back on track. Go to school, hang out with her best friend, Vee, and dodge mom's creepy new boyfriend.
But there is this voice in the back of her head, an idea that she can almost reach out and touch. Visions of angel wings and unearthly creatures that have nothing to do with the life she knows.
And this unshakable feeling that a part of her is missing.
Then Nora crosses paths with a sexy stranger, whom she feels a mesmerizing connection to. He seems to hold all the answers...and her heart. Every minute she spends with him grows more and more intense until she realizes she could be falling in love. Again.

Follow Friday #50

Happy Friday everyone!

Yes, it’s that time of week again where bloggers unite to participate in the Follow Friday venture. The idea behind #FF is to promote traffic to your own blog, make new friends with other like-minded bloggers and discuss new and interesting topics each week.

Participating is simple. First you need to follow my blog because I’m totally awesome, then you can follow me on Twitter @kristyberridge (actually you don’t have to do this, it’s wishful thinking), but do follow my blog or assassins will get you …

Then you must follow our illustrious hosts Rachel of http://www.parajunkee.com/ and Alison of http://www.alisoncanread.com/ If you want more details on how to enter your own blog in the follow and hop, all directions are on their webpages

Now, once you’ve followed, check out my answer to this week’s questions and don’t forget to leave a comment so I can do the right thing and follow you back!

This week's question: Activity! Who do you want to be? If you could choose any character from a book. What do you think that character looks like and what do you have in common?

My answer: Truthfully, my character Elena Manory from The Hunted Series is pretty much me as a teenager but with a set of big, brass balls. While writing, I just kept thinking to myself, what would I do? What would I say? I don't think I planned it that way, it's just that this five book series is very close to my heart and I couldn't help but inject a bit of myself into it.

Book Review: Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

Crescendo is the second book in the Hush, Hush series, and thankfully, it does continue on much where the first book left off.
We still follow the story of Nora, a seemingly ordinary girl placed among the most exceptional of circumstances. Angels and the half-breeds known as Nephilim seem to suffocate her world, plaguing her memories of a past unknown and straining to dictate her future. There is no exception to this as new characters of the Nephilim rank are introduced, once again intertwined with the murder of her father and current relationships of a more personal nature intent on shaping her views of the truth. 
Patch, her now guardian angel and the apparent love of her life, continues to keep a myriad of secrets from Nora - some beyond his control due to the restrictions of his new rank among the divine. Naturally Nora is torn between the logic of her blinding affection for Patch and suspicious of these secrets slowly unraveling. No one appears to be trustworthy, including the apparitions of her dead father, the spoken words of her own mother, or perhaps even those she'd considered friends in the past.
Once again Becca Fitzpatrick delivered a stable and consistent story with flowing dialogue and easily relateable characters. Imagery was sedate, though adequate in description. However, there were some aspects that were trying. For one, I didn't enjoy that over three quarters of the book was spent following Nora's inner tirades of jealousy. Some of her thought processes were overly naive and childish given the age group we are following. But what I did appreciate was the author's ability to keep the reader guessing throughout the story, never quite knowing who is who and where the story will end. I can honestly say that I was left guessing right until the turning of the very last page and I very much look forward to diving into the next novel. I rate Crescendo and easy three out of fangs. It would have been four fangs if Nora hadn't become so tiresome.

Synopsis:

Nora Grey's life is still far from perfect. Surviving an attempt on her life wasn't pleasant, but at least she got a guardian angel out of it. A mysterious, magnetic, gorgeous guardian angel. But, despite his role in her life, Patch has been acting anything but angelic. He's more elusive than ever (if that's possible) and what's worse, he seems to be spending time with Nora's arch-enemy, Marcie Millar.Nora would have hardly noticed Scott Parnell, an old family friend who has moved back to town, if Patch hadn't been acting so distant. Even with Scott's totally infuriating attitude, Nora finds herself drawn to him - despite her lingering feeling that he's hiding something.If that weren't enough, Nora is haunted by images of her murdered father, and comes to question whether her Nephilim bloodline has anything to do with his death. Desperate to figure out what happened, she puts herself in increasingly dangerous situations to get the answer. But maybe some things are better left buried, because the truth could destroy everything - and everyone - she trusts.

Kristy :)

Book Review: Rapture by Lauren Kate

What can I say? Thank God this series has finally come to an end! It's been a particularly long journey that at times has been long suffering, and to be honest, a little boring in certain sections.
Alas, I did really enjoy Rapture. The novel was a perfect culmination of characters, revelations, and certain eventualities. I found myself turning the pages quite eagerly, desperate to know if good would triumph over evil, if deserted partnerships would rekindle, and if the forgotten would be remembered.
Rapture is the final tale in the Fallen Series, a condensed novel following what could be the last nine days of love and loss between Lucinda Price and the fallen angel, Daniel Grigori. We find ourselves locked in a treasure hunt for ancient relics, uncovering long lost prophecies, and understanding the true meaning of the 'Fall'.
Angels and outcasts band together to stop Lucifer yet again, but everyone has an agenda - one that shocked the hell out of me (pardon the pun). Lucinda is the center of it all, the reason for love, longing, and loss. She soon discovers that she could be the only person to stop history repeating itself and unlock the secrets of a past that could shape the fate of us all. There's also plenty of action to keep your heart pumping and enough smoldering looks and lip-locking to get the mushy teenager within to swoon.
However, despite moments of levity and tenderness, towards the end of this novel I started to feel particularly sad for Lucifer which took me by surprise. I wasn't expecting to sympathise with the devil, or even pray for him to have his own happy ending. I suspect that's what I liked about Lauren Kate's culmination to the series. Although all questions were answered, all loose ends neatly tied, I found myself wondering 'what if?', a sentiment I never expected after such a tidy end.
The writing as always is beautifully crafted - text lilted with much description and heavy subtext. The characters were honest and thorough in their delivery of action and speech. And, without creating a spoiler, I commend the author for making me well up at one point within the story. To be moved by words, is to be a truly gifted writer, it's just a shame that there was never quite a point of total immersion within the story for me, despite my desire to uncover the end.
I rate Rapture four out of five fangs.

Synopsis:
The sky is dark with wings ... and time is running out for Luce and Daniel.
In order to stop Lucifer from erasing the past, they must find the place where the fall began.
Only Luce can break the curse, and it is her choice alone that will decide all of their fates.
But as dark forces gather, great sacrifices will have to be made in this final, epic struggle ...
In the fight for Luce, and for love, who will win?

The Damned Cover Reveal!

Hi everyone!

Well, it's the moment that a lot of you have been waiting for, and I know, very patiently at that. I can't apologise enough for the delays in the release of The Damned, but I can promise you this ... it will be worth the wait!
So without dragging my feet, here is the cover release for the second book in The Hunted series "The Damned" - I hope you love it as much as I do, but please feel free to leave opinion. You guys know how much I love your comments. Oh! And don't forget about the giveaway! Click this link to take you to the sign up page!
Have a good one,

Kristy :)

Here's the synopsis again if you missed it!

Life for Elena Manory skipped past ordinary just over a month ago. Discovering she was born a practically invulnerable vampire-werewolf hybrid was shocking enough, but she’s also become a target. Elena is being hunted by the Alpha werewolf Roshan, who’s fixated on the properties of her unique blood and the pleasurable possibilities of her flesh.

Moving to the Institute of Magical Intervention in Romania was supposed to provide her with protection and anonymity, but Elena soon realises her enemies are legion. None are as they seem, with no agenda truly without nefarious intentions.

A strange twist of fate and the actions of a vampire previously pressing for her affections lead Elena into the arms of another—one whose middle name spells trouble. Himself a vampire, Sebastian is perplexingly familiar, handsome, and arrogant. He introduces Elena to a world she never thought possible, uncovers a past believed long buried, and unearths a future she may not survive.

And the trailer!

Book Review: Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Yes, it's been a while since I read a YA book and I was excited to pick up Becca Fitzpatrick's novel Hush, Hush as the cover has drawn me in for quite some time. There's just something about the YA genre. I suspect it's the constant yearning you feel as an adult reading stories about forbidden love. So often we reach out and take what we want from life, yet in the teenage world we spend our time wishing, hoping that we could do what the bravery of our adult selves take without thought.
Hush, Hush isn't an entirely unexpected novel. Like most of the YA genre we find ourselves following the story of a young girl, in this case, lanky, curly-haired Nora with a sharp intellect yet entirely dim-witted approach to matters of the heart. Cue the overly vibrant best friend, Vee, and the mysterious, dark-haired and obviously handsome lab partner, Patch, and you have the makings of most YA novels.
In this predictable story of boy meets girl, we spend at least the first half of the book following Nora on a trail of confusion and misplaced trust issues. Patch obviously has an agenda, but unlike most teenage girls ecstatic to have the hottest guy in class paired up with them during biology, Nora spends most of her time thinking of ways to avoid him. She sees him everywhere, is obviously attracted to his persistence, yet continues to label him as dark and dangerous, instead of seeking answers ... or body warmth (just saying, seriously hot guy alert).
As new, more sinister characters are introduced, we start to see a more clearly defined picture of where the story is heading. Without giving too much away, Nora finally begins to understand the roles of those around her, relinquish her trust issues, and push aside her pointless resistance to what her heart clearly yearns.
For me, Hush, Hush's characters were a little too predictable. Nora was sedate, and to be honest - boring as the protagonist. Patch, however, was interesting. A fallen angel with a past peppered with violence, hate and temptation - he was worth reading the novel. He was constantly shrouded in mystery and just hint of the darkness we readers love in our bad boys. I would have loved to see the author write the book from his perspective.
The writing style itself has good descriptive content and the interaction between characters was consistent and easy to follow. Due to the fairly benign story-line and protagonist, I cannot rate this novel as high as I would have liked despite Patch's roguish appearances and witty sarcasm. Three out of fangs is all I can go. I liked the story, but I didn't love it.

Synopsis:
When Nora and Patch are forced together as lab partners, Nora would rather fall to her death than put up with his elusive answers to her questions, his teasing, and his infuriatingly handsome face and hypnotizing eyes. It seems Patch was put on earth just to drive her crazy.
But before long, Nora's defenses start to break down as her curiosity about Patch heats up. Why does he always seem to be wherever she is and know exactly what she's thinking? How does he know what to say to both attract and repulse her? And what is up with those V-shaped scars on his chiseled back?
As their connection grows stronger, Nora's own life become increasingly fragile. Nora needs to decide: is Patch the one who wants to do her harm or the one who will keep her safe? Has she fallen for one of the fallen?

The Damned - Photos (Giveaway)

Hey guys,

Due to the giveaway this month I probably won't do a lot of my usual crazy posting as I want you to really get involved with the competition. I'm super excited about the up and coming release of my second book in The Hunted series, The Damned - it's going to be epic. Not only was it my favourite book in the series to write, it also introduces a few new characters that I think you all are going to love.
So as not to keep flapping my gums for the sake of talking, you can follow the icon on the side bar to get to the comp, scroll down to the next post or click the highlighted link above. But, i thought I would at least show you some of the amazing photos I've received from 'Hunted' fans thus far ...

Chuck Norris and Bruce Lee fight it out for my book. My money's on Chuck.

Rock on, Iron man - make sure you get me Thor's number while you're at it!

GET IT HERE!

Book Review: The Last Vampire Series by Christopher Pike

Well, it's a little unorthodox of me to review six books at once, and admittedly, I wouldn't normally do this because it's not fair to the plot, complexities of character, or the author's hard slog to create individuality within their story. But The Last Vampire series is relatively short, each book no more than about 180 pages in total, and they do follow on right where the last story left off, essentially making it one big novel that I've decided to measure as one.
The six books in question are; The Last Vampire, Black Blood, Red Dice, Phantom, Evil Thirst and Creatures of Forever. So let's get down to it.

The Last Vampire series follows the story of vampire Alisa Perne, or more commonly known as 'Sita' throughout the series. She is supposedly the last vampire, over five thousand years old and a young woman very capable, very determined, and very dangerous. Like all vampires she is strong, fast, limber, and decidedly attractive. She is smart as a whip, can speak multiple languages, but like the humans she still sometimes preys upon, holds the memories of her past close to her heart and lets them haunt her on a continuing basis.
Her character maintains complete consistency of dialogue - stiff, intelligent, and somewhat emotionless. Her thought processes are convincing for an entity with thousands of years of experience, and her decision making process is methodical and decidedly thorough. My only negative of Alisa was that her relationships within each story were hurried, often unbelievable, and forced. Depth of feeling is very rarely explored between characters other than the mere exchange of seemingly unemotional wording. Touch is brief and chilling, and friendships are somewhat convenient rather than carefully crafted to create depth within the sub-plots.
The series as a whole for me was rather lack-luster. Though each novel did have consistency and flowed with a new story filled with historical influence, I was still unable to be entranced due to the rather cold character relations. At no point did I feel total immersion within the story, which was disappointing considering the obvious attention to detail the writer displayed in his overall plot and historical references. We were often introduced to intense action scenes, dramatic blood baths, and tense moments of personal awakening. But as the story moved forward we were also jack-hammered with immortal priests, satanic dukes, and believe it or not, alien referencing and spaceship travel.
Although I commend the author for his clever ideas and creative imagery, I was not taken with this vampire series and hence will only be rating it two out of five fangs.

Synopsis's:

The Last Vampire: For five thousand years Alisa Perne has been living among and off humans. Alisa hunts alone, thinking nobody knows her secret. But someone is stalking her. Someone wants her dead.
Black Blood: An ancient evil - the first vampire - has returned. Alisa knows that she is responsible for his very existence, and so she must be the one to end his reign of slaughter.
Red Dice: Alisa is on the run. The U.S. Government is pursuing her, intent on obtaining her vampire DNA. But her blood is way too deadly and dangerous to be allowed into the public domain.
Phantom: Alisa has made a discovery that could bring her untold tragedy and danger. And all the time a powerful force is watching. Someone who knows all that ever was, and all that will be ...
Evil Thirst: Alisa has a heartbreaking dilemma. Her daughter, Kalika, has disappeared posing great danger to the human world. But can Alisa bring herself to destroy her own flesh and blood?
Creatures of Forever: Someone means to destroy Alisa, and her only hope lies in reliving the evil of her monstrous past. Then she can eliminate it. Forever.

Get Hunted!

Hey Everyone,


This is a quick post today to let you all know that my first book in The Hunted Series, aptly called "The Hunted" has now been reduced to $4.99 (Kindle version)!
Feel free to grab yourself a copy, especially in light of the fact that my second book, The Damned is due to be released in the up and coming months, so getting in and reading the very first installment is a must!
For those of you that don't know much about my series, I'll be as succinct as possible. The Hunted Series is supernatural fiction targeting young adults and seasoned lovers of paranormal romance. Vampires, Werewolves, Angels, Demons, and Magic rein supreme - peppered with true violence and a strong female lead, you've got yourself an epic little read (okay, not so little at 582 pages) but nevertheless pretty damn awesome according to just about every review I've received so far. Plus, you want to make sure that you're reading the next big thing ... it's uncool not to covet this book and tell everyone about its awesomeness. I'm just saying ...

Synopsis: 
Elena Manory is by no means an ordinary teenage girl. Being born with the ability to heal herself from any injury, and with the knowledge that on her eighteenth birthday she will become a Vampire, Elena is aware that she is more than a little different from other girls her age.
It isn’t until she meets William Granville, an alluring and impossibly handsome vampire, that she begins to question her destiny and what secrets the Institute of Magical Intervention and her adopted family have withheld—secrets that could change the fates of not only her own life, but of the lives of all the immortals.
As events spiral out of control, William may be the only person Elena can place her trust in. He, and Elena’s magical family, must fight to save her, joining forces to defeat a common, deadly foe. For William, it is his chance to save the girl that he has searched eternity to find.

Book Review: Mark of the Seer by Jenna Kay

I have to say, there's just something about YA supernatural fiction that is hard to go past. You get to immerse yourself in surrealism, step outside the box of every day, and plunge yourself back into the waters of high school. I don't know about everyone else, but I'm thirty and I still love watching those bitchy teen movies, and in particular, burying my face in a good read branded with the cynicism of youth and the daredevil courage of years past.
Mark of the Seer by Jenna Kay puts you right back to those Saturday mornings where you wake up, rub your bleary eyes, swallow the git in your mouth from an all night drinking binge, and rub your head in self pity for the miscreants of youth.
Clarity Miller, just your average teenage girl is the protagonist of this novel. She is likable and easy to relate to as struggles with aspects of her past, namely the loss of her parents, as well as her indiscretions with her predictably wild best friend Kora, her sweet as honey boyfriend, Brenton, and her seemingly absent yet caring Aunt as the caregiver. Sum in total, the story begins with parties, boys, failed relationships, and the mundane task of school attendance. Nothing in these first few chapters is remarkable or particularly entertaining, but what you can see is good character development and clever lead up to later aspects of the plot where this information is deemed essential.
Introducing Sam, the new kid in town with an unbelievable story and heavenly intentions. Invisible to everyone else, poor Clarity begins to question her sanity, only later to discover, she's not crazy - Sam is her guardian angel, this revelation making her feel no more secure in her mission to grapple incessantly with reality.
This is when the story really begins to unfold. Without giving too much away, Clarity is soon marked as a 'seer' - the gift of vision and the ability to interpret dreams and change fate. While Sam is intent on awakening Clarity's spirit and Good Samaritan nature, Clarity just wants to hide from her potential and squander her youth as most of us do - locking lips with boys and swigging a bottle of bourbon on weekends.
What will Clarity choose? And how do the characters intermingle with her fate and the intent of others perhaps more damaged by the past than outward appearance initially perceive?
You'll just have to read Mark of the Seer to find out.
The relationship between the characters are not complex, and dialogue is easy and in keeping with the pace of unfolding events. I gathered the characters were from the South, but I still often found it a little jarring to have the word 'ya' thrown into the dialogue instead of 'you'. I also found the relationship between Sam and Clarity a little confusing at first, their seemingly instant connection difficult to swallow. And, given that we were led to believe the affection was innocent, there was a lot of descriptive element that led the reader to sometimes consider otherwise.
Narration on the whole was quite purposeful, and the last few chapters were intense, but not quite fast-paced or gritty enough to really get my heart rate entering warp speed. Imagery was good and the concept itself had a very 'nice' and comforting feel about it.
I rate this book three out of five stars. It was an enjoyable read.

Synopsis: All Clarity Miller wants is a normal teenage life and everything seems to be going in the right direction until she meets Sam. Sam informs Clarity that he is her guardian angel and she has been given the gifts of a 'seer' but Clarity wants nothing to do with magic or the spirit realm. However, when tragedy strikes her home town, she realises she has a very important decision to make.

Kristy :)

250 Follower Giveaway - Winner

Thank you to everyone who entered my 250 follower give away. Unfortunately I didn't quite make it to 250 followers, but I really do appreciate the enthusiasm and effort from all participants. Plus, how could I not give my book away after all your entries and tweets! So without further ado, here are the lucky winners listed below, please click the 'read more' option. I really hope you enjoy The Hunted, book one of The Hunted Series. Stay tuned for more future giveaways, and of course, don't forget for those of you that missed out that The Hunted is also available for Kindle now!

Kristy :)

250 Follower Giveaway!

Hey everyone! I'm so close to 250 followers on the blog that I thought I'd do another giveaway! Basically I will be giving away three copies of my book The Hunted in celebration of the fact that I will be releasing the second book in the series, The Damned in the up and coming months.
I appreciate all the support you've all shown me so far, so here's hoping you like my book too if you are a winner!


To enter, just click on the READ MORE text at the bottom of this page.

Synopsis:

Elena Manory is by no means an ordinary teenage girl. Being born with the ability to heal herself from any injury, and with the knowledge that on her eighteenth birthday she will become a Vampire, Elena is aware that she is more than a little different from other girls her age.

It isn’t until she meets William Granville, an alluring and impossibly handsome vampire, that she begins to question her destiny and what secrets the Institute of Magical Intervention and her adopted family have withheld—secrets that could change the fates of not only her own life, but of the lives of all the immortals.

As events spiral out of control, William may be the only person Elena can place her trust in. He, and Elena’s magical family, must fight to save her, joining forces to defeat a common, deadly foe. For William, it is his chance to save the girl that he has searched eternity to find.