Shadow's Soul "The Kyn Kronicles" Book 2 Adult

Shadow’s Soul is a great work of the Paranormal Romance genre. Jami Gray has no trouble weaving an enticing cast of characters and a whole different world. By the end of the book I found myself frustrated -in a good way-. I wanted to read more. Now I have not read Shadows Edge, but if it’s as good as the second installment then I am in for another adventure with Raine and Gavin.

I will never look at shifters and witches the same way again. She has taken classic races of paranormal creatures and placed a new twist on them. Raine’s past seems to still be haunting her, but Gavin refuses to let her give in. He also refuses to let her run from the heat and passion that fill her every time she is in his presence. The journey they take together in this book is one that takes her from almost fragile to strong. Not saying she isn’t a tough woman, because she is. Mentally though she feels broken to me, something the reader can identify with. But in the end she realizes that if she hopes to overcome the darkness threatening to suck her under, she has to realize she is strong, not broken.

Before the end of the book I found myself actually getting up and cheering her on, the whole mantra “I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.” Played over and over in my head. She finally came into her own with Gavin’s help, realized her strength, and stood up for herself.

The final action scene switched from pulse pounding, to sadness, it was the final nail in the coffin for me. It was the scene that finally made me realize I want to see more from Jami Gray.

The only thing that bothered me with this novel was our Heroine constantly questioned herself and her abilities, I understand why, but it happened too often for me. And I wish there had been more fighting scenes on the physical plane. Not that I did not love the metaphysical fighting on the psychic plane, which in my book was awesome. But you have a strong lead character both physically and psychically, I would have liked to see more physical.

Over all this book was very different from others I have read. My rating for this would be a 4.5 out of 5. I look forward to seeing more installments of this series from Jami Gray. Very few authors get me excited for a series, making me want to know what could possibly come next, but Mrs. Gray has done just that. I think anyone who loves Paranormal Romance should pick up this series and give it a shot, trust me, I do not think you will be disappointed.

The Blood Keeper by Tessa Gratton YA

The Blood Keeper by Tessa Gratton

     Synopsis:  For Mab Prowd, the practice of blood magic is as natural as breathing. It’s all she’s ever known. Growing up on an isolated farm in Kansas with other practitioners may have kept her from making friends her own age, but it has also given her a sense of purpose—she’s connected to the land and protective of the magic. And she is able to practice it proudly and happily out in the open with only the crows as her companions. Mab will do anything to keep the ancient practice alive and guard its secrets.      

But one morning while she is working out a particularly tricky spell she encounters Will, a local boy who is trying to exorcise some mundane personal demons. He experiences Mab’s magic in a way his mind cannot comprehend and is all too happy to end their chance meeting. But secrets that were kept from Mab by the earlier generations of blood magicians have come home to roost. And she and Will are drawn back together, time again by this dangerous force looking to break free from the earth and reclaim its own dark power.        

Review: The Blood Keeper by Tessa Gratton was a surprise for me.  For me the book started out slow, yes as the name states it had a bloody start but was slow. Now that being said this is the second book in the series, most series do start out like this to develop characters, and throughout the book Tessa does this well. The book is told from three points of view, I love different points of view in a novel because it gives the reader a more in depth look into the characters’ lives, and the author pulls it off flawlessly. This is also one of those stories that go between past and present.       

 We have Mab Prowd who is the new Deacon (leader) of the blood witches. The coven’s previous deacon has passed away, which understandably has caused a few problems. It seems to me that Mab was meant for this, you know the whole “Everything happens for a reason” thing. Having never read the first book I am unsure as to what happened, but events led Mab to being raised by her grandmother and the coven’s now dead deacon Arthur. Anyway Mab’s goal (at the request of Arthur before he died) was to destroy something, ( can’t tell you what, you need to read the book to find out) she tries, fails and this failure ends up causing a lot of chaos. As you can guess the book only gets better from there.      This book is not my cup of tea, but I give credit where credit is due. The book is very well written, and the magic and mystery woven into the pages is undeniable. I highly recommend this book to you, whether you are fourteen or forty. This is a book I would read with my daughter, it is age appropriate, but it doesn’t make it boring, its full of excitement, and during the journey of reading you find yourself blinking at the pages and wondering what could possibly come next.     

 As I said this is a novel for every age, I recommend picking it up for that special teenage girl in your life that loves to read, and when she is done with it…. Ask to borrow it.

Blood Crave by Jennifer Knight YA

Synopsis: Headstrong heroine Faith Reynolds returns in this thrilling sequel to the paranormal romance Blood on the Moon!

After surviving being kidnapped by a vampire, Faith would just love to focus on some alone time with her hot (though occasionally furry) boyfriend, Lucas. Unfortunately, with a vampire uprising on the horizon and her best friend, Derek, about to wake up and find himself transformed into a half-werewolf, half-vampire being without a beating heart, Faith has a few other things to take care of first.

Faith is not without help, in the form of her new-found powers of sensing people’s emotions and being able to influence werewolves’ actions, not to mention her begrudging but rather helpful boyfriend. Even so, convincing a werewolf packmaster to prepare for an epic battle may be difficult to do without solid evidence.

Lose yourself once more in the deliciously suspenseful world of werewolves versus vampires, otherworldly boys with deadly charm, and addictive, spine-tingling action and romance!

Review:
Vampire, hunters, and shifters. Oh My! Blood Crave by Jennifer Knight has everything you need for a great book. In the opening of the book we come across Faith (no she isn't like the Faith from Buffy, sorry folks). A woman who has a very special gift that can tip the tides of a preternatural war. Along with her boyfriend Lucas whom is a werewolf, and her best friend Derek whom is, well I will keep that secret for now.  Werewolves protect the human race from the vampires that slaughter them. Yeah it’s cliché I know, there are thousands of books written on vampire/lycan wars, so much so some readers tire of them, but Jennifer Knight brings fresh ideas that renew this particular idea.

Faith’s gift as I said can tip the war in favor of the werewolves, the problem is no one can know about it. If anyone finds out it’s a death sentence. But Lucas trusts her and keeps her secret. But as you know secrets can’t stay secrets forever right? I guess you have to read to find out. I thought our three lead characters were great, there is so much that goes into these characters and their personalities. Though at times I wanted to punch Derek, strangle Faith, and just eat Lucas up. Yeah Lucas is my fave what can I say.

I haven’t read the first book in this series so when I started reading I was a little lost. But Jennifer Knight wastes no time in getting the readers updated on past events leading to the present. She does so smoothly and without taking up half of the new book. The flow of the storyline could be a bit dragging at times, but this is mainly due to character development. This book was a pleasant surprise for me, I found myself enjoying it the more I read, to give you an idea of how much I started this book at seven-thirty AM and finished it by three-thirty PM on the same day.

Yes it’s true I could not put it down. I highly recommend this book, if you want great characters and storylines, twist and turns, passion and betrayal, then pick this one up guys. I give this book a five start rating, for pure entertainment, and making me upset when I turned the last page and stared at it dumbly. Why stare at it dumbly? Because I was so into the story that I didn't even realize I was at the end and wanted more.

Touched by Cyn Balog YA

Synopsis:Nick Cross always listens to the voice in his head. Because if he doesn't? Things can go really, really wrong. Like the day he decided to go off script and saved a girl from being run over … and let another one drown. Trying to change the future doesn't work.

But this summer at the Jersey Shore, something’s about to happen that Nick never could have predicted. He meets a girl named Taryn and finds out about the Book of Touch. Now the path that he thought he was on begins to shift … and there’s no way to stop things from happening. Or is there? 

In a life where there are no surprises, nothing has prepared Nick for what he’s about to discover—or the choice he will be forced to make… .

Review: Touched by Cyn Balog is definitely interesting and unique. This type of book is not my normal read, but I like to give books a fair chance and I am glad I did. The hero of this story is Nick Cross. A boy who lives a very tortured existence. And when I say tortured I mean mentally. Within the first few pages I was feeling so sorry for this boy. I can’t imagine knowing what the future holds all the time, then have it suddenly change just by the smallest things you do. But changing one thing can throw your life into a spiral that is almost unrecoverable. This mistake by Nick sends us on a unforgettable ride with him.

Cyn Balog lets us see the chaos going on in Nicks head. And I can tell you its a doozy. At times I was very confused as to what was going on, especially in the beginning. But then I realized the story is supposed to be that way, after all your reading from Nick’s point of view, so it makes sense. This only adds to the mystique of the book, like Nick sometimes you don’t know if you are coming or going, it keeps you locked into the book, because you want to know what’s going to happen, you want to know what’s going on.

And what to say about the characters. Well I like Nick, he has strength in him, if only he would stop with the self pity he has going on in his head. People he knows are always making fun of him, calling him neurotic, crazy, insane, and they have all of his life. His mother and grandmother though are his anchors and supporters. Family is important to him, and he would do anything to keep his family from harm. I love this about him, with what he deals with it would be easy for him to be a cold and unloving person. And Taryn, she is a bit of an enigma at first, slowly Nick breaks down her walls and makes startling discoveries with the one person he can be himself with.

This novel is a bit slow, but the revelations made in it more than make up for it. Through heartbreak and confusion I think you will fall for Nick. On a ratings scale of one thru five I would give this book a four. Cyn Balog weaves this tale very well, and just when you think you have things figured out it takes a surprising twist. I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in things that have to do with the psychic planes, and all other things that we can not comprehend. This book is a good read, pick it up.