[Archive] LITERAL ADDICTION's Review of A Perfect Blood

 

Kim Harrison dark urban fantasy author of the New York Times bestselling The Outlaw Demon Wails, was born and raised in the upper Midwest. After gaining her bachelors in the sciences, she moved to South Carolina, where she has remained since. She is currently developing a new young adult series between working on the Hollows books, and is a member of both the Romance Writers of America and The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. When not at her desk, she is most likely to be found chasing down good chocolate, exquisite sushi, or the ultimate dog chew.

A Perfect Blood, Book #10 of The Hallows series

Author:  Kim Harrison

Synopsis: Ritually murdered corpses are appearing across Cincinnati, terrifying amalgams of human and other. Pulled in to help investigate by the FIB, former witch turned day-walking demon Rachel Morgan soon realizes a horrifying truth--a would-be creator is determined to make his (or her) own demons. But it can't be done without Rachel's blood, in this latest blockbuster by a "New York Times"-bestselling author.
Our Review [by Michelle L. Olson – LITERAL ADDICTION’s Pack Alpha]:

This continues to be one of the UF series that I remain fiercely loyal to (reading new releases right away after release day) & it never disappoints!

I adore these characters & feel like we've grown together. Like Dark Days, it will be very sad when it ends, but it'll have been an amazing ride getting there.

Originally White Witch, Black Curse was my fave of the series, replaced by Pale Demon, now replaced by A Perfect Blood…

Rachel has really grown as a character, but geez, she just  can’t keep herself out of trouble! 

It was really nice to see her embrace her true nature and everything that entails though, and I find that I’m oddly liking the strange direction things are going in with her and Trent.  Who woulda thunk it!  And yes, as I’m sure was intended, there is just something strangely loveable about the nasty Brit poseur demon Al.  What can I say, I like bad boys.  LOL.

Jenks remains one of the best UF sidekicks out there and Ivy held her own this one as well showing a maturity of balance between Rachel and her private life and Rachel and their business partnership. 

This series continues to get better and better and I’m counting down the days to the release of book #11. 

Way to go Kim, another fabulous read!!

LITERAL ADDICTION gives A Perfect Blood 5 Skulls. 

A Perfect Blood:

 

[Archive] LITERAL ADDICTION's Review of Nightborn

Lynn Viehl writes mostly novels in a variety of genres and under several pseudonyms. Among them are science fiction (as S. L. Viehl), romantic fiction (as Lynn Viehl, Gena Hale, and Jessica Hall), and Christian fiction (as Rebecca Kelly). She has described herself as primarily a writer of romance: no matter what genre she is working in, an element of romance will always be present.

In what spare time remains she enjoys quilting, reading, cooking, painting, and knitting. She currently lives with her family in Florida.

Nightborn, Book #1 of the Lords of the Darkyn series

Author:  Lynn Viehl

Synopsis: The High Lord of the Immortal Darkyn has sent his most trusted warrior, Korvel, to retrieve a coveted scroll that's rumored to contain maps to Templar treasures and the secrets to eternal life. Uniting with Korvel to recover the dangerous artifact is Simone Derien, the daughter of the scroll's guardian, and a woman with many deadly secrets...
Our Review [by Michelle L. Olson – LITERAL ADDICTION’s Pack Alpha]:

I have thoroughly enjoyed Lynn Viehls Darkyn and Kyndrd series.  In this 2^nd spinoff to the Darkyn series, Lords of the Darkyn, she hits another homerun with some old and new characters and thoroughly engaging plotline. 

Korvel, seneschal for high lord Richard, is sent on a quest to find an artifact used and hidden by his kyn back in the Templar days. 

He meets up with Simone, a pseudo-nun with an interesting past and an even more interesting secret. 

Their journey to find the scroll is action packed and thrilling.  Their chemistry is amazing, and despite the hardships they encounter they make a wicked team and bring things to a satisfying conclusion. 

I was ecstatic to finally see a happily ever after for my beloved Korvel (he’s been the underdog that I’ve been cheering on for 2 series now) and having 2 of my sassy kyndred turned kyn heroines – Alexandra and Nicola – back was an amazing treat.  It was also very interesting to see a little bit deeper into the relationship between Nicola and Gabriel.  There’s has probably been the rockiest of them all, but they’re also a couple that you want the best for.

I’m really excited to see where the Lords of the Darkyn series goes.  I loved the way it started and I’m looking forward to book #2.

LITERAL ADDICTION gives Nightborn 4 Skulls, and would recommend it to all Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance readers.  While you don’t have to read the Darkyn and/or Kyndred series before reading this book, I would suggest that you do.  There’s SO much history there and this book will be way more enjoyable with that knowledge locked away.  All 3 series have been incredible and they’re definitely worth the time and money. 

Nightborn:

 

[Archive] LITERAL ADDICTION's Review of When Darkness Hungers

 

J.K Beck spent more than ten years as a litigator in Southern California and Central Texas, using her rare free time to indulge in her passion for writing. Now she uses her legal background as inspiration for her paranormal romantic suspense series, The Shadow Keepers, set in and around a secret judicial system hidden within and mirroring our own. California born, J. K. now lives and writes in Texas, where she hangs out with her husband and daughters and drinks far too much coffee.

When Darkness Hungers, Book #5 of the Shadow Keepers series

Author:  J.K Beck

Synopsis: FBI agent Alexis Martin knows that vampires exist—because one of them killed her sister. Assigned to investigate a series of bizarre homicides in Los Angeles, Alexis believes the murders are the work of rogue vampires—perhaps even the monster responsible for her sister’s death. Now she finally has a chance for retribution. Even better, Alexis receives unexpected help from a sexy stranger as hungry for rogue blood as she is.

Serge is a centuries-old bad boy who stays off the grid—keeping his secrets, his hunger, and his heart safe from exposure. A new breed of vampire that feeds off other shadowers, Serge finds sweet torture in Alexis’s arms. Loving her is a chance to be free from the hiding, the loneliness, the secrecy. But the truth about what he is, and what he’s done, may banish him to the dark confines of his own private hell—and destroy the beginnings of their love.

Our Review [by Michelle L. Olson – LITERAL ADDICTION’s Pack Alpha]:

This is one of the most creative series I have had the luck to stumble across & I have had a soft spot for Serge since the beginning. His book couldn't have been better. The roller coaster of emotion & the extreme sides to every puzzle piece were thoroughly enjoyable.

Serge is a tortured soul, haunted by his past as a degenerate, his curse that may be broken but is still a part of him, the guilt he feels over things he’s done and those he’s let down and so much more.

Alexis is an ex-FBI agent turned vampire hunter trying to get vengeance for her sister who was killed in a vicious vampire attack.  With the help of a witch she’s following the trail of vampire killings in CA and getting ever closer to avenging her sister’s death. 

Division 6 is still hard at work covering up preternatural crime while following through with their own brand of justice with Sara (who we met in one of the earlier Shadow Keepers titles) at the helm as lead vampire prosecutor and her husband Luke as vampire governor.

   

Serge and Alexis cross paths early in the book, both on the trail of the same rogue vampire and there is instant chemistry. 

When Serge ends up saving Alexis’s life as well as that of an innocent 16 year old, they get pushed together and the chemistry explodes.

Despite the fact that Serge is exactly what Alexis fights she can’t help her feelings for him, and Serge feels that Alexis is his path to redemption. 

They don’t have an easy go of it, that’s for sure, but their story is definitely riveting. 

The ending was incredible and a perfect set up for the next installment of the series.  I hate waiting for it, but I’m excited to get my hands on it when it is available. 

LITERAL ADDICTION gives When Darkness Hungers 5 Skulls, and would recommend it to all Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance readers.  While the book can be read as a stand-alone, I highly suggest that you read the entire Shadow Keepers series in order to get the most of the books.  You won’t be disappointed, I promise.  It’s a fresh series full of amazing future potential and has been seated in my ‘favorite series’ list for quite some time.

When Darkness Hungers:

 

[Archive] LITERAL ADDICTION's Review of Infamous

 

Sherrilyn Kenyon is referred to as “the preeminent voice in paranormal fiction”, and it has been said that “she not only helped to pioneer, but define the current paranormal trend that has captivated the world”.  She has more than twenty-five million copies of her books in print, in over one hundred countries, and has claimed the coveted #1 bestselling spot sixteen times in just the past three years.

Infamous, Book #3 of the Chronicles of Nick series

Author:  Sherrilyn Kenyon

Synopsis: The world has fallen in love with Nick Gautier and the Dark-Hunters. Now Nick’s saga continues in the next eagerly anticipated volume...

Go to school. Get good grades. Stay out of trouble. That’s the mandate for most kids. But Nick Gautier isn’t the average teenager. He’s a boy with a destiny not even he fully understands. And his first mandate is to stay alive while everyone, even his own father, tries to kill him.

He’s learned to annihilate zombies and raise the dead, divination and clairvoyance, so why is learning to drive such a difficulty? But that isn’t the primary skill he has to master. Survival is.

And in order to survive, his next lesson makes all the others pale in comparison. He is on the brink of becoming either the greatest hero mankind has ever known.

Or he’ll be the one who ends the world. With enemies new and old gathering forces, he will have to call on every part of himself to fight or he’ll lose everyone he cares about.

Our Review [by Michelle L. Olson – LITERAL ADDICTION’s Pack Alpha]:

I adore Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dark-Hunter series and the Chronicles of Nick spinoff is a wonderful companion.  It’s amazing in its own right, but as a Dark-Hunter addict, it fills in a lot of holes and gives you plenty of ‘ah ha’ moments.

Nick continues to learn about himself, or what he’s supposed to become, and in true Nick Gautier fashion, gets into plenty of trouble along the way.

Saddled with the knowledge that he could bring about the apocalypse just by making 1 wrong decision, Nick tries to live life the best he can.  He’s got a demon guardian who’s over 11,000 years old, an immortal girlfriend who hasn’t revealed quite what she is yet, a band of misfit friends who believe in him no matter what, a tutor who is literally Death, and an overbearing mother who he loves dearly but butts heads with at every turn.

The first 2 installments of CoN were thrilling, but this one was wonderful.  Not only do we have the normal players, but we meet some additional characters from Asmodea and Nick learns more about himself, his friends, his allies, and his enemies.

There is definitely maturity with Nick’s character in this book that we didn’t get to see in the first two releases.  He’s taking bad news and unlikely circumstances with a grain of salt, learning where to put his trust, where to spend his energy, and determining what to do and not to do in order to avoid Ambose’s tragic future. 

While the ending had a major cliffhanger and had me literally screaming “WTH!”, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and can’t wait until the next one.  I got my DH fix between DH releases and that is a very, very good thing. 

LITERAL ADDICTION gives Infamous 4 1/2 Skulls, and would recommend it to all Sherrilyn Kenyon fans, Dark-Hunter addicts, and Dark Urban Fantasy, Urban Fantasy & Paranormal Romance aficionados.

 

The Chronicles of Nick series really can’t be read as stand-alone novels or out of order.  If you’re going to take the plunge, I highly suggest that you read them all and in order.  You won’t be disappointed.  

Infamous: