[ARCHIVE] LITERAL ADDICTION's Review of Tempted by Fire

Erin Kellison stories have always been a central part of Erin's life. She attempted her first book in the 6th grade, a dark fantasy adventure, and still has those early hand-written chapters. She graduated summa cum laude with a degree in English Language and Literature, and went on for a masters in Cultural Anthropology, focusing on oral storytelling. When she had children, nothing scared her anymore, so her focus shifted to writing fiction. She lives in Arizona with her two beloved daughters and husband, and she will have a dog (breed undetermined) when her youngest turns five. 

You can keep up with Erin online at her Website, on Facebook, on Twitter, and on GoodReads.

Tempted by Fire

DRAGONS OF BLOODFIRE Book #1

Released 7/15/15

Buy from Amazon / B&N / iBooks / Kobo

Tempted By Fire is the first in the enthralling new Dragons of Bloodfire series by New York Times bestselling author Erin Kellison.

Dragon shifter Thane Ealdian has waited six hundred years to avenge the loss of his family, and finally a clue has surfaced that implicates an old adversary. Thane will stop at nothing to seek his revenge, but to prevent violence between the clans, the Bloodkin Triad has forced a mediator on him. Some upstart named Emerson Clark…

Emerson is fed up with all Bloodkin and how they’ve managed to control every aspect of her life. While she doesn’t believe that Bloodkin can shift into dragons—because, really?—she has to admit, they are exceptionally nice to look at. But once the mediation is over, she wants nothing to do with them ever again.

When Thane discovers that the clever and beautiful Emerson is the key to uncovering the truth, he has no intention of letting her go. Although she wants to run, she can’t turn her back on Thane or her intense feelings for him. His quest pulls at her heart, just as his nearness sparks something dangerous inside her. With evil in hot pursuit, sooner or later everything will ignite—the mediation, the shifter within her… and their passions.

Our Review, by LITERAL ADDICTION's Pack Alpha - Chelle

Erin Kellison busts into the hot and popular dragon shifter sub-genre with a unique take on the mythos and captivates readers with strong and witty characters, a millennia old mystery, blood feuds, slayers, and so much more.

The world building is well thought out and beautifully built, building on that age old adage" Here there be dragons" and bringing it into today's world.

Thane and Emerson are a super fun couple. I felt she was a little naive at first, but I absolutely loved her spunk. And Thane... Can I just say 'sigh.' Their chemistry was intense and sexy, and the way he went from wanting to be done with his long life to wanting to live... for her... was utterly enchanting. Beautifully written in a way that made the reader feel like they were falling in love.

Kellison sticks to her dark and dangerous roots and gives us plenty of danger, action, and twists and turns, and the supporting characters left me wanting (and hoping) that we'd find out more.

All in all it was utterly enthralling and I couldn't put it down. If you're a shifter fan, a dragon fan, or even just a paranormal romance and/or urban fantasy fan, I think you will utterly enjoy Tempted by Fire and I cannot wait for the next book in the Dragons of Bloodfire series!

Tempted by Fire

[Archive] LITERAL ADDICTION's Review of Wicked Embers

Keri Arthur, author of the New York Times bestselling Riley Jenson Guardian series, has now written more than twenty-eight novels. She’s received several nominations in the Best Contemporary Paranormal category of the Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Awards and has won RT’s Career Achievement Award for urban fantasy. She lives with her daughter in Melbourne, Australia.

Connect with Keri - Website, Facebook, Twitter, GoodReads

Wicked Embers

Souls of Fire book #2

Amazon / B&N / iBooks / Kobo

Keri Arthur, New York Times bestselling author of Fireborn, presents the thrilling new Souls of Fire Novel featuring Emberly Pearson, a phoenix that can transform into a human—and is haunted by the ability to foresee death....

Crimson Death, the plague like virus spawned from a failed government experiment to isolate the enzymes that make vampires immortal, continues to spread. Emberly and her partner, Jackson Miller, are desperately seeking the stolen research for a cure before the virus becomes a pandemic.

But their mission is jeopardized by another threat uncovered in Emberly’s prophetic dreams. A creature of ash and shadow has been unleashed on a murdering spree. Now Emberly must summon all her gifts and investigative knowledge to put an end to this entity’s brutal rampage—even if it means placing herself in harm’s way....

Our Review, by LITERAL ADDICTION's Pack Alpha - Chelle:
*Copy gifted in exchange for an honest review

--Actual rating 4.5 Skulls

Wicked Embers picks up where book #1 left off in true and fantastic Urban Fantasy form.

Emberly and her beau Jackson are investigating a unique and dangerous case for their shared private investigation firm and trying not to step on the toes of her cop ex, Sam, while keeping those they care about, including Emberly's life mate Rory, safe.

Emberly's dream visions kick into gear, making the case even more dangerous and intriguing, especially when they find out that everything behind the scenes is still tied to the Red Cloaks and their nefarious leader, the Grey Cloak.

As Emberly and Jackson chase down the mysterious beast wreaking havoc, their tie-in with the Red Cloak virus-afflicted becomes even more convoluted. Death and destruction await around every turn, and secrets that they wished they wouldn't have learned are revealed.

Wicked Embers was a beautifully written and gripping urban fantasy with lots of action, edge-of-your-seat suspense, thrills, and even some hot and sexy romance.

This was another stellar book by Ms. Arthur. I am loving this series almost as much as Dark Angels, and that is one of my absolute favorite UF series ever. I can't wait to see what happens next!

Wicked Embers

[Archive] LITERAL ADDICTION's Review of Alice

Christina Henry is the author of the national bestselling BLACK WINGS series (BLACK WINGS, BLACK NIGHT, BLACK HOWL, BLACK LAMENT, BLACK CITY, BLACK HEART and BLACK SPRING, Ace/Roc) and the forthcoming ALICE and RED QUEEN (Ace Trade). She enjoys running long distances, reading anything she can get her hands on and watching movies with samurai, zombies and/or subtitles in her spare time. She lives in Chicago with her husband and son.

Website / GoodReads / Facebook / Twitter

Alice

Release Date 8/4/15

Amazon / B&N / iBooks / Kobo / IndieBound

A mind-bending new novel inspired by the twisted and wondrous works of Lewis Carroll...

In a warren of crumbling buildings and desperate people called the Old City, there stands a hospital with cinderblock walls which echo the screams of the poor souls inside.

In the hospital, there is a woman. Her hair, once blond, hangs in tangles down her back. She doesn’t remember why she’s in such a terrible place. Just a tea party long ago, and long ears, and blood…

Then, one night, a fire at the hospital gives the woman a chance to escape, tumbling out of the hole that imprisoned her, leaving her free to uncover the truth about what happened to her all those years ago.

Only something else has escaped with her. Something dark. Something powerful.

And to find the truth, she will have to track this beast to the very heart of the Old City, where the rabbit waits for his Alice.

Our review, by LITERAL ADDICTION's Pack Alpha - Chelle:
*Copy received in exchange for an honest review

A dark, dangerous, and delightfully gritty trip through the looking-glass. Christina Henry absolutely enthralls with Alice! This is one dark fantasy that I will be returning to again and again.

Once upon a time, there was magic in the world. Not only magic, but those lucky enough to wield it. Magicians. Things happened to change the world, and Magicians were thought to have died out. Mob-style bosses took over the quarters of the Old City, and utter depravity ran rampant. When two unlikely companions meet and set about on a journey of discovery and vengeance, secrets are revealed, and lives are forever changed.

Alice is beautifully written, completely captivating, and utterly unique. Most of our favorites from Carroll's amazing tales are used as inspiration for the characters in Alice, but turned on their head to make it more of a dark fantasy versus the trippiness we all remember from Lewis's tales. I felt hints of dystopia, some connections to Once Upon A Time in Wonderland TV show (more so given what I am assuming book #2 will be about) and, most importantly--and above all else--the gripping and action-packed storytelling I've come to know and love from Christina Henry.

This book has a little bit for everyone - there's danger, mystery, intrigue, suspense, a little bit of romance (subtly hinted at), action, magic, mayhem, and even a bit of a happily ever after, though there is plenty left to be resolved! If you like Alice in Wonderland and/or Through the Looking Glass even a little bit, give Alice a shot. But be warned, this tale is not for the faint of heart. It is dark. It is dangerous. It makes you take a look at some of the more tainted sides of the human psyche. But it is entertainment at its best, and I am honored to have had a chance to read it. I absolutely cannot wait for more!

Alice