Violet’s grandmother had warned her about the Devil, had talked about him often, as though he were a best friend, or an old lover. But she never told Violet that the Devil could be real. She never told Violet that the Devil could be a dark-haired boy in vintage clothes who takes naps in the sun and likes old movies and vigilante justice.
River West is the seventeen-year old stranger renting the guesthouse behind the rotting mansion on the sea, where Violet lives. And as eerie things start happening in Violet’s town, she begins to wonder about the boy living in her backyard. Is River just a crooked-smiling, coffee-loving liar with rascally eyes and a mysterious past? Or could he be something else? Something...evil?
Violet’s already so knee-deep in love she can’t see straight.
When Candra Ember wakes up in hospital after a dangerous encounter with a red-haired woman, she is shocked to discover that seeing a winged boy wasn’t her imagination. Candra is exposed to a world of rivalry and sacrifice she never knew existed, and the aftermath of a war to save humanity thousands of years ago. Soon she finds herself relentlessly stalked by Sebastian, a beautiful and arrogant Watcher Angel and romantically pursued by his darkly seductive rival, Draven. Ultimately, dubious about her own goodness, Candra’s very existence compromises a tentative peace in the city of Acheron.
My Thoughts...
First let me start with the cover, it is gorgeous and absolutely sets the tone for this book and the series, the story inside is just as great as the cover outside.
I've seen this book around on Goodreads and even had it on my wishlist, so I was delighted to be able to be part of the blog tour, for this book and the sequel Iridescent.
From the first page you're drawn into the action as Candra our heroine has an encounter with a red-haired woman which leaves her in hospital after a five story fall, she wakes up with no injuries whatsoever, not even a scratch.
When the boy that she saw watching her while she was loaded into the ambulance and who has also been following her, shows up in her hospital room, she's confused, more so when he appears to know her stepmother Brie, his name is Sebastian and they have a long history together, and the reason for them being reunited after so long is Candra.
But they both have secrets, about their past and Candra, and they're determined that Candra won't find out, but secrets have a way of coming out especially when Candra is determined to find out what they are, and when she does it will change her life forever!
One thing that I especially loved about this story was the chemistry between Candra and Sebastian, they were both in denial for so long about their feelings towards one another and I think that just added to the suspense of the story, and had me rushing through the book with my fingers crossed in hopes that they would end up together.
I love this world that's been created in this story, the characters are great and I also really enjoyed the supporting characters too.
I highly recommend this book and I look forward to reading the next book in this briliant series!
Candra Ember used to dream of saving the world one person at a time. She never expected to become an angelic weapon and the last hope in the battle against ultimate darkness.
Falling for a Nephilim wasn’t part of Sebastian’s plan. Distraction is something he can’t afford when his rival, Draven, wants what Sebastian has.
Lies, manipulation, and corruption are twisting the lives of the citizens in Acheron. The Arch is missing from Heaven, and a demon is intent on claiming the city. At a time they should be growing closer, grief and paranoia is driving Candra and Sebastian apart.
If the price of restoring the Watchers to Heaven is a human soul, who deserves to be saved?
My Thoughts...
Just like the first book this one has a gorgeous cover as well although I do think that this one is definitely better, it's sooo pretty!
Iridescent continues on from where Ember left off, Candra and Sebastian are together, and Candra is still dealing with her grief after the tragedy in Ember (those who've read it will know exactly what I'm talking about), and also the knowledge that she is some kind of weapon who will save mankind, though no one really knows what she can/will do.
There is a new bad in town Lilith, and through the betrayal of another who is believed to be on the side of good, and the blackmail of Sebastian, it's not looking good for Candra and Sebastian, through the machinations of others and the believe that Candra is better of without him, Sebastion distances himself from Candra and ultimately pushes her into the arms of Draven, who is also in love with her.
While I really like Draven, it's Sebastian that Candra is meant to be with, and I was biting my nails hoping that Sebastian would come to his senses and that everything would work out between them, if anyone deserves happiness in this story it's Sebastian.
There is a lot of action packed into this book, and I felt that I couldn't read or turn the pages fast enough to get to the end, but the question is will good triumph over evil?
And will our favourite couple find our way back to each other?
You definitely need to read this to find out and I promise you that you won't be disapointed!
Carol Oates has never been one to remain still for long. After her mother’s mad dash to the hospital through the empty city streets of Dublin, Ireland, Carol made her debut into the world in the early hours of Christmas morning. Since then her pace has not slowed down in the least.
Carol was introduced to the world of supernatural books when, as a child, her family moved to a coastal suburb of north Dublin known as Clontarf; famous as the birthplace of Bram Stoker, the prolific author responsible for breathing life into the legendary story of “Dracula.” This stirred in Carol an early passion for reading about all things supernatural. When that passion was combined with a deep interest in the history and folklore of Ireland, as well as an active and vivid imagination, Carol Oates, the author, was born. Carol’s love of writing about anything not entirely “human" emerged.
http://www.CarolOates.com
Wednesday's Mailbox. I've decided that I will stop participating in In My Mailbox, the reason being I seem to get a lot of books every week and it takes me forever to put them all together in one post and link them up. So I will be doing Mailbox Mon-Fri every week. Review...
Publication: 25th February 2012 Publisher: Evolved Publishing Pages: 354 Genre: Paranormal/Fantasy Age Appropriate: Young Adult
That day I knew for sure. I'd lost control of my tears then. They fell in huge, mocking drops. I stared at Joshua through those bitter tears, my heart missing beats as I tried to remember to breathe.
I finally knew what the glow meant.
I was a freak and Joshua was going to die.
Bryn Halbrook had always seen the glow. But it is only when her best friend dies that she discovers the meaning of those beautiful golden auras — Death. Alone, lost in the foster system, she struggles to understand who she is and why she was cursed with the ability to see the soon-to-be-dead.
The new foster kid, Aidan, isn’t helping any. Mr. Perfect seems to fit in no matter what, making her feel even more pathetic. But when his affections turn to her, Bryn finds him hard to resist. Impossible actually. A mystery himself, Aidan disappears, leaving behind a broken heart and a mysterious book that suggests Bryn might not be entirely human.
Bryn stands at the threshold of a journey of discovery. Will destiny help her find herself, find her purpose and her place in a world in which she’d never belonged?
My Thoughts...
Being a huge fan of the paranormal genre, I always love it when I come across something different that's not your typical, everyday written about paranormal beings and I definitely found it in this book about Valkyries.
I had seen this book around on Goodreads and had added it to my wishlist, so when I saw there was a blog tour coming up I was extremely happy, and so here we are and I'm glad to say that I absolutely loved it.
Adding to that the Norse mythology which I wasn't all that familiar with and you end up with a fantastic story and extremely likable characters.
Bryn was an extremely likable heroine, who after the death of her father is shipped around to different foster homes until she ends up with a permanent home, and it's there that a new foster kid Aidan arrives, but Bryn isn't exactly a fan at first, they definitely have a love/hate relationship, which blossoms into something more before he disappears, but not before letting him in on her secret, you see Bryn knows when someone is going to die, she see's a golden aura around a person, which is a sign of that person's eminent death.
But when she finds a book that Aidan has left behind, she discovers that she might not be quite human, and this is when the story really starts to pick up and the Norse mythology starts to come into play.
I loved reading all about the Valkyries and how they are tied into Norse mythology, it was so interesting and I'll definitely be looking out for books with that factor in for sure.
This had a fantastic plot, it was never boring and the writing flowed so well, I definitely cannot wait to start on the next book, especially after the ending we were left with.
I highly recommend this book, for anyone who loves the paranormal genre or if you're looking for something original in the paranormal world then pick this book up!
I give this 4/5.
Giveaway: 1 Signed Print book per tour, and 4 E-Books per tour, signed swag. plus a necklace INTERNATIONALa Rafflecopter giveaway
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BIO: I have been a writer from the time I was old enough to recognize that reading was a doorway into my imagination. Poetry was my first foray into the art of the written word. Books were my best friends, my escape, my haven. I am essentially a recluse but this part of my personality is impossible to practice given I have two teenage daughters, who are actually my friends, my tea-makers, my confidantes… I am blessed with a husband who has left me for golf. It’s a fair trade as I have left him for writing. We are both passionate supporters of each other's loves – it works wonderfully… My heart is currently broken in two. One half resides in South Africa where my old roots still remain, and my heart still longs for the endless beaches and the smell of moist soil after a summer downpour. My love for Ma Afrika will never fade. The other half of me has been transplanted to the Land of the Long White Cloud. The land of the Taniwha, beautiful Maraes, and volcanoes. The land of green, pure beauty that truly inspires. And because I am so torn between these two lands – I shall forever remain cross-eyed.
Monday's Mailbox... I've decided that I will stop participating in In My Mailbox, the reason being I seem to get a lot of books every week and it takes me forever to put them all together in one post and link them up. So I will be doing Mailbox Mon-Fri every week. Review...
