[Blog Tour Review]: "Trinity Bound"

Trinity Bound by Carrie Ann Ryan
Publisher: Self-Published (March 30th, 2012)
Series: The Redwood Pack, 3
Genre: Paranormal Romance/Menage
***May I just say that I'd
love to be that woman!***

Hannah Lewis, a rare earth witch, is taken from the only life she’s ever known. Held at her will by a sadistic wolf, she almost gives up hope that she’d ever see her real life again. But as her fellow captive, a werewolf named Reed, tries to calm her fears, she begins to feel a spark of something she never thought she’d feel – love. But is Reed, alone, enough to get her out of this dark basement so she can move on with her life?

Reed Jamenson, the artist of a werewolf Pack of Alpha males, knows instinctually that Hannah is his mate. Thus, despite their imprisonment, he will do all to protect her and then worry about their hearts. But is he strong enough to find a way for both of them to escape? And why does he feel as though something else is missing?

Josh Kolb, an ex-military human, stumbles upon Reed and Hannah and finds he must trust this new world of supernatural beings to survive. But that desire will lead the three to a triangle of attraction that will test the boundaries they all possess and its consequences in defeating the enemy. Can they all trust one another to save themselves and life as they know it? Even at the cost of their own hearts?

Where to Buy*:

Kindle | NOOK | AllRomance

More Info:

Author's Site | Book Site

Other Books in the Series:

Click on the covers to buy from BN.com; the title links to the book's page on the author's website.

Book 1: An Alpha's Path

Book 2: A Taste for a Mate
Read my review of this book here.

My Review:

To be honest, I was a bit hesitant going into Trinity Bound. I mean, I've read a few menage books before (and liked them), but they were always ones where the men wanted to share the woman, but didn't actually do anything with each other. Trinity Bound is not that kind of menage, as Reed, as I already knew, is bisexual and therefore wants Josh just as much as he does Hannah.

I was pushed out of my comfort zone with this book. And yet, I mean that in a good way because even though, in general, this type of story is not my cup of tea, Carrie Ann Ryan made it work, and I actually found myself enjoying this sexy paranormal menage. I know I won't be jumping into the many other GLTB books out there, but after being introduced to the subject just a little in this book, I'm more open to trying similar books in the future. :)

Reed was a welcome respite from all the he-man alphas (though I love a good alpha hero). He's strong, and he takes care of his own, but he's also very sensitive. As he says, he's an artist, not a fighter. Now, that's not to say that he can't fight, but his whole word doesn't revolve around it. He'll fight to keep in shape, to protect his mates and family, but otherwise he'd rather be painting.

Hannah is a witch, and though she already knows that she can heal, she finds out that she's now the Redwood Pack's Healer. This means that she can draw power from the pack's magic, as well as feel if anyone in the pack is hurt. It's a big job, but as part of the pack, she sees everyone as family, and she'll do whatever she can to help them. Beyond the basics of her character, I didn't get quiet as much from Hannah, and I felt like she was just a shadow walking around for most of the book. I do wish she had been a bit more developed, as I think she could have been a very strong heroine.

Josh, an ex-SEAL, is also a Finder, which basically means that he can track someone down if he knows them, sees their picture. He suddenly see their location in his mind. This was a helpful tool when he was a SEAL, as well as afterward he retired (it allowed him to find Reed and Hannah), but it wasn't such a gift when he was growing up...Josh takes the role of the alpha in this relationship, and although he has never had feelings for men in the past, upon meeting Reed he begins to fall for him, desire him—and Hannah, too. Obviously he's uncertain, and thinks that something is wrong with him, but as their relationship builds, he slowly begins to accept that he does have feelings for Reed, and they are just as natural as the ones he has for Hannah—and luckily just as accepted by the Pack.

The scenes between the three were scorching hot, and I wasn't disappointed in the physical aspects of their relationship at all! I liked that Ryan allowed the three to get to know each other and work up to the whole “I love you and I know we've been destined to be your mates”. It made it seem like they did have a choice in their mates, rather than it being completely up to Fate. While I did want a bit more from their relationship outside of the bedroom, the abundance of hot steamy sex almost made up for it. Almost.

While Josh, Reed and Hannah were discovering their trinity bound, the Centrals are still on the hunt, and they're not working alone anymore. Not only do they have the help of a demon, but they're also getting help (dark magic) from a few witches, too. Can the Redwood Pack stand against all three threats? Can Reed and the others find out how to help Josh with his demon bite, seal their bound, and destroy the Centrals—or will it all come crashing down on them?

4 STARS! A well done menage story with a paranormal twist, Trinity Bound was surprisingly good, although I had my doubts when I first picked it up. I'm interested to see what happens next, and I can't wait to read Adam's story (he's been through so much), though I think it's Maddox's book that I'm most anxious to read! This series is turning into quiet a ride, with such a wide diversity of characters and storylines mixing together, and new twists to keep us interested. While I did enjoy Reed's book, there were a few spots that irked me, though they weren't anything huge. I didn't like how some phrases were repeated over and over again (like their scents—almost every time Reed saw/thought about Hannah, he mentioned her “honey and bitter apple scent”, which got old after the fourth or fifth time). I would still highly recommend this book, as well as the entire series, to any paranormal fan out there. But be warned: this one is very steamy, and there is not only m/m sex scenes, but also anal play and some pretty wild m/f/m playtime, too. If none of that bothers you, then be sure to pick this up! And if, like me, you've never really gotten into the m/m romances, give this one a try, as Ryan does a great job at showing us the complex relationship between the three characters, and the action between Reed and Josh wasn't nearly as awkward as I feared it would be. :)

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I received this e-book from Goddess Fish, in addition to joining the blog tour for this author. In exchange, I agreed to give my honest opinion on the novel.

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Be sure to stop back on Friday, April 6th--Carrie will be here with an interview and blog tour giveaway! :)

Enjoy!




Until Next Time,

*TBQ's Book Palace is a member of both the Amazon and Barnes and Nobles affiliates program. By using the links provided to buy products from either website, I receive a very small percentage of the order. To read my full disclosure on the matter, please see this post!

[Review]: "Illicit Magic"

Illicit Magic by Camilla Chafer
Publisher: Audacious (May 1, 2011)
Series: Stella Mayweather, 1
Genre: Paranormal/Urban Fantasy Romance

Summary (Amazon.com):
More than three hundred years after the most terrifying witch hunts the world has ever known, it's happening again.

Racing from attack by the ruthless Brotherhood in London to the powerful witch council in New York, twenty-four-year-old novice witch Stella has to put her faith in strangers just to stay alive but she might not be any safer in their midst than from the danger she is running from.

Sent to an extraordinary safe house by the sea to learn her craft, Stella finds there is more than one dark secret in her new family: Étoile’s sister is spoken of in fear and sadness; Marc is supposed to be a powerful witch but is missing his magic; where does the owner of their safe house vanish to every day and why does Evan have the eyes of someone not quite human? There is only one secret that someone will do anything to keep quiet, but whose secret is it and will Stella have to pay the price for silence?

Where to Buy*:

Kindle | NOOK | AllRomance

More Info:

Author's Site | Book Site | Excerpt

Other Books in the Series:

Click on the covers to buy from BN.com; the title links to the book's page on the author's website.

Book 2: Unruly Magic

Book 3: Devious Magic

My Review:

Illicit Magic begins the story of Stella Mayweather, who has just found out that she's a witch. As she slowly starts to learn the craft, as well as how to perfect her gifts, she finds herself running from the Brotherhood, a group that is scouring the world, burning witches alive. As if that wasn't enough, while staying at a safe home with other magic weavers, someone close to the group comes after her, ransacking her room and attacking the entire household, all in the hopes of getting hold of Stella. Can Stella learn to control her powers, help solve her parents' murders, protect her new friends, AND figure out what her relationship is with her sexy “teacher”, Evan, before it's too late?

While I liked the story that Illicit Magic told, as well as some of the characters, I felt like there was something missing from the book. I can't put my finger on it, exactly, but whatever it was took a book that could have been a “wow” for me and turned it into only a “meh”. And although “meh” isn't a bad rating, it's obviously not the kind of review that anyone wants to write—and surely not one that an author wants to read! But I have to be honest in my reviews, and, for me at least, this story fell short.

I was a bit annoyed by how some things were repeated over and over again in the book—perhaps not word for word, but still repetitive all the same. I was also a bit put off by the fact that I knew what was happening in the story before even Stella—either she was slow or blind, I'm not sure which, and since this was told from a 1^st person POV, that's saying a lot when the reader connects the dots before the heroine!

Yet there were plenty of things I liked about this book. Evan was great, and though I wanted to know more about him (I guess I'll just have to wait for the next two books), he was a pretty good hero. I was happy to see him and Stella get together, though it did take some time (and they have yet to reach a HEA by any means). I really enjoyed how he distracted Stella while he was helping her to practice with her powers. I think that scene was my favorite, both for it's subtle sexiness and slight humor.

3 STARS! A good, quick read, Illicit Magic begins the Stella Mayweather series with a kick! I'm curious to see what happens next (as this one ended with a cliff hanger big enough that I was tempted to throw the book against the wall), although I won't be picking up the sequels right away. While I enjoyed parts of the book, there were still enough flaws and rough patches in the story to take my overall rating of the book down a few notches. Still, this book turned out to be pretty good, and I don't regret reading it one bit. If you're looking for a new series to get behind, one filled with magic and action and even a good dose of romance, then Chafer's books may just be what you need!

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I received this e-book from Bewitching Book Tours, in addition to joining the blog tour for this author. In exchange, I agreed to give my honest opinion on the novel.

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Don't forget that Camilla Chafer will be back on March 30th with a guest post!

Enjoy!




Until Next Time,

*TBQ's Book Palace is a member of both the Amazon and Barnes and Nobles affiliates program. By using the links provided to buy products from either website, I receive a very small percentage of the order. To read my full disclosure on the matter, please see this post!

[ARC Review]--- Healing Spell and Other Stories

Title: The Healing Spell and Other Stories

Author: Kiki Howell

Genre: Erotica, Wicca/Magic

Publisher: Excessica

Publication Date: Unknown (You can probably buy it in E-Book form already, but print, like I read, might not be out yet...) Summary (Author's Website):

In this anthology, Kiki Howell, Author of Magical Erotic Romances, shares the following short stories and novellas…

The Healing Spell Samantha leads David through the steps of a sexual magic spell with the intent to heal him. Yet, once the spell has been completed, he finds he cannot just take his talisman and walk away from her, and the witch finds her carefully protected heart on the line.

To Save A Witch from the Focus Anthology, ed. Kev Henley “Kiki gives us a brief but penetrating look into a world where shadow and power are subtle and often unpredictable. Even in this exotic and little-known world, however, it is never too late to correct one’s mistakes and set things right.” - Forward by Ed. Kev Henley

Beltane’s Guide from the Four Seasons: Spring 2009 Anthology, ed. Selena Kitt Meghan celebrates the sacred sex act of the God and Goddess when she goes on a Trust Walk blindfolded with a stranger in the woods. After the rite becomes more than she bargained for, she will have to work for her new beginning.

Rituals When a Wiccan rite opens Maddie’s eyes to her old friend, Ryan, they find freedom in the bondage lifestyle. But, once her past catches up with them, they will have to choose between being bound by it or bonding to each other.

Caught Under the October Moon A promotional short-short published on the Whipped Cream, Erotic Romance Reviews website and in the All Romance eBook’s Wildfire Newsletter where a witch gets caught skyclad during a moon ritual.

My Review:

Anyone who's ever read an anthology knows that there's almost always one problem with the book-- the stories are too short. And though that is the point of having an anthology, it's still hard to tell a story, develop it, and end it well. This one flaw is most of the reason behind my over all rating for this book.

The Healing Spell and Other Stories is a collection of Kiki Howell's short stories and novellas that have been published before in other anthologies. The nice thing about this anthology is you get to see what her writing it like (wonderful, but more on that later). The only down fall is that the romance story itself doesn't get to develop and pull through as strongly as in a full length novel. But, despite the page constraints, Howell does do a good job at telling a story... especially the sex, since this is an erotic novel!

Howell has a wonderful way of blending the words together, weaving them into a story, and really, she can easily 'paint a picture' in your mind, as they say. I had no problem with the writing style, the word choices, etc. In fact, I thought this was very well done, and it did grab my attention and help pull me into the stories....

...Only until the story was suddenly over, and it was time for the next one. But again, this is a problem you'll always find in an anthology. You want the story to keep going, but in reality, it's time for it to end and the next one to begin. Because of the shortness of the stories, I'm even more interesting in reading more from Howell-- I want to know if a full length novel from her will be just as amazing as I picture after reading this.

The story lines were interesting enough, and I wish we could have learned more about the characters, their stories and world-- especially the Wicca theme in the stories. I would have loved to hear more about the culture in the stories themselves.

3.5 STARS! Over all, a great introduction to a new to me author, and one that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys a good erotica novel. The Healing Spell and Other Stories is quick, but fairly satisfying, and leaves you wanting to read more! Always a good thing in a book, right? Fantastic, flowing writing, Howell has a gift for describing the scene to viewers-- I only hope that we'll get to see more of the description in her future novels, hopefully a full length one?

Enjoy!

Until Next Time,

REVIEW: 'Wicked Resurrection"

Title: Wicked: Resurrection

Author: Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie

Genre: Teen Fantasy

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Pub. Date: July 2009
ISBN-13: 9781416972273
Pages: 416
Series: Wicked Series

Summary (B&N):

WHAT THE CAHORS witches thought was the end of their troubles was only the beginning. A threat more powerful and more frightening than anything they have faced has been watching and waiting. The Cahors witches must come together and find Jer and Eli as both the Deveraux and the Cahors family lines face eradication.
All the secrets of the Cahors will be revealed, forcing them to overcome their greatest weaknesses in order to achieve their most powerful strengths. And only united do they have any chance at victory. Before the end, sacrifices will be made, alliances forged, and old friends lost forever.

My Thoughts:

Ever since I read Wicked two years ago, I've been a fan of this series. It may not be every one's cup of tea, and the magic in these books are nothing like Harry Potter, quiet the opposite in fact, filled with darkness and evil, and you never quiet know which side everyone is on....But that's one of the things I enjoy so much about this series.

And Wicked: Resurrection was anything but a disappoint, a fitting conclusion to the series. After having the last two books leaving you hanging, wanting more, Holder and Viguie finally managed to wrap it all up nicely, leaving the reader satisfied. It may not have the traditional HEA (happily ever after), but this HEA matches the story and characters, and that's all that really matters, right?

I don't wish to give out any spoilers, from any of the three books, so I won't go into deep details. However, I will say that Resurrection manages to keep you guessing until the very end, throwing out new twists and characters just when you think you've managed to figure it all out.

Darkness and corruption is zeroing in on Amanda, Nicole and Holly, but with the right knowledge and by working together, only they (and Owen) can turn back the malicious Merlin from destroying the world and killing them. Yes, it may sound like 'just another save-the-world' kind of book, but if you read the series, starting with book one (very important for understanding and enjoying the series completely!), you'll soon find out that it's nothing like what you'd expect.

And to top it all off, besides the demons and magic and darkness, (oh my!), Wicked: Resurrection has a nice dose of romance in it as well, between three separate couples. They may not have the perfect connection, and they all go through some really hard times, what with having ghosts from the past possess them and what not, but in the end, they stay together. And to me, that's what makes a romance more believable-- face it, none of us will ever have a relationship that doesn't have a few problems along the way, speed bumps that make us wonder 'Is it even worth it?'. But in the end, if you can survive the trip, the conclusion is well worth it-- both in the book and in real life! ;)


4.5 STARS! Wicked: Resurrection is a stunning finale to a delicious fantasy series. I'll definitely be recommending this to friends and family, and anyone else whom I think would enjoy the darker elements in the book.


Until Next Time,

"Revealers" by Amanda Marrone

Synopsis From B&N.com:

Witchin' ain't easy.



Jules has a rebellious streak, a massive crush on Connor, and the abilities of a Revealer witch. By day, she and her coven friends seem like typical high school seniors. By night, they have the power to make werewolves, vampires, and ghosts reveal themselves, so they can destroy them. It's not exactly cheerleading, but at least the girls know they're doing the world some good.



One by one, Jules's friends turn eighteen and are initiated into the coven's inner circle. And one by one, they are getting completely freaked out. Jules is the youngest, and though her friends are too scared tell her what's going on, something's clearly not right. As her birthday approaches, Jules realizes she's got to find out what's behind the shadows of her coven before it's too late to save her friends...and herself. But what she discovers may be too powerful for even the toughest witches to defeat.







If you read Amanda Marrone's first book, Uninvited, and found it to be lacking in substance, have no fear: Revealers is 10x's better, the characters are more interesting and developed, the plot is intricate and compelling, and the light touch of romance is much, much better. In other words, if you, like me, were unhappy with her first novel, I promise that you NEED to read Revealers!
Revealers is a story filled with paranormal activity-- witches, demons, ghosts, vampires, and shapeshifters of all sorts. Add to that the characters, which are much more dynamic than Uninvited's 2D characters;the witty and sarcastic humor; the mystery and suspense that comes into play during most of the first half but continues a bit into the last half when they finally realize what their coven has been up to all these years; and yes, even a slight touch of romance towards the end, and you have, in my opinion, a great teen fantasy book that can be enjoyed by adults too.
But Be warned: Even though it is geared towards a younger audience, I wouldn't pass it on to just any teen, especially under the age of 15 or so, due to the fact that they do swear a fair amount *F-Word included!* and there are a few scenes that may be inappropriate for younger kids. But if you can get past these 'flaws', the story line itself is amazing.
5/5 STARS! A spectacular story, one that I would recommend to every fantasy/paranormal fan. I hope that Marrone continues to write more books that are just as wonderful as Revealers! I would love to read more about Jules' world and what will happen next.
~TBQ~

"The Secret Circle Volume I" Is a Magical Success!

Synopis from B&N.com:

The circle's power has lured her home

Forced to move from sunny California to gloomy New England, Cassie longs for her old life. Even so, she feels a strange kinship to a terrifying group of teens who seem to rule her school. Initiated into the coven of witches that's controlled New Salem for hundreds of years, she's drawn into the Secret Circle, a thrill that's both intoxicating and deadly. But when she falls for the mysterious and intriguing Adam, Cassie must choose whether to resist temptation or risk dark forces to get what she wants—even if it means that one wrong move could ultimately destroy her.



Though her previous novels have revolved mainly around vampires, werewolves and all the other paranormal creatures of the night, The Secret Circle focuses just on the witches. But don't let that get you down-- it's still just as amazing as all of her other books, and I promise that any teen fantasy fan, especially L.J. Smith fans, will love this captivating tale of romance, betrayal, magic and danger. NOTE: This is the first two books in the series, originally released seperately in the mid-to-late '80s, reprinted together for the first time. The next two in the series, also out of print and being re-released two-books-in-one will be released soon.

Who wouldn't want to read a book filled with love and mystery, adventure and magic, friendship and betrayal? It has everything you could possibly want! *Well, okay, so maybe adding in werewolves and/or vampires and hot Highlanders would make it slightly better, if possible, but that's probably just my preferences... :) *

Just like with her other books, the thing I loved about The Secret Cirlce was the way that L.J. Smith writes-- with beautiful descriptions that make you feel like you really are there in the story, in this amazing fantasy world that she's weaved together. And the story line! Very interesting... By the end of the book, you're still not sure if Faye is as evil as she acts and sounds or if there really is some good in here. Is it the Darkness that was accidently released from the crystal skull that is causing all the mayhem and death in New Salem, is it another witch *Faye, possibly?* or is it something else.....or someone else? She leaves you wondering, haning on till the very end, and then letting you drop of, making you wait for the next book. And while you are upset that you won't know what happens next for a few months, it's a good upset-- it's not the 'Wow, I hated that book/ending/characters and if I read the next one it will only be so I can see if it gets better' kind of hate, it's more like the 'Wait, but what happens next?! What do you mean I have to wait!?' kind of hate.

5/5 STARS! For the perfect fantasy/romance read, especially if you've finished Breaking Dawn and you are wondering 'What do I read now?!', I highly suggestion that you go out to the bookstore and pick up The Secret Circle, along with all of L.J. Smith's other books. I promise, you will not regret it!

~TBQ~

"Night World" Volume 1 is a Perfect Journey into the Magical World of the Night

Synopis from B&N.com:

The Night World isn't a place. It's all around us. It's a secret society of vampires, werewolves, witches, and other creatures of darkness that live among us. They're beautiful and deadly and irresistible to humans. The Night World laws say it's ok to hunt humans, to toy with their hearts-even to kill them. According to the laws, humans must never find out about the Night World. And members of the Night World must never fall in love with a human.

Told with interweaving characters, these are three stories about what happens when the rules get broken . . .

In SECRET VAMPIRE, Poppy is diagnosed with terminal cancer. Her only hope for survival is James, her friend and secret crush. A vampire in the Night World, James will risk everything to turn Poppy into a vampire and make her immortal.

DAUGHTERS OF DARKNESS tells a tale of three vampire sisters who are fugitives of the Night World.

And two witch cousins battle using black magic and white magic for their high school crush in SPELLBINDER.

I have read L.J. Smith before, so it was no surprise to me that I loved this book. I fell in love with her books when I first picked up Vampire Diaries a few years ago, and I can't wait until she writes Damon's book. So when I realized that she has written so many other series over the years but they are all out of print, I was frantic, waiting for these three-books-in-one reprints. I just wish they'd print them faster!!

This book contains the first three books in her spectacular Night World series. The Night World isn't a place... no, it's all around you, it's everything. It refers to the creatures that belong to it, no matter where they are in the world. I can't think of a better setting for a series than that, can you? I mean, seriously, what more can you ask for? It's got vampires, both made vampires and born ones, werewolves, shape-shifters and witches. As if that's not enough of an incentive, add magical words like soulmate and true love, along with Ms. Smith's amazing writting skills, and you have the receipe for a perfect read! With the guarantee of more to come in the series, which is just a bonus!

Out of the three stories in this book, I have to say that I felt like the last one, Spellbinder was one of the 'weaker' ones, sorta speak. I liked it, don't get me wrong, but I like the other two more and felt like Eric and Thea's story was kind of rushed, not allowing the audience to really feel the connection that they, as soulmates, have. Still, an interesting story that grabs your attention.

For me, the first one, Secret Vampire was the best one of the series so far because I felt like she was able to tell James and Poppy's story without rushing it. By the end, you were happy, you know how things were going to turn out with them and you could easily imagine, in your mind, what their life would be like after the story ended. The ability to write a story like that defines a great author.

The middle story, Daughters of Darkness, was also very good. I fell for bad-boy Ash from the very start, and I thought that even though the ending was a little bit different from what I would have wanted, it was still good and I can still see their future together, some day, even if it's only in my own mind.

5/5 stars! L.J. Smith knows exactly what she's doing, creating a great fantasy world and mixing it deftly with feelings and emotions, with love and mystery, to provide a great read that any teen, or adults!, will love. Smith twines fantasy and magic with myths and legends, adds in plenty of love and even some adventure or mystery and the end result is world that you can usually only find in your dreams. This is an author that you should definitely keep your eyes on, because I think she's only going to get better as time goes on!

~TBQ~

Prince of Swords Ends Up on Top.....

Prince of Swords by Linda Winstead Jones

Publisher: Berkley (May 1, 2007)

Series: Children of the Sun, 3

Genre: Paranormal/Fantasy Romance

In the last installment of the Children of the Sun trilogy, a shackled virgin must choose between the monster she knows and a sexy stranger who could spell doom-or help her fulfill the Prophecy of the Firstborn

 

Where to Buy*:

 Kindle |  NOOK

My Review:

Though the short and somewhat lacking summary shown online makes Prince of Swords seem like yet another mediocore book, things are not always what they seem. After buying the book on impulse almost half a year ago while in the grocery store, I put it in my piles and there it stayed for a while. A few times before, I tried to pull it out and make myself read it, but for some reason, I had doubts and did not feel like (as I thought at the time) forcing myself through a less than great book. Instead, I passed it over again and again. Finally, two days ago, I made myself grab it out of the pile and sit down and read it. And boy was I surprised!

Though at first glance the plot seems like a repeat of one that almost every romance reader has probably read (virgin damsel is locked away in a dungeon, waiting to be wed, unwillingly, to a demon possesed Prince, she is rescued by handsome 'knight', in this case the Prince of Swords, an important and high position in the kingdom's "army", they have to defeat the evilness that is cloaking their world and along the way, they fall into lust and then love), it is more than just that.

Rayne grew up in a slightly less than perfect family. She had a loving mother, who unfortunately died too young. Her father, a wizard who did not practice benign white magic, was not always a good father. After her mother died, he willingly gave her to Ciro, the Prince who was recently possessed by a horrible demon (and right now, I cannot remember the demon's name for the life of me! Sorry!), knowing that the demon had planned to use her to bear his child, a child who would rule the new world they were created--by, of course, destroying the current one. Rayne was put in the dungeon for four+ months in order to await their marriage. While sitting down in the dungeon, Lyn, the Prince of Swords, arrives-- though not to save her. Instead, he is there looking for the Crystal Dagger, which is talked about in the Prophecy of the First Son, which refers to him. He must use this unique and powerful dagger to kill Ciro-- and bind the demon inside for all eternity. Of course, the dagger is with Rayne. Made by her mother, who she thought did not possess any magical powers at all (though they never really tell you if she did or not, or if she was simply... different), years ago, the dagger is the only way that the demon and Ciro can be destroyed, and the war between their world's inhabitants and the Demon's Own put to rest for good. But when he shows up at the keep, he finds more than a simple dagger.

Of course, he saves Rayne (by stopping time, a little gift he has, and moving the sword that was headed her way) and brings her along on his journey. Along the way, Lyn is betrayed by his use-to-be best friend, who, it seems, was also possesed by a demon working for Ciro, meant to bring Rayne to them (Ciro and the demon).

In the middle of all this, Rayne decides she must rid herself of her 'pure soul, heart, and body' that Ciro and the demon want her for. She starts by having one of the guards teach her how to curse, but finds that this is not to her liking-- and it's not enough. So next she decides to get rid of her virginity, which she thinks will ruin the 'pure body' required of her. She mentions this to Lyn and asks if he will send one of his men to her during the night-- it does not matter who, since she simple wants to get rid of her innocence, and the only thing the man has to do is not talk (so in the morning, she will not know who it was, therefore, there will be no akwardness between them the rest of the way). He tells her he will send someone, but says he 'has not decided yet'. Of course, he goes instead, after a few hours of wrestling with his conscious, and they enjoy a lovely night full of passion, which lasts more than one coupling.

They continue along, both of them becoming slightly closer, especially on Rayne's part. She finds out that she has a great deal of powers-- white magic, thankgoodness-- and that she is an Earth Goddess.

The story goes on (Sorry, it's late, and I am not really up to going through every other main event along the way.. plus I don't want to give too much away!!) and Lyn destroys Ciro and binds the demon in the dagger. They find the long lost heirs (twins) of the throne. The eldest is crowned emperor and life is good. The followers, the Demon's Own, are succesfully tracked and killed, the dagger (and demon) are rid of in Level Thirteen, with (major!) help from Rayne's newfoun powers. Everything is great.. except, of course, Lyn has made no promises to Rayne and soon he will head back home.

After some help from Jahn, the new emperor, and a new found determination found within herself, Rayne gets Lyn, they get married that night, at a ceremony for the newly crowned heir, Rayne tells Lyn that she is pregnant, and all is great in the world.

Though my review of the events makes the book sound rushed, it's not. This is simply my trying-to-make-it-short-but-understandable summary. It was actually a very good book, and now I want to go back and read the other 2 in this trilogy and the 3 in the connected trilogy that covers some of Lyn's (I believe...) aunt's stories. It has a classic romance plot but with a twist, which makes it fresh and enjoyable.

If you don't mind your romance to have demons, witches, and wizards, then Prince of Swords is a great book for you! 4.5/5 stars!

Enjoy!



Until Next Time,
 
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